Posts Tagged ‘Save’
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Save Money
March 23, 2012 | 
Author Planet Earth has a complex climate system. Scientists are still trying to fully understand how this “system” works. However, there is now a global consensus on one specific issue: the Earth is warming up. Man-made gasses in the atmosphere, coupled with dynamic man made changes to the natural environment are the main contributory factors.
Carbon dioxide (CO2), a gas that naturally occurs, is a significant cause of global warming. Ice cores show carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have remained between 180 and 300 parts per million for the past half a million years. However, in recent years, CO2 levels have risen sharply to at least 380 parts per million. Historically, natural emissions have been balanced by natural absorptions. For example: when plants photosynthesize. However, the recent increase shows more CO2 is entering the atmosphere than is being absorbed and human activity is one of the main causes of this change.
The overall result is that the temperature of the planet is increasing. Climate change is underway and it is affecting every part of the planet. In South Africa we have seen milder winters and warmer and wetter summers. These changes not only affect the human population, but also wildlife, with many species facing potential extinction. Some parts of the planet will be affected more than others. In particular Africa is thought to be at serious risk. Climate change may well lead to social and political problems as migration increases, together with water and food shortages in specific regions.
“Recent increases in average temperature indicate that more CO2 is entering the atmosphere than is being absorbed. Scientists now agree that these increases are almost wholly because of human activity”.
Scientists agree that not all climate change is avoidable. However, behavior changes made now may affect the rate of change. Most of the extra carbon dioxide has been released into the atmosphere by the developed world, with the United States of America alone responsible for an estimated quarter of emissions since the 18th century. Future emissions will also be generated by large developing countries like China and India.
Reducing CO2 emissions, developing worldwide low carbon technologies, usable by all nations, not just the richest, on a global scale and agreeing a framework for future development are all part of the solution. However, the solution can start at an individual level and involve everyone. Until recently most people in the western world have taken the supply of energy, water and food for granted, but there is a growing realization, not least due to the recent significant increases in fuel prices, that these are precious commodities we must preserve.
An electricity monitor is a device which helps you to understand the cost of electricity, not just in financial terms but also in the way our electrical usage has an impact on the environment. An electricity monitor, provides up to the second information on the amount of electricity you are using in terms of both power and cost. This means you can see in real time the benefits of turning off electrical devices at home.
Whether it’s turning off at the plug rather than just using standby, or simply turning off a light, an electricity monitor shows you the cash impact of changing your habits and behaviors which could amount to savings of hundreds of rands per year. Combine the possible financial savings with the reduced impact using less electricity has on the environment, then installing electricity monitors makes both financial and ethical sense.
Did you know…
* Lights and appliances account for 23% of a household’s electricity consumption.
* 72% of a household’s electricity is used for space and water heating.
* A boiler is more efficient if kept at a constant 56°C.
Posted in Carbon accounting | 
Tags: Carbon Accounting, Footprint, Money, Reduce, Save | 
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Should We Save the Planet – Or Let It Go?
After all, who wants to or could live on a barren planet? Who wants to be around when the consequences of unprecedented depletions of water, soil and other resources, when a 50 per cent growth in world population (approximately ten billion 2050) lead to predictable supply/demand imbalances and famines, wars and other nearly unimaginable perturbations?
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has issued a report describing the nature and severity of the coming crisis if we do not act so as to save the planet from continued degradation. Entitled, “Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production: Priority Products and Materials,” this document, unveiled on June 2 at the European Commission in Brussels, calls for “reforming, re-thinking and redesigning the energy and agriculture sectors.” Nothing less, the report advises, will enable needed environmental, social and economic returns essential to sustainability.
UNEP bills itself as “the voice for the environment in the United Nations system.” The report is a worldwide challenge. It is a call to world leaders and yes, wellness promoters, to muster earth’s defenders. It is urgent to educate the masses to support global strategies that can sustain a decent quality of life for all species to make it through the 21st century.
