Since we breathe the air that is out there what is in it should be a top concern for each of us. Yet we often go about it without thinking twice about it. There are enough individuals suffering from health concerns due to what they have been breathing in for years.

With all of the pollutants out there right now, imagine what it will be like for future generations. You may don’t care must as you won’t be around. Yet you will have family who will need to deal with the problems. Even y our own children and grandchildren who are the next generations will be affected by it.

Each of us has the power to make some positive changes though. Some people believe that living green is a waste of time because you are only one person. Yet if the educational information out there about it could encourage many individuals to all do their part it would have quite a significant impact overall.

The efforts of only one person over the course of their lifetime will significantly reduce the amount of pollution out there. Teaching children from a young age what they can do and why will allow that process to continue being implemented in our society as well.

We also have the responsibility to let the government and businesses know that we expect them to take action. Buy what you can from companies that due have plenty of living green concepts incorporated for customers to take advantage of. At the same time you need to influence your government to place laws in effect that limit the amount of pollution that can be emitted by a company as well as by individual vehicles on the roads.

If you are ready to start living green and to do your part to reduce the carbon footprints you have placed on this Earth it is time to learn about the various ways you can do so. It is never too late to make some positive changes to your behaviours so that you can live healthier and so can everyone around you…. Read more

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People can rattle off any number of reasons:

Saving money on energy

Signaling social conscience

Becoming more sustainable

Participating in social and community events

Going green isn’t a trend; it’s a lifestyle choice. Like any other lifestyle choice, green living is about establishing priorities and determining how you can achieve them.

Retractable awnings are a surprisingly pragmatic option. Some reasons are obvious, like reduced electricity use (and lower electricity bills). Others are less apparent – like using retractable awnings in xeriscaping yards and lowering the amount of time indoors.

Retractable Awnings and Energy

The biggest reason to go green almost always comes down to money. Especially when times get troubled, people look for creative ways to save a penny. Energy bills are some of the largest monthly expenses for both homes and businesses, so saving energy saves money.

Retractable awnings block sunlight before it reaches the exterior of a building. Along with being shady, this means that the heat from sunlight never reaches the building – which means that the inside of the building doesn’t heat up as much. This can lower indoor heat gain anywhere from eight to 20 degrees and lower air conditioning use by 25% or more. According to a 2007 study by the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association, that reduction in electricity use can translate into hundreds of dollars a year. While that’s an easy choice for sunny climates like Phoenix, San Diego, and Houston, even northeastern cities – not known for blazing sun or hot summers – saw hundreds of dollars in savings because of how expensive electric rates are.

Retractable awnings are a green product because of lower energy use and, therefore, cost savings. That’s really enough for a simplified, more sustainable lifestyle. But for the true environmentalists, there is another thing to consider: the modest electricity reductions from retractable awnings save anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of CO2 production per year for an average household (according to calculations from TerraPass). A smaller carbon footprint is a big deal for a lot of green households.

Retractable Awnings and the Out of Doors

The most important part of “green living” is the living. Going green means a fundamental shift in how people look at daily lives: reducing consumption, focusing on local interests, developing an appreciation for nature. Retractable awnings can be a small but useful part of this by making it easier to enjoy being outside in two ways:

Protecting from glare and UV rays

Lowering temperatures in the shade

Moving outside reduces indoor light use, lessens the amount of time spent on high-consumption equipment like computers and TVs, and can even lower usage of climate control systems.

From a landscaping perspective, retractable awnings can provide valuable shade over important areas of the yard. Shade reduces evaporation, which, in turn, decreases the amount of water required to maintain a yard. Shade gardens and xeriscaping (using native plants) are both lower consumption than ornamental gardens or even grass turf, and retractable awnings – which can use sun sensors automatically adjust to allow the appropriate amount of light – simplify yard maintenance.

Take a Look at the Way It’s Made

Part of green living is an awareness not just of what one personally uses, but where those products come from.

Retractable awning manufacturers are increasingly adopting green techniques. Some things to look for are basic recycling programs, energy efficiency measures like natural lighting, and waste control.

For example, Sunbrella® – one of the largest awning fabric manufacturers in the world – uses nearly waste-free manufacturing processes and is actively pursuing ISO environmental certifications for its manufacturing facilities. Italian-based Para® offers a special fabric line, Tempotest®, which is Ecotest® certified. Ecotest® certifications guarantee that a certified product doesn’t contain harmful elements and is compatible with the natural environment.

