by: Chuck Hoskins
If you are thinking about installing residential solar panels in your home the cost should be a factor. Many things about the cost you should consider are government rebates, getting the best rate, and more.
You can find cheap solar panels. The price usually depends on many different factors. These factors include many different things like the durability, size, brand, warranty period, and even certifications that might be offered on the solar panels. When choosing a residential solar panel you will want to consider these factors like the size and more.
Homemade solar panels are an excellent alternative to electricity in your home. When you make a decision on which residential solar panel you should choose you want to be sure you don’t look for the cheapest. This is an important decision you are making. You are going to save a lot of money in the long run so you don’t want to shop according to price. You want to be sure the panels will be able to provide sufficient energy to your home. Shopping for the cheapest panels could be a big mistake for your solution.
Many people who are considering the solar panel kits they don’t think about the government rebates they can qualify for. Before you purchase the residential solar panels be sure you look into any rebates to help you cover the costs. One thing to consider about cheap solar panels is that they might not qualify for these rebates also.
When you are choosing solar panels and concerned about the cost you also should consider the money you will save in the long run. Even in areas that don’t get a lot of sun, you can use solar panels. Obviously they will produce more electricity in climates that are bathed in sunlight. You can install the panels on your home or on the outside of your home on the ground. You should choose the best option for you and for your electrical needs. This will allow you to choose residential solar panels that are the best solution for your home that will last the longest and need the least amount of service.
Small solar cells can be used to generate power for individual items such as tools or radios. They can also be used to charge batteries, laptops and cell phones. There are solar shingles which look similar to standard asphalt shingles but are actually solar cells. Even broken and damaged solar cells can be reconditioned and repaired for use in homemade residential solar panels. Learning to repair these cells can be a valuable skill for those looking at the possibility of off-grid living.
Cost isn’t everything when it comes to installing residential solar panels on or around your home. You should never shop for the cheapest solution because you will get your money back after you several months of no electrical bills. The considerations you can have when it comes to cost you need to think about the size of the panels, the wattage, and even governmental rebates that might be available to you.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Helping Kids Care for the Earth: Ideas for Earth Day and Beyond
by: Jamie Jefferson
Earth Day is April 22, and while it's important to get involved on this day, there are things we can do as families that will make a huge impact throughout the year.
It starts with helping our kids to celebrate the world in which we live, and it continues with helping them to love it so much that they want to do everything they can to help protect it. Here are six ideas to help your kids celebrate and care for our earth:
1. Get out and enjoy it. Researchers are now saying that simply getting kids outside in nature may be the most effective way to raise their awareness of environmental issues. Suddenly, these problems that they hear about on the news and in the classroom have a real impact on their daily lives. They see firsthand how a forest or a beach or a tidepool or a meadow is teeming with life, with ecological relationships that are interdependent, delicate and complex.
To encourage your kids to get out there and enjoy the natural world, you may have to purposefully inject some extra excitement in the idea, but just at first. Take your dog (or a friend's dog) for a walk in the woods. A dog's love for nature, and subsequent enjoyment of it, is infectious. Create a list of things to find and make your adventure into the outdoors into a scavenger hunt.
If possible, and if your kids are old enough to be by themselves out there, find a safe place for them to play in a natural environment. Allow them to go there to get away, to sit and think or to talk with their friends. Make a point to get the kids out in nature every day. Better yet, go with them.
2. Watch "An Inconvenient Truth" as a family for inspiration. Invite some of your children's friends over to watch it with their parents and talk about some initiatives that you can each commit to or some larger projects that you can work on as a neighborhood or community.
3. Help your kids learn about endangered animals. Together, look into organizations that help endangered animals and see how you can get involved.
4. Reduce and re-use, then recycle. Lots of kids get excited about recycling. Fewer are into reducing or re-using. Model to your children a healthy pattern of consumption. Talk frequently about the many benefits (which go way beyond environmental) of living a simple life and of being wary of a lifestyle of mass consumerism. As kids spend more time outside and less time at the mall or watching television advertisements, this shift may feel increasingly more natural to them.
5. Teach your kids about potentially harmful chemicals and how they can be everywhere in our world: in the foods we eat, in the supplies we use to clean the house, in our paint, in our cosmetics, in our lawn care products. Turn the search for these things into a game and allow your kids to be detectives, learning about and seeking out these harmful chemicals and then finding natural alternatives.
