Green Cleaning Products Can Save Your Health and Bank Balance!

22/09/2009
by Cari Webbe

There are many different opinions when it comes to being more eco-friendly and using green cleaning products. For some, it’s simply an added expense that they just can’t afford – but this couldn’t be further from the truth!

It only takes a few simple ingredients to clean all of the different areas around the home. And it doesn’t take long to make your own green cleaning products from scratch, which really won’t cost you much at all.

What is so Bad About Commercial Cleaning Products?

There is actually no law forcing manufacturers to label all of the ingredients that go into our cleaning products, which is why it’s very shocking to hear that a number of the ingredients haven’t even been tested for safety on humans!

And, what’s worse, is that we are indirectly taking these products into our system. For example, when we spray our surfaces we breathe the ingredients in. And we also absorb all of the ingredients of our laundry detergents through the clothes we wear every day.

These ingredients are then sent into the environment through our water. The truth is these chemicals are not necessary for effective cleaning, so we don’t need to use them anymore.

Green Alternatives

You don’t have to buy the most expensive products to take steps to go green today. Start by using up the products you do already have, and saving the plastic spray bottles. These can then be used to make your own cleaning concoctions.

Did you know that a simple mix of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda can clean away mold and lime scale? Or that lemon juice can get rid of stains on your chopping board? It really is that simple!

If you don’t have the time to make all of your own cleaning products then there are still eco-friendly brands available if you look in the supermarket. They can be more expensive, but buying ingredients in bulk will help to save you a lot of money. The great news is that some of the natural laundry options will last for hundreds of washes – ultimately working out a lot cheaper!

If you want to go green you don’t have to change everything straight away. Start with your laundry, then move onto another area of your life. Before you know it you’ll never know why you relied on those toxic cleaning products!

About the Author:
Eco friendly cleaning can be easy if you know how to do it. I’ve discovered a number of easy recipes and natural cleaners to help me on my journey towards going green. This and other unique content ” articles are available with free reprint rights.
By Cari Webbe | Posted in environmental | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

How Green Businesses use paper

08/09/2009

To be a Green business requires more than superficial efforts. There are hundreds of Green solutions that need to be applied to a business operation and generally most self-acclaimed Green business apply on a few modest Green ideas. Paper is one of the basic issues of any Green business, and yet little is actually done to address paper issues in a business.

Furthermore, it would be good to understand that paper and paper products compose 36% of municipal solid waste. If we look at the cradle to the grave cycle of paper, it is important to know that the largest amount of what we are throwing into the landfills is paper. This actuality brings any smart person to two types of solutions on the downstream side of paper. Reducing how much paper we use and employing better methods to recycle paper rather than throwing paper in the trash can are Green solutions.

There are the simple ideas of printing on both sides of the page or buying recycled paper. Some would recommend using the phone is Greener then mailing a letter. Other people love to increase the margins on our word process. The little changes add up, but it looks like we are still ignoring the bigger, more practical solutions for reducing and reusing paper.

The upstream concerns of paper manufacture begin with the harvesting of trees that are then turned into wood pulp. This whole process is a subject that is easily investigated, and the curious will discover that the chemicals used are not harmless. One of the most problematic chemicals is chlorine that is used to bleach the paper to the expected white color.

Waste water from pulp and paper factories is a relatively unreported issue, but the waste water includes various toxic chemicals like Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as terpenes, alcohols, phenols, methanol, acetone, chloroform, methyl ethyl ketone; detergents and surfactants; dyes and pigments; acids; and alkaline solutions.

The paper industry creates air pollutants that contain carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxides, carbon monoxide, ammonia, VOCs, and minute particles like dust and ash. With every thing considered, paper making could not be considered, paper making could not be a Green business. The downstream impact of wasted created by the paper inustry brings everyone to the unmistakable conculsion that paper use is a serious environmental problem and one that could be tremendously improved.

Most of paper reduction strategies involve printing both side of paper, copying less, stopping magazines and junk mail. Some companies are asking their employees to increase the use of email. No one should ignore the importance of using recycled paper in the daily office operation. There are dozens of easy-to-apply ideas. Nevertheless, a very efficient solution seems to have eluded the environmentally-astute organizations like the NRDC. The new solution is the paperless office that works to eliminate paper use in the office.

The paperless system often includes: 1)Virtual meeting services that will solve travel and wasted time, 2) Software programs, such as accounting, billing and payroll, 3) Replacing fax machines with online services that can turn faxes into emails with a push of a button, 4) Document storage and retrieval programs.

The problem with these Green solutions is that they require a ramp up time during installation. These innovations also require the training of the employees to a new system. The early transition is a reality, but the results are tremendous. Installing these paperless solutions will definitely reduce paper use, decrease paper waste, and it will speed up the average office. The savings realized are not just in paper costs, but worker costs. Fewer workers will actually do more work. Streamlining a business has a number of benefits. One of which is the positive response from customers who receive fast and correct responses to their inquiries.

To gain a Green Business there must be a proven, trust worthy, and authentic certification. There is an vast amount of greenwashing, propaganda, and green dishonesty that Green businesses must be avoid. Green businesses can do this by being certified through Green Business League, which is a nationally recognized authority. Keep in mind, Green businesses are gained not bought.