Where awning components are manufactured can have an even bigger effect on their environmental footprint. Both North American and European manufacturers must adhere to stringent environmental regulations for manufacturing plants, which lowers their overall consumption, pollution, and waste. Lower cost manufacturers in Asia (especially China), however, have lax or nonexistent environmental controls, which contributes to a lot of manufacturing pollution.

Going green with retractable awnings has the bonus, then, of better quality because of better manufacturing standards. It also gives you more options – like motors, sun sensors, wind and rain sensors, remote controls and adjustable an optional adjustable pitch – which make retractable awnings easier to use. The easier an awning is to use, the more likely it is to be used consistently, and the more you’ll save on energy.

Ultimately, going green is about making simple, daily choices. Putting up retractable awnings is one of those simple choices that can help make your overall lifestyle greener.

The American energy problem can be addressed with wind turbines, windmills, and solar panels. Windmills have a very long life and relatively few operational and maintenance issues. Solar panels will pay for themselves, but they will not last as long as windmills. These can be purchased on-line or from retail stores that install the products. Ask your retail installer to provide you with a repair warranty. Request their help in obtaining local utility and municipal rebates and tax credits.

There are security and maintenance issues related to renewable energy. Understand that the sun does not shine all day long. You will have problems relying on solar energy if you live in a part of the country where there is a lack of sunshine for long periods of time. The upper Midwest will have this issue in winter. The South, Southwest and west coast are perfect areas for wide scale solar and wind energy. Energy storage must be factored into your overall energy plan. If your energy generation is larger than your usage, contact your local utility or energy provider to sell back any excess energy into their electric grid. You can save money and improve your life with renewable energy. The energy savings will pay for the equipment during its life.

The proximity of trees to the solar panels may result in damage to the panel during hail or wind storms. It is very important to keep your trees well trimmed when you add solar energy to your home. Solar products include solar panels for running electric gate openers, electric water pumps, electric generators, passive heating systems for homes, and electric attic fans.  Other new products are solar hot water heaters, solar swimming pool heaters, solar battery rechargers, and cell phone solar battery rechargers. GreenEnviroPlans.com offers a wide selection of solar products.

Imagine that you had a storm in your region and many electric lines are down. Your home can still have lights, coffee, breakfast, and music playing if there are solar panels on your roof. Products are available to instruct you on how to inexpensively make your own solar panels. These products are available as eBooks, books and DVD instruction manuals.  You can also purchase kits to make solar panels where the products needed are prepackaged. These kits or do-it yourself projects can save you thousands of dollars and give you electric power when your neighbors have none.

Do not wait for your government to solve the international energy problem. Go green and implement energy saving devices in your homes now.  Inquire at your local university to see if there is a networking group for green or solar energy. Form social groups in your region to promote green energy and energy conservation. Keep energy self-sufficiency in mind when building new homes. Purchase new appliances that have low energy use. They will save you money over their useful life, even if they cost slightly more.

Implementation of renewable energy is a political statement. It can also be a way to increase your self-reliance save money. All are good reasons to start thinking green. Write your Senator for his voting record on renewable energy.  Demand that your local elected officials get behind green energy now!

© 2010 by Dr R Stone, MD - Alternative Medicine, India

EnviroMission Limited (www.enviromission.com.au) produced this 5 minute video on the pilot plant in Spain. It is an older video (2000) but gives a decent understanding of the solar tower concept. EnviroMission, Ltd. (US Market: EVOMY, Australian Exchange: EVM) is a renewable energy developer of sustainable “green” energy solutions for the energy market. EnviroMission aims to be one of Australia’s leading producers of clean renewable energy. EnviroMission holds the proprietary rights to Solar Tower technology, a large-scale renewable energy technology based on simple fundamentals of physics — hot air rises. Solar Tower technology has the potential to offer competitive renewable energy with equal reliability to fossil fuel generators. A single 200MW Solar Tower power station will provide enough electricity to power around 400000 households. The energy output will represent an annual saving of more than 1960000 tonnes of greenhouse CO2 gases from entering the environment when compared to brown coal emissions in Victoria. The greenhouse savings equate to the removal of approximately 500000 cars from the road. The Australian Solar Tower project consists of six distinct phases, the first two of which (project optimization and pre-feasibility commercialization) have already been completed. The third phase (final feasibility), paving the way for the implementation of the next three phases (final design, construction, and commercial operation).
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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You can have one for glass products, one for plastic items, and one for cardboard and paper products. You can have one for aluminium cans (soda cans) too . Check out from your local representative, if there is any recycling place near your place of residence. There should be centers for them locally around town. You will often find bins  that allow you to place these items into at collection spots. They are just huge containers that will get emptied out on a regular basis. This is perfect when the community doesn’t have any other method

for taking in the items to be recycled.