6. The next time you take the kids to the grocery store, see how you can minimize the amount of packaging that you purchase. We have been known to purposefully not purchase an item because of the manufacturer's use of wasteful packaging. It won't take long for the kids to realize that the best item in the store for minimal packaging: raw fruits and vegetables.
In our family, the more we can make these life changes into a game, the more apt the kids are to follow suit. Help your kids to understand how one person really can make a difference (especially when that person is part of a committed family or group) and review often the personal impact that you all have made.
Earth Day is April 22, and while it's important to get involved on this day, there are things we can do as families that will make a huge impact throughout the year.
It starts with helping our kids to celebrate the world in which we live, and it continues with helping them to love it so much that they want to do everything they can to help protect it. Here are six ideas to help your kids celebrate and care for our earth:
1. Get out and enjoy it. Researchers are now saying that simply getting kids outside in nature may be the most effective way to raise their awareness of environmental issues. Suddenly, these problems that they hear about on the news and in the classroom have a real impact on their daily lives. They see firsthand how a forest or a beach or a tidepool or a meadow is teeming with life, with ecological relationships that are interdependent, delicate and complex.
To encourage your kids to get out there and enjoy the natural world, you may have to purposefully inject some extra excitement in the idea, but just at first. Take your dog (or a friend's dog) for a walk in the woods. A dog's love for nature, and subsequent enjoyment of it, is infectious. Create a list of things to find and make your adventure into the outdoors into a scavenger hunt.
If possible, and if your kids are old enough to be by themselves out there, find a safe place for them to play in a natural environment. Allow them to go there to get away, to sit and think or to talk with their friends. Make a point to get the kids out in nature every day. Better yet, go with them.
2. Watch "An Inconvenient Truth" as a family for inspiration. Invite some of your children's friends over to watch it with their parents and talk about some initiatives that you can each commit to or some larger projects that you can work on as a neighborhood or community.
3. Help your kids learn about endangered animals. Together, look into organizations that help endangered animals and see how you can get involved.
4. Reduce and re-use, then recycle. Lots of kids get excited about recycling. Fewer are into reducing or re-using. Model to your children a healthy pattern of consumption. Talk frequently about the many benefits (which go way beyond environmental) of living a simple life and of being wary of a lifestyle of mass consumerism. As kids spend more time outside and less time at the mall or watching television advertisements, this shift may feel increasingly more natural to them.
5. Teach your kids about potentially harmful chemicals and how they can be everywhere in our world: in the foods we eat, in the supplies we use to clean the house, in our paint, in our cosmetics, in our lawn care products. Turn the search for these things into a game and allow your kids to be detectives, learning about and seeking out these harmful chemicals and then finding natural alternatives.
6. The next time you take the kids to the grocery store, see how you can minimize the amount of packaging that you purchase. We have been known to purposefully not purchase an item because of the manufacturer's use of wasteful packaging. It won't take long for the kids to realize that the best item in the store for minimal packaging: raw fruits and vegetables.
In our family, the more we can make these life changes into a game, the more apt the kids are to follow suit. Help your kids to understand how one person really can make a difference (especially when that person is part of a committed family or group) and review often the personal impact that you all have made.
6 Ways to Reduce Your Energy Usage At Home
by: Riki Chon
Today, a good deal more people are more and more aware of the amount of energy they consumed every day and what effect it was having on our planet. If you are among these people and are looking for a way to help out with the environment and cut back on your energy usage, here are six simple steps to assisting you save on the amount of energy you use.
1. Turn off all of the lights in your home that you are not using, and can you do with less lights? For the next month try to making a genuine commitment to stick to it and compare your current utility bill with next month’s and see how much money you actually could save over the long term just by doing this simple adjustment.
As a matter of fact your mother likely taught you to turn off the lights when you are not in a room, and mother always right. Even with low wattage bulbs, it can help to make a difference to keep them switched off when you are not using them.
2. Replace your old thermostat with a digital programmable thermostat if your home does not have one. This way, you can set the thermostat to run the heat or air conditioning less when you are not at home, and then set the temperature to go back to comfortable levels just before you return home. If the system is not running all day it will cut back significantly on the amount of energy you use.
