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Eco-responsible lifestyle recommendations are the main topic of many publications and Internet sites created in the last years. Though being a realtor in Toronto gives me plenty of occasions to talk about the many ways of eco-friendly living with my clients, my topic today will be a bit more specific. My aim today is not to cover the whole area of environmentally conscious living, giving all the tips you’ve probably heard already. Instead, I would like to contemplate on groceries, water and electric current – as the three basic resources that we, who live in industrialized countries, tend to use without further thinking.

Food

As I believe that most people don’t just throw away paper, glass and metal waste but recycle it, the rest of your household rubbish will be mainly food. The majority of this food rubbish is often still in its original packaging and in a good state. The shocking reality is that between 20 and 30% of all food purchased by Canadian households is dumped eventually. Together with the food thrown out in stores and restaurants, it makes between 7 and 14 billion tonnes of food dumped annually. Speaking in money language, it means annual waste of $3 to 5 billion {in Canadian dollars).

Surprising, what we have just calculated, isn’t it? The main paradox is that we throw out so much food every day and at the same time so many philanthropic organizations are working hard, trying to help people who don’t have enough to eat. Whereas it wouldn’t be too smart to pack unused foods and send it to countries hit by famine, there are other ways to avoid food being thrown out uselessly. 1. Do you have any food left from yesterday? Try to incorporate it into today’s lunch. For instance you can stuff some peppers with some leftover rice. 2. A good way of preventing food going past the expiry date is arranging your food cabinet by this criteria: older food, that is going to expire soon, is placed in the front, while the longer lasting products can stay in the back of the shelves. 3. If you know you will not eat food that’s just about to expire and would consequently throw it out, just bring it to your local charity or soup kitchen or similar place while the food is still in good condition. If you cannot eat all the food you have purchased, there are enough people even in your community who will be grateful to consume it – hunger is not limited to Africa. 4. If you have some leftovers anyway, try mulching it instead of just dumping it. Maybe you will contradict that you don’t own a garden. But your neighbour might own one and may be able to help you to get rid of your leftovers.

Water

There are a lot of ways to avoid wasting water and you can probably name many of them yourself. One issue that occurs to me when thinking about sensible water usage is the way we manage human waste: toilets. Nowadays, toilets are absolutely fundamental – when they are functioning alright, we don’t even need to pay any attention to them. But do the math: find out how much water your family used in the last month through flushing. You might be astonished by the big number you get out of this. Now suppose you could reduce that by simply decreasing the amount of water your lavatory uses every time you flush. There are two different methods to achieve that. 1. There are new types of toilets available, that are using just the minimum volume of water necessary. You might think that there is not much to choose from when buying a new lavatory, but just stop by at your nearest store and see for yourself, you might be surprised! 2. If you insert a couple of plastic bottles full of water into the tank of your lavatory, it will help you to save some water for flushing too. It may take some time to find out just how much is the minimum volume of water for your lavatory to keep functioning.

Electric energy

Just like with water, many advices on electricity waste prevention are available only and elsewhere. But one of the machines that needs vast amounts of energy is one that you might be using daily: a tumble dryer. Nowadays, people are not used to waiting before they get something they want or need at the moment, and they sometimes need too much energy getting it, just because it will be done faster. It is quite obvious that in our current lifestyle, there is not enough time for washing our clothes manually, and that dishwashers do really save some water. Though the pluses of a tumble dryer might be less clear. Would it be such a great trouble if we just waited 1 – 2 days for our laundry to get dry? For people who are trying hard to make their lives less of an ecological burden, using a tumble dryer is acceptable only in emergency cases. Even a better decision is to get rid of the dryer at all, or sell it. Not only the nature will be grateful for your decision, but also you will pay less for electricity.

Tags: electricity, environment, Food, Green Living, Water

If you’re on the market for new footwear, why not try environmentally friendly shoes. With sneakers, flats, heels, and other designs available, there’s a style on the market that’s right for you. You don’t need to give up style and comfort in order to become a friend of the Earth.