The greatest challenges seem to be in the areas of population limits, fossil fuel usage and food supply. New ways must be found to feed the world with the least destructive environmental impacts. In part, this requires dramatic reductions in our present reliance on fossil fuels. Sustainability is not possible unless citizens of the developed societies lead the way with sacrifices that preserve the larger Commons.
Higher taxes as well as fiscal incentives to consume less are needed, as are investments to find innovations that can “decouple” economic growth from environmental damage.
The problems noted in the report will not surprise scientists and others already alarmed by climate change, energy limits and unsustainable consumption patterns. They know all too well that humans are:
* Draining freshwater supplies and ecosystems (e.g., forests).
* Increasing disease and death rates with toxic pollutants.
* Raising pollution to unsustainable levels.
* Feeding more than half of all world crops to farm animals, a practice that accounts for 70% of the global freshwater consumption, 38% of total land use, 19% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and 60% of the phosphorus and nitrogen pollution.
So, what can those of us do who very much wish to save the earth? Are these matters not beyond the influence of even the most dedicated environmentalist tree-huggers.
The authors of the UNEP report address that question head-on. They suggest that change and reform begin at the level of the household with family patterns of energy and food consumption. This means less use of our heating and cooling systems, fewer gadgets and appliances and less travel, especially in personal vehicles. The ways people travel do matter. Yes, we are talking change and pain, sacrifice and discipline its not enough to just talk about saving the planet. Action is required. A big first step to begin now to shift diets from animal-based proteins towards vegetable-based foods, to use public transit systems, to run less residential heating and cooling systems, to buy fewer products made with plastics, iron, steel and aluminum. That’s all part of step one wait till you get a load of the next ten steps!
Still want to save the earth? Maybe you’d rather see more tax dollars go into a search for economical ways to find another planet more hospitable to our present consumption? After all, who wants to make sacrifices if an easier way out can be found? Unfortunately, the authors do not mention any extraterrestrial environments readily accessible or out there on the proverbial horizon within our own solar system or one of the millions of billions extant in no fewer than 100 billion galaxies. It’s save this earth or, to quote Johnny Depp playing undercover FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone in the movie “Donnie Brasco, “Forget about it.”
By the way, natural resources are not all that seem “unsustainable” these days. Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, warned the U.S. Congress last week that this country’s federal budget “appears to be on an unsustainable path,” as well. And who has not read of the “unsustainable” economies of Greece, Iceland, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, England and doubtless other European countries? “Unsustainable” seems to be the word most characteristic of the future and, come to think of it, I’m no exception. At the rate at which I myself, despite a wellness lifestyle, have aged over seven decades, I personally appear to be unsustainable. Unless something is done to arrest the toll of my personal energy consumption, in another 50 years or so years I could be a physical wreck and not so hot in the mental realm, either.
But, let me get back down to earth here after all, this UNEP report wasn’t about me.
The UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the body that produced the UNEP report summed things up nicely: “Decoupling growth from environmental degradation is the number one challenge facing governments in a world of rising numbers of people, rising incomes, rising consumption demands and the persistent challenge of poverty alleviation – thus setting priorities would seem prudent and sensible in order to fasttrack a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy.” Well, maybe a little windy but it does seem to sum things up.
In any event, that’s the situation. What shall we do about it? How can we muster support for a save the earth campaign? I think wellness promoters everywhere, whether functioning in companies orchestrating worksite wellness programs for employees or spa managers providing lifestyle educational opportunities or coaches in medical or fitness settings or even lowly bloggers, newsletter editors and website journalists should shift their focus to the big picture, whenever possible. Enough already on medical management, risk reduction, body fat and the minutiae of personal fitness. That’s fine but none of that is the elephant in the room let’s focus on REAL wellness. Let’s get everyone thinking about how to think critically, why it matters to ponder the great existential mysteries of what its all about, how can we live fully and well and other such cosmic issues that motivate and inspire and make people receptive to appreciating and doing something brave about the kinds of challenges put forward by UNEP.