3. Use solar power whenever you can. If you use outdoor lights, then switch these over to run on solar energy. You can also get a portable solar charger that can charge up small appliances like cell phones and laptops. While people mainly use these devices on the go, you can also routinely use them in the home as well.
4. Cut down back your hot water use. You can achieve this by using warm or even cold water to wash your clothes and hang up your clothes outside to dry, it will smell fresher too.
5. Be sure all the bulbs in your home have been changed over to the low wattage compact fluorescents. The old style incandescent bulbs can almost triple your energy usage. Also, have outdoor lights with the capability to turn on at night and able to turn themselves off during the daylight hours. This way even if you forget to turn the light off it will not be operating all day.
6. In the winter months, open your drapes on the sunny side of your house to let the sun in to warm your home, you will be amaze how much energy you could save. And naturally you do the opposite in the summer and close the drapes to keep the sun out.
Simply by utilizing these simple steps and you will be able to cut back on your energy consumption. Not only will you be working to save the environment, but you will also be reducing your utility bills as well.
Today, a good deal more people are more and more aware of the amount of energy they consumed every day and what effect it was having on our planet. If you are among these people and are looking for a way to help out with the environment and cut back on your energy usage, here are six simple steps to assisting you save on the amount of energy you use.
1. Turn off all of the lights in your home that you are not using, and can you do with less lights? For the next month try to making a genuine commitment to stick to it and compare your current utility bill with next month’s and see how much money you actually could save over the long term just by doing this simple adjustment.
As a matter of fact your mother likely taught you to turn off the lights when you are not in a room, and mother always right. Even with low wattage bulbs, it can help to make a difference to keep them switched off when you are not using them.
2. Replace your old thermostat with a digital programmable thermostat if your home does not have one. This way, you can set the thermostat to run the heat or air conditioning less when you are not at home, and then set the temperature to go back to comfortable levels just before you return home. If the system is not running all day it will cut back significantly on the amount of energy you use.
3. Use solar power whenever you can. If you use outdoor lights, then switch these over to run on solar energy. You can also get a portable solar charger that can charge up small appliances like cell phones and laptops. While people mainly use these devices on the go, you can also routinely use them in the home as well.
4. Cut down back your hot water use. You can achieve this by using warm or even cold water to wash your clothes and hang up your clothes outside to dry, it will smell fresher too.
5. Be sure all the bulbs in your home have been changed over to the low wattage compact fluorescents. The old style incandescent bulbs can almost triple your energy usage. Also, have outdoor lights with the capability to turn on at night and able to turn themselves off during the daylight hours. This way even if you forget to turn the light off it will not be operating all day.
6. In the winter months, open your drapes on the sunny side of your house to let the sun in to warm your home, you will be amaze how much energy you could save. And naturally you do the opposite in the summer and close the drapes to keep the sun out.
Simply by utilizing these simple steps and you will be able to cut back on your energy consumption. Not only will you be working to save the environment, but you will also be reducing your utility bills as well.
Eliminate Waste with Dewatering
by: Derek Vignovich
The focus of many companies today is turning to the environment. With stricter waste laws being enforced by the government, companies that work with waste are searching for “greener” ways of eliminating it. On process that is quickly becoming popular is dewatering. Dewatering is the process of removing waste from soil or solids. This process can remove harmful toxins and chemicals from solid materials such as trash, waste, and soil. While this process is environmentally friendly it can also offer a savings solution for many companies. If your company is in search of an environmentally safe and economical solution to eliminate waste, consider the following benefits of dewatering.
Soil Dewatering Benefits
Unfortunately, there are situations where a chemical spill can contaminate the ground. In this situation the chemicals must be removed, or the ground water could be contaminated. Dewatering offers the perfect solution for cleaning the soil. The soil is taken to a mix tank where water and a special solution may be added. The soil is then washed and ran across a shaker to remove any large particles, than is sent through a centrifuge to extract toxins, chemicals water and solids. Throughout the process the soil can be tested to insure all toxins are removed. The process can be repeated until the soil is clean and can be placed back in its normal environment and the toxins can properly be disposed of.