When people hear the term “environmentally friendly shoes,” the first things that enter their minds are Birkenstocks or moccasins. This should not be the case, because modern eco-friendly shoes don’t sacrifice style for their lower carbon footprint.

Environmentally-friendly shoes are made of organic or recycled materials. Their linings can be made from bamboo or recycled yarn. The outer layer of the shoe may be made from hemp, organic bamboo, or any other sustainable material. Laces can be made from recycled plastic, while soles are often recycled from old tires.

There are several companies that manufacture environmentally-friendly shoes. These companies make a conscious effort to decrease their carbon footprint with regards to their operations, including their processing, manufacturing, and shipping activities. Even big companies are restructuring their processing methods in order to conserve energy – thus decreasing their carbon emissions.

Consumers should be well informed and should read the labels to find out whether the pair of shoes they’re considering buying are environmentally friendly. Some labels contain information about the total environmental impact of the pair. Some manufacturers have a rating system with regard to the carbon footprint a pair has. If the product is said to be organic, then it should have a USDA label. Such a label certifies the product as having been made from natural materials without chemical processing. The health of the ecosystem where the sources of materials were grown will also be considered.

Many people also consider fair trade when they purchase shoes. Farmers are among the worst treated professionals in the world. “Fair trade” means good working conditions, fair wages, and reasonable treatment of the environment. Fair trade also gives farmers the freedom to choose whom to trade their goods with. And with fair trade, toxic pesticides and GMOs are out of the question.

Most environment ally friendly shoe manufacturers use minimal and biodegradable packaging to keep their carbon footprint low. Additionally, companies often donate part of their profit to organizations committed to the environment.

You can go online and do your research to find out where you can buy green footwear. Some retail stores have entire “green lines” because of the demand for such products. Purchasing and using environmentally friendly footwear is an easy way to help care for planet Earth.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn to live more environmentally friendly lives. Find out more about sustainable living at her blog on Going Green.

This article was originally posted at Shoes That Are Environmentally Friendly.

Tags: Eco-friendly, environment, environmentally friendly, green, Green Living, Shoe, Shoes, Sustainable Living

We seem so engrossed as we run in place, just to make ends meet, that we are not capable of standing back and looking at the bigger picture any more. Why are we so grossly inefficient at the way that we run our lives? For many years now, we have dealt with pretty good times and have not had to worry about putting such expensive petrol into our cars, nor be concerned about the fact that without those cars we simply cannot exist. A recession was something that we could barely remember or if we were young enough, we read about it in economics books. Perhaps it was time for a wake-up call, but time or not we have certainly received one.

It is crazy that we rely on mechanical energy forms to help us do everything, without question. Energy inefficiency has led to huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, causing damage to the environment and forcing us to consider major changes, right now. We have been able to analyse the situation quite well and talk about the benefits of renewable energy, but we’re certainly not helping the environment by diverting the funds we should be investing in development, failing to allow these options to do any good.

Now we can see how vulnerable we are to an economic downturn and we can see that the “great recession” has exposed this vulnerability. Now, efficiency is everything and this most definitely includes the use of energy. We all have to learn to turn appliances off, to think of what we could do as an alternative and not just opt for the easy way. We must review our transportation habits and not clog the roads with single occupant vehicles each and every day as we go back and forth to work.

If you happen to be the decision-maker either at home or in the office, come up with ways to save electricity and then put an action plan in place. Insist that your family turns off all the lights, turn up the thermostats by a notch – don’t allow them to be altered, and make sure that all family members wash clothes at the same time and not individually, and generally be a better keeper of the space that you occupy.

We shouldn’t rely on politicians to do our work for us. Few seem to doubt the validity of those environmental claims, but political agendas are still getting in the way of making any headway. Just look at what failed to come out of that summit of “leaders” in Copenhagen – inaction once again.

We don’t have to wait around for politicians to try and force big business to solve these issues. If we all do our own bit, we can save ourselves money by steadily reducing our energy use and our own carbon footprints every day, and although we can’t get this all done by ourselves, we can achieve real results if we all work together. ‘People Power’ really can achieve this quite easily, after all, there are billions of us, so let’s just do it – start right now!

