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A Safer Alternative For Everyday Products - Healthy Homes

We all want a safe world for our kids and ourselves. That is why we recycle cans, paper, and plastic. But have you ever thought about making your home safe for your kids, yourself, and your pets? If you are like me, I have always been concerned about the environment but I never thought about the environment that exists behind my front door.

I accepted the fact that I live in a part of Texas with a high allergy count. I accepted the fact that some cleaning products usually made me cough and running for my allergy meds. What made me stop accepting my situation was the numerous and often weekly reports of the poisonous products the US imports from China. Products that are not tested for any kind of safety standards but in our stores as "name brand " products we grew up with and trusted! Let's see..the toys are dangerous, the fish is poisonous....and the toothpaste..we have to worry about our toothpaste too?!! I decided I didn't want to wonder if the products in my home were going to be the next "China-poison-alert". Upon more research I found out that formaldehyde (Q 15) is found in many of our everyday products (like baby shampoo) as a preservative to give the product a longer shelf life.

So I researched on line and found out there are companies (in the USA) that make (in the USA) organic, non-toxic cleaning products, bath products, vitamins and exercise products. So I bought some. These natural organic products did not make me ill and coughing when I used them. The house didn't smell like a chemical plant after I had cleaned. And I worry less about the 3-year old getting into something (less chances of accidental poisonings). Also, we have fewer allergy problems.

I decided to throw out the toxic products. I placed them in a box and left them for the garbage collectors. When I got home later that day, the garbage collector had left a note on the box saying "these products are too hazardous for the land dump"! What an eye opener!

I'm so glad I switched to organic products. I feel like I'm giving my family and loved ones the best. It is one of the best things I have done for my family.

Anita has worked in the medical field for more then 30 years. She has been active in the environment and Habitat for Humanity. She currently is involved in helping others convert their homes into safe eco-friendly places and starting their own "work at home" jobs. For more info check out her website: http://www.free2livegreen.com

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Respect Nature To Avoid Destruction

I had a tough night. I had diarrhea. Wonder what Nature was trying to teach me?! Probably not to eat too much of chilly!

I felt better though in the morning. Diana, our host in Jakarta picked us up at about 10.30. We were heading to the animal safari which is about an hour journey from Jakarta. As we were nearing the place, there were some people selling carrots for the animals. We bought some from a small girl who was hardly 10 years old. It wasn’t easy bargaining with her though! She was good and pretty well versed in the trade!

As we are not allowed out of the car, we could only see some animals at close range. The white tigers were beautiful; this is my first encounter with a real life white tiger. At this point, someone in our group remarked, "I wonder who is being watched now, we or the animals? Are we humans here to watch the animals, or the animals watch us humans caged up (in car)?!" Upon hearing that, we all burst out laughing.

Come to think of it, when we look around us, Nature seems to be doing a fine job taking care of all animal and plant species. Chaos seems to arise only when humans are around; for example deforestation, weather change, rising of global temperature, destruction of ozone layer and so on.

Nature is taking its course in correcting the damage humans are creating. Nature balances, by first causing destruction in the world of humans itself, using its primary weapons which are ether (e.g. negative thoughts), air (e.g. airborne diseases), fire (e.g. forest fires), water (e.g. tsunamis, massive floods), and earth (e.g. barren soil, earthquake), to do its work. The moment one species begin to cause massive damage and harm the existence of another species, it is just a matter of time before Nature does its work. Of the three Nature's primary function; creation, preservation and destruction; that which is most feared even among the wise men and women in the past is destruction!

It has always been my sincere hope that, we, human beings, the highest known evolved species on earth, according to science; would recognize our mistakes and start treating Nature with much respect.

The Uneducated One is a financial market trader, author and a motivational speaker. He has helped companies and countless individuals achieve their goals and desires. Sign up for our 7 Day FREE e-course and find out how you can now live a truly happy, healthy and wealthy life at; http://www.awarenessseries.com

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Energy Conservation in a few Simple Steps: Save the Planet for the Generations to Come

The world is no longer a safe place to live.

But YOU can make it safer by acting a little more responsibly and sensibly.

YOUR little contributions toward energy conservation can make big difference for your home, for your family, and for this planet. Discover in this article a few easy ideas to get started in making your planet a better living place for the future generations.

Energy conservation and your environment

By saving energy you can have a fatter bank balance. But more than that, individual efforts for energy conservation mean cleaner and greener society as a whole.

Energy conservation means lowering the demands of such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Drops in the use of fossil fuels means lower production of pollutants like carbon dioxide - the deadliest of all greenhouse emissions.

Energy conservation - a necessity, not an option

Did you know Americans as a whole expend a million dollars worth of energy every minute, night and day, every day of the year!

A little cut in this expenditure and pollutants are lesser by thousands of pounds!

And on the personal front - you can save a significant dollar amount on your annual energy bills.

Follow the simple steps described below and make the earth a better place for your grand children.

AT HOME

• Insulate your walls and ceilings for cutting down 20 to 30 percent on home heating bills. Those living in colder climate should consider super insulating.
• For the same purpose replace the traditional windows with argon filled, double-glazed windows.
• Always use Energy Star certified (high efficiency) appliances for less energy consumption.
• Choose the model size according to your typical needs; don't opt for the biggest size just because you can afford it.
• Be careful about your electrical appliances-don't leave your computer, sound system etc in stand by mood. Always switch them off after the use. Consider adding a "smart" power strip to automatically turn off equipment.
• Don't unnecessary set your refrigerator temperature at an extra ordinary low-set it at a reasonable point. Make sure that its energy saver switch is turned on. For the same reason, turn down your water heater thermostat from 140 degrees F to 120 F.
• Use such appliances as washing machine or dishwasher at their highest capacities.
• Make sure, you don't overheat or overcool your rooms; always keep the air filters clean.
• Replace your ordinary lighting systems with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs; they cost more initially, but latter they pay off by using only 1/4 the energy of ordinary lights.

OUTSIDE

• Make use of the public transport system wherever possible, or ride your bicycle. By saving just a gallon of gasoline, you are helping to avoid 22 pounds of CO2 emissions.
• When you are buying a new car, opt for the greener models. The cars giving better mileage costs more initially, but in the long run they help you save significantly on your energy bill.
• Avoid elevators and use stairs whenever possible.
• Reuse the things whenever possible to reduce the necessity of recycling.
• Plant shading trees around your home: it works as natural heater or cooling system.

Finally always stay informed about latest environmental issues-both at local as well as national level and vote to office the candidates who generally seem to take a constructive approach toward environmental protection and energy conservation.

About the Author

Tania Penwell provides information on energy conservation and other "green" topics for Green Savvy - your guide to environmental solutions.

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Global Warming True Or False?

Global warming, now there are two buzz words guaranteed to start a debate any time they are mentioned around the old water cooler! Ask any group of people what they think of it, and you will get everything from: ‘Its the end of the world!’ to: ‘Its a left wing hoax designed to destroy our economy!’ So, let us look at just what the facts are.

Global warming was first observed (as hard as this may be to believe!) way back in 1896. In that year, a Swedish chemist named Svante Arrhenius was the first person to quantify just how much the world is warmed by carbon dioxide. In his report, he warned that the world was ‘evaporating our coal mines into the air.’ He was largely ignored.

Then, in 1979, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences issued a report that rising carbon dioxide levels could cause temperatures to rises, and warned that a ‘wait and see attitude’ could be dangerous. Unfortunately, the naysayers in all this are a very powerful group: oil, coal, gas, automotive and steel. All industries that create vast amounts of the greenhouse gases, and all with very deep pockets. Since the late 1980s, they have funded a whole host of lobbying groups like the Global Climate Coalition, and the Information Council on the Environment, specifically to downplay the danger or deny it outright.

On top of that, there is the problem that this issue is not something one nation can address alone. Recently, in the State of California, Governor Schwarzenegger signed an executive order with the goal of reducing car emissions ten percent by 2020. While quite the laudable effort, it will accomplish nothing! China and India are poised to become highly industrialized counties, meaning: more cars, more power plants, more greenhouse gases being vented into the atmosphere. And thats just two nations. What of the rest of the world? It was because of the global nature of the problem that the Rio Treaty on voluntary emission reductions was signed in 1992, and later the Kyoto Treaty was negotiated. However, while President George H.W. Bush signed the Rio Treaty, its mandates were never enacted; and, under pressure from lobbying groups, President George Bush did not sign the Kyoto treaty.