Waste Water Treatment Dewatering
The dewatering process can also be used for waste water treatment. This process can be beneficial for public waste water treatment plants or individuals. Many farms use the process to make the disposal of animal waste more affordable. In this situation the waste water is processed to eliminate the majority of water or liquid. After the waste is ran across a shaker the amount of solid material left can be disposed of for a smaller fee then complete disposal of all the material. For companies that must ship the waste to another location from disposal, removing the liquid can greatly reduce shipping fees.
Chemical Waste Dewatering
Dewatering can also be a beneficial process for manufacturing companies. Companies that use water to keep machines cool or a mixture of chemical solvents can find a use for the process. Dewatering can separate water from chemicals, metal shavings, and oils. In many companies the liquid waste is collected in barrels or containers for continued use. However, after a certain period this water must be disposed of. Rather than paying for disposal of large amounts of contaminated water, after using the dewatering process only a small amount of waste has to be disposed of.
The dewatering process is offered by a number of companies today. There are two main options available for commercial use. As a business owner you can pay a company to complete the process on site or at the dewatering location. Another option would be to rent the equipment and have your own employees complete the process. Most companies that rent equipment will set it up and train employees on site. With either choice your company can enjoy the benefit of paying less for disposal without destroying the environment.
The focus of many companies today is turning to the environment. With stricter waste laws being enforced by the government, companies that work with waste are searching for “greener” ways of eliminating it. On process that is quickly becoming popular is dewatering. Dewatering is the process of removing waste from soil or solids. This process can remove harmful toxins and chemicals from solid materials such as trash, waste, and soil. While this process is environmentally friendly it can also offer a savings solution for many companies. If your company is in search of an environmentally safe and economical solution to eliminate waste, consider the following benefits of dewatering.
Soil Dewatering Benefits
Unfortunately, there are situations where a chemical spill can contaminate the ground. In this situation the chemicals must be removed, or the ground water could be contaminated. Dewatering offers the perfect solution for cleaning the soil. The soil is taken to a mix tank where water and a special solution may be added. The soil is then washed and ran across a shaker to remove any large particles, than is sent through a centrifuge to extract toxins, chemicals water and solids. Throughout the process the soil can be tested to insure all toxins are removed. The process can be repeated until the soil is clean and can be placed back in its normal environment and the toxins can properly be disposed of.
Waste Water Treatment Dewatering
The dewatering process can also be used for waste water treatment. This process can be beneficial for public waste water treatment plants or individuals. Many farms use the process to make the disposal of animal waste more affordable. In this situation the waste water is processed to eliminate the majority of water or liquid. After the waste is ran across a shaker the amount of solid material left can be disposed of for a smaller fee then complete disposal of all the material. For companies that must ship the waste to another location from disposal, removing the liquid can greatly reduce shipping fees.
Chemical Waste Dewatering
Dewatering can also be a beneficial process for manufacturing companies. Companies that use water to keep machines cool or a mixture of chemical solvents can find a use for the process. Dewatering can separate water from chemicals, metal shavings, and oils. In many companies the liquid waste is collected in barrels or containers for continued use. However, after a certain period this water must be disposed of. Rather than paying for disposal of large amounts of contaminated water, after using the dewatering process only a small amount of waste has to be disposed of.
The dewatering process is offered by a number of companies today. There are two main options available for commercial use. As a business owner you can pay a company to complete the process on site or at the dewatering location. Another option would be to rent the equipment and have your own employees complete the process. Most companies that rent equipment will set it up and train employees on site. With either choice your company can enjoy the benefit of paying less for disposal without destroying the environment.
Waste Water Treatment Options
by: Derek Vignovich
Wastewater may not be something that you enjoy thinking about but it is something that companies need to deal with. Companies face this problem everyday when using water to manufacture their products. Pollutants that are released back into our environment every day, in one form or another, are detrimental to our world. Water that includes oil, chemicals, and chemicals are hazardous to your health and needs to be treated. Wastewater is a breeding ground for diseases coming from the bacteria in the water. This is where the treatment of wastewater comes in. Wastewater treatment takes the pollutants out of the water so that it is safe to go back into the environment.
Waste Water Can Be cleaned
Luckily, there are many ways that companies can complete the process of waste water treatment and make disposal safe. With the use of equipment such as a centrifuge or shaker the chemicals inside the water can be separated for proper disposal. In many cases, after treating the water it is completely safe to return the water to the earth during disposal. However, if the water is not treated properly, these contaminates can cause many health problems. This is especially true if contaminated water is allowed to soak into the aquifers that provide drinking water.