Tags: environment, environmental sustainability, Renewable Energy, saving electricity, saving money

According to what the best historians tell us, since 1750 our reliance on fossil fuels has risen unabated as we turn to coal and oil for everything. We have developed systems over the years and become smarter for sure, inventing new ways to use the energy that we rely on to make our lives better. This has been going on in the background, just as we have ignored scientists and environmentalists who have warned us about greenhouse gas emissions and the damage that is being caused to the world all around this.

It has only been fairly recently that we have actually woken up to understand what is going on. We have caused considerable damage so far and are now in danger of not being able to slow our reliance on fossil fuels sufficiently to enable us to reverse and repair this damage. Now we can clearly see the benefits of renewable energy and know that helping the environment through tangible change is a necessity.

It is sobering to realise that only about 5% of our energy needs can be met by wind, water, geothermal and solar renewable energy means. It is certainly possible for us to generate enough electricity from such sources for our own consumption, but again unfortunately, it is prohibitively expensive for us to invest in such systems for our homes alone. Solar energy, as an option, is perhaps most often used by home owners, especially in sunnier climes, where they can put panels on the roof to help heat water and run certain appliances.

Some appliance manufacturers are working on the development of “smart” products that can be run individually from external, renewable energy sources. In certain cases, a solar panel may be able to run a refrigerator, for example.

Governments around the world are finally taking notice of what’s happening and are making available funds for incentives and grants. If, as a home owner, you are willing to replace appliances that use a considerable amount of energy by retrofitting the systems accordingly, you will have the opportunity to get grants from the taxpayer. This is a good investment, as in the long run, a lower reliance on raw energy needs can only be viewed as a security enhancement from a wider point of view.

When it comes to ways to save electricity around the home, we can do this by using a type of renewable energy in its most basic form. If the climate that you live in allows this, why not consider using solar energy to dry your clothes? A typical clothes washer and dryer cycle can add to your energy bill considerably. Remember that it is a question of taking baby steps to make a difference and we can all get there if we apply ourselves in this way.

If you cannot directly introduce the concept of renewable energy into your home, the next best thing is to insist that the companies you patronise become more sustainable. Look for information on companies that favour renewable energy sources. These days, it is good public relations to be doing so and companies that are making a difference are only too keen to tell us all how good a corporate citizen they are! Make sure they pay attention!

Tags: environment, environmental sustainability, Renewable Energy, saving electricity, saving money

It’s important to keep in mind that you don’t have to live off the land or move to a cabin in the mountains to start helping the environment! You must have noticed how environmental issues are in discussion everywhere these days, not to be ignored. We use way too much energy and are very careless with our consumption and must all learn how to be more sustainable as we go forward. Yes, this means we will have to think about everything that we do as we go about our daily lives. Look for as many ways to save electricity at home as you can, while learning about the benefits of renewable energy and seeing how these options or solutions can be applied for all of us.

How can we help save the environment, individually? We have compiled a list of things you can do at home, immediately, which will help to make a difference. If all of us were to apply what we read here, there would be a remarkable change over the long haul.

1. Look at all the bulbs you have in your house. Compact fluorescent bulbs are much better than incandescent bulbs which simply burn energy. Begin by changing all the light bulbs in the house. You’d be surprised just how many bulbs you have. While you might be a little shocked when you buy these bulbs to start off with, government energy statisticians tell us that you could save the difference in cost within your lower electricity bills, during the space of a year.

2. Be a better steward. Get used to sending a lot more to the recycling plant. Bury biodegradable waste and food leftovers in the ground rather than clogging up the local landfills. Experts tell us that 20% of the rubbish that we produce is actually biodegradable and we could get rid of it ourselves without stressing the system unnecessarily. Think of the energy used to collect this excess waste and save them the trouble of doing so.

3. Rethink your transportation. Consider whether you could share transportation with fellow worker/employees on a daily basis. Why not pool resources and cut down your bill, and the bill of a co-worker at the same time. Why is it that those traffic jams that we experience daily on the motorway when going to work, are all made up of vehicles that just seem to have a single occupant? We have known about this for some time and cannot deny that it is really silly and as we wait for politicians to perfect public transportation systems, we should all exhibit some common sense.

