March 26, 2010
Green Gas Emissions
Even though you may not be able to do away with your car in the next few weeks, you can still do a number of other things to reduce green gas emissions. Surprisingly enough, if you are willing to embrace a combination approach, you will be able to save money, as well as improve other areas of your health. As an added bonus, once you start making use of these suggestions, you will also be able to expand on them until you have conserved a significant number of natural resources.
Carpool for Shopping and Work
No matter how you look at it, the rampant usage of automobiles has created smog filled with pollutants that may soon wipe out all life on this planet. Regardless of whether or not you believe in global warming, the constant pressure associated with carbon monoxide poisoning, and other pollutants can, and should be seen as a severe threat to public health. While governing bodies are slow to act on this threat, it is up to each person to start making use of carpools as much as possible. At the very least, getting 50% of the current load of automobiles off the road will start reducing the overall damage to the atmosphere and environment.
Eliminate Out of Season Foods in Your Diet
As you may be aware, winter in one part of the world invariably means it will be a different season elsewhere. Therefore, many food suppliers routinely ship in foods that would not normally be available in the local region. This takes up an enormous amount of fossil fuel, and also leads to an increase in problems caused by exotic species in remote environments. On the other hand, if you limit yourself to buying season produce that is normal for your region, you will reduce fuel consumption as well as your personal damage to foreign regions. As an added bonus, when you only buy locally grown foods, you will invariably notice that they are fresher and taste better.
Each year, thousands of people are literally driven to their grave because of COPD, emphysema, and other conditions caused by toxic chemicals found in smog. In the vast majority of cases, pollution from automobiles accounts for a significant number of these deaths. At the very least, if you curb your own automobile usage, and ensure that you only buy locally grown foods, you will help reduce green gas emissions, as well as save on all of the expenses associated with transportation.
March 19, 2010
Water Purifier
Sometimes it seems like individuals on both sides of the political spectrum are afraid to embrace sustainable living because they will not fit in with their peers. For example, many realize that eliminating meat from the diet promotes good health, saves money, and protects the environment. Nevertheless, many continue to eat meat because vegetarianism is perceived as a “liberal cause”. Today, there are three easy ways for you to save face when it comes to these issues, and still create a feasible plan that will enable everyone to reach the ultimate goal of sustainable living.
Eliminate One Serving of Meat per Day
If you are concerned about what your friends and neighbors will think, it will be best to start your conservation efforts as far away from prying eyes as possible. For example, if you cut back on one single serving of meat each day, you will help reduce water, soil, and air pollution. In fact, for every pound of meat that you refrain from eating, over 400 gallons of water will be conserved. If you factor the amount of water required to process crude and ethanol used to make gasoline for transport, the water savings increases to well over 1200 gallons of water per pound of meat consumed.
Buy a Water Purifier
Many people that buy bottled water are finding out that plastic bottles and chemicals found in bottled water are extremely dangerous. On the other hand, a good quality water purifier is usually made up of a simple carbon filter that will remove lead, pesticides, asbestos, and most other chemicals. At the same time, it also takes approximately 3 gallons of water to produce one gallon of bottled water. When you use a water purifier, there is no waste involved.
Start an Indoor Herb Garden
Even though a handful of parsley or basil may seem very small, commercially grown herbs account for millions of acres of farmland. Rather than buy dried herbs, or fresh ones at your local store, you can grow them right in your own home. Without a question, the herbs will taste better, and you are sure to enjoy having healthy, thriving houseplants in your home or office.
While you may not realize it, some of the resistance to environmental conservation has to do with social perceptions, as well as the idea that “going green” involves complex lifestyle changes. On the other hand, if you make just a few tiny changes you will be amazed at how easy it really is. Even if you skip just one meat serving per day, or start planter of parsley on your kitchen window, you can be part of saving the natural resources of this world for the next generation.
March 18, 2010
Conserved Forest
If you go to a store to buy any type of food, then you can rest assured that forests are being cut down in order to gain access to fresh soil and grazing land. Unfortunately, as farms continue to destroy forests, the spent soil left behind remains unable to support plant life for years on end. As the soil dries up and turns to sand, it creates a very dangerous desertification process. Without a question, your choices when it comes to buying and growing your own food are extremely important.
Aeroponic Gardening and Conserved Land
Even though you may like the idea of hydroponics, or gardening with water, these systems can be difficult to manage. On the other hand, aeroponic systems are much safer. At the very least, you will not have to contend with bacterial issues or root rot. Today, there is no question that using soil for planting is one of the most wasteful methods available. If you can purchase some good quality grow lights and an aeroponic gardening setup, then you will be saving money on your food bill, as well as create a significant shift in forest conservation.
Raising Your Own Chickens
Today, millions of acres worth are dedicated to raising chickens. Aside from cutting down trees to make room for these farms, they also accumulate an enormous amount of waste. Unfortunately, commercial chicken farms also make heavy use of pesticides, antibiotics, and other harmful chemicals that leach into the surrounding water and soil. This, in turn, can quickly create an increase in disease that kill nearby trees.