If wellness folks will do that—or some of it, maybe in time, when the roll is called and the vote taken, people all over the planet will cast ballots for the planet with their wallets and behavioral patters and do it not only for themselves but for their children, grand and many degrees of great grandchildren. A century from now and beyond, humans might think better of us if we do so.
Not that I expect it but I’d love to be mistaken.
Posted in Carbon accounting | Tags: Earth, Inhabitants, Lack, Mindset, Planet, Save, Seems, should, Sustainability | No Comments »
Business Carbon Offsetting — A Step to Save Environment
Climate change or global warming is the result of a buildup of greenhouse gases (GHG), chiefly carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere exclusively from human industrial processes. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide accumulate in the atmosphere and trap heat that normally would exit into outer space. This increase in trapped heat changes the climate and alters weather patterns, which may hasten species extinction, influence the length of seasons, cause coastal flooding, and lead to more frequent and severe storms. During the 150 years of the industrial age, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 31 percent.
As more and more people are concerned about global warming and seeking to reduce their climate impact, carbon offsets, along with personal carbon reductions, provide an important solution to global warming. Carbon offsets let you pay to reduce the global GHG total instead of making radical or impossible reductions of your own. If you are running a business, you have a responsibility to keep any pollution that may result from your business activities under control. By considering health, safety and environmental issues together you can ensure that people at your premises remain healthy and your environmental impact is kept to a minimum. Calculating the carbon footprint of your organisation can be a first step to reduce the emissions it causes.Business carbon offsetting is obviously important in slowing or even reversing climate change.
The total set of GHG emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organisation, event or product is commonly called their carbon footprint. It is a measure of the impact we make individually on the earth by the choices we make regarding our lifestyles. Many activities generate carbon emissions, which contribute to accelerating global warming and climate change. Probably the biggest contributors to our footprint are our travel needs, and our electricity demands for various activities. However, all our actions have a direct or indirect impact.
With world economies booming our carbon emissions are on the rise. Every industry makes a major contribution to the carbon emissions through almost every area of the company’s activities. Some businesses, particularly those that are energy-intensive, will have requirements to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsetting is a way to counter damage done through the release of carbon emissions (CO2), from business activities. Carbon offsets enable individuals and businesses to reduce the CO2 emissions they are responsible for by offsetting, reducing or displacing the CO2 in another place, typically where it is more economical to do so. Offsetting does not undo the environmental harm caused but does cut the total amount of CO2 released. The idea behind carbon offsetting is that you then do something to remove the equivalent amount of carbon from the atmosphere so making whatever it was that you did “carbon neutral” – as if it had never happened in the first place. This is usually achieved by paying a company a fee based on the amount of carbon dioxide you have released or caused to be released. For every tonne of CO2 emitted, an equivalent tonne is supposedly removed elsewhere with the help of special projects. These projects provide anything from energy efficient light bulbs or cookers to wind farms.
Posted in Carbon accounting | Tags: Business, Carbon Accounting, Environment, offsetting, Save, Step | No Comments »
Kitchen Appliances How to Deal With Low-carbon Challenge
Traditional home appliances over the years also been developed and modified by national standards to regulate the electrical manufacturing standards, while many channels such as home appliances to the countryside policies, tradein system, speed up the past, some large energy consuming replacement of old products. Kitchen electric products consumed natural gas, LPG and electricity and other energy saving products is imperative to do, lowcarbon, energysaving environmental protection have formed a revolution!
From 2009, the global proportion of small household appliances industry, all kinds of circumstances, small kitchen appliances accounted for 65.1%, to smoke, stoves, disinfecting cabinet and the integral heater Four set combination kitchen appliances, new home decoration as early as A necessary and bother items. Kitchen electrical current situation is a serious product homogeneity, price wars sharp, brand operation strategy is not clear, which showed obvious asymmetry of supply and demand characteristics, therefore, in the new year, in particular the situation of lowcarbon economy has come , how to adopt a new strategy to deal with new challenges, as kitchen electric companies have to ponder the proposition.