In recent years weve seen the effects of Global Warming: killer heat waves in America and Europe, wilted crops, smaller snow packs and receding glaciers, and bigger and stronger hurricanes. So, we must ask ourselves: who are we to believe? There are thousands of scientists around the world, from all manner of political and social backgrounds who agree that global warming is happening. And then there are the naysayers, all of whom are backed by industries that have a vested interest in preventing any actions that would endanger their profits. Which ones are impartial, do you think?

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Going Green - Small Changes, Big Impact

The two golden rules of travel can be summarised by the following mantra: work out how much money you think you will need then double it, and work out how much stuff to take and halve it. And to an extent this is true; holidays invariably end up costing much more than planned, and sometimes an entire suitcase of clothes can go unworn, in favour of that one top that just looks oh-so-good.

But for a lot of people, holidays are for kicking back and letting loose so why shouldn't they pack an entire wardrobe, because "you never know"? The old cliche about taking thirteen pairs of shoes on a 4-day break may cause a lot of mirth for the more compact traveller, but "holidaying heavy" can have a more serious consequence for the environment.

Most airlines have a standard baggage allowance and anything over that amount is charged back to the customer. However, some airlines now charge for any checked luggage, citing environmental reasons; more luggage means more fuel and more fuel means more carbon emissions and subsequently less ice at the two poles. So, travelling light might actually be a good idea after all, not only for the environment but for the wallet too.

Holidaymakers can also take other small steps to help combat climate change. For example, whilst on holiday, consider whether it is really necessary to hire a car. Maybe the public transport system is perfectly adequate to meet most people's needs. Even when travelling to the airport before departure, it's worth considering the bus or train as an option first, saving on the cost of parking and reducing the impact on the environment at the same time.

This is particularly relevant for early morning flights at provincial airports, where public transport may be a little more restricted, especially in the small hours. Rather than getting up at four or five am, it may be wiser to travel the day before at a leisurely pace and stay at an airport hotel, meaning more sleep and less stress when getting that flight, and it also allows more time to eat a proper breakfast and even shop for flight essentials such as magazines and refreshments. Ultimately, it also means more time to enjoy the holiday without feeling jaded or jet-lagged on arrival.

Never has the environment and climate change been so much at the forefront of people's psyche. Small changes to individual travel habits can have a massive impact if everybody is involved, and the changes can actually enhance the whole holiday experience. So kick back, let loose and lose some shoes. Three pairs is more than enough!

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Market Barriers to Alternative Fuels

Alternative fuels are our future. On this topic there is very little argument. We, as nations, cannot continue on the path we have been on if our future generations are to have a planet and infrastructure to sustain life and happiness as we have known it. Future generations will be dictated from what we do right now and over the next 2-3 years. We don’t have the luxury of studying it anymore. In order for alternative fuels like bio or hydrogen fuel cells to become commercially viable we need a market.

In order to have a market we must have a buyer and a manufacturing agent that provides a product. With fuel based products there is one more key ingredient. The infrastructure throughout the supply chain. So what is this you ask? The infrastructure is both the pumping stations and the physical plants to produce the products. Then you need the unique suppliers who build the parts unique to the new tanks both in the vehicles and in the ground or where ever the fuel is stored at the delivery station. So, how do we get there? Well, big business would say they don’t see a buyer or thus a market to invest in the plants and tooling needed to produce the fuels. The buying public would hold off buying a product that is bleeding edge and thus limited support once they drive it off the lot of their auto dealership locally. In addition, its one thing to buy it it’s a whole other question to answer as to where to re-fuel the tank which leads us to the true market barrier in our opinion.

Today, there are very few if any non fossil fuel stations where someone can refill their alternative fuel vehicle. There are experiments in the field today albeit limited but they are out there and today their support is typically centrally located and thus limited at best to full functional testing. You wouldn’t try a drive through the Mojave Desert from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on an alternative fuel vehicle today. However, if you had stations setup in Barstow, Baker and the border of Las Vegas you might reconsider your decision as the way points are much more conducive to you safety should something happen to your vehicle en-route. So, it’s back to the chicken and the egg. All sides want the end result which in this case is a non polluting non fossil fuel vehicle. But who goes first? The United States is not the best country at launching ventures like this. We tend to offer grants and thus research environments but when it comes to the Commercial world we turn to private industry to solve it. Given the decades of build out of our current fossil fuel environment we do not believe that the government cannot be involved. If the USA funded the first 20% of the overall re-fueling stations across the USA the rest would follow and private industry would have its risk reward ROI (return on investment) all set up for venture capital to enter the fray. Not unlike what Germany has done with the financing of the solar industry in country. It can be done. We are entering a unique period whereby a new President will be voted in. Our current President will leave office due to our two term maximum. The time is now to find the candidate that understands this problem and get behind them. This election is all about fueling our Green Planet needs. Make no mistake.

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Environmental Sustainability - A Mirage?

Introduction

Trying to have matured adults agree on one concrete definition of “Sustainability”, is by far one of the toughest jobs. Though various organizations and thought leaders have tried their best to explore, analyze and beat it down to one precise meaning without success, there seems to be the common thread of Environment, Society and the Economy, running through them all. Northwest Environment Watch, a not-for-profit research and communication center based in Seattle, has according to me given a definition that is by far the closest to appropriate. It said that sustainability is "an economy and way of life in which both people and nature flourish, a culture that can last." The Executive Order 00-07, signed by Gov. John Kitzhaber of the State of Oregon, in May of 2000 says that, “Sustainability means using, developing and protecting resources at a rate and in a manner that enables people to meet their current needs and also provides that future generations can meet their own needs.” It also goes on a step further to say that, "Sustainability requires simultaneously meeting environmental, economic and community needs." This again almost co-relates to the Northwest Environment Watch’s stand. Let us now venture to explore three of the most critical influencers, and analyze their roles in achieving the goal of sustainability.

Growth of World Population

Agenda 21, The Earth Summit Strategy to Save Our Planet. (Sitarz 1993) explains very well the relation between population growth and the environmental health of the planet: “The spiraling growth of world population fuels the growth of global production and consumption. Rapidly increasing demands for natural resources, employment, education and social services make any attempts to protect natural resources and improve living standards very difficult. There is an immediate need to develop strategies aimed at controlling world population growth.” (p. 44)

Scientists, since a long time, have been underlining that, the Earth, if we believe in the fact that it’s a spherical surface, does have a capacity and limit to which it can carry or support. The Population of the planet, rising in leaps and bounds, will soon lead to a complete utilization of the World’s depleting Natural Resources. As May observes (May 1993): “...the scale and scope of human activities have, for the first time, grown to rival the natural processes that built the biosphere and that maintain it as a place where life can flourish. Many facts testify to this statement. It is that somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of the earth's primary productivity, from plant photosynthesis on land and in the sea, is now appropriated for human use.” This truly is matter of alarm. If we continue the growth of population at the current rate, we would be in a situation, where Sustainability would be a myth. Hence at no point of time should the Growth of Population be considered in isolation. Its growth in relation to the depleting Natural Resources in the planet is what heightens concern.

Governments, Association and Individuals of credibility, have continuously assembled and voiced opinions that “something” out to be done to “save the life and the planet”. Global Warming has been an issue within an agenda, in almost every summit. But all that came out of the discussions and the so called “action plans” are vague terms like “we need to Control the population”. Never has it moved towards action steps to actually stop population growth. The Report named Agenda 21, The Earth Summit Strategy to Save Our Planet, under the heading of "National Population Policies" goes to state that: “The long term consequences of human population growth must be fully grasped by all nations. They must rapidly formulate and implement appropriate programs to cope with the inevitable increase in population numbers.” (p. 45). Surprisingly such reports, continuously contradict themselves. Firstly they do not lay down concrete steps to stop the growth, even as they underplay the total problem at hand. On one hand they say that there is an immediate need to “control” the population growth to reach the goal of sustainability. With the same breath they point out, that population growth is “inevitable”. So when they do believe that the Population Growth is inevitable in spite of all, their claim of undertaking “appropriate steps” to curb or Control Population growth makes Sustainability sound like an oxymoron. Doesn’t it?