If your community doesn’t offer recycling, then  you need to take charge and can contact your local representative  in person or  in writing  asking them to consider offering them. Explain your concerns that without such bins in place people won’t be encouraged to recycle in your Community.

The concept of recycling can be extended to schools and businesses in your Community  as well. Take the initiative and do what you can. In many instances people just need to be educated and then reminded about the benefits of recycling for saving our environment.

Your information and initiative can motivate others in your Community to take part and do their bit. Don’t overlook the

importance of letting children in your Community take part. They are often very excited and find it to be thrilling. They can often help and be your Ambassador and encourage their parents to take part in such efforts.

Buying products that have been recycled such as paper products is a great way to show your support for these efforts.  Even supplies such as napkins used in fast food restaurants can be made from recycled paper. Make it a practice to use only recycled paper and paper products.

Buy a big cloth bag for your shopping needs rather than getting a paper or plastic bag from the shops. Look for one that is durable

so it you can reused  over and over again.

These are just some of the things which we as responsible citizens can do to reduce our Carbon Footprint and therby save our beloved Planet Earth.

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How much of that 35 to 70 kg is wasted effort is the question, how much could you cut down by charging your mobile until it’s full and turning off the charger. Or perhaps another option is to buy an in car charger and whilst damaging the environment driving, charge at the same time at no additional cost to your carbon footprint?

Now in all honesty my last point is not scientifically proven but I do think there is some logic in this point? Another trend which is developing in the mobile market today, that will be driving the carbon footprint is the trend to own more than one mobile phone? We are now seeing that people have mobile phones for there work and personal use and never the twain shall meet. That means the charging, or indeed over charging of two phones. But smart phones like the o2 XDA or the NokiaN95, are multi purpose phones and offer a great solution – but more about that in my next article.

Glass recycling is good for the surroundings.. A glass container that  is despatched to a landfill usually requires up to 1 000 000 years to break down. in contrast, it takes as little for as 30 days for a recycled glass bottle to depart the kitchen recycling bin as well as appear on a store shelf like a new  glass container.

Glass recycling is sustainable-Glass containers are 100-percent  recyclable, which signifies they can be recycled repeatedly, many times, with zero loss of purity or even well-quality in the glass.

Glass recycling is efficient.. improved glass from glass  recycling may be the primary element in complete new glass containers. A  typical glass container is made of as much as 70 percent recycled glass.  According to industry estimates, 80 percent from whole recycled glass  ultimately ends up as new glass containers.

Glass recycling conserves organic resources. each ton of glass that is recycled saves above a ton of the raw materials needed to create fresh glass, including:  1,300 pounds of sand; 410 pounds of soda ash; and 380 pounds of  granite.

Glass recycling saves vital energy. creating fresh glass means heating sand  and other substances to a temperature of 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit,  which requires a lot of vital energy and even creates a lot of industrial  pollution. among the first steps in glass recycling requires you to crush the  glass and even produce a product called “cullet.” building recycled glass  goods from cullet consumes 40 percent much less energy than creating fresh  glass of raw resources, due to the fact cullet melts with a much lesser  temperature.

Recycled glass is useful. as glass is made from pure  materials resembling sand and limestone, it glass containers have got a low  rate of compound interaction with their contents. consequently, glass can  be securely reused. likewise serving as main element in fresh  glass containers, recycled glass moreover carries several other commercial  uses—from making ornamental tiles and landscaping material to  rebuilding scoured beaches.

Glass recycling can also be simple, as I recognized at the beginning  of the article. It’s simple because glass is definitely one of the easiest  materials to recycle. first factor, glass is accepted with almost all  curbside recycling programs and municipal recycling centers. About all  most of the people have to do to recycle glass bottles and jars is usually to carry  their recycling bin to the curb, or perhaps drop off their vacant glass  containers at a close collection point.

