Why Would You Need A Portable Water Filter?

ByKristie Brown

Years have shown you that you can get by without a portable water filter, so why should you put out the cash for one now? Not that you drink a whole lot of water in the first place, because you'd much rather have a soda or another cup of coffee, but in a pinch you can always buy bottled water. So what's the big deal about people buying straws and drink cups that have filters in them? Is this really a necessity of 21st century life?

To start with, no matter how young you are, you need to start thinking about your health. When you're hanging out with friends, the Cokes and beers probably flow freely. However, beverages other than water aren't providing your body with the hydration it needs to stay healthy. Without enough water in your system, your kidneys can shut down, and waste products remain in your system far longer than they should. Only water will do an adequate job of sustaining your healthy body and mind, which is a good argument for carrying water with you at all times.

Bottled water is proving to be no bargain. People spend a fortune on bottled products that don't contain water that's any better than what they can get from their own taps. In fact, many of the bottling plants actually pump local tap water into their bottles, and municipal water is far from perfect. If you're looking of water that's of a consistently-high quality, you're better off using a portable water filter and creating your own.

It's no secret that our freshwater resources are in short supply and seriously polluted with substances that can cause sickness and death. The big outcry against acid rain back in the latter half of the 20th century arose about the time that people realized that a multitude of chemicals evaporate into the air where they combine with water vapor and fall again as rain which flows into our lakes, rivers, and groundwater. In addition, scientists have determined that quantities of metals work their way from the soil into the water as well. Government standards go part way towards cleaning up the water, but there is no longer money enough to update municipal water treatment facilities.

You can't even trust the water that you find in the mountains or other places where you might hike, cycle, or camp. Gone are the days of the sparkling mountain springs, and you need to prepare yourself for the realities of now. Having a portable water filter that you can take with you on these excursions can help to keep you both safe and healthy.

Looking for more information on emergency water filter s? Separmatic Systems can provide you with all your water purification needs including diatomaceous earth filters and portable water system

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Liquid Batteries Doubling As Stability Control for Weight and Balance, and Ballast

Solar Panels

ByYusuf Chy

In general, solar energy can be described as the energy that is received from the sunlight and converted by a mechanical source for home use. It's cheaper and reliable for operations since the sun is readily available. On the other hand, are the mechanically built materials whose main purpose is to convert solar energy to electrical energy. They are built from an element called silicon. It is the core duty of the silicon element to covert the solar energy to electricity. The solar power can either be directly or indirectly gotten from the sunlight. When it's cloudy the intensity of the solar power delivered perfectly, the photovoltaic solar materials deliver sun rays into electricity and the solar thermal receiver changes the solar power into heat solvents, such as oil and water. This type of power is used in, iPod chargers, charge batteries water heaters, cell phone chargers and spacecrafts.

How do work? They practically work on the photovoltaic invention. Its name is derived from the technology used, which is also known as PV, which is made from silicon element. They are basically semiconductors made from sand built into large computer chips. When sun rays falls on the PV materials, the PN junction in it with its metal conductor helps produce electricity. At this juncture, the PN junction is the positive and negative charges that assist to produce electric current. Solar energy is available in different systems, grid connection, inverters and power storage. In a different system, the PV takes up large space up the roof to produce more energy. It can also be built on land space and produce up to 5-9 Megawatts per hour. They can also be useful in street lighting.

How are made? They are basically made from three-dimensional points; the crystalline silicon production, the crystalline silicon panels and the amorphous silicon panels. This stand of the solar-energy production is what is used in the present. In the crystalline silicon production, for example, when the silicon element is melted and cut it is named the poly crystalline silicon. In its other mode when it is built and cut, it becomes mono-crystalline silicon. In both cases, they are about; a hundred percentage pure silicon. In the second case of the crystalline silicon panels, they are normally broken into pieces and then sliced, finally being polished with doping materials. This changes the state of electric charge inside them to cells. The amorphous silicon panels are made from silicon alloys combined with multilayer cells for energy production. This combination explains how the solar power is made.

What are latest technologies of ? The newest technology of solar energy has emerged in a wide range of things. This starts with the green power alternatives which is common for home use. The other aspect of it is the Power cooling and heating systems in homes. The high-technology appliance and periodic lighting at home is the other good examples of solar-energy development. New personal computers development for smart homes is also left out of the latest ideas of the solar power.