After all, a necessary condition for energy conservation
Forum Copenhagen Climate Conference, the Chinese government promised emissions by 40% 45% by 2020 China’s carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP than in 2005 40% 45% decline. China was formally established in January 2010 as director of the State Council Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Energy Commission, shows that the Government’s commitment to energy conservation is firm. Energysaving environmental protection is bound to become a prerequisite for enterprise development.At present various types of environmental energy saving stoves have seen, such as the 18year commitment to “internal rotation Fire” technology, R & D Superman appliances, gas stove of its products 26% 30% saving, Guangzhou U.S. production of infrared rotary stove, gold enamel production smoke-free patent green kitchen, Shun Tin’s latest lowpower developed strong stoves are a pioneer in this regard.
Innovation or the appearance of the most direct way
Appearance innovation or innovation to become a kitchen the most direct way to power. Product homogeneity, based on performance to become more costeffective can not be a determining factor for the appearance of winning depend on the unique vision to the consumer purchase. Kitchen appliances has been giving “steel” impression, whether stainless steel or high density color steel, or glass panels, clean and generous, while people are slightly less rigid than. How to change these gentle art of cold things, to modern kitchen, a chic atmosphere, this is also sought after 80 manufacturers need to think of the topic.Awareness of some manufacturers in Shunde has this Road, and the focus on increased R & D efforts. Dragon flag kitchen is a Watch Group subindustry, its a deep essence of Chinese culture, China will be soft elements, such as blue and white porcelain, Po drilling successfully imported, while the exquisite craft table industry cleverly transplanted to electrical appliances industry In the same time improving product performance perfect product appearance, combined with the completion of Chinese elements to the kitchen Beixian exclusive!
Intelligent technology for development of
Intelligent cooking appliances has made many consumers feel their convenience, how to make kitchen appliances also have a “brain” mean? Also use the stove to cook through in the form of reservation, which has become the subject of manufacturers willing to develop.Side cooking while listening to music or watching videos, side bath while listening to music or watching videos, multimedia products, kitchen electric these are not new, the application of technology can find a breakthrough, or more to attract greater consumer are interested in?
Brand operation strategy unchanged
Kitchen appliances large profit margins for the industry booming, but manufacturers can not multibrand operators, most remain in OEM or other grazing areas, some brandconscious companies, driven by the interests, it seems wavering.Focus on producing area in Zhejiang and Guangdong area, remove the boss, Shuaikang, Vantage, etc. ahead of things, like Europa, 10000 hi these are some wellknown operator in the country, while the newer stars like Kang, Sok Hua such on is revolution still needs to be done type, brand operation here is not under the effects caused by cumbersome, manufacturers see the need.
Integration of environmental protection still needs to be improved stoves
Integrated Huanbao stove with small, powerful features, though the market soon, but in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other areas, marketing has become the size of a set of five or six thousand of the stove in some shopping malls are still quite short supply. The integration of environmental protection kitchen boss hope the United States, is becoming a rising corporate copy target.However, the focus integrated kitchen production base Shengzhou, Zhejiang Province, most original clothes and other industries to switch over to do kitchen electricity, so problems caused by immature technology, often appear to use the exhaust is not good, clean Nangao issues , but useless for consumers to use their experience to enhance product performance, therefore the enterprise had to face up to research the key issues.
Upgrade the status of energy saving water heaters
Gas, that is hot, fast heat, water, solar, heat pump … …, the name of a series of dazzling water heater, although a wide range of purchase or the measure of a firm, according to the Department of Statistics buyers, solar, go green because of its energysaving heat pump water heater line, gradually Selling Well.
Posted in Carbon accounting, Climate Change, CRC, CSR, eee, Energy, glasgow recycling, Recycle UK, recycling | Tags: Appliances, Benefits, Business, carbon reduction, Challenge, Change, Climate, Corporate, Deal, Emissions, Energy, Environment, ENVIRONMENTAL, Footprint, glasgow weee, Kitchen, Lowcarbon, Save | No Comments »
Can Solar Panels Save You Money?