Consumer – Oriented Lifestyle

In the light of the definitions of Sustainability indicated earlier, the consumer-oriented lifestyle is best analyzed through a Social Practices Approach to Environment. We have been pushing the blame of an ever-increasing population for an Environmental crisis towards under-developed and developing nations so far. Apart from the fact that our home ground is also no lesser evil in this respect, there is a bigger problem of our consumer-oriented lifestyle that is contributing substantially to killing the existing Natural resources and has become an important issue to be addressed to reach the goal of sustainability.

According to Prof. dr. ire. G. Saracen in his The Social Practices Approach for Environmental Policymaking; theory, methodology and policy-development for sustainable domestic consumption, “The Social Practices Approach offers an integrative model to analyze and under-stand transitions towards sustainable consumption at the level of everyday life”. He also says that individual Consumers “develop 'story-lines' with respect to the environmental dimension of their lifestyles and provide legitimacy and rationality to the choices they make at the different segments of their lifestyles”. The three major consumption needs of an individual in a Society, namely Home and Maintenance, Food Consumption, Travel & Transport, have led to Rapid Urbanization & Home Construction, increasing vehicles and road construction, food preparation, and building Factories. As you see, a consumer-oriented approach is directly proportional to Industrialization, which in turn directly affects the Environment with its depleting Natural resources. When the need of the day is to increase rapid Agricultural Opportunities to counter the depleting Natural Assets of the Environment, isn’t a consumer Oriented Lifestyle with it’s need of sustenance a contradiction to the attainment of the goal of sustainability?

Stewardship

The last topic we would explore is the role of Stewardship. Sustainability is just not an individual problem or issue anymore. Though the life of every individual in this planet is affected, the magnitude of the problem is so vast, that no single department, or government can be held responsible. It is a Global issue, and needs to be addressed collectively. The inattention so far to attributing a direct responsibility, has been one of the major problems of not acting in the direction of attaining the goal. Hence every individual, every Government, every Organization or Association Body, and every Educational Institution has to own stewardship, to take steps, of reaching the goal of Sustainability.

This being said, the second aspect of Stewardship that needs to be addressed is “who leads?” We at United States, being the most developed, has a direct role in leading the world towards the goal. As they say that the best way to lead, is through example. “Our own country is the leading polluter on Earth, generating more greenhouse gases, especially CO2, than any other country. Not a word alone but by binding action, our nation has an inescapable moral duty to lead the way to genuinely effective solutions. We …call upon our government to change national policy so that the United States will begin to ease, not continue to increase, the burdens on our biosphere and their effect upon the planet's people”. (Joint Appeal by Religion and Science for the Environment "DECLARATION OF THE 'MISSION TO WASHINGTON” Washington, D.C,, May 12, 1992) What action steps have we really taken so far since then?

Conclusion

Bottom line: the word “Sustainability” has been continuously used so freely. If it is a sustained effort to cure today for a better tomorrow, what have we done for the immediate present? Every result of a meeting, every conclusion of a summit, has been filled with redundant usage of vague terminologies as “efforts will be taken”, “control will be exercised”, “reduction in population growth” etc. It has been interspersed with blame games. But never has any one body pointedly answered the specific question of “How”? It is about time, that we did this, unless everyone of us living today, every government in power, and every responsible organization wish to be accountable for the total extinction of the human species on earth.

Dipak Chatterjee is a thought leader, writer, deemed journalist and reporter. Please feel free to contact him at penstrength@gmail.com

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The Earth Friendly Djembe

Hand drummer questions source of wood used to make djembe drums.

The premise of this article is to help facilitate an understanding of the manufacturing process in using environmentally prudent wood to produce djembe drums. Purchasing djembe drums that are made from legally harvested, sustainable wood help to protect our world's forests, assist in preserving and maintaining a well-balanced eco-system and help support local economies.

Our world is more connected than ever before. Modern technology has made the planet a smaller place through cutting edge advances such as e-mail, broadband, internet, fiber optics, and of course the iPhone. Along with these advances comes information - lots and lots of information. Just pull up your favorite web browser and type in 'Global Warming' and you'll see that Google has indexed roughly 72,400,000 web sites that contain those keywords. Type in 'Legal Wood' and you'll see an impressive 21,600,000 web sites found. And hey, it posted those results in just .07 seconds. Now, that's fast! However, even with all this speed and information, I was hard pressed to find any decent content on the kind of wood used in manufacturing traditionally based djembes. Not only that, but I couldn't tell which companies were using legal wood, the benefits of using legal wood, and the concerns with using wood that wasn't legal.

We're in the Tree Business

The traditional djembe is made from wood. And many of the djembe drums that are available for purchase in this country are imported from Indonesia, Thailand, and Africa. In fact most of the African djembe drums sold in the U.S.A. are actually made in Indonesia where, according to Indonesian Department of Forestry, the deforestation rate since 1998 is estimated at 2.8 million hectares (7 million acres) per year. During the last 30 years, the world's tropical rainforests have shrunk by 25% around 12.3 million hectares of forest. Agriculture and the trade in tropical wood are the main causes of deforestation.

Unfortunately, many companies (small and large) in this country still knowingly import wood that is neither sustainable nor legal. For instance, in an article posted by the Chicago Tribune, at a Lowe's annual meeting last May of 2006, a shareholder proposed that the company issue an annual report on progress toward its environmental pledges. The company's board of directors disagreed and unanimously recommended a vote against the proposal. Why? It's much more expensive to secure wood that is legal and sustainable than illegally harvested wood which can be acquired cheaply. Buying illegal wood helps corporations keep their expenses down and profits up, however in the meantime they're contributing to an unsound environmental policy that is both harmful and destructive.

Legally Certified Timber - The Green Way!

The good news is that there are many certifications and processes that are in place to properly protect our forests and yet still benefit from their bounty. The first is using legal wood. Simply stated, legal wood is felled and traded in accordance with the law. The producing country is obliged to ensure compliance and enforcement of the laws and rules. To be certain that wood is legal, its origin must be known and documented through every step in the wood trade process from the felling of a tree to the sale of the wood in a shop.

Sustainable wood is produced in a responsible way taking into account the environment, the economy and social circumstances. This means, for example, not felling more trees than the forest can afford to lose; planting new trees (reforestation); minimizing the damage caused to other trees and plants; safeguarding biological diversity (i.e. the range of animals, plants and microorganisms) and taking into account the impact on the soil, water, landscape and ecosystems.

We Can All Make A Difference

When shopping for a djembe drum it's important to know the source of the wood so you can make a more educated decision. Purchasing djembe drums that are made from legally harvested, sustainable wood help protect our world's forests, assist in preserving and maintaining a well-balanced eco-system and help support local economies. Get the facts before buying and ask questions. It's your buying decision that helps shape the world in which we live.

X8 Djembe Drums - Legally Harvested Wood

We only work with environmentally friendly suppliers that can prove a Government certification process. Our manufacturer in Indonesia uses government inspected legally harvested wood. We have a copy of their certificate from the Indonesian Government. It shows that the Indonesian government inspected the wood, was verified to be legal wood, and gives permission to move the wood from the area (Village) where it was cut to a different area (SKSHH) Name of certificate. In order to get this far in the certification process the Loggers or tree owners would need to have a (Ingin Tebang) License to cut the trees. This process is when the Government actually comes out to inspect the trees to be cut and certifies they are legal.

One thing to point out is our suppliers name being on the certificate shows that they are the buyer and they are also the manufacturer. This makes it very easy to trace back to the Forestry department. Lastly, they are inspected every month by the Forestry department and are required to have every one of their SKSHH inspected and verified.

Find environmentally friendly djembe drums at X8 Drums, a hand drum specialty shop that aims to please percussionists with quality instruments, knowledgeable staff and community.

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Global Warming...Is It Reversable ?

The World...confronted with "Global Warming" are faced with a common agenda, a common goal, we must now all work toward finding a solution. The question in the minds of all our leaders and top scientists are..."where do we start" ? Oh sure, we could shut down all our industry. This would certainly be a great beginning in halting most of the pollution presently being released into our atmosphere, rivers and soils and possibly begin to reverse the ongoing "Greenhouse Effect". The excess carbon dioxide being released into our atmosphere is of course the prime cause of our present "global warming" issues. Unfortunately, mankind cannot just halt industry, it can only adjust how more efficient it can be carried out. The people of the world must unite in purpose to accomplish this goal.