Yusuf Chy writes extensively on , and provides information on how to install .

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MIL-PRF-680: Strong Enough for the Military and Your Company's Industrial Cleaning Needs

ByTimothy Byron

Those familiar with industrial degreasers know that MIL-PRF-680 is most commonly used by the military to maintain equipment, weapons, and vehicles. However, it can benefit any company that requires industrial chemicals to clean "high-value" parts and aging equipment, machinery and fleets that operate on air, land, and water.

The measure of a quality industrial degreaser is that it is both essential and efficient. While its record of accomplishment of cleaning Department of Defense parts and equipment clearly demonstrates MIL-PRF-680 has the highest cleaning capability, it also offers several additional advantages to traditional degreasers.

No Odor

This product does not have the strong odor of many traditional degreasers, which creates not just a more pleasant work environment, but also a potentially more productive one. The strong chemical smell of a traditional degreaser can overtake a workplace, becoming almost impossible to remove once it permeates objects. Prolonged exposure to these traditional products can make employees dizzy or even sick.

No Water

As a water-free industrial degreaser, MIL-PRF-680 can help lengthen the lifespan of critical machine parts. Degreasers that contain water can seep into equipment, causing it to rust from the inside out. Additionally, degreasers that contain water do not stick well to the surface of the part being cleaned; causing a runoff that wastes the degreaser and causes slippery work floors.

No Residue

It evaporates fully, unlike traditional degreasers that leave a residue. Industrial degreasers that leave residues actually attract dirt to machine parts, thereby increasing the number of intervals between one cleaning and the next. A non-residue product like MIL-PRF-680 serves a two-fold purpose of keeping parts clean while saving the company money by using less of the product at a time.

No Hazardous Ingredients

The high toxicity and numerous Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) of traditional degreasers make them dangerous to workers and the environment. Along with workers' health potentially being harmed by those cleaners, companies can find themselves in a tough spot when the Environmental Protection Agency bans the use of a highly toxic degreaser. Using an environmentally friendly degreaser like MIL-PRF-680 will help companies stay ahead of changes made to EPA regulations.

In short, it is not just the military that needs industrial strength products that reduce hazardous waste and minimize worker exposure to toxic substances. All companies desire industrial cleaning products that are safe, and can still achieve demanding performance requirements. This is a safer alternative to the once commonly used cleaner PD-680.

MIL-PRF-680is effective in a variety of work environments, ranging from the mildly dirty to extremely dirty (grease, oils, epoxies, resins, coating, dirt, dust, fingerprints, etc.), where industrial chemicals are needed to clean parts and equipment. Countless businesses are in need of such a solvent that can clean almost anything, no matter the condition.

MIL-PRF-680 is an industrial degreaser that removes soils and contaminants without harming the environment, the workers, or the product and equipment involved.

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Personal Water Filtration Diminishes the Need For Plastic Bottle Waste

ByKristie Brown

Even the most avid bottled water drinker should admit that disposable plastic bottles are a menace to our society. Everywhere you go you see empty bottles that people have just tossed away carelessly instead of disposed of properly. Many bottles are thrown into our water resources, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans where they are killing aquatic life and dirtying up otherwise beautiful areas. Even if the bottles are tossed into the trash, they then add to the problem of plastic build-up in our landfills, a problem that won't decompose for decades. Obviously modern technology has come up with more eco-friendly options such as personal use water filters.

Not only do these reusable bottles eliminate the problem of excessive plastic waste, but they also filter the water you put in them removing chemicals, metals, bacteria, and protozoa. This makes the water much safer for consumption, unlike bottled water which is often nothing but unfiltered tap water from the area where the beverage is bottled. There are a number of high-quality filtered bottles available. Some great bottles are described below:

Brita has long been a household name in water filtration. Millions of people have purchased a Brita filtered pitcher or an attachment for their water faucet in order to ensure that the water their family is drinking or cooking with is safe and healthy. Brita now also produces a filtered water bottle for personal use. Per company advertising, this filter removes chlorine, metals, bad tastes, foul odors, and many other contaminants. It can filter up to 100 gallons of water, and the bottle contains no BPA. BPA is short for Bisphenol A which is a key component in many epoxy resins and polycarbonates. Although this substance is said to be safe, many people prefer not to chance using products that contain it.