By R. Michael Richmond | Posted in environmental | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Know Where To Find Eco Clothing For The Fashionable Shopper

28/08/2009
by Denise Caly

If you want to start making a difference for the environment, it’s time to start living green. This will mean making active changes in nearly every aspect of your life. What it does not mean, however, is that you will need to sacrifice style to do this. By purchasing eco clothing for the fashion conscious person, you will be able to spend your money in a way that will encourage more designers to start making green clothing themselves.

There are many different natural resources which can all be used to help make clothing. Some of these resources are renewable and sustainable, while others will start to be depleted. Since you can play a factor into which types of materials can be used, you can easily start making choices that favor sustainable resources instead of ones which will begin to run out.

Materials of an organic nature are the best ones to include in your wardrobe choices. These natural pieces of clothing, along with items which are being recycled, will help to ensure that you are making choices which are ecologically friendly as possible. You can wear your clothes without worrying that you are using too many natural resources to make them.

The fashion world is beginning to recognize how important a greener lifestyle is. Many different designers are turning their attention toward natural and renewable resources to help design their clothing. This will result in full wardrobes which are made out of natural materials.

Just because you start to make smarter decisions about the places you are going to shop and the items that you are going to buy, this does not mean that your personal style will have to suffer for this. Eco clothing will typically come in a number of designs and still have a wide array of color. Nothing about your wardrobe choices will need to be lacking simply because you are being more conscious about your clothing purchases.

Adding personal touches and pieces of flair will only make your green clothes even more special. Old buttons can be sewn onto pieces of clothing in addition to patches or old scraps. Making these clothes uniquely your own will add to the special feeling that they give you and make you more inclined to wear them often.

It is very important for green clothing to be animal cruelty free as well. Leather should not go into green clothing or any pieces which are made at the expense of animals. Sustaining the environment does no good if we are killing all of the wildlife which live within it.

The choice to start living in a more sustainable way is a noble one. You should find eco clothing for the fashion conscious, however, to ensure that you are not sacrificing your personal taste when making this lifestyle change. Looking good and treating the Earth well are not two things which are mutually exclusive.

About the Author:
Everyone can do his or her part to start an Eco Living revolution. Start shopping for Eco Clothing to go green for you and your family.
By Denise Caly | Posted in environmentally-friendly | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

10 Ways to Reduce Waste in the City

06/08/2009
by Amy Nutt

Waste can be anything from physical objects that become litter on the ground to chemicals and other environmental pollutants. Many people want to be able to reduce the amount of waste or waste management they contribute to their city, but it can be hard to know where to start.

Here are 10 ways people can make a difference without even going too far out of their way:

1. Recycle. Local recycling centers all have bins that can be purchased to separate recyclables from the trash. Most cities also offer a pick-up service either weekly or bi-weekly. 2. Reuse. Another of the three ‘R’s, reusing as many things as possible seriously puts a dent in the amount of trash that goes out. Did the queen size sheet get torn? It doesn’t need to be thrown out because there are lots of people who could make use of the fabric. Same applies for broken down electronics and furniture.

3. Drink water. A filter for the refrigerator is a great way to prevent a plastic bottle build up in the trash can and keeps people healthy too. 4. Volunteer. There are many highways that need to be cleaned up and anyone can volunteer to do it. If that seems overwhelming, even just picking up one piece of trash from the ground a day can make a difference over time.

5. Keep a cup. Refills are available at a lot of gas stations and food places. Many will sell special cups that are able to be washed and will offer a discount on the price of a drink when refilling that cup. 6. Avoid over-packaging. Besides asking for paper instead of plastic, people should also consider the packaging on the things they buy. Single wrapped bread, bulk items, and reusable container products all reduce potential waste

7. Cook. Cooking in the home means fewer wrappers, packages, and other pre-made food waste. It also gives the opportunity to make healthier meals and create smaller portions. 8. Careful shopping. Some products want people to pay more because they will last a lot longer. Despite the higher prices, that’s a good reason for people to make the extra investment. It will save the environment and even a wallet to buy a product once and have it last for ten years than buy a product for a third of the price and throw it out every year.

9. Buy an upgradable computer. Technology is always advancing and city dumps are filled with leftover computer parts. Most computers can be upgraded so rather than buy a new one to keep up with the times a person can simply buy new parts to install. Computer stores and shops can help with this process.

10. Go hybrid. There are many models of hybrid cars now and all of them cut down on the amount of gas a person needs to use. It’s a great option for those who can afford it and some people may even be eligible for a tax break when the make the purchase.

About the Author:
Waste Management Company providing fast, friendly, and reliable waste and recycling collection services. Including: Markham recycle, recycling Richmond Hill, waste management Markham, recycling York region, waste management Richmond Hill, Ontario county recycling.
By Amy Nutt | Posted in environmental | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

City of Toronto Charges 5 Cents per Plastic Bag

15/07/2009
by Amy Nutt

Recently, a new city ordinance was put in place by Toronto in an effort to reduce waste in landfills, waste management and encourage consumers to recycle. This ordinance requires all shoppers to pay a 5 cents per bag fee whenever they make a purchase at area stores. This is an attempt to encourage shoppers to bring their own bags whenever they need to shop.