Renewable, Nonpolluting Energy

For many decades(too many) now, our society has been ravishing our once plentiful supplies of fossil fuels to power our growing industry needs, unconsciously thwarting the effects of the polluting by-products of their use, mainly due to their once plentiful supply and ongoing profits from their continued use. We are now able to gradually replace more and more of our fossil fuels with renewable energy from the sun, wind, geothermal, etc.. Our use of just one of these new energy sources, i.e.,the wind, has doubled in 2005 and is expected to double again for 2006. Solar power is growing at the rate that is a close second to wind energy.

Our Government Must Take Part

In order to cause a quick reversal of the green house effect here in the U.S., our government must quickly rally behind the needs to reverse the trends of Global Warming. Even if this country issued an all-out proclamation in congress tomorrow to finance this effort, as was done during the Kennedy era in the early '60s to land man on the moon in 10 years, this would take a much greater program to even begin to cause a substantial and with this a noticeable change. Any change will not be accomplished overnight. We have wasted energy for so long in our daily living that this would be one of the first places to begin. One quick way to make a quick and noticeable change in our total energy consumption would be to replace any incandescent light bulb in our homes and offices with equivalent CFL lamps. This sounds easy, but to convince all of america to make this change would not be an easy task.

Wind Versus Solar

Wind energy can also help us to produce vast amounts of energy and actually would use up less area in producing a given amount of power and contrary to using solar power, it will supply energy 24 hours a day...as long as the wind keeps blowing for this period. Solar can only supply energy directly while the sun is shining and also when clouds do not obscure it.Of course, the aesthetics of solar energy gathering grids are much more appealing to the eye than are the monstrously tall windmill towers, which usually rise to more than 400 feet and are being designed even larger. It is hoped that a Global effort in our present energy conservation programs already adopted, along with adoption of renewable energy sources being implemented to slowly replace the fossil fuels in present use.

Author: Lucien Beauley Writes articles of general human interest, science articles and Renewable Energy content.

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How To Get Government Grants To Save Energy In Your Home

There are many reasons why it’s a good idea to save energy in the home these days. To begin with, prices of gas and electricity in Europe have been very high in recent times, and so you can save a lot of money by making your home more efficient. As well as saving money, we all need to do our bit to help fight climate change by reducing the amount of energy we use. Finally, some of the things you can do to save energy in your home, such as installing insulation, can make your home warmer and more comfortable in winter.

The U.K. government and some local authorities are keen to encourage people to save energy in order to help it meet European targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help people cut the amount they have to pay in energy bills. They offer big grants to help pay for home energy efficiency, such as installing insulation or more efficient central heating. However, you need to know what is available and how to apply

Almost everyone is eligible to receive a major contribution to the cost of installing insulation in their home, or else a more efficient heating system that saves energy. The main way you can do this is by arranging for your insulation or heating upgrade to be done by one of the major national insulation or central heating companies or, alternatively through a major energy supplier. You first need to arrange for a quote from them, and in the quote they should let you know how much you can qualify for in grants. If you agree to the quote, they will then take care of all the paperwork and administration as well as completing the work for you.

Many local authorities will also make a contribution to the cost of insulation and heating improvements. You should look on your local authority web-site, or contact them by phone to see what grants are available specifically from them and how you can apply.

Finally, it is quite possible that you will be able to get all of this work done for free. The UK Government provides up to £2,700 to households where a member of the household is receiving certain benefits. In England the scheme is called ‘Warm Front’, In Northern Ireland it is ‘Warm Homes’, in Scotland ‘Warm Deal’, and in Wales it is the ‘Home Energy Efficiency Scheme’. If you receive any benefits, you should contact your energy supplier or a major insulation or central heating installer, and they can tell you what kind of work you can have done for free. When you have the work done, they should also take care of the administration for you, leaving you free to enjoy a more comfortable home and lower heating bills

Alex Perry is a founder of DownwithCO2.co.uk a website which helps people cut their personal contribution to climate change through providing information and contacts.

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Wind Farms – Limitations as Energy Platforms

As modern society searches around for alternative energy sources, wind farms are getting mention. There are, however, limitations regarding wind farms as major energy alternatives.

Wind Farms – Limitations as Energy Platforms

Wind power is an enticing energy platform compared to fossil fuels. The process works by using the inherent energy in wind as a method for producing electricity. The actual methodology is much like hydropower, but with wind used in place of water. Wind turbines catch the wind, which turns their blades. This turning motion cranks a generator that produces electricity. The electricity is stored in batteries or fed into the electrical grid of a utility. Walla, you have power!

Using wind power for localized needs has been around for a long time. The Persians are believed to be the first to use it with the purpose being to turn grain grinding stones. In modern times, the sole purpose is to generate electricity. On a large scale, this means wind farms.

Wind farms are simply large collections of wind turbines in a defined area. If you have ever driven east out of San Francisco, you have seen the wind farm along the freeway. While it is both intoxicating and a pollution free source of electricity, a wind farm has definite limitations.

The biggest limitation of wind farms is the electricity produced. Simply put, they do not produce massive amounts, certainly not on the scale needed in most cities in industrialized nations. Obviously, each location is different, but wind is simply not a constant occurrence in most places. Even when it is, the number of turbines required to produce enough energy for a city is mind boggling. This, of course, leads to a second limitation.

Wind farms need to cover a lot of physical space to produce large amounts of electricity. In many industrialized countries, space is at a premium. As a result, the sheer cost of purchasing land for wind farms is prohibitive. This issue, however, is losing some of its grit as offshore wind farms are becoming more prevalent.

To some, one of the limitations of wind farms is they are eyesores. Personally, I think they are mesmerizing and have an artistic appearance. Others, however, definitely do not agree. The Cape Wind offshore wind farm project has met with massive resistance for just this reason.

The limitations of wind farms are fairly significant at this point in time. As technology and new approaches, such as offshore wind farms, come to the forefront, these problems may fall the wayside.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more wind farm articles.

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Go Green Or Go Home

Local, city, county, state and the federal governments should be first to "go green." Politicians should not be elected to public office unless they agree to convert every government building and vehicle to renewable energy. There are at least three reasons why this should be so.

When all levels of government are taken into account, they control 40% of the economy. With that kind of economic incentive anyone who wants to sell to the government will hasten to meet the demands of its largest single buyer. Government will no longer have to pass laws to enforce cafe standards for instance. Rather the Government will simply tell auto companies, we want to replace our fleet of vehicles but will not buy anything that does get at least 50 mpg if it is gasoline based, or it must be a hybrid, or it must be fueled with renewable fuels.

Another reason Government should go green first is national security. Part of every oil dollar paid for Middle Eastern oil goes directly into the pocket of terrorists. If we convert to renewable fuels that we control, we defund terrorism and protect ourselves simultaneously.

Yet another reason to heed Al Gore’s clarion call on global warming is economic security. OPEC can not ruin our economy if we convert to renewable fuels that we control.

And finally, suppose Gore is right? When anyone hypes anything as much as AL Gore hypes global warming, I have my doubts. But I can’t see what is harmed by going green so why not? The military is doing some research on alternative and renewable energy. Whoever is the next president of the United States should institute a “Go Green or Go Home” policy for the military. Those who come up with energy saving devices or methods as well as those who implement alternative or renewable fuels should rise quickly through the ranks. Those who don’t should be encouraged to seek employment elsewhere. As resourceful as marines are, for instance, I would bet they could make surprising advances in fueling everything from jeeps to an entire base through alternative means if left to their own devices. The military has through it’s contractors developed the most effective weapons in the world. If this same level of effort is turned toward greening the military we will be a safer, more secure, and more independent nation. We will create new jobs and industries and the air and water will get cleaner as a benefit.

By: Poetryman

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Author of Liquid Mirror: Waiting on the New Moon www.poetryman6969.com/poetryman.html

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My experience with living on Solar Power

Just over a decade ago, when I first came to Australia, we didn't have a lot of money and lived in caravans. I had a caravan and my mum had one. We were in the bush about 10 km out of a town called Childers, which is just under 400km north of Brisbane. For any Australians who remember the backpacker fire 7 years ago you might know where the town is.