As the prices of oil and gas continues to go up and up, the installation of solar panels is giving many families solace and stability. The sun offers an almost infinite source of energy. No wonder so many people are rushing to install solar panels. Indeed, their popularity is increasing so rapidly that manufacturers of solar panels are having difficulty keeping up with demand.
* Two Types Of Solar Panels
Predominantly, solar panels come in two types. There are solar energy panels in the form of ‘solar thermal collectors’. These focus solar energy into a liquid medium, usually water, heating the liquid that is then utilized as and where it is required. The other of the two types of solar panels is known as the photovoltaic module. These solar panels convert the sun’s energy into electricity, which can then be distributed immediately or stored within a battery to be used later.
Solar panels have been commonplace for decades. Think of calculators and watches. Many swimming pools have been heated using solar panels for years. These days, the electricity to homes and offices often comes from the cleaner alternative energy source of bigger, better, more efficient solar panels.
The influence of solar panels has spread so wide that even the National Grid take some of their power from solar energy panels.
* How Do Solar Panels Work?
Both photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal solar panels are made of special materials, most frequently silicon. They act as semiconductors. When sunlight hits the solar energy panels, some of the energy is absorbed within the semiconductor material. That energy knocks electrons within the silicon loose, allowing them to flow freely.
Once the electric fields within solar panels are freed by light energy, they force electrons to flow in one specific way. This flow of electrons is also known as a current. By simply placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the solar energy panels, the current can be drawn off as electricity to be used externally.
The solar panels have built-in electric fields that, when combined with the current described above, will give us what we call a wattage. We use this to describe the power of our solar energy panels.
Why Solar Panels?
There are lots of great reasons to install solar panels in your house. Top of the list is the huge savings you will make on your utility bills. Many people feel good that they are reducing their carbon footprint. Solar panels give off almost zero carbon dioxide emission. Solar panels reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.2 million tonnes per annum.
Another benefit is the freedom of not being tied to the National Grid. With solar panels fully fitted, power cuts and unexpectedly increased electricity bills become a thing of the past.
Solar panels are perfect for those living in remote areas with limited coverage by the National Grid.
* Installing Solar Panels On Your Home
Though there are some very good guides to making your own solar panels and then installing them into your home on a DIY basis, it is advisable to seek out a professional solar panels installation company. Ideally, the installers of your solar panels should be certified by the Low Carbon Buildings Program.
It is not advisable to try to install solar panels without full training. Make certain that your solar panels conform to the local standards laid out by the authorities there. There is a number of complex technical electrical issues to be resolved as well as full safety codes required.
Because of their weight, solar panels often need to be attached to a separate roofing support system.
Professional installers of solar panels should have gone through all the red tape and complicated issues so you don’t have to.
* Getting Planning Permission For Solar Panels Installation
Solar panels are most frequently fitted to the roof or along an external wall of the home. Be sure to check with the local council before doing this. The local authorities in most countries agree that it is acceptable to install roof mounted solar panels. Some places do require detailed listed criteria though.
In England, for example, solar panels of up to 100mm in depth can be laid across a tilted roof without requiring planning permission. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the local authorities have not finalized their legislation relating to solar energy panel, so be sure to check before you go rushing in.
*The Outlook For Solar Panels
As people become more and more aware of global warming and climate change, so the demand for good quality solar panels is increasing. The momentum among people is to move away from old-school fossil fuels in favor of alternative, more sustainable energy options. These include hydrogen, hydro-electricity, solar power, wind and wave.
Solar power is one of the most bountiful of the possible energy supplies that we have here on Planet Earth. As the technology behind solar panels improves in terms of their efficiency, so the cost of installing solar panels is falling. When added to a range of governmental subsidies, tax credits, rebates and grants, the widespread installation of solar panels onto the average householder’s roof is becoming more and more realistic. As the prices are falling further thanks to local competition in the marketplace, so, it would seem that the future of solar panels is very bright indeed
What does Global Warming Mean to Business? Save Money while You Save Carbon
small to medium business owners and managers struggle with limited time work out how to cut their costs and reduce all the various water that so easily happens in any business.