If you need an additional incentive to recycle glass, how about this:   Several U.S. states offer cash refunds for most glass bottles, so in  some areas glass recycling can actually put a little extra cash in your  pocket.

<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://earthgreen9.com/glassrecycling-facts-tips/”>Glass Recycling| Some Facts & Tips</a>

Glass recycling is good for the environment.. A glass container that  is despatched to a landfill can take up to a million years to collapse. in contrast, it takes as little as 30 days to get a recycled glass container to depart the kitchen recycling bin as well as appear on the store shelf as a fresh  glass container.

Glass recycling is sustainable-Glass containers are 100-percent  recyclable, which signifies they can be recycled repeatedly, many times, with no loss of purity or perhaps well-quality within the glass.

Glass recycling is efficient.. Recovered glass from glass  recycling is the only major element in all fresh glass containers. A  typical glass container is made of as much as 70 percent recycled glass.  in accordance with industry estimates, 80 percent of all recycled glass  eventually ends up as new glass containers.

Glass recycling conserves organic resources. each ton of glass that is recycled saves greater than a ton of the raw materials needed to create new glass, along with:  1,300 pounds of sand; 410 pounds of soda ash; and even 380 pounds of  limestone.

Glass recycling saves vital energy. building new glass means heating sand  and other substances to a temperature of 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit,  which requires a lot of energy as well as creates plenty of industrial  air pollution. among the number one steps in glass recycling is to crush the  beaker as well as create a product called “cullet.” Making recycled glass  goods from cullet consumes 40 percent less vital energy than creating new  glass from raw materials, as cullet melts at a much decrease  temperature.

Recycled glass is beneficial. due to the fact glass is made from natural  materials like sand and limestone, it glass containers have got a low  rate of compound interplay with their contents. As a result, glass can  be carefully reused. likewise serving as the main element in fresh  glass containers, recycled glass in addition supplies a lot of other commercial  uses—from producing ornamental tiles and landscaping material to  rebuilding eroded beaches.

Glass recycling can also be easy, as I identified at the start  with this article. It’s simple because glass is probably the easiest  materials to recycle. first factor, glass is accepted with almost all  curbside recycling programs and urban recycling centers. About all  most people must do to recycle glass bottles and jars is usually to carry  their recycling bin towards the limit, or even just drop off their unfilled glass  containers at a close by collection point.

If you need an extra incentive to recycle glass, how about this:   numerous U.S. states give cash refunds for most glass bottles, so in  some areas glass recycling can really put a little extra money in your  pocket.

<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://earthgreen9.com/glassrecycling-facts-tips/”>Glass Recycling| Some Facts & Tips</a>

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It includes 12 do it yourself guides with step by step instructions that are easy to follow and will surely take you by the hand. Save as much as 80% or more off of your power bill and here are just some of the things you will discover. You will pretty much learn how to build your own solar panels, wind turbine, solar water heating, and several other guides that will totally put an end to those energy problems you face at home.

Simply following the instructions, building your very own solar hot tub, organic garden, solar shower, and green house are also among the things that you will always be able to build on your own. But wait, there is more. You will also discover how to make your very own solar oven, chicken coop, root cellar, and solar pool heater.

Learn how to build quite a number of green projects that will surely get you off the grid and bring you quite the savings. Grab a copy of Green Living Kit today and start reaping all the rewards once you finish building all the things you can learn out of this comprehensive guide on green living. Visit its website today to learn more.

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Glass recycling is good for the environment.. A glass bottle that  is despatched to a landfill may take up to 1 000 000 years to break down. in contrast, it takes as little as 30 days for a recycled glass bottle to depart the kitchen recycling bin as well as appear on any store step as a new  glass container.

Glass recycling is sustainable-Glass containers are 100-percent  recyclable, that means they can be recycled repeatedly, again and  again, with zero loss of purity or even quality within the glass.

Glass recycling is efficient.. improved glass from glass  recycling is the primary ingredient in all fresh glass containers. A  typical glass container is made of as much as 70 percent recycled glass.  According to industry estimates, 80 percent of whole recycled glass  eventually finally ends up as fresh glass containers.

Glass recycling conserves natural resources. each ton of glass that is recycled saves above a ton of the raw materials needed to produce new glass, including:  1,300 pounds of sand; 410 pounds of soda ash; and 380 pounds of  limestone.