Anyway we couldn't afford to get a power line to our place, so we were basically forced to live on Solar Power. We had a shed which stood next to the panel and housed the transformers and batteries, connected to the caravans by a long cable underground. It wasn't luxurious by any means, at that stage (and with our budget) solar was a high maintenance source of power. The solar panels were mounted on an angled panel, that could rotate in any direction to face the sun. So at noon every day we had to head out to the solar shed and adjust our one solar panel to face the sun again, and then at night we'd head out there again and rotate it back so it would face the sun in the morning.

We had 1 battery that was about the size of 2 car batteries, and it was enough to power our fluorescent lights and listen to music while we had dinner. We had a gas fridge and our shower was heated by black pipes on the roof, or in the mornings we just heated up a kettle and mixed the water. Once we saved up some money we eventually got 4 solar panels and 4 batteries, along with a generator, so I could now use my Amstrad Computer to play Commander Keen, which was an enormous luxury for us!

So that's my solar experience! We didn't do it because we wanted to save the environment or stop global warming, it was more of a neccessity but in doing it we learnt that it can be quite an amazing experience to know that you're supplying your own power, even if it's barely enough to power a few lights and a PC for 30 minutes a day!

These days I live in a flat in Brisbane with Air Conditioning, 700W speakers and a microwave. "One day" I'd like to live on solar again, and maybe the next time I do it we'll live in a world where we don't have to cut down on the luxuries just to be independent.

What's left of our 'solar shed' all those years ago:


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Energy Conservation - Who Has Practical Ideas?

This last year has started to turn me green. Not a lot, but a little. For me any amount of green is significant. By green, you may have figured out, I mean the conservation-style green, not the jealousy-style green, or the I’ve-worn-this-copper-ring-too-long green. Up until this point in my life, the only green I've been is green-eyed and that doesn't count.

I’m actually seriously looking into alternative energy sources and trying to find something that my family can afford. Considering that I’ve never even managed to get on the recycling band wagon, it’s a pretty major change in thinking for me. I figure if even I have begun thinking about this, there must be a paradigm shift coming soon in the U.S.

I’m pretty sure this all got started by the few days without electricity and the mad stampede out of town that came to Houston, Texas last fall. All of that was blown in on the winds of Hurricane Rita in September, 2005. There wasn’t enough water, we ran out of gasoline, grocery stores were cleaned out. All of that occurred while the images of Hurricane Katrina's decimation our neighbor to the east, New Orleans, was still fresh in my mind. Seeing thousands of people stranded without any way to help themselves left a big impression on me.

I started demanding that my handyman/geek/electrician/you-can-rig-anything husband find a way to turn our house to solar power, or wind power, or anything else. I bought anything that would crank to run and never need batteries that I could get my hands on. I own so many back up batteries that I should have bought stock in one of the battery manufacturers first. We toyed with buying a natural gas powered generator. We investigated natural gas appliances of all kinds. We thought of growing grass on our roof.

None of those options have panned out so far. In the process, I think I’ve figured out why so few people are making the transitions to alternative energy sources: Cost and Feasibility. Either the choices are so expensive to start up that we can’t afford them, or they don’t deliver enough of what we need to make them a viable option. Solar power is a good example. There is no way it's physically possible for us to install enough panels on our suburban-sized lot in Houston to provide any significant amount of power.

I have not given up, as the gas prices stay high and the wars and terrorism continue in and around the oil rich parts of the world, I’m committed to supporting whatever I can as soon as I find it. The one avenue we’re actually able to experiment with is Ethanol fuel. I discovered that my 2000 Chrysler Grand Caravan is actually a flex-fuel vehicle and can run on E85. (It was right in front of my nose all the time – a little sticker inside the fuel tank cover.) I plan to write an article with all the info on it, pros and cons, after I run on a couple of tanks but so far, so good.

I’m investigating tankless hot water heaters www.rinnai.us, I’ve been reading up on electric cars www.teslamotors.com as well as air conditioners that use ice www.ice-energy.com. I’m also doing simple things like trying to plan trips to do multiple errands in one outing to save on gas. I’m working on landscaping to increase the shade around my home to decrease on summer cooling bills.

I want to know what you are doing. Leave a comment or write an article and submit it to us here at SearchWarp.com. I’d love to know what you’ve discovered that is workable for the average middle-class family.

	Jean Horst lives in Texas with her husband and three children. She and her husband of 20+ years are co-owners of a successful internet business . She has many years of experience in small business and office management. Her interests include, travel, music, reading, writing, and family life.

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Six Tips For Sustainable Living

The Echo Project outdoor music festival in Atlanta, GA, is devoted to creating awareness about climate change and sustainable living practices. If you are truly a green consumer, than you undoubtedly know about the benefits of a sustainable home.

You may even live in a sustainable development housing community, and faithfully kitchen compost and take sustainable showers. If so, then you should be proud of your commitment and contributions towards the protection of our dwindling natural resources. Regardless of how eco friendly you or your home or lifestyle may be, however, here are six tips to help you lead a more sustainable, eco friendly life.

Tip One Use public transportation and bike whenever possible. One third of all traffic is made up of commuters, so it makes sense to use alternative transportation whenever possible. If driving is a necessity, you can still drive more slowly, which will cut down on emissions and also reduce the wear and tear on your tires.

Tip Two Save water. You may already be implementing water saving practices in your home, but did you know that watering your lawn at night or in the early morning is an effortless way to conserve. This is because the typically hotter temperatures of midday create more evaporation of water. Another way to conserve outside water is to plant drought tolerant garden plants, which require less water by design.

Tip Three Stop Smoking. This is a good idea for a myriad of health reasons, but can also help to create a more eco friendly home environment. Secondhand smoke releases harmful, carcinogenic chemicals into the air, which are dangerous for both the environment, and the people you live with.

Tip Four Keep cats indoors. Domestic cats are still hunters by nature, and it is estimated that these pets kill on average, about forty birds per year, per cat. This affects the natural predator/prey relationship as well as the reproductive habits of ground nesting birds.
Tip Five Eat less meat.

Tropical forests are being cut down everyday to create grazing land for cattle and facilitate the growth of the meat industry. Try replacing meat with tofu or seitan in just one meal a week to start, and then gradually add more vegetarian alternatives to your diet once you and your family become accustomed to them.

Tip Six Plant your own tree. Trees store CO2 and produce the oxygen that we all need to survive, and planting a tree is the perfect way to leave a lasting legacy of eco consciousness to your future generations.

Sustainable living is not a difficult thing to practice. A few simple changes to your daily life and routine now will result in both a healthier environment and a healthier you.

By: Kelly Renaul

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The echo project is a three day ecco music festival in Atlanta Georgia with over 30 bands.

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Save The Planet, One Home At A Time

Let's not argue. I don't know what you believe about global warming, and I don't intend to try to change your mind, whatever you believe. However, I have viewed information from many sources and I am of the opinion that it is real and the world is in danger. Our environment, our coastlines, our way of life, and the lives of millions, including our grandchildren, are in danger.

That's my opinion on the subject of global warming. You will have to form your own opinions. If you want to know more on the subject but don't know where to start, I recommend Al Gore's movie, "An Inconvenient Truth". I rented a copy from Blockbuster and watched it, but it is also available for purchase at http://www.climatecrisis.net

What I DO know personally is that the resources of the earth are finite and some are beginning to get close to running out, particularly those petroleum resources that heat and cool our homes, cook our food, heat the water in our bath, and help propel our assorted array of motor vehicles and transportation devices. I also know that those parts of the earth that I have loved for over half a century and wanted to pass on to my kids and grandkids are rapidly becoming an embarrassment for those of us who have not done anything to stop what is happening to them. You know, fields, the air, water, birds, animals...silly stuff like that.

Reversing this is going to be a huge job, and we normally assign huge jobs like this to "the government", whoever they are. Wait a minute, isn't the government our servant? Oh? I thought not. Anyway, "the government" is an ungainly beast which normally moves very slowly and is often ineffective and tends to break things when it tries to move quickly. It also tends to follow the biggest carrot.