I think we all know that we are living beyond our environmental means. We recently found out what happened when some of us lived beyond our financial means and how it impacted on the whole world. We don’t want to learn the same lesson with the environment.
We are approaching limits to the rate we can continue to use oil and this will result in increasing costs and supply problems. There is still plentiful coal but the downside is the huge amounts of carbon dioxide released when it is used. The big problem with bio fuels is that so many of them use much needed food supplies or result in clearing even more tropical rain forest, resulting in less carbon dioxide absorption and animal extinctions. Biofuels from algae grown on sewage seems more sensible and sewage is not in short supply!
Lots of us are asking questions like:- – What is happening in the world? – Is global warming real? – How will my kids and grandkids cope as they grow up? – How can I reduce my spiralling costs of energy?
What is real is atmospheric pollution! Man’s activities have resulted in a layer of chemical pollution in the atmosphere that acts like an insulating blanket holding in heat. This is putting our children and grandchildren’s future at risk. We ignore this at THEIR peril.
The problem is that we cannot see this, so find it difficult to recognise the threat but it has been measured reliably. That is fact. Over the millennia there have been natural processes of heating and cooling resulting in very different sea levels but the greenhouse layer of pollution has added an additional heating factor.
We can expect much greater weather variability but a very severe winter is completely compatible with global warming, so is hotter, drier weather in countries like Australia and more intense storms. However these are weather not climate.
Now we are having carbon restrictions and emission trading around the developed world. And so we should!
BUT business is concerned about their rising cost plus the cost of complying with new carbon rules and carbon accounting. This is especially the case for the small end of town who are already under stress from global financial issues and just because they are small and already time poor. They are reluctant to take on anything else that is new, which is completely understandable.
It is possible to reduce waste and save significant amounts of money in businesses and this is really good news. The real problem is helping business to understand how easy it can be to just turn things off and waste less.
A great starting point is to go for a “grumpy” walk every day before going home and turn off everything that is not essential.
The popular step of getting a carbon audit done, then buying carbon offsets or paying some form of carbon tax seems wasteful until after you have reduced your energy use as much as possible first!
Posted in Carbon accounting | Tags: Business, Carbon Accounting, Global, Mean, Money, Save, warming | No Comments »
CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme confusion for Glasgow Business
20% of Glasgow businesses registered for the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) scheme may have got it wrong, according to research.
The scheme, which had a deadline of September 30 to sign up to, has already been branded ‘too complex’ by the Committee on Climate Change, although the Coalition government have suggested they are looking at simplifying the scheme. One step they have already taken is to change it to a “carbon tax” with all monies collected remaining with the treasury.
A leading energy firm has polled many financial directors in the UK, revealing 23% found the process confusing., and that’s just the initial preparation for Phase 1, what’s it going to be like for phase 2 when organisations will be required to provide declarations for their supply chain as well as their own. Just imagine an organisation with 5-10,000 suppliers, they will have to contact each and everyone to gather the suppliers emissions data.
Another 24% of the Finance Directors also reported issues with compiling data from multiple sites across their business, and one in 10 didn’t fully understand what was required of them to complete registration. This is highlighted by the fact that many Franchisors failed to collect adequate information, or indeed realise that they were required to, from their franchisee’ a perfect example here are car manufacturers failing to collate information from their dealerships!
Dave Lewis, of npower said: “If collecting the required information together was problematic, then going forward, many may well find the ongoing obligations of the scheme equally challenging.
“This confusion could also explain the high number of businesses that have left completing CRC registration to the last minute and are unsure if they have submitted the correct data.
The Environment Agency, the body overseeing the introduction of the scheme, have admitted many organisations found the CRC complicated and have promised to simplify it.
At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
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Green Cooking Tips – How to Cook Greener, Save Energy and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Living a greener life is not only good for the planet’s health, it’s good for your health and the health of your family. Maintaining a bright green kitchen – in terms of energy efficiency and energy use, not color – can reduce your carbon footprint, but it can also help you feed your family a healthier, more delicious diet. The way that you shop, cook, serve and clean up after serving meals all contribute to creating not just a healthy kitchen but a bright green kitchen.