Recycling shopping bags to reduce landfill waste is not a new concept. It’s something that consumers have had within their power to do for many years. The only thing that’s changed is that it’s never been enforced until now. Toronto’s citizens are somewhat on the fence about this new ordinance. Some think it’s a terrible injustice and way for the government to milk more money out of them. Other consumers just think it’s a smart idea to re-use shopping bags as a way of protecting the environment from further damage.

Whatever the case may be, many consumers believe that this is just another sign of the times for this generation of more environmentally responsible consumers. People need a reminder every now and then of how their daily habits impact the environment in a very real way. Just think of how the act of one person re-using their shopping bags could positively impact and reduce the amount of waste dumped into landfills yearly? Now multiply that by the millions of inhabitants of the city of Toronto and that benefit increases exponentially.

Let’s get back to basics to understand how and why this ordinance was dreamed up in the first place. Plastic bags are understood to be bad for the environment. Once they are used to carry a small amount of store-bought goods, they are generally tossed into the trash can and forgotten about. But that isn’t the end for the average plastic shopping bag. The bag is dumped into the city trash collection, then into big piles that are then dumped into landfills. The average lifespan of a plastic bag, depending on its design, is anywhere from one to ten years, maybe more. So that momentary use ends up clogging up the earth for many years afterwards.

And plastic bags are responsible for the injury and death of wildlife and sea creatures. Plastic bags pollute the ground, water ways, and oceans. They drift in the wind and end up in trees where birds can get stuck in them. They get ingested by animals who then either choke to death or get strangled in them. Plastic bags eventually find their ways to the ocean where sea-life ingest them of become entangled in them. Plastic bags litter the roadways, parks, forests and anywhere else they happen to end up. They are a nuisance and a hazard to the environment anyway you look at it.

So the city of Toronto decided to set an example for the rest of the world by making consumers stop and think about how many plastic bags they are using in an average week. They must pay that extra 5 cents per bag and every time they do they make that decision on whether or not they will pay for them the next time they shop, or if they will bring their recycled bags along for future shopping trips. Perhaps we can learn a lot from this new law and start deciding if it’s worth it to pay the extra or bring one from home?

About the Author:
Waste Management Company providing fast, friendly, and reliable waste and recycling collection services. Including: Markham recycle, recycling Richmond Hill, waste management Markham, recycling York Region, waste management Richmond Hill, Ontario county recycling.
By Amy Nutt | Posted in environmental | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

How to Pick The Most Appropriate Wind Turbine For Your Needs

01/07/2009
by Tyler Hodger

Using a renewable energy source, such as wind turbines, requires evaluating a lot of issues and considerations. Ideally, the wind turbine system you purchase can be set up and ‘forgotten’, that is, would require little maintenance for a very long period of time.

The next 8 issues must be considered:

1. Power requirements: it is important to evaluate your houses power requirements. Generally speaking, the bigger the blades, the greater the power they generate. While smaller turbines require less space (and may be more appropriate for people with less land to use), they are not as efficient as the larger ones and also require constant maintenance. If you live in a small place and have modest energy requirements, getting a large wind turbine – even if it is a good option in other respects – may not be ideal for you.

2. Average wind speeds in your area: the effectiveness of wind turbines is directly linked to the average wind speeds in the area they are placed in. Consequently, before buying such a system, it is important to take this into consideration. Information on average wind speeds per region can be found online.

3. Quality: ideally, a wind turbine will be used for decades. Consequently, it is important that the system that is selected does not require a lot of maintenance. As is often the case, a high quality system offers just that.

4. Manufacturer warranty: it is an interesting observation that some manufacturers offer a longer period of warranty. Other than the obvious benefit, this is an indication of the confidence it places in its products.

5. Brand name: brands often gain their status because of the superior quality of their product (often, but not always). Consequently, investigating specific brands might be a wise course of action. Fortunately, these days it is easier than ever by checking relevant internet forums. Additionally, asking a specialist for advice might be wise as well.

6. Asking advice from people who have gone through the process: there is no one more qualified to give an opinion than someone who has only recently been in your position. Therefore, going to online forums and asking for advice from people who have purchased certain products might be a wise strategy. They would be intimately familiar with the pros and cons of the product they purchased.

7. Setup costs: although for some products this is negligible, for wind turbine systems this could be as high as 40% of the total costs. This should be taken into account.

8. Residential usage: some wind turbines simply cannot be used in residential homes for various reasons (usually size). This should be taken into account.

In our next article, we will discuss several varieties of wind turbines that can fit your specific needs.

About the Author:
Tyler Hodger has been practicing the utilization of renewable energy sources for years. Here he analyzed several considerations in buying wind turbine systems. For more articles that will describe other types of renewable energy sources and suggest ways to utilize them, visit his website: Green Planet and Me.
By Tyler Hodger | Posted in environmentally-friendly | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)