Waste Water Treatment for Companies
If your company deals with water that is contaminated due to manufacturing processes or for other reason you will have two main options. You can pay large fees for an independent company to separate the water and dispose of it or you can separating equipment in house. In most cases it is easier to have the waste shipped out and disposed of. However, you will have to store the contaminated water until it is picked up and the cost for disposal can be very high. Luckily, there are now options for purchasing or renting your own equipment and cleaning your waste water during manufacturing. In many cases you can even clean the water to a point where it can be reused. This can end up saving you money in the long run.
Why Should You Be Concerned
If you own a company that uses water in the manufacturing process, you will have many regulations and rules to abide by. Thanks to the government, contaminated water is strictly regulated. You can face strict fines, and even prosecution, if your company does not abide by these rules. Contaminated water is unsafe and can have detrimental effects on the environment. Therefore, it is imperative that you properly treat waste water and dispose of it as is required.
As you can see there are many reasons that your company should be concerned with waste water treatment. If you need help in this matter there are many companies that sell equipment and can help. Most waste treatment companies will have a trained specialist test your water and help you through the process of choosing the best equipment or solution. With the many types of equipment and processes available today, you should be able to find an affordable environmentally friendly solution.
Wastewater may not be something that you enjoy thinking about but it is something that companies need to deal with. Companies face this problem everyday when using water to manufacture their products. Pollutants that are released back into our environment every day, in one form or another, are detrimental to our world. Water that includes oil, chemicals, and chemicals are hazardous to your health and needs to be treated. Wastewater is a breeding ground for diseases coming from the bacteria in the water. This is where the treatment of wastewater comes in. Wastewater treatment takes the pollutants out of the water so that it is safe to go back into the environment.
Waste Water Can Be cleaned
Luckily, there are many ways that companies can complete the process of waste water treatment and make disposal safe. With the use of equipment such as a centrifuge or shaker the chemicals inside the water can be separated for proper disposal. In many cases, after treating the water it is completely safe to return the water to the earth during disposal. However, if the water is not treated properly, these contaminates can cause many health problems. This is especially true if contaminated water is allowed to soak into the aquifers that provide drinking water.
Waste Water Treatment for Companies
If your company deals with water that is contaminated due to manufacturing processes or for other reason you will have two main options. You can pay large fees for an independent company to separate the water and dispose of it or you can separating equipment in house. In most cases it is easier to have the waste shipped out and disposed of. However, you will have to store the contaminated water until it is picked up and the cost for disposal can be very high. Luckily, there are now options for purchasing or renting your own equipment and cleaning your waste water during manufacturing. In many cases you can even clean the water to a point where it can be reused. This can end up saving you money in the long run.
Why Should You Be Concerned
If you own a company that uses water in the manufacturing process, you will have many regulations and rules to abide by. Thanks to the government, contaminated water is strictly regulated. You can face strict fines, and even prosecution, if your company does not abide by these rules. Contaminated water is unsafe and can have detrimental effects on the environment. Therefore, it is imperative that you properly treat waste water and dispose of it as is required.
As you can see there are many reasons that your company should be concerned with waste water treatment. If you need help in this matter there are many companies that sell equipment and can help. Most waste treatment companies will have a trained specialist test your water and help you through the process of choosing the best equipment or solution. With the many types of equipment and processes available today, you should be able to find an affordable environmentally friendly solution.
Indoor Air Quality - 10 Ways to Control Contaminants at Their Source
by: Dan Bossenbroek
We spend most of our lives indoors, and the majority of that indoor time in our homes. The concern for energy conservation has lead to houses that do a much better job at keeping the cold outside air out. This has done wonders for the energy efficiency of our homes, but has lead to one unfortunate consequence: poor indoor air quality. In old leaky homes, any contaminants inside the house would typically be blown right back out of the house, but in newer homes they can easily become trapped inside.