You can get up to 150 uses from a Hydros filtered bottle. Think of that! It means that you'll get clean water for three months using the same bottle instead of stacking up 150 empty plastic bottles. This bottle reduces harmful amounts of chlorine, particulates, and chloramines from the H2O, plus it is naturally anti-microbial meaning that it will help stop bacteria from building up. It tests of ANSI/NSF standards.

A Smart Planet Eco filtered bottle offers improved taste, decreased odors, and a reduction in chlorine, heavy metals, and other types of contaminants. This device is good for as much as 100 gallons of purified water. It is also BPA free; however, it is not NSF certified.

Looking for more information on mobile water filtration? Separmatic Systems can provide you with all your water purification needs including diatomaceous earth filters and Mobile water purification.

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Build A Yurt Rafter Ring, Version Two

ByRobert Frederick Lee

There are several designs of yurt rafter rings, each serving a particular purpose, and working best in specific environments. Snow load, wind and even humidity play a role in determining the most appropriate design. For the majority of yurt applications, the laminated design that I described in a previous article is the most effective. However, the design described in his article is suitable for smaller yurts (less than 32 feet diameter) and in low humidity locations. While it will withstand moderate snow loads, it is less structurally stable than the laminated version.

When designing a yurt roof, the same considerations that are factored into stressors on conventional housing roof rafter chords come into play. That is, you need to consider the tensions (both lateral and gravitational) on the angled chords. Truss chords endure two primary stress forces: the tendency of the bottom of the chord to push walls outward and the pull of gravity that causes slump in the riser chord. Use of collar ties works to ameliorate the gravitational warping, but, simultaneously, actually increases the stress on the top plate-to-chord heel point of contact. Fortunately, yurt roofs are so light that collar ties and webs usually are not needed.

In my prototype solid-wall yurt, I employ several redundant reinforcements for the chords. A series of mending plates, hurricane ties, aircraft cable and unique angled top plates create a structure that resists very significant outward stress. These concepts will be presented in future articles.

The rafter ring design in this article consists of two layers of

Redesigning Trash Receptacles With Interior Canister for Robotic Recycling Garbage Collectors

No, I am not obsessed with human garbage or trash, although I am amazed how much humans produce and then throwaway. I am happy to report that a tremendous amount of our waste is now recycled, and I believe that to be a good thing, but I would also warn that the amount that our societies recycle is not anywhere near what most people believe it to be. I think we can do better. Indeed, I'd like to talk to you about all this for a moment.

You see, the separation of various recyclable products makes it very tough to ensure that plastics, paper, aluminum, and other materials are separated out correctly. In many cities folks throw everything which is recyclable into the recycle bin for pickup. Then it gets all mixed in a garbage truck, and then it is dumped off, where humans, generally paid a very low wage go through all the trash to separate it out. That is completely inefficient, and I'm sure you would agree.

Yes, it does provide jobs, and some cities hire criminal labor, and it's nice to see that those folks are paying back society by helping us with this process, but that doesn't make it any more efficient. Now then, in the future I suppose we will have robotic garbage trucks, and the recycling truck which comes along will also be robotic.

I am also certain that robots will pick through the trash and separate out anything which is in the wrong pile. We already have devices which can immediately tell the type of polymer chain in a given plastic bottle, in fact, I had the pleasure of conversing with the inventor of that device by e-mail last year.

Still, the better way to do it would be to have a trashcan, which had divisions inside of it, perhaps it could be divisions shaped as pizza slices. A robotic garbage truck would then pick up a trashcan, aligning with a gate going into the trashcan where each of the pieces lined up. Then a vacuum motor would suck all the material from each into the trash truck, and into specific compartments.

Another way might be to have each trashcan with tubes inside made of lightweight, very strong carbon composite, using a similar process. The trash truck would be subdivided, with various types of materials, and there would be no need to separate anything, and a robot could merely make sure that everything was in the proper pile, and this would speed up the process tenfold.

By doing it this way, it would prevent us from forgoing the recycling process due to being backed up with too much material, which happens quite a bit, and at least one of three problems which prevents us from recycling all we can. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative eBook on the Future of Recycling. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

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nuvolette2000

Paper Waste Management Through Paper Recycling

Paper waste constitutes almost one-third of the solid waste generated across the globe. Before, paper waste was either disposed in landfills, taking up a lot of space, or was incinerated. The combustion of paper through incineration releases carbon dioxide, disturbing the natural atmospheric balance. The enhanced greenhouse effect is responsible for global warming and climate change, making landfill disposal and incineration unsuitable and harmful options for paper waste management.