However, much of the reversal needed could be accomplished by people like you and me, if we can convince enough people to act more in favor of the future of the planet and less in favor of personal gain and self-aggrandizement.

Here are some ways I have found that a person or family, and even some businesses and governmental units, can begin changing the possibility of a bleak environmental future into a brighter one. By the way, I know that these are easily done because in the last six months, my wife and I have done most of them. If we can do it, anybody can.

1. Get a more fuel efficient vehicle. Now, don't go out and buy a new car just because I said that, but when it IS time to get a new car, why not make fuel efficiency a factor. Your wallet will thank you when you fill up at the gas pump. You know, the other day, my wife and I were sitting at a stoplight near our home, and four huge SUV's went through the green light...each with only one person. Look around the next time you're stuck in traffic. Do you think all those SUV's and pickups with one person belong to huge families that regularly transport such large items that they HAD to have an SUV or pickup?

2. Get a hybrid car. My wife and I purchased a hybrid, a Toyota Prius. We get more than double the gas mileage of our previous car and still get a nice, comfortable ride. There's plenty of room inside, and we got a tax incentive. Many states and cities, by the way, offer additional perks for hybrid owners. Some give parking breaks, some give HOV lane access even with one person in the car, and some give other benefits. You'll probably get a higher trade-in when you go to get your next car.

3. Change your light bulbs. In case you haven't seen them in the store, there is a new type of light bulb, the compact fluorescent. Just as an example, the replacement compact fluorescent for a typical 60 watt incandescent bulb uses only 13 watts and will save approximately $37 over the life of the bulb. While these bulbs are more expensive up front than standard bulbs, they last five or six times as long as the standard bulb. Although your cash savings are not that great per bulb, as you can see, using them in place of a standard bulb can cut the electricity used for lighting by about 75%. Just imagine if you gradually replaced all the bulbs in your house, and so did your neighbor. One small benefit I noticed immediately. I live in Texas where it is HOT all Summer long. These lower wattage bulbs generate less heat, and my air conditioner (energy efficient) actually was better able to cool the house once I started using them!

4. Get energy efficient appliances. The next time you need to replace a refrigerator, air conditioner, hot water heater, washer, dryer or other appliance, shop with energy efficiency in mind. Appliances now have labels that will give you an idea of how efficient each appliance is so you can compare. Don't get one bigger than you need. Again, your personal savings for electricity may be small, but the benefit to the environment is great.

5. Use green power. Almost every power company can provide a green option. This is power generated by various means such as wind or solar power. Give them a call or check their web site and find out more about what they have to offer. Green power is usually slightly more expensive but again, the benefit to the environment is what you are trying to accomplish. My electric company estimates that my using their green power program saves, in a year, the rough equivalent of a the pollution caused by a car driving 3,900 miles.

6. Vote with your wallet. Let's face it. The big companies that have a vested interest in preserving the status quo will take notice if our buying habits begin to change. They know what's being bought, and they tend to be more responsive to the will of the people than "the government". Get real, folks, they are still churning out behemoths for the highway because that is what a large chunk of the population is asking for. If more people start asking for hybrid cars, compact fluorescent light bulbs, energy efficient appliances, and green power, SOMEBODY will gear up to provide it. The existence of a market also encourages research and development and competition to provide the next best model. Want a kick? Go to Google.com and do a search on something simple like "emergency power". You might be amazed at all the interesting new items becoming available that can provide emergency backup power, and the cute little tricks that are now being done with portable solar power units.

This is not everything that can be done. There are many other steps each of us can take. The first thing that pops into people's minds is recycling. That's good, but here's another. What's wrong with second hand...excuse me...pre-owned? There are millions of lonely, practically new items sitting on shelves waiting for you to take them home. What do you and I do instead? We go buy everything new, which means more resources have to be used to produce and transport these goods...and we won't talk about the packaging that is clogging the landfill (or my garage). Who cares if your great-looking tackle box, hammer, or blender is new or used? Not only will you be helping keep stuff like this from going to the landfill possibly, but you will probably save a bunch of money as well! You can use the money you save to put a few gallons of gas in your new hybrid car.

Hey! Can you imagine the impact if businesses started using efficient light bulbs and recycling stuff? I know a few do already, but we need more to do it. If you run a business or know someone who does, why not send them a copy of this article?

Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer. A University Of West Florida alumnus (1973) with a BA in accounting, he is a member of Mensa and has held several managerial positions. After retiring from the U. S. Army in 1995, he became interested in internet marketing and developed various online businesses. He has been writing poetry, articles, and essays for over 40 years, and now frequently publishes articles on his own websites and for use by other webmasters. He has a blog on the subject of hybrid cars and alternative fuels at http://hybridcarsalternativefuelsandmore.blogspot.com/

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Green Building: The Basics

Humanity has advanced in stunning ways in the last 100 years from a technology perspective. The advancements, however, have come with drawbacks. Green building is an approach that seeks to address some of those drawbacks.

The difference between the average persons life in 1907 and 2007 is laughably huge. Frankly, the century has been unlike any other, but so has our consumption of resources. Only now are we starting to realize the impact on the planet.

On an indirect level, we have known about the costs of wastes for some time. While greenhouse gases are all the rage these days, we already have address our waste issues. From the ozone depletion issue to smog in our cities, the impact of our consumption has been apparent.

Looking around us today, smog seems a rather small problem. Our world is getting hotter. With this will come changes. Weather will become more severe, and water is forecast to become scarce.

As you know, there is a great debate about climate change. Many people think it is over whether climate change exists. This is incorrect. The question is the cause of the heating of the planet. As the ice caps melt, the question is whether we are the cause.

A large part of the cause seems to be the wastes created by our way of life. Confronted with this fact, finding a solution seems the answer. The problem, of course, is the answer is vague and very expensive. Small steps such as green building seem prudent.

Green building is a philosophy of building more efficient structures. Tied into this philosophy is the use of materials favorable to the environment. The philosophy is used on structures ranging from homes to skyscrapers in New York City.

From an efficiency standpoint, green building is about harmonizing a structure with its environment. Construction materials tend to be recycled and/or environment neutral. They can be the materials from a building demolished or recycled newspaper for insulation, for example.

Green building also incorporates a design element. The structure is designed to take advantage of things such as solar energy for heating, and wind drafts for cooling. Many green designs replace air conditioning with windows that open, even on skyscrapers.

There is little argument that green building is a new concept and thus still struggling to become a standard. That being said, the fact that individual and large businesses are looking to it is a good sign. Perhaps we are turning a corner.

By: Trev Verte..

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Learn more about building green at GreenBuildingCompanies.com.
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Thinking Green - Environmentals of Lawn Care and Water Quality

If you aren't careful when taking care of your lawn, you will directly have negative effects on your local environment and watershed. There will be runoff from your lawn or garden into storm drains that end in local rivers, ponds, and lakes. If you use pesticides, organic matter, or other additives on your lawn, they will end up contaminating areas both near and far from just your own neighborhood.

This doesn't mean that you can't use any pesticides or fertilizers, but you must be very cautious with their use. You can be committed to the environment and still have a great looking lawn.

Taking proper care of your lawn benefits you and everyone in your area. You should promote proper care to your neighbors as well, since more people being thoughtful in their use of pesticides and fertilizers will create a healthier environment for everyone. Having a healthy yard somewhat makes up for the disturbance to the environment that the building process created in the first place.

An important first step to successful lawn care and water quality and quantity used is selecting the correct type of grass. Almost fifty percent of the water used in residential areas in the summer is used for lawn care. You should check to make sure your sprinklers are not watering unnecessary areas, and that they are being as efficient as possible.

Specifics of Lawn Care and Water Quality

Watering deeply, but not often, is important for a healthy lawn and good water quality. Make sure that the water fully reaches the soil before you water the grass any more. The water should reach four to six inches deep. An exception to watering infrequently is for newly seeded areas, that need to be watered often, but only lightly instead of deeply.

If you are planting a new lawn, do so at the prime growing time to make sure it grows properly. A very important thing to keep in mind is not to use pesticides right before watering. You will have the disadvantage of it being washed away right away and not helping your lawn, and at the same time, the disadvantage to the local watershed and environment.