Chances are, you will not like the idea of killing a pet chicken so that you can eat it. On the other hand, chickens are social animals that can easily live in your home and provide you with plenty of eggs. While it may take some effort to get used to the idea of having a pet hen, you will soon come to love this type of pet as much as you love your cats, dogs, and parrots. As an added bonus, you will be able to enjoy fresh eggs on a regular basis.
When it comes right down to it, food production continues to take up an enormous amount of land that used to be covered with trees. Even though food is a necessity of life, there are things you can do to end, or drastically reduce your reliance on commercial products. Even if you live in a very small house or apartment, you may be able to have chickens for pets, as well as take up aeroponic gardening.
March 16, 2010
Many people today find time to recycle bottles and make use of other environmentally friendly practices in order to reduce their impact on the planet. On the other hand, achieving energy independence can be difficult when you don’t have a plan in place that enables you to achieve your goal within budgetary and time limits. Rather than simply assume that renewable or conserved energy resources will never fit into you life, you can at least try a few simple things and then look for ways to expand your efforts.
Solar Cooking Picnics
Regardless of whether you want to go on a day long date, or you want to spend some time with your children, there is nothing quite like a picnic. While many people make use of cold foods, you might just decide to bring along a solar cooker. Even if you construct a device from cardboard, you are sure to enjoy letting the sun prepare your food while you are enjoying other activities.
Using Solar Power for Your Laptop
There is no question that laptops and netbooks have become a normal item to carry from one place to another. Chances are, you also realize that a laptop takes a good bit less current than a conventional desktop computer. In fact, a pocket sized solar power recharging kit can provide all of the electricity you will need to keep your laptop battery charged up. No matter whether you want to sit in the park or near a sunny window, you can enjoy knowing that your laptop isn’t relying on commercial energy sources.
In a sense, our society has been programmed to believe that commercial energy resources are the most reliable and convenient way to meet daily energy needs. On the other hand, it is very important to realize that a few simple changes now can easily grow into bigger changes later on. For example, while you may not think that using a solar power battery for your laptop represents a big step, it does symbolize a fundamental shift in how you think about energy and your electric bill. In a similar way, once you begin using a solar cooker for special occasions, eventually you will look forward to using it on a daily basis. Before you know it, your conserved energy options will expand to a point where relying on commercial energy will look like the worst, and most wasteful thing in the world. At that point, when you look at others trapped by high electric bills and other problems, you will truly be glad that you have achieved energy independence.
Regardless of whether you own your own home or rent an apartment, a number of gadgets in your bathroom waste water. If you follow these simple tips, you can save well over 100 gallons of water each week without sacrificing personal comfort. Aside from lowering water and electric bills, you are also sure to enjoy knowing that you are making some progress when it comes to water conservation.
Multi-setting and Water Saving Shower Heads
Even though you may already turn the water off during soaping and shampooing, non-aerating shower heads still waste hundreds of gallons of water each time you shower. Today, you can find inexpensive shower heads that have multiple spray settings. Aside from helping you save water, you can easily enjoy using just the right amount of water for your personal needs. When shopping for this type of shower head, you should make sure that you know how much water is dispensed each minute for each stetting. This will make it easier to compare the amount of water used by a shower head that has only one setting.
Saving Water When You Shave
If your morning hygiene routine involves shaving, then you can save a good bit of water by placing rinse water in a bowl instead of simply running the razor under the faucet. Alternatively, it may be to your advantage to purchase an electric shaver. When combined with a solar powered recharger, you will be able to save electricity as well as reduce the amount of water required for your daily shave.
Conserved Water and Your Toilet
Interestingly enough, there are dozens of ways to reduce the amount of water used by the toilet. Some of the most popular include:
- Use a bin to wash dishes, and then transfer the water to a pail for use in the toilet. This is ideal for individuals that are trying to save water by not flushing after urination.
- Collect cold water in the shower in a pail, and then set it aside for flushing the toilet, or watering plants.
- Add food coloring tablets to the water tank and then see if the water in the bowl changes color. If you notice a color change, then there is most likely a leak in the tank. Fixing that leak can save hundreds of gallons of water each month.
- Liquids such as water are easily displaced by solids. Therefore, when you place a plastic bag filled with gravel in the tank, it will hold less water. This, in turn, means that less water will be released during each flush. In most cases, you can save as much as 2 – 3 gallons per flush without sacrificing cleanliness.
No matter whether you want to save money on your utility bills, or you are concerned about vanishing potable water supplies, there are plenty of things you can do to achieve your goal. In fact if you start out by targeting the bathroom, you will notice a significant savings in a very short period of time. Once you start working with these suggestions, you are sure to come up with dozens of other ways to further your water conservation efforts.