Some of these contaminants can lead to increased short term allergic type reactions and symptoms like irritated eyes, nose and throat, dizziness and fatigue. These short term reactions are typically not serious health concerns, but some indoor air contaminants have been linked to long term and serious conditions such as respiratory disease, heart disease, and cancer. It is difficult to pinpoint what level of exposure to these contaminants is potentially dangerous, and it also seems to vary from person to person. However, whether you suffer from short term reactions or are concerned about the potential dangers of long term exposure here are ten ways to control indoor air contaminants at their source:
1. Leave your shoes at the door: The soles of your shoes can track numerous types of contaminants into your house like tar, dirt, feces, sticks, leaves, road salt, oil, and numerous types of chemicals found on our streets, sidewalks, parking lots and driveways.
2. Chemical free cleaning: Eliminate potentially harmful chemicals from your house and improve the indoor air quality by switching to natural, organic cleaners and/or cleaning cloths made of mirafibers which only require water to clean just about anything. These incredible cleaning cloths will also help you save on paper towels too.
3. Quit smoking or smoke outside: Second hand smoke is a proven carcinogen, not to mention the foul odor that it leaves behind.
4. Purchase formaldehyde free and low VOC (volatile organic compound) products: Many building products have traditionally been made with chemicals that have been shown to produce negative effects in some people. These include fiberglass batt insulation, engineered wood products like plywood and particle board, paints, adhesives, varnishes, polyurethane, and carpeting.
5. Provide adequate exhaust for combustion sources: Stoves, ovens, furnaces, fireplaces and kerosene heaters that are improperly vented can introduce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas into your house. Carbon monoxide is poisonous, and especially dangerous since it is colorless and odorless.
6. Contain the mess or take it outside: Many hobbies and home improvement activities like soldering, gluing, woodworking, sawing, furniture refinishing and sanding can create a huge mess and that mess can quickly spread throughout your house. Several ways to minimize this are to turn off your furnace while you are working, clean up as soon as you are finished, install an automatic vacuum system in your wood shop, or simply do the project outside.
7. Keep the pests under control: A clean house that is well sealed to the elements will also keep pests like ants, cockroaches, mice, and other vermin from coming into your house, bringing various contaminants along with them. Properly storing dry goods in sealed containers will also help to keep the pests away.
8. Moisture control and mold prevention: Mold will thrive in warm, moist environments wherever there is a “food” source like paper, wood, or other organic material. Keep a watchful eye out for any water leaks indoors and out, and fix any problems immediately.
9. Weatherize your home: Sealing all of the cracks and holes on the outside of your house will also keep many pollutants from ever coming into your house.
10. Keep the beach and the pool outside: The chlorine laden pool water in your suits and towels should stay outside along with the sand form the beach. Line dry your suits and towels outside and then toss them in the washer as soon as possible.
The first step to improving the quality of the air in your house is to stop the contaminants at their source. Following these ten steps will help you keep the inside of your house cleaner, limit your exposure to potentially harmful substances and can even improve your health. Keep these pollutants under control and breathe easy.
We spend most of our lives indoors, and the majority of that indoor time in our homes. The concern for energy conservation has lead to houses that do a much better job at keeping the cold outside air out. This has done wonders for the energy efficiency of our homes, but has lead to one unfortunate consequence: poor indoor air quality. In old leaky homes, any contaminants inside the house would typically be blown right back out of the house, but in newer homes they can easily become trapped inside.
Some of these contaminants can lead to increased short term allergic type reactions and symptoms like irritated eyes, nose and throat, dizziness and fatigue. These short term reactions are typically not serious health concerns, but some indoor air contaminants have been linked to long term and serious conditions such as respiratory disease, heart disease, and cancer. It is difficult to pinpoint what level of exposure to these contaminants is potentially dangerous, and it also seems to vary from person to person. However, whether you suffer from short term reactions or are concerned about the potential dangers of long term exposure here are ten ways to control indoor air contaminants at their source:
1. Leave your shoes at the door: The soles of your shoes can track numerous types of contaminants into your house like tar, dirt, feces, sticks, leaves, road salt, oil, and numerous types of chemicals found on our streets, sidewalks, parking lots and driveways.
2. Chemical free cleaning: Eliminate potentially harmful chemicals from your house and improve the indoor air quality by switching to natural, organic cleaners and/or cleaning cloths made of mirafibers which only require water to clean just about anything. These incredible cleaning cloths will also help you save on paper towels too.
3. Quit smoking or smoke outside: Second hand smoke is a proven carcinogen, not to mention the foul odor that it leaves behind.