Paper recycling is a "green" solution for the management of paper waste. Recycling paper is a process that converts waste paper into reusable paper and other products.

The practice of recycling paper consists of the following stages:

Collection - Paper waste, such as newspapers, printer paper, and cardboard and product boxes, is collected by placing recycle bins in public places, schools, offices and households. The collection process is carried by municipal organizations and private companies that specialize in the recycling of waste.

Sorting - After it's collected, paper waste is sorted into different piles depending on the quality and type of paper. The piles are then compressed to form bales and these bales are used to produce recycled paper.

Shredding - During the production of recycled wafer-thin, waste paper is cut into small bits. These bits are further broken down into fibres.

Re-pulping - The fibres are then mixed with water to form pulp. This pulp may contain various unwanted components such as dirt, old ink, and weak fibres

De-inking - The pulp is washed, segregated, sieved and rotated. As a result, dirt, old ink and weak fibres get separated from the pulp in the form of sludge that is later discarded. The clean pulp is utilized to produce recycled paper and other products such as egg crates, fruit trays, paper cardboard, insulation and false ceilings.

Papers Recycling is an environmentally friendly process that, for one thing, helps limit deforestation practices. Many plant and animal species become extinct when their natural habitat is destroyed because of deforestation. When trees are cut down, it also disturbs the balance of the gases in the atmosphere. One ton of recycled paper can save up to 17 trees from being cut down. In terms of energy-saving, the production of recycled requires 40 to 60% less energy than paper manufactured from virgin pulp; each ton of recycled paper saves approximately 225 kilowatt hours of energy. Furthermore, every ton of recycled paper saves 60,000 litres of water - a great benefit since the production of fresh paper uses large amounts of water.

These are just some of the many ways recycling paper can benefit the planet and contribute to a sustainable environment for future generations.

You can get more information about Paper Recycling services by visiting  Metal Recycling Services

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Why Businesses Should Stay Away From Plastic Bags

The Benefits of Sustainable Retail Packaging

Posh and striking packaging plays a big role in the modern consumerism. Businesses are aware that buyers decide which product to buy based on the attractiveness of the item's packaging. That is why they spend a lot of resources only to come up with a remarkable design that will stand out from the crowd and attract more buyers. However, there is always a price to pay for every gain. The process of creating eye-catching packaging entails heavy cost. Though packaging is useful in creating a sound brand it is responsible for the increasing wastes in our planet every year. Some of the waste are being recycled however the greater part of it does go straight to landfill and this eventually contaminates the soil and poisons the bodies of water.

Now, as enterprises become more conscious of the packaging's impact on the environment, businesses now shift to a more environmental approach in terms of packaging. Also, they were compelled to use eco-friendly packaging because more and more consumers now prefer more eco-friendly alternative when they shop by picking for packaging that can be recycled. For this reason, it is now more possible than ever for firms to implement a "greener" approach to packaging while meeting their marketing goals. The new trend in sustainable packaging is swiftly increasing and spreading in the manufacturing and retail industry.

What is Sustainable Packaging?

Sustainable packaging is intended to cut wastage and protect important resources. There are three main essentials to this:

• Reduce the Waste - before retail packaging is designed to be bigger than really necessary. Sellers use this as a strategy to make items look larger than its actual size and also to make it appear more startling but this only causes wastage. By reducing the size of retail packaging a vast amount of paper, cardboard and plastic materials can be saved annually.

• Reuse Materials - most materials for producing goods today can only be utilized once. This also means that they go straight to wastelands once discharged. By choosing environmental friendly materials that can be reused manufacturers can help in reducing waste.

• Recycle - this contributes to the reduction of wastes that pollutes our natural resources. When we recycle resources such as paper, plastic and glass we can reduce landfill and conserve valuable materials.

Finding new technologies to create a more environmental packaging can be expensive but the benefits that we can get from it in the long run are immeasurable. By minimizing the packaging's size sellers can not only lessen wastage but they can also cut expenses on the production drastically. In addition, customers are switching now to a more environmental products and retail packaging. By going green it can be possible get ahead of the competition.

Danica Pemberton Green invites you to visit eco-packaging and learn more useful facts about environmental green packaging and its contribution to the community.