4. Plant trees in your back garden. Did you know that trees are very good for our environment and considerably help the problem of climate change? They attract carbon dioxide emissions that are otherwise spewed into the air by power consumption. Plant them to protect your home from the direct sunlight and even cut down on your cooling bills in the summer. If you have a noisy highway nearby, a couple of well positioned trees will help to cut down on your noise pollution, as well.

With a little bit of creativity, we can make a difference in virtually everything that we do!

Tags: environment, environmental sustainability, Renewable Energy, saving electricity, saving money

There’s no point in trying to brush the problem of excess energy use under the carpet any longer. We need to realise that change begins at home and it is up to each one of us. By renting or owning a home and just by living and taking advantage of all the comforts that we are so used to, we use an increasing amount of energy and must take responsibility for this, as it results in a large carbon footprint individually. No longer can we expect big business to shoulder the blame and it’s no longer good enough to say that we take the bus to work and don’t drive. We all need to make big changes and look for ways to save electricity wherever we can find them. You need to take one single step if you are going to begin a journey of 1000 miles.

To start off with, you should make sure that all your windows and doors are fitting properly and you should go and check this right now. You might not be able to see any issues and should check by running your hand along the edges or by using an open flame of some kind to see whether you have any drafts. There is no sense whatsoever in heating the inside of your house or using air conditioning to try and cool it down during the brief hot spells that we get, if your hard earned money is flying out the window. Take steps to secure your home in this respect and then start to worry about your air heating and cooling costs.

Rooms that are only rarely used should be isolated and you can put timer activated lighting appliances in these areas. You could also put them on a motion detector, so that they will go on and off if someone enters or leaves the room. Unplug all electrical items when they’re not actually in use, as they can still drain electricity when connected to a wall socket. Turn off computers at night. There’s no need for you to maintain them and they tend to build up heat within the casing anyway. Remember every bit helps and it will all add up over the course of a year.

We all know of the benefits of renewable energy, but once again, we tend to think that it’s a project for somebody else. Solar energy panels could be a good idea? Some home owners run their entire property on solar power, using either roof mounted panels or additional panels in their garden. If you don’t extract as much electricity from the grid, you would be saving and reducing the size of your carbon footprint at the same time. If our footprint is too big, we need to get more energy efficient “shoes” and not continue to be extravagant in everything that we do. Turn your water heater thermostat down a notch and try to avoid using electricity to heat your water, as it is very inefficient. They say that roughly 2/3 of the energy actually produced to get the electricity to you, to heat your water in the first place, is lost in the distribution system. Direct oil or gas fired water heaters are far better at helping the environment and are much more efficient in the long run.

Tags: environment, environmental sustainability, Renewable Energy, saving electricity, saving money

It’s not as if saving money has ever been “out” of fashion, as such, but it is certainly en vogue these days. We used to be concerned about receiving those energy bills and would mutter under our breath as we tore open the envelope. This would always be the time to make a resolution, vowing to turn off all unnecessary lights. Invariably though, we would forget as it didn’t seem quite so urgent for some reason. If we fast forward to today, we seem to be living in a different world. Now we are looking for a whole array of different ways to save electricity, as we realise just how pressing this need is.

Once the domain only of environmentalists and tree huggers, we now all know how important it is to cut back on our energy use, so that we do not emit carbon dioxide and damage the planet. We hear all kinds of reports on the news about how global warming is changing polar ice packs and that people in far-off countries are in danger of losing their ability to feed themselves, due to climate changes and weather pattern alterations. On our own doorstep we hear about companies, which will soon be penalised for failing to reduce their energy use and for emitting carbon, fairly sure that the consequence of these actions will result in additional costs for us to deal with.