Shopping Tips for a Greener Kitchen Buy local when you can. It means less fuel was used to transport your food, and less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Shop at farmers’ markets. You know you’re buying locally, and contributing to the local economy as well. Keeping local farmers in business is good for everyone. Skip “serving size packs” of food and buy in bulk. It reduces the amount of trash going into the landfills. Bring your own bags. Every plastic bag you don’t use is one less bag in the trash. For an added bonus, many stores will take 5-10 cents off your grocery bill for every bag you bring. Look for the recycle symbol on products that you buy in plastic bottles to make sure you’re buying containers that can be recycled. Green Cooking Tips Raw foods use no energy at all in preparation. Serve fruits and vegetables au naturel as snacks and desserts. Use the right size burner for your pots and pans. Don’t put a small pan on a large burner – it wastes up to 40% of the energy used to heat the burner. Think small. Use the smallest cooking appliance possible when cooking. A full-size oven wastes a lot of energy heating empty space. Try a counter top oven or slow cooker to use less energy when cooking. Skip the food processor and electric mixer for small jobs. Some of the best kitchen appliances use no energy at all – an old-fashioned egg beater, for instance, can whip cream or egg whites with just a little elbow grease. Don’t preheat your oven. Most modern ovens heat quickly enough that preheating is redundant. Serve It Green If you must use disposable dishes and serving ware, use paper which can go into your compost, or look for post-consumer recycled materials. Using fewer dishes means washing fewer dishes – less energy needed for cleanup. There’s no need to dump vegetables from the cooking pot into a serving dish. Garnish food with edible fresh flowers and herbs from your own garden. Gardening is one way to reduce your carbon footprint by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Serve food when it’s ready to avoid having to keep food warm. Green Kitchen Cleanup Tips If you only have a couple of plates and cups, wash them by hand instead of running the dishwasher. When hand-washing, fill the sink instead of washing and rinsing under running water. Compost fruit and vegetable peels and leftovers. Good for your garden, good for the planet. It’s actually kinder to the environment to run the dishwasher for a full load of dishes than to wash them by hand. Recycle as much as possible – glass, cans and cardboard are all recyclable. The more you recycle, the less goes into the landfills to clog up our earth.
Posted in Climate Change | Tags: Carbon Accounting, Cook, Cooking, Energy, Footprint, Green, Greener, Reduce, Save, Tips | No Comments »
Carbon Reduction – A Step To Save The Environment
In whatever situation and event that we regularly do, every individual, companies and different organizations contribute a lot in carbon dioxide emission. In every major thing we do, down to the simplest, we throw in carbon footprints. Carbon footprint is the set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event or product; in simpler connotation, it is the CO2 that was released which will result to greenhouse accumulation eventually.
Let us try to figure out the importance of Carbon reduction in saving mother earth. If you will notice climate change is one of the major problem that the world is facing. We are experiencing occurrences nowadays that are peculiar and have never been encountered before. One of the major causes of the sudden climate change is because the greenhouse gasses accretion consistently trapping the heat that was supposedly be out of the outer space. It results to alteration of weather pattern, which may lead to coastal flooding, frequent and severe storms and worst hasten species extinction.
The concept of Carbon Reduction suddenly became popular especially on the internet. There are tweets everywhere, blogs and articles (just like this one) and different posts which strike a chord to take some action in pursuing carbon reduction. It was just like a small fire before conferred by gas that suddenly spread out.
You do not have to do foremost actions in order to create a big change, because by plainly using organic materials, utilizing solar power, walking and limiting the use of your car, planting a tree or two and many other trouble-free things can really produce big results. If you are a writer, then write something that will persuade people to take few acts, If you are a smoker, try to consider your health and lessen it, if you are a leader, encourage your group to have green activities and if you are one lazy lad and do not want to do something to help, then at least do not be a part of making it any worst.