The soil can be tested to find out how much lime and fertilizer is needed. This will help you to have a healthy lawn without contaminating the environment. Applying too much does nothing to help, and it will just be washed away. Having a form of nitrate that is slowly released into the soil is much less likely to get into the water system. Also, a layer of mulch on the soil helps to prevent runoff and soil erosion.

Keith Markensen shares truths on homeowners safety with pesticide dangers for homeowners and always offers advice from years of landscape experience at www.Plant-Care.com where professional landscape advice is only a click away.

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What You Need to Know About Environmental Threats

Greek philosophers commenced theorizing about the nature as composed of elements like water, earth, ether etc. This nature or environment has always been a jamboree for the inquisitive souls. This is precisely the reason that man has left no stone unturned to explore it. In talking about nature and environment related issues, the foremost question that comes to my mind is that what is environment? Have you ever pondered over the fact that it is not just the foliage and fauna but also the air you breathe, water you drink, things you touch and perceive and even the food you eat that constitutes your environment! You are encased by environment everywhere and anywhere. This environment has friends as well as foes. In case of opponents, the rational selves inject most of these. For instance factories produce and introduce many toxic compounds in the environment that are hazardous for the entire mankind. This article will shed light on some of the significant environmental enemies that envelope us all round the clock.

1. The harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, lead, sulphur dioxide etc constantly pollute the air around us. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous compound, excess inhaling of which can be unexpectedly detrimental. Studies have revealed that CO enters into our bloodstream and causes breathing disorders and even cardiac arrest.

2. Lead is another fatal element that attacks the nervous system and is largely responsible for causing evils like anemia and high blood pressure. Lead can be threatening to life. So it is better to keep a check on the release of lead in your surroundings. Reducing the consumption can do this and judicious use of lead based products and like paints, batteries and radiators etc.

Other pollutants too that enter the air and water we consume and destroy the sanctity of environment (like depletion of the ozone layer) are very dreadful. They can result in usual minor problems like common cold to major ones like asthma, bronchitis and conjunctivitis etc.

In order to avert the infection due to these pollutants or germs it is better to built up a strong immune system. Although much of immunity is genetically inherited yet it can be significantly improved by intaking nutritious and balanced diet and exercising regularly.

3. When we talk about pollution, noise pollution is also quite disturbing and annoying. A surge in the noise pollution level due to the escalating traffic, industries and factories leads to hazards like insomnia and lack of concentration.

4. The sun that enlightens the whole world can even be damaging at times. The excess of sun’s heat and ultraviolet rays that creep into the earth’s atmosphere due to the exhaustion of protective ozone layer, cause many dermdisorders amongst individuals. To avoid these perils as much possible, wear sunscreen lotion, sunglasses and covered clothes while moving out in the sun.

5. Apart from the pollutants like smoke and other toxic gasses, the pesticides that are sprayed in the fields and on the crops have an injurious outcome. Through the vegetables and fruits we eat these pesticides composed of poisonous chemicals like DDT, Methanol, carbon monoxide etc. enter our body and harm it. Therefore it is advised to wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly prior to eating or cooking.

6. The radiations that are released in the atmosphere due to nuclear reactions, nuclear tests, mobile phones, computers and the like are also a source of danger.

7. The enhancement of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has resulted in global warming which has turned out to be a massive threat to life on earth. Planting more trees and plants that enrich the air with oxygen can prevent global warming.

Safeguarding oneself against the environmental rivals is also a way to cease the damage we do the environment...think about it.

Mansi aggarwal writes about environmental threats. Learn more at http://www.environmentalhealththreats.com

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Energy Efficient Windows Help Your Pocket And The Environment

Houses leak most of their heat through the windows. Seals and weather-stripping on cheap and badly installed windows allow heat-robbing drafts, and regular glass is not a very good insulator. But the initial cost of quality energy-efficient windows can give one pause. Is it really worth the extra money to get windows that can reduce your house's energy consumption by as much as twenty-five percent?

It's certainly true that the US Government wants to encourage you to fit energy-efficient windows by giving you a 10% tax break for doing so up to a maximum of $500 per year. This specific tax credit is called the Existing Home Tax Credit for Fenestration and covers windows installed between 31st December 2005 and 1st January 2008. So there's still time for you to benefit.

The organization that rates the energy-saving capabilities of windows is the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). Their measures are the U-Factor which rates how well the window retains heat in your house - the lower this rating, the better - and the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient which shows how well your windows keep your house cool - again, the lower, the better. In order to qualify for the above tax credit you need to install energy-efficient products rated by this organization. They'll all display NFRC stickers which you'll need to keep along with your receipts as proof of purchase.

What should you look for in a window, besides an Energy Star rating? The market supplies many choices, but here are some guidelines.

First, most insulating windows are made with two, or sometimes three, panes of glass. The manufacturer often fills the space between the panes with an insulating inert gas such as argon or krypton.

There's also a film or reflective metal coating that manufacturers can put on the glass which helps to achieve lower U-Factor ratings. Some treatments of this sort can even help to filter out damaging UV radiation. It's a good idea if you are installing a west-facing window to attempt to obtain glass that has a really low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. This is useful because rooms with west-facing windows often have overheating problems in the afternoons. Your dealer should be able to help you with this.

Another very important consideration is the window seal. It's imperative that any window you are contemplating buying has a tight seal. You can check this by noting the resistence felt when opening and closing the window in the showroom. The higher the resistence, the better the seal.

So, although replacing those old, drafty windows may look to be an expensive proposition in the short-term, remember to factor in the government tax break of ten per cent and ten to twenty five per cent savings on energy costs, and they might not look quite so expensive after all.

By: Graham Tasker

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If you're looking for some energy conservation technique advice then Graham Tasker, the Webmaster of Green Home Website at www.greenhome.no1-source.com has plenty that you'll find interesting and informative.

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Save the Environment - Buy a Hybrid Car & Save Money as Well

For most of us these days there's so much publicity & news coverage over the Green House Effect that maybe you’ve been thinking about how much your car contributes to this and wish to help the environment. Or maybe you are sick and tired of paying high gas prices and want to buy a car that is better on gas. Whether you want to help the environment, or want to cut down on how much you spend on gas, the hybrid car is a great solution.

What is hybrid car?

Hybrid cars are autos that run efficiently on both fuel (normally gasoline) and electric energy. The combination of using fuel and electric energy makes hybrid cars both environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient.

The vast majority of hybrid cars are powered by two different engines: a gasoline engine and an electric engine. The gasoline engine is responsible for starting and stopping the car, while the electric engine is responsible for actually making the car move. By using the two engines in this way, the car is not totally dependent on gasoline. This, in turn, cuts down on the environmental pollution & the amount & therefore cost of gas used.

Types of Hybrid cars

If you've done research on hybrid cars on the Internet, you've probably seen that there are two types of hybrid cars currently available. These are the Series hybrid car and the Parallels hybrid car. There are slight differences between the two types of hybrid cars, which we will go over here.

With the Series type of hybrid car, the gasoline engine is used to start and stop the car. Then, when the car reaches a specific speed, the electric engine automatically takes over. Also, in the Series type of hybrid car, the gas engine is used to charge the batteries of the electric engine. With the Series type of hybrid car, both engines never really work together as a team.

The Parallel hybrid, just like the Series hybrid, uses both a gas and electric engine. Even though the Parallel and Series hybrids are similarly configured physically, they are distinctively different in terms of operation. The big difference is that, in the Parallel hybrid, both the gasoline and electric engines can be used to start and stop the car. The other difference is that the electric engine in a Parallel hybrid is only used to boost the power of the vehicle when needed. Parallel hybrid cars are more fuel efficient than are the Series hybrid cars.

How does the hybrid car increase fuel efficiency?

Hybrid cars are made up of lightweight materials. Thus, the load on the hybrid car is greatly reduced. Because of the lightweight materials, the car doesn’t require as much fuel to move. Also, the tires of hybrid cars are firmer than are those found on regular cars.

Since the gasoline is burnt at a low level in hybrid cars, it produces lower toxic emissions than those produced by conventional vehicles. Green house emissions, as we previously mentioned, are a real threat to the environment. Hybrid vehicles, because they release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, cause far less pollution than regular cars do. In fact, some studies have shown that hybrid cars can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by as much as fifty percent, and tailpipe emissions by as much as ninety percent.