Quite apart from the holistic considerations and our concern for Mother Nature, energy costs themselves have been going through the roof. The government has tried and seems to be failing to regulate the energy industry and infrastructure seems unable to cope and is constantly under pressure. How much longer will the system be able to put up with spikes in energy use, as we rely on those old fossil fuels to provide the raw material? You don’t have to be a scientist to understand the benefits of renewable energy, but nevertheless, we still seem hesitant to move forward and do something about it. Just think of the extraordinary ways in which we would be helping the environment if we were able to turn to wind, solar and other renewable sources for the majority of our energy.

Getting down to business, what can we do at home to help both ourselves and the environment? There are many things. For a start, we should always purchase highly efficient equipment for our kitchens and for our heating and air-conditioning needs. As an example, some refrigerators are available that consume only 100 kWh per year and these appliances are said to be four times more efficient than similar appliances found in the European Union. If you have to spend up to 10% more to actually buy a machine like this it would be okay, as you could save a significant amount of money annually, greatly reducing your electricity bill. If you purchase new appliances, they will last for at least five years and the money that you pay upfront to purchase them will certainly be saved over that period of time. Remember that they will need less repairing as well and you won’t be as annoyed by that fan circling on whenever you are trying to sit down and watch the television!

Tags: environment, environmental sustainability, Renewable Energy, saving electricity, saving money

The trend of using green energy for the home has become more and more common due to pricey electrical bills and growing consciousness to our environment. Through the use of such renewable energy, we are able to live without destructing the natural world.

Green energy cannot only be cost effective but can be used as a backup system to power your homes in times of black out. It may also be used in case of emergency. The most widely used method today is solar power. The latter uses technologically advanced equipment that shifts the suns power into electricity.

The next most popular green energy used today is wind power. The text below will further explain the use of these 2 methods and how it can positively affect our environment.

Solar Energy

The use of solar panels is both cost effective and eco-friendly. Here are some advantages of using this kind of energy:

Does not need the use of generators

Converts sunlight to electricity without delay

Quick and easy installation

Like many other systems, solar power has its own piece of disadvantages. For example, a big area may need an extensive amount of sunlight to power the entire place. A home would also need a continuous flow of sunlight to use this method efficiently.

Solar Power makes use of panels that are set up on the rooftop. You can make these panels on your own or purchase kits which have every material you require to build the panel. You may also have it set up at home to accelerate up the process.

Wind Energy

Another great source of green energy is the wind. Apart from being free, the wind is an abundant source of power. Wind turbines are used to harness wind currents that are to be transformed to electricity. As with solar power, this method does not contaminate our surroundings.

Wind turbines used to be very expensive. But with the advancement in technology, they have become more and more affordable for the population. Now, they are highly energy efficient and a lot better to use.

Top Advantages

Public consciousness to stop global warming has raised throughout the years. The warming effects on the planet have intensified at an alarming rate that more and more people are choosing for green energy in their dwellings.

It is essential that we know the advantages it can offer.

There is enough free energy for people to consume. Wind and sunlight are both freely offered by nature and will thus make great sources for our electricity.

It causes zero pollution. Sunlight and air are clean sources of energy.

The methods have become cost effective now more than ever. Because of the recent advancements in technology, we are able to enjoy green energy at a cost we can afford.

Renewable energy can help countries with poor population. There are many companies now which offer cheap ways to use green energy. Some even supply free installation services so people can better afford the system.

• We can reduce greenhouse gases which ruin nature.
• The energy generated from such source can be used on various applications.
• Some authorities provide subsidies and tax credits to support those who are utilizing green energy.

Green homes can be constructed with the use of different kinds of technology. With the scientific advance we are witnessing today, it has unquestionably become easier for us to achieve a green energy home.

For more information visit these websites: homemade turbine generator, energy generators blog, and how to make a solar panel for free.

Tags: environment, green energy, solar energy, solar power

In this article we will discuss some themes related to different types of constructions used to produce solar power. We will begin from the grid-tied systems.

A utility-interactive solar power system makes electricity, which is put directly to the grid. The word grid-tied means, that the system is tied, verbatim, to the grid. This system will accumulate the energy even when you are absent, when you and you are on vacation with your friends during the holidays. You just may use the energy after you come back home. That is why you will reduce your electricity bills` costs or even forget about them.