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Eco-Innovative Concepts for Increasing Automated Truck Wash Volume

When it comes to eco-innovations in business you need a large mega-phone and you need to market and advertise or you'll end up like 10s of thousands of eco-entrepreneurs gone bankrupt while trying to chase so-called easy money, grants, guaranteed loans, and catch the wave of eco-friendly trends. Okay so, let me give you an example here, let's talk about an eco-innovative automated truck washing system.

First, your goal of course is to dominate local market share for fleet truck washing, and even though your system has a great reclaim system for environmental washing, you need to advertise and market this to your customers, and show them why this is a benefit. So, let me show you how to do this.

You see, there will always be local competitors that compete with your truck wash which are mobile, and they come onto the properties of various companies that have the fleets and clean the vehicles right there. It will be very hard for you to compete on price with these types of firms, but you will have something else going for you. Companies with fleets are often visited by storm water enforcement personnel, and they must satisfy the needs of the NPDES permits.

It also makes sense to be on a first name basis with the storm water enforcement folks in your area, and the surrounding areas. This way if a company is fined or cited for cleaning the vehicles on their property and letting the dirty waste wash water flow into a storm drain, these enforcement personnel will refer the company to you as the solution to the problem. Storm water folks don't want to put trucking firms out of business, just make sure that the run-off from the property doesn't pollute the local ground water.

It is definitely a competitive advantage when companies are concerned about the environment, or getting a big fine - that your truck wash company has a reclaim system, is totally self-contained, and the problem is no longer on their property, as you now handle all of those challenges for them. It is amazing how many companies are now violating the law by hiring mobile services that are not reclaiming the water, some of them know what they're doing, some of them don't, but nevertheless you should alert the trucking firms of the area of the reality, thus, keeping them out of trouble, and collecting that business for yourself.

Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this regardless of what business you are in, because when it comes to eco-innovations, it might be the best in the world in your industry, but you still have to sell it, advertise it, and market it to your prospective customers.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative eBook on Future Recycling Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

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SBA Clean Tech Loans Really Concern Me - Let's Talk

As the coordinator for a think tank, we spend a lot of time looking over entrepreneurial business plans for new startups. I am always amazed at the number of business plans that I've been reading, especially in the last five years that have to do with clean technologies, green companies, and alternative energy. Still, I am quite concerned because many of these business plans simply do not have a compelling reason to risk the capital. Okay so, let's talk about this for second shall we?

If I as a retired entrepreneur, and founder of a think tank do not feel comfortable recommending these startups to angel investors and venture capitalists, for fear that it might tarnish my reputation, and realize it's not even my money involved, then why is it okay to use taxpayer guaranteed money to fund some of these same projects? If they aren't viable, they shouldn't be done. If their only chance for success has to do with tax rebates, temporary waivers from regulatory agencies, and low-cost funding from the government - then actually they are not viable at all, certainly not in the free marketplace.

In that case, may I ask why we are bothering with this? I know the answer, but I pose the question because I am a little bit tired of the political agendas, the anti-fossil fuel motive, and this new religion of global warming. This country needs reliable and low-cost energy. By having that we are giving a boost to all of our industries, meaning they can compete better globally. If we overtax our infrastructure, and take that money and funnel it to projects which are not viable, all we are doing is manipulating the free-market system in a pathetic and disgusting way (my opinion, because I'm not allowed to say that, as it isn't politically correct, which is in itself pathetic).

At some point we need a Frank discussion, and we need to talk about the truth, fairness, and reality of the free-market. We aren't doing that in our country, and I fear we are throwing more good money after bad, to what avail I ask?

There was an interesting piece recently in the Austin Business Journal titled; "SBA launches nationwide fund to invest $1.5B in small biz - -The SBA U.S. Small Business Administration Latest from The Business Journals Follow this company is launching a new national fund to make equity investments in technology companies, particularly "cleantech" firms." by Megan Kamerick, reprinted from the New Mexico Business Weekly. Anyway the article stated;

"Through the new initiative, the SBA will commit $1 billion to funds focused on investing in underserved markets or in sectors that have been defined as national priorities. These can be businesses located in, or employing residents of, low or moderate-income areas or economically distressed areas. They can also be industry sectors the Obama Administration has identified as national priorities. Right now, that includes clean energy and education."

Indeed, if the government would just get out of the way, we would solve all of our problems, the same challenges wouldn't have had in the first place. To claim that right now we have a politician who has identified our national priorities as his own pet projects, and political agenda is ridiculous. If that's his agenda, why doesn't he quit being president and go out in the real world and compete in the free markets make $1 billion, and then use his own money?

