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Going Green in the Office

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Image by Mediajon via Flickr

A collection of wires and satellite codes, maybe a little direct.tv in the break room, the small hums of technology: your office is a dedication to progress. All shelves are stuffed with gadgetry; all space is claimed to the precision of circuits. Business demands immediacy — and the value of electronics could never be denied.

It could, however, be turned off.

The world is changing. What once a plead for carbon and natural resources has been redefined. The masses are clamoring for protection, are trying to shift all efforts toward environmentalism. The process has not been an easy one, but it has been persistent — and companies are now having to offer their own forms of support.

Accomplishing such support seems problematic, however.

It doesn’t have to be.

The simple act of turning off all electronic equipment while they are not in use can have immediate effects. Computers and similar products generate carbon — which is harmful to both the environment and individuals. Allowing these items to power down during the day will reduce emission rates by over 30 percent (as well as eliminate excess energy, which will help to lessen the strain on natural resources). And choosing to turn off all equipment for the entire night will ensure a 50 percent decrease of waste.

These numbers are impressive and shouldn’t be refused. By simply pressing a button, individuals can help to generate clean air and undo the cycle of electric dependency. The rewards of this are many and must be embraced.

Environmentalism is not a challenging process. Companies can instead apply it with ease.

Filed Under: Environment, Green Businesses Tagged With: , ,

Go Green!

As more people become aware of the problems that are happening in the environment, more are also taking steps to counteract these issues. There are many things that people are doing today to help the environment, or at least not make as big of a carbon footprint. If you are looking for ways to help the environment, there are a few easy steps that you can take.

Energy Efficient

If you are in the market for new appliances, you may want to consider getting energy efficient appliances. This will not only help you, by making your electric bill smaller, they also help the environment. Being able to cut down on the fossil fuels that are used in our world is essential to helping the environment. Along with energy efficient appliances, there are energy efficient cars. Again, this helps you save money on gas, and also helps the environment.

Go Green

Many of the products that you use on a regular basis are not produced “green”. This means that they take a larger toll on the environment. If you make a point to purchase products that are green, you are making a point to buy things that use recycled materials, or have been produced in a way that uses green practices.

Helping the environment is, in the long run, helping ourselves. There is no reason not to make these changes in your lifestyle. Though you may end up paying a little bit more in the short term – for example, buying an energy efficient washer may cost a little bit more money – you will save money in the long run, and be helping out the environment and the world. These are some easy steps to help out.

Filed Under: Green Businesses, Green Construction Tagged With: , ,

Environmental Impact of Recycling

Over the past couple of decades we have all been hearing more and more about the importance of recycling. Our children are now taught at very young ages in the public school system about recycling and its importance. Do you know why recycling is important? Do you understand how it helps our environment?

Recycling used products is one of the best ways to help save our environment. It helps to save energy and reduce consumption of natural resources. In fact, recycling can also help to reduce harm to the environment.

How does recycling preserve our environment? One way is by recycling paper, which is made from trees, can reduce our dependence on trees for continued production of paper products. For example, recycling one ton of paper or newspapers is the equivalent of saving 12 trees.

Recycling can save energy by reducing the amount of raw material that is required to be processed. Processing raw materials uses a considerable amount of energy. Some of the most commonly recycled items are aluminum and glass. Recycling these materials can help greatly reduce the amount of pressure put on our energy resources.

Recycling can also reduce pollution. For example, when we do not recycle plastics they sit in the soil as waste and create an increase in water and soil pollution. An effective solution to this problem is simply to recycle as much plastic as possible. During the recycling process of plastics as much material as possible is recovered and used in the manufacturing industry for things such as car bumpers or playground equipment.

In addition to the reduction of soil and water pollution, recycling can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, there have been studies done which show that the effect of recycling on greenhouse gas emissions proved that recycling approximately 35 tons of materials is the equivalent of taking over 22,000 cars off the roads.

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Recycled Construction Materials

You know of the benefits of recycling on the environment and do your part to recycle at home. Were you aware that the products you use when building or remodeling your home can be from recycled sources? Who knows, maybe some of that plastic you recycled has come full circle and is being used in your home project!

Plastic is recycled into many different household items. Type 1 plastic which is used in soda, juice, and liquor bottles as well as peanut butter jars and some oil jars can be recycled into carpet fibers and some types of fabrics. Type 2 plastics which is heavier and used for containers used for milk, juice, detergents, bleach and motor oil is recycled into trash containers, lumber substitutes, and other useful items. Type 3 plastic or PVC which is used in windows, doors, shower curtains, and other similar items can be recycled into garden hoses, sewer pipes and fences. Plastic types 4 through 6 which are plastic wrap, food containers, and Styrofoam can also be recycled into items such as plastic wood, carpeting, or furniture.

Paper that has not been contaminated can be recycled into construction products such as cellulose for insulation, cellulose fiberboard, or gypsum board sheeting materials. Glass is another recyclable material that is used in the construction industry. Recycled glass is used in fiberglass insulation, window glazing, and wall and floor tiles.

Aluminum and steel can also be recycled, although they must be recycled separately. Aluminum can be made into window components and flashing material. Steel is recycled into structural framing, framing connectors, and nails.

Other than the materials constructed from recycled items, there is another type of construction recycling that can be done. When building or remodeling a home you may want to consider saving yourself some money as well as contributing to recycling efforts by purchasing used items such as doors, lighting fixtures, cabinets, and more from a construction “recycling” store such as Habitat for Humanity’s Re-Store.

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Live a Green Lifestyle by Supporting Environmentally Friendly Businesses

If you are trying to improve the environment, then being a consumer of eco friendly products is the best way to live a greener lifestyle. Switch to the purchase of products offered by companies that practice green business. This way you can support the green business initiative.

A way to switch to eco friendly purchases may start from Fair Trade coffee and tea. When an eco friendly product, which worked under fair labor practice, given fair price, and used for growth and development of the environment, then the product certify as Fair Trade.

These eco friendly products such as coffee, tea, chocolates may be a little expensive than the regular products, but this additional expense made by the consumers is contributed to the improvement of the environment and those who worked towards achieving this eco friendly product.

Studies have shown that the textile industry uses 132 million tons of coal per year. This can affect the environment miserably. Traditionally water and chemicals used to grow cotton and the energy used to create synthetic fabrics can be very harmful to the environment. The huge amount of water used for finishing the process makes a lot of waste.

Making a transition to eco friendly textiles such as using organic cotton blankets, bamboo shirts, hemp jeans, can improve the environment and reduce the wastage of the society.

You can also shift your office environment to an eco friendly environment. Instead of using the age-old ink and paper, you can shift to non-toxic inks, recycled pens and paper. These types of eco friendly products are available at online shops like Dolphin Blue, O’Bon, and The Ultimate Green Store. So go green in your workplace by making a transition towards using eco friendly products.

Therefore, the products you use in everyday life can bring about a major change to the environment. By using eco friendly products, you are supporting the green business initiatives and passively helping to improve the environment.

Filed Under: Energy Saving Appliances, Environment, Green Businesses Tagged With: , ,