4. Purchase formaldehyde free and low VOC (volatile organic compound) products: Many building products have traditionally been made with chemicals that have been shown to produce negative effects in some people. These include fiberglass batt insulation, engineered wood products like plywood and particle board, paints, adhesives, varnishes, polyurethane, and carpeting.
5. Provide adequate exhaust for combustion sources: Stoves, ovens, furnaces, fireplaces and kerosene heaters that are improperly vented can introduce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas into your house. Carbon monoxide is poisonous, and especially dangerous since it is colorless and odorless.
6. Contain the mess or take it outside: Many hobbies and home improvement activities like soldering, gluing, woodworking, sawing, furniture refinishing and sanding can create a huge mess and that mess can quickly spread throughout your house. Several ways to minimize this are to turn off your furnace while you are working, clean up as soon as you are finished, install an automatic vacuum system in your wood shop, or simply do the project outside.
7. Keep the pests under control: A clean house that is well sealed to the elements will also keep pests like ants, cockroaches, mice, and other vermin from coming into your house, bringing various contaminants along with them. Properly storing dry goods in sealed containers will also help to keep the pests away.
8. Moisture control and mold prevention: Mold will thrive in warm, moist environments wherever there is a “food” source like paper, wood, or other organic material. Keep a watchful eye out for any water leaks indoors and out, and fix any problems immediately.
9. Weatherize your home: Sealing all of the cracks and holes on the outside of your house will also keep many pollutants from ever coming into your house.
10. Keep the beach and the pool outside: The chlorine laden pool water in your suits and towels should stay outside along with the sand form the beach. Line dry your suits and towels outside and then toss them in the washer as soon as possible.
The first step to improving the quality of the air in your house is to stop the contaminants at their source. Following these ten steps will help you keep the inside of your house cleaner, limit your exposure to potentially harmful substances and can even improve your health. Keep these pollutants under control and breathe easy.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Go For the Green! – Tips for Earth Friendly Exhibiting
by: Kira Turner
The environment, global warming, overflowing land-fills, sky rocketing energy prices; these words have become part of our everyday language. As have earth friendly solutions, recycling, sustainability & corporate or social responsibility.
Today’s market place is going green. It’s all around us – green initiatives are on everyone’s mind; am I doing enough, could I be doing more? Consumers are starting to pay attention to earth friendly companies, and businesses that want to make a difference in the world are choosing to go for the green.
Whether your interest in the environment is purely from social responsibility or if increased pressure in the market place is driving your decision – or a little bit of both, adopting green practices can only enhance your companies brand image. Going green gives you something to talk about and puts you ahead of the competition.
10 Tips for going green:
1. Building a booth or looking for banner stands? Use earth friendly materials such as bamboo. Bamboo is a renewable agro-forestry product and the fastest growing plant on the planet. It is a viable replacement for wood and metal as it has a rapid maturity cycle of 3-4 years and it provides a critical component in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
2. Determine longevity – for long term exhibits pick materials that will not weather or degrade quickly. For short-term displays use materials that are easy to recycle or reuse.
3. Use recycled material – increase the sustainability of your exhibit by using as much recycled, reclaimed or rapidly renewable material as possible. The process of recycling aluminum takes about much less energy than it does to create new aluminum form ore. When you are finished with your exhibit recycle it – make sure it doesn’t end up in a landfill.
4. Print Green – make up banner and signs with water-based inks on cotton fabric or bio-degradable plastics. Biodegradable laminates, water based adhesives, recycled paper for brochures and promotional materials all contribute to a greener planet. Go for the green with giveaways – avoid items that come in plastic packaging (unless biodegradable) or plastic items (unless recycled). Instead choose re-useable items such as pens, mugs or cotton tote bags.
5. Eco-accessorize – don’t forget about flooring, racks and other accessories. Bamboo flooring and literature racks promote sustainability too.
6. Energy efficient lighting - LED lighting reduces energy use by up to 90% over conventional sources. Incandescent bulbs are inefficient and emit only 10% of the energy they use as light – the rest is given off as heat.
7. Detoxify – Chemicals, sealants, vinyl and paints all have a direct negative impact on the environment. Oil and latex-based paints are toxic to the environment, evaporate into the air and contribute to global warming. Look for non-VOC paints, stains and PVC-free carpeting, water-based or low-VOC padding and adhesives.