Well, the reason is he doesn't, is simple, he does not have the ability to do that, he only has the ability to read a teleprompter and tell us what to do, and then bribe us with our own money. What I don't understand is how Americans can be so smart and still not see this? And if we are giving loans to people that don't understand the concept I just explained, then they aren't smart enough to run a business anyway, and they're just going to lose money, and default on those loans, and it's going to be the taxpayer who foots the bill over and over again - can't you see this pattern? Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Innovation in America. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

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Chickens, Rabbits and Fish, Oh My!

Micro-farming In Suburbia

When we decided to move into this house, we knew that we would be sacrificing, yet again, the land that would help us to reach our goal of becoming self sustaining. We have come up with some 'creative solutions' for getting the best of both worlds, like finding or starting a growing co-op locally, but today as I was reading my favorite survivalist forum, I saw a thread about raising rabbits.

Although we are in suburbia, our lot is a double lot, so there is some room for a garden, and with raised bed gardening and trellis gardening options, we can pretty much grow enough fruits and veggies to feed our family. A chicken coop big enough to house about 6 chickens, more than enough for us, will fit quite cozily into the back corner of the yard. We also have a pool that I had been considering turning into a hydroponic garden.

This morning when I visited SurvivalistBoards.com I decided to pay a visit to the 'Urban Survival' sub-forum, which is where I discovered the topic of raising rabbits. Rabbits hadn't even occurred to me, but once I thought about it, they don't take up much room at all, and they breed pretty quickly. There are even ways to prep and can rabbit meat for future use, and what we can't can, we can always sell. I've never eaten rabbit, and I really have no idea what 'gamey' tastes like, but from what I understand, farm raised rabbits are not 'gamey' like wild rabbits are. I'm not sure if I would or would not like 'gamey', as I've never tried it, and from what I've read, rabbit, while tasty, is not a sufficient source of fat and can't be lived on alone. What I read did advise to start with chickens for meat and eggs first, which I will, and then start with rabbits.

The next interesting find from this thread was 'aquaponics.' Another member, responding to the raising rabbits post, was raising fish and veggies using aquaponics. I never thought about fish either, but I do have a pool, which happens to be a swamp at the moment, and that I really did want to do something with. I would prefer to set up an above ground inflatable pool for the kids in the summer time so that I can remove the ladder when I'm not out there. I know that some (

Plastic Bag Bans And What It Means To Manufacturers And Retailers

For every plastic bag produced, there is an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases produced. Then, after the use of said bags, they would more often than not be thrown away indiscriminately. These plastic bags would end up clogging the drainage system in a city, pollute wild lands, and place undue risk to the life of aquatic creatures.

Because of these reasons, more and more people are clamoring for the reduced use of plastic bags. Legislations both in the US and outside of it have already been passed to cut down the usage of plastic shopping bags and the like. Some laws impose additional tax on the use of these bags while some laws are stricter and require a total ban.

The ban of plastic bags is not as widespread as some parties would like. Not all sectors agree that banning its use would result in the reduction of greenhouse gases produced by manufacturing companies. Some even go as far as arguing that if we make the switch to paper shopping bags, we would not be able to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions as the production of said containers would also mean cutting down trees, shipping them to the factory, and burning fossil fuels to turn them into finished products.

As a business owner, you have to be aware of this ever changing landscape. You might be operating in a state or locality where there is already a ban on the use of plastic bags. You might be planning to start a retail store in an area with such law but you are unaware of it. Your safest bet therefore is to make sure that you read the laws and take proactive actions to reduce your business' carbon footprint.

If your business is required by law to not use plastics, you still have several options. Aside from paper shopping bags, you can also choose to use recycled kraft bags. By opting to use these more eco-friendly options, you are not only making sure that you do not run afoul of the law, you are also doing your part to help protect the environment.

It is also possible to make a switch to a more eco-friendly shopping bag option without plenty of investment. There is no need to set up your own retail packaging manufacturing plant as you can always reach an agreement with companies to supply you with paper shopping bags to make sure that you will comply with existing laws.

Danica Green is a firm believer in the importance of choosing the right retail packaging for every business. She currently writes about her thoughts on the subject about paper shopping bags, recycled Kraft bags, gift boxes, and other ways products are presented by businesses to their clientele.