Glass recycling saves vital energy. Making new glass means heating sand  as well as another substances to a temperature of 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit,  which requires many vital energy as well as creates a lot of industrial  pollution. One of the first measure in glass recycling is to crush the  glass as well as create a product called “cullet.” Making recycled glass  goods from cullet consumes 40 percent less vital energy than building new  glass from raw supplies, as cullet melts at a much decrease  temperature.

Recycled glass is beneficial. as glass is made from pure  materials like sand and limestone, it glass containers have a low  rate of chemical interplay with their contents. consequently, glass can  be safely reused. anyway serving as the main element in new  glass containers, recycled glass in addition supplies a lot of other commercial  uses—from creating great looking tiles and landscaping items to  rebuilding scoured beaches.

Glass recycling is likewise austere, as I pointed out at the beginning  with this article. It’s easy due to the fact glass is one of the easiest  materials to recycle. For one thing, glass is accepted with just about all  curbside recycling programs and municipal recycling centers. About whole  most of the people have to do to recycle glass bottles and jars is to carry  their recycling bin to the reduce, or even drop off their vacant glass  containers at a close collection point.

If you need an extra incentive to recycle glass, how about this:   Several U.S. states provide cash refunds for most glass bottles, so in  some areas glass recycling can really put a little more money in your  pocket.

<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://earthgreen9.com/glassrecycling-facts-tips/”>Glass Recycling| Some Facts & Tips</a>

Mark Austin, Marketing Director for leading home improvement specialists Hazlemere Windows, Doors & Conservatories says: “This is a subject that is growing in importance to employers. Thinking more about the future today is now an essential part of the planning process for businesses, as it can affect staff productivity, if the right impression is not given in the workplace.”

As Mark says, “with the majority of us in the UK being householders we all realise the importance of protecting the environment for future generations, but thinking “green” at work will improve a company’s image, reduce its operating costs and impact positively on productivity with a happier, healthier workforce. Plus there is 100% enhanced capital allowance in the first tax year on investments in energy saving equipment.”

Some simple steps can help greatly with reducing energy usage. By using high efficiency fluorescent lights, more of the consumed energy is converted to usable light and less to heat, which also means less work for air conditioning units. Dimmable and individual controls help to reduce unnecessary usage, or consider automatic switching by movement sensor in open plan areas where practical. You can also lower energy use by making the most of the natural light available, rather than relying totally on artificial lighting.

Having well insulated windows and doors can make a vast difference to premises as each part of a window and/or door contributes to its overall insulation, dependent on their quality, design of the seals and the thermal performance of the frames and type of double glazed unit.

A building prone to heat gain can reduce reliance on the cooling system with the use of specialist paints. You could always go literally “greener”, the right trees and shrubs outside can provide shade for a building where heat gain is a problem and of course indoor plants aids air purification. Often overlooked but an effective measure is to simply check your systems’ timers are adjusted to the optimum for how the building is actually used.

Windows and doors that have the largest expanse of glass will naturally allow more light into the home and workplace, and therefore benefit the most from “solar gain”. Heat gained in this way reduces reliance on central heating, reducing both costs and emissions.

Last year Hazlemere Windows, Doors and Conservatories became the first company in the UK to design, manufacture, supply and install a dual frame aluminium window system that achieved an ‘A’ Window Energy Rating from the Energy Saving Trust, who estimate that up to 20% of energy lost through un-insulated homes is through windows.
Hazlemere’s Eco-friendly windows are made from aluminium which has a positive environmental effect. Apart from having a long life in use, once aluminium reaches the end of its life it can be infinitely recycled. Recycling aluminium uses just 5% of the energy needed to produce the original material, plus the finished product has all of the same qualities as the original, so can be recycled time and again.

Pilkington manufacture a self-cleaning glass which is excellent for the environment, as only small amounts of cleaning agents are ever needed. This highly efficient self-cleaning glass called “Pilkington Activ” can be combined with other glass products in insulating glass units to provide benefits such as thermal insulation, noise reduction, solar control and fire protection.

Other ways to reduce your carbon footprint include fitting washrooms with efficient low flush toilets, reduced flow taps and sensor taps to save on water consumption. Purchase energy efficient kitchen equipment as appliances are replaced and even simpler; avoid overfilling kettles when preparing tea and coffee. Ensure any furniture you purchase is hardwearing and easy to maintain to ensure longevity plus do your bit for the environment/ those less fortunate by donating unwanted furniture, IT equipment and appliances to charity. So don’t be mean “go green”.

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