When efforts and actions of every one of us will be congregated, it will surely result to a tremendous impact of alteration. Each of us should anticipate the scenarios that might occur when actions will not be made. We should do something now to generate faster results. Always remember that it should start in every one of us, little actions will be appreciated. You have two options, it is either you do some strokes or continue disregarding. If you chose the latter, you must really want to just wake up one day realizing you cannot do anything about it anymore because it is too late.
Let us all Think Green. 
Posted in Carbon accounting | Tags: Carbon Accounting, Environment, Reduction, Save, Step | No Comments »
Home Energy Use: Save on Hot Water
Climate change, the price of oil and natural resource management top the list of concerns many individuals have in today’s fast-paced world. The price of oil has risen in dramatic fashion to reach record levels, peaking in the summer of 2008. Indications are that the high price of oil is here to stay as supply cannot keep up with demand. World scientists have been sounding the alarm bell for over two decades as analysis shows that greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere at a far greater rate than the planet can handle. Yet many governments continue to ignore the warnings and individuals either assume it is someone else’s problem or are too lacksidaisical. Natural resources such as fossil fuels and water are being consumed at an unsustainable rate and will likely leave future generations with no resources. With all this going on, what can we, as concerned individuals, do to reduce our ecological footprints?
The place to start is to cut back on home energy use. By doing so, less electricity and/or fossil fuels are generally required thus helping out in a small but necessary way. The first step is to have an energy assessment done on your home by a qualified consultant. The assessment will consider air leakage from your home and other factors such as furnace and air conditioner efficiency. In some areas, government grants are available to fix any deficiencies found as a result of the energy assessment.
Apart from the energy assessment and subsequent corrective actions, there are other ways of reducing home energy use, including reduction of energy required to heat water. Many people are unaware that the act of heating water typically accounts for up to 20% of total home energy use. There are several initiatives that can be taken to reduce your hot water demands, particularly if you have a hot water tank.
The most obvious improvement is to retrofit (or replace) your existing water heater with a solar water heater. In most cases this can be practically achieved with the expectation of eliminating 50% or more of your home energy use due to hot water. The main drawback is the high price of solar water heaters. Recovery of the initial cost can take 10 – 20 or more years depending upon your location and climate.
Another improvement, if not already implemented, is to install energy-efficient showerheads. This can cut your hot water shower use by up to 35%.
Check the insulation rating of your hot water tank. If it is R-10 or less and the hot water tank is located in an unfinished basement (or garage) then consider installing an insulation blanket around the tank. Call a professional if you are uncertain how to install the blanket. Make sure that the hot water pipe is insulated all the way from the tank until it goes up through the ceiling to the next floor. This will keep the water in the pipe hot or at least warm.
If you have a natural gas water heater then you should drain a pail of water from the hot water tank every three months or as recommended by the manufacturer. This will remove sediment that reduces heat transfer and lowers efficiency.
If you have an electric water heater then consider installing a water heater timer. The water heater can be turned on for periods of high use and off at other times. A manual switch allows water heating at any time. For frequently used taps consider installing a local on-demand water heater. This will reduce the waiting time for hot water, resulting in less energy and less wasted water.
Most residential hot water heaters are generally set at 60 C (140 F). There are many advocates suggesting that the temperature be lowered from 60 C down to 49 C. The advantages include less energy use and lower risk of injury due to scalding. The lower temperature has already been mandated in some countries.
Unfortunately, reducing the storage temperature to under 50 C significantly increases the risk of bacterial growth in the water tank, resulting in possibility of Legionnaires’ disease. If you wish to lower the temperature then don’t go below 54 C. The possibility of injury due to scalding can be minimized by following a set routine for turning on and off the hot and cold water and educating children in the safe use and dangers of hot water.
In conclusion, there are many hot water initiatives you can undertake to improve your home energy efficiency. One small but necessary step in the battle against climate change.
Steve Auger is the author of www.blogonsmog.com and the website www.goinggreenformychildren.com.