To sum up, hybrid cars are much more economical because they consume fifty to sixty percent less fuel than regular vehicles do. Also, they are very environmentally-friendly. The only drawback to hybrid cars is that currently they tend to be a bit more expensive than traditional cars to initially purchase.. However, this will change over time because more people will purchase hybrid vehicles due to the benefits and the pressures placed upon Governments to reduce pollution.

Toby Russell & his information website http://www.hybridcarlatest.com gives information, news and views for all those interested in the Hybrid Car Market.

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The Controversy Over Bottled Water: One Solution is Water Purification by Vicki Oppenheim

Recently after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (2007) banned the purchase of bottled water by City funds, there has been greater discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of bottled water. Some argue that the transport and processing of bottled water as well as the disposal of bottles negatively impacts the environment. They also argue that tap water is as healthy as bottled water.

While municipalities across the country do remove a majority of water contaminants, it is also true that there are residual contaminants in the water. The disinfection process also adds chloramines and other byproducts. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates allowable levels of contaminants in drinking water. A list of contaminants and their possible adverse health effects is available on the EPA Website. The EPA categorizes possible water contaminants into: microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and radionuclides. There can also be turbidity from soil runoff and other nonregulated contaminants. Not mentioned on this list are possible contaminants, such as copper or lead, after municipal processing from local water pipes.

In reviewing the water quality report for my local city, for instance, I found small and permissible amounts of lead, copper, barium, nitrate, atrazine (herbicide), simazine (herbicide), and chloramines, among others. Even if the low levels present are acceptable by EPA standards, it is a personal choice as to whether one would prefer to ingest even lower levels of contaminants and also have better tasting water.

One solution is to add a whole house/office or individual faucet water purification system to remove the residual contaminants. There is also the added benefit of having purified water for pennies per glass instead of the higher cost for bottled water.

For More Information: Seagull, for example, offers water purification systems with a "structured matrix technology" that remove trace amounts of chemicals and microbiological contaminants found in tap water.

About the Author

I have an interest in healthy homes and the environment after creating my own healthy home. If you use my article please cite my websites:Low Price Galaxy, Eco-Basic Home, and Oscar's Book Nook.

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Alternative Energy From The Ocean

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) was conceived of by the French engineer Jacques D'Arsonval in 1881. However, at the time of this writing the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii is home to the only operating experimental OTEC plant on the face of the earth. OTEC is a potential alternative energy source that needs to be funded and explored much more than it presently is. The great hurdle to get over with OTEC implementation on a wide and practically useful level is cost. It is difficult to get the costs down to a reasonable level because of the processes presently utilized to drive OTEC. Ocean thermal energy would be very clean burning and not add pollutants into the air. However, as it presently would need to be set up with our current technologies, OTEC plants would have the capacity for disrupting and perhaps damaging the local environment.

There are three kinds of OTEC.

Closed Cycle OTEC uses a low-boiling point liquid such as, for example, propane to act as an intermediate fluid. The OTEC plant pumps the warm sea water into the reaction chamber and boils the intermediate fluid. This results in the intermediate fluid's vapor pushing the turbine of the engine, which thus generates electricity. The vapor is then cooled down by putting in cold sea water.

Open Cycle OTEC is not that different from closed cycling, except in the Open Cycle there is no intermediate fluid. The sea water itself is the driver of the turbine engine in this OTEC format. Warm sea water found on the surface of the ocean is turned into a low-pressure vapor under the constraint of a vacuum. The low-pressure vapor is released in a focused area and it has the power to drive the turbine. To cool down the vapor and create desalinated water for human consumption, the deeper ocean's cold waters are added to the vapor after it has generated sufficient electricity.

Hybrid Cycle OTEC is really just a theory for the time being. It seeks to describe the way that we could make maximum usage of the thermal energy of the ocean's waters. There are actually two sub-theories to the theory of Hybrid Cycling. The first involves using a closed cycling to generate electricity. This electricity is in turn used to create the vacuum environment needed for open cycling. The second component is the integration of two open cyclings such that twice the amount of desalinated, potable water is created that with just one open cycle.

In addition to being used for producing electricity, a closed cycle OTEC plant can be utilized for treating chemicals. OTEC plants, both open cycling and close cycling kinds, are also able to be utilized for pumping up cold deep sea water which can then be used for refrigeration and air conditioning. Furthermore, during the moderation period when the sea water is surrounding the plant, the enclosed are can be used for mariculture and aquaculture projects such as fish farming. There is clearly quite an array of products and services that we could derive from this alternative energy source.

By: charlie19

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Paul Brown gave up his day job to write. He also runs Articlehideaway.com. To help our planet try looking at Renewable Energy Solutions or making your own Bio Fuel and saving yourself some hard earned cash!

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Solar Home – Conserving Pv Power

Solar homes. Many people talk about them, although few in the U.S. do more than talk. They are said to reduce utility bills. Some say a solar home cuts utility bills drastically. Some are able to sell excess power back to the power grid. Savings are not automatic, however. Steps must be taken to make the solar home efficient; to conserve the electricity that is produced.

Ways to conserve solar photovoltaic power in the home must be found. The home owner must actively seek out ways to make those photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof as efficient as possible. Photovoltaic power is free, but it cannot be generated in unlimited quantities. It is important to take measures to use it to best advantage.

Of all the ways to conserve solar photovoltaic power in the home, the most important is probably replacement of power-gobbling electric appliances. Home lighting can also be changed to conserve solar photovoltaic power (PV power). Finally, power usage can be reduced by making every person in the solar home conscious of conservation methods.

12 Ways to Conserve Solar Photovoltaic Power in the Home

1. Shop for energy-efficient appliances and home electronics for your solar home. Most products in this category carry EnergyGuide labels. These labels give an estimate of the products' energy consumption or energy efficiency, and show the ratings of similar appliance models. In the U.S., appliances and home electronics that meet strict Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) energy efficiency criteria carry Energy Star labels.

2. Replace an electric water heater in a solar home with an energy-efficient propane or natural gas heater. Connect the new water heater to a solar water heater system. The sun will preheat the water, and the new unit will have less work. Wrap the water heater with thermal wrap to retain heat.

3. Replace the solar home's electric furnace with an energy-efficient propane or natural gas unit. Install a solar panel air heater to reduce the work load of the new furnace. If you are building a new solar home, consider passive ways to heat the floors and air, further reducing the workload.

4. If the solar home is in a hot, dry climate, use an evaporative cooling unit in place of an electric air conditioner.

5. Check weather stripping around all windows and doors. Seal cracks and openings. Stopping air leakage in and out can improve indoor climate control in every season.

6. Insulate the solar home well. Insulation will keep heat or cool air from escaping. It will also keep outdoor cold or heat from entering readily.

7. Use heavy, insulted drapes and window shades/blinds in the solar home to keep out hot or cold air, making cooling and heating units work more efficiently.

8. A serious solar home owner can save even further by using a solar oven for cooking whenever possible. Especially good in hot climates or summer months, a solar oven will cook food with solar energy, and avoid heating the home. Money is thus saved in two ways.

9. Control of computer usage is another of the many ways to conserve solar photovoltaic power in the home. Monitors should be turned off whenever the computer will not be in use for 20 minutes or more. The CPU and monitor both should be turned off when the unit will not be used for 2 hours or more. Power down or sleep modes should be set.

10. Replace light bulbs with Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs. If every U.S. home replaced just one light bulb with one of these bulbs, we would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs. To the solar home owner, such savings are vital.

11. Maximize your use of daylight, turning on lights only when necessary. Use windows to advantage, and install skylights where possible.

12. Landscape your property to block the heat of summer sunlight, permit winter sunlight. Deciduous trees near the solar home will shade windows in the summer, and let warming sunlight through in winter months.

Ways to conserve solar photovoltaic power in the home are not limited to these twelve, but if these alone are used, the increase in efficiency will be tremendous.

By: Anna Hart

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

© 2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about solar homes at www.solar-energy-connection.com. Anna has posted articles on that site about various applications of solar technology. If you would like information on designing and constructing a solar home air heater, you won’t want to miss Anna's article on the subject.

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