8. Lighten Up – modular and portable exhibits tend to be lighter than custom displays. When shipping think about using lighter materials and less packaging materials. Buy locally to further reduce shipping and delivery.
9. Refurbish – give your old exhibit new life with earth friendly materials such as cotton graphics. Using exhibits that can be easily changed rather than replaced will mean less consumption of materials over time. Keep your exhibit in good repair and replace broken or damaged parts.
10. Use suppliers that not only offer green options but also operate with environmentally conscious conditions such as waste reduction programs and recycling in-place. Be sure to ask your supplier for more advice on how you can create an earth friendly display for your next exhibit.
Going green doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. There are many more options available today and the list keeps growing. Green, recycled and earth friendly materials can cost less than their non-recycled counterparts. Research your options and know that every little bit counts – from using recycled paper to printing biodegradable banners – you can be rest assured you are making a positive contribution toward greening the planet.
The environment, global warming, overflowing land-fills, sky rocketing energy prices; these words have become part of our everyday language. As have earth friendly solutions, recycling, sustainability & corporate or social responsibility.
Today’s market place is going green. It’s all around us – green initiatives are on everyone’s mind; am I doing enough, could I be doing more? Consumers are starting to pay attention to earth friendly companies, and businesses that want to make a difference in the world are choosing to go for the green.
Whether your interest in the environment is purely from social responsibility or if increased pressure in the market place is driving your decision – or a little bit of both, adopting green practices can only enhance your companies brand image. Going green gives you something to talk about and puts you ahead of the competition.
10 Tips for going green:
1. Building a booth or looking for banner stands? Use earth friendly materials such as bamboo. Bamboo is a renewable agro-forestry product and the fastest growing plant on the planet. It is a viable replacement for wood and metal as it has a rapid maturity cycle of 3-4 years and it provides a critical component in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
2. Determine longevity – for long term exhibits pick materials that will not weather or degrade quickly. For short-term displays use materials that are easy to recycle or reuse.
3. Use recycled material – increase the sustainability of your exhibit by using as much recycled, reclaimed or rapidly renewable material as possible. The process of recycling aluminum takes about much less energy than it does to create new aluminum form ore. When you are finished with your exhibit recycle it – make sure it doesn’t end up in a landfill.
4. Print Green – make up banner and signs with water-based inks on cotton fabric or bio-degradable plastics. Biodegradable laminates, water based adhesives, recycled paper for brochures and promotional materials all contribute to a greener planet. Go for the green with giveaways – avoid items that come in plastic packaging (unless biodegradable) or plastic items (unless recycled). Instead choose re-useable items such as pens, mugs or cotton tote bags.
5. Eco-accessorize – don’t forget about flooring, racks and other accessories. Bamboo flooring and literature racks promote sustainability too.
6. Energy efficient lighting - LED lighting reduces energy use by up to 90% over conventional sources. Incandescent bulbs are inefficient and emit only 10% of the energy they use as light – the rest is given off as heat.
7. Detoxify – Chemicals, sealants, vinyl and paints all have a direct negative impact on the environment. Oil and latex-based paints are toxic to the environment, evaporate into the air and contribute to global warming. Look for non-VOC paints, stains and PVC-free carpeting, water-based or low-VOC padding and adhesives.
8. Lighten Up – modular and portable exhibits tend to be lighter than custom displays. When shipping think about using lighter materials and less packaging materials. Buy locally to further reduce shipping and delivery.
9. Refurbish – give your old exhibit new life with earth friendly materials such as cotton graphics. Using exhibits that can be easily changed rather than replaced will mean less consumption of materials over time. Keep your exhibit in good repair and replace broken or damaged parts.
10. Use suppliers that not only offer green options but also operate with environmentally conscious conditions such as waste reduction programs and recycling in-place. Be sure to ask your supplier for more advice on how you can create an earth friendly display for your next exhibit.
Going green doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. There are many more options available today and the list keeps growing. Green, recycled and earth friendly materials can cost less than their non-recycled counterparts. Research your options and know that every little bit counts – from using recycled paper to printing biodegradable banners – you can be rest assured you are making a positive contribution toward greening the planet.
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