Known as solar modules (photovoltaic) panels, they give the beginning for very interesting process of transforming of solar energy into solar power. The word photovoltaic sounds in such a way because of physics rule, which says how the solar energy may be converted into electricity. Briefly, there are many silicon cells in each such panel, every cell gives the reaction with photons (units of lights), which came from the sun. Than direct current electricity is produced.

The construction of the panel also contains so-called mounting racks, which are used to orient PV panels properly. For instance, the panel may face the west, while the most effective side is north. There are three types of mounts, which are available: the most popular in cities rooftop, and less used ground and poles, which are set in concrete. There is also a great amount of additional equipment that is being used with the panels. But it depends on the certain type of the panel.

There is also a DC disconnect, which is used when safe disconnect of the flow of electricity from the PV panels is needed. It may happened in case of overload.

Such detail as inverter makes the raw DC power, which is produced by the solar panels, be converted to usable AC ( that means alternating current) power that may than be used in exploitation of the household equipment, lighting and other electric devices. That is because all of them run off alternating current electricity.

Such device as the AC Breaker Panel/Inverter AC Disconnect is located in the place where the dwelling wiring touches the power supply. It consists of special elements that can be used both for protecting from fires and for usual purposes.

Speaking briefly, all three types of panels are working similar. It is important to know some things when you decide to by the PV panels. You must buy the right panel depending on how much power your home needs, how much room and land you have to understand where it can be mounted.

You also can find that some manufacturers and sites saying that panel A is much more better because it is more effective at low light. It may be true, but listen: one panel may be more effective than the other under the same sun light with the difference of 1 percent. But in the same time this more efficient panel may take 15 percent more room space. So take it into consideration. If you have enough space you may take it, but in another case think before you buy the panel.

Be smart and use the help of solar power grants to convert your life to better ecological balance with nature. Read about solar power grants, how to use them and where you can get these solar power grants.

P.S. Good info makes life easier.

Due to this if you are properly armed with the info in your sphere of interest you can be sure that you will in any case find the solution to any bad situation. So, please make sure to get back to this blog on a regular basis or – an ideal solution for you – sign up to its RSS feed. In such an easy way you will have your hand on the pulse of the freshest info updates here. Blogging can be helpful, you just need to know how to use it.

Tags: environment, solar power

Free energy is a topic that is often discussed amongst people. But, unknown to many, free energy is already here. Solar energy provides this. As many home owners are coming to find out, there are far too many benefits of solar energy. Solar energy works by harnessing the light of the sun and converting this free and easily available source of energy into electrical power. The use of solar energy power provides many important advantages. Some of these are

Reasons for Solar energy for your home

Significant energy savings: Once you have your solar energy system installed, you will find that you are paying much less for your power needs. In fact, if you are solely dependent on solar energy you will find that aside from the occasional maintenance required every odd month, which cost very little in itself, you will not need to pay for energy again. Sunlight, which is used to power solar panels is in abundance during the day thereby providing an unending source of fuel.

Cleaner energy source: When it comes to the advantages of solar energy power, its zero pollution levels is one of its most lauded qualities. Unlike most other sources which are found to negatively affect the environment, solar energy sources produce zero emissions. People with these units therefore do not have to worry about suffering from dangerous levels of pollution to themselves or the atmosphere.

Effective location: Finding a location for your home’s solar energy source is not a problem because all that is required is proximity to the sunlight. Solar panels can therefore be installed on the roof tops of your home where they will gain easy access to sunlight.

There are many by which solar energy units can be installed. People sometimes might choose to call the services of a professional who is certified in this type of installation. For people who wish to experience the thrill of installing the solar unit themselves, there are many effective guides which provide instructions and guidance to this end. Although some people consider the initial cost required for the installation of solar energy units to be on the high side, the money is more than accounted for with the thousands that is subsequently saved over the next couple of months.

With solar energy powering the panels of many of the satellites found in space, there is no question that solar energy is the future. The only question is whether you will evolve with it or not.

Visit us for information to Reduce energy costs today.

Tags: environment, green, solar energy