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How Shopping Bags Evolved Through Time?

The first shopping bags were created in 1912 by a grocery store owner named Walter H. Deubner because he noticed that his customers are having difficulty shopping and limit their purchases because of inconvenience of carrying all the shopping items to their homes. At the time shopping bags were first launched in the market it was sold for 5 cents, the same price most "wholesale outlets" charge these days.

Few decades ago, marketing experts realized that printing their company logo on a bag could help their brand get more exposure and establish a strong relationship with their clients. During the era of indoor shopping malls, buyers would visit every store in their area and ostentatiously carry the logo of the retailer where they just bought items from. At that time, the consumers embraced advertising on the paper shopping bags which were free and easy to carry. Throughout the 80's until early 2000's, shopping bags were considered as a status symbol. Those who buy fewer items from retail stores pay for a bag but in the case of large multinational businesses that paid for goods in bulk, bags are provided for free. For high class retailers, the quality and eminence of their bag became part of their business' trademark. Now, there are retailers who offer heavy duty reusable tote bags for only $1-$5, but many consumers did not buy this kind of marketing strategy. In the first place, why would buyers pay to advertise your company?

Many years and decades have passed until the market has changed their view on shopping bag. Today, most consumers consider shopping bag as one of the culprit to the environmental damages. For that reason, entrepreneurs today are finding ways on how we can lessen our plastic wastes in the landfills and large bodies of water. Nowadays, promotional bags are not only utilized as marketing tool and a way boost your retail business' sales but it is also used for promoting public environmental awareness.

Now, more and more businesses are switching to the more ecological means of advertising their business through the use of green bags. There are businesses that would offer and deliver cloth bags right at your door, in this way they are able to encourage and persuade buyers to use green bags with ease and save the environment at the same time.

Every day, as you walk down the street you will notice that more people are using their reusable paper shopping bags or canvas tote bags not only for shopping but for other purpose, too. Students, mothers and even professionals are obsessed with using these fancy bags because of its environmental benefit to the community.

So for a small business like you, one simple thing that you can do for your community is making recycled kraft bags or promotional tote bags available for customers free of charge at your store. Also, to convince more consumers to switch to reusable shopping bags make sure that the bags are eye-catching and durable. The more bags you give away to your consumers the more chance that your brand will be visible to the public and get attention from your target customers.

Danica Green is a branding enthusiast who believes that a paper shopping bags and retail packaging design plays a crucial role in enhancing your brand image. She currently writes how recycled kraft bags could significantly increase your retail sales and keep customers coming back to you.

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Can We 3-D Print a River Through the Desert Sands - Yes, I Do Believe That Is Possible, Here Is How

Not long ago, I had a quick brainstorm while I was studying 3-D printing and all the new technologies and potential applications. It occurred to me that we could use a 3-D printer to build colonies on Mars. Yes, you are thinking such an idea is out of this world, but before you say I'm crazy, let me tell you about something the Singularity Institute believes is possible; 3-D printing low income housing in Third World countries. Okay so, now that I've piqued your curiosity, let's talk.

It wouldn't be too hard to compress sand into a block and then put up temporary barriers, and next pour some sort of solution into the sand which made it hard, but not quite as hard as concrete. Then we could use a giant 3-D printer to cut the sand in the shape of a house. Then we could use robots to cut out the interior exactly how we wished it to be. Finally we could coat the walls with some sort of permanent barrier, and pour in another hardening solution which made the walls as hard as concrete. That's possible right - sure it is, let me take it to the next step.

We can do this on Mars, we could do it in North Africa, we can do it in a city in the Middle East, and we could probably even do it on the Moon and make it Out of moon dust. What else can we use this technique for? How about building rivers through the sand? How about building cement pipes in the sand and tunneling out the inside, and then coasting the inside and the exterior. Yes, I do believe it's possible to make underground rivers, or aboveground rivers in this fashion.

The other day, I was talking to an individual in Arizona who wished to revitalize a river, it appears to me that since the walls of the former river have been washed away due to mankind's unintended consequences and mistakes, we could actually fix that, and re-divert the water from the river and repair the damage. And as I said; we can use the same techniques as described for building a colony on Mars, or 3-D printing low income housing in Third World countries.

In fact creating the walls of a river would be quite a bit easier, and in the future the flow of water will indeed be one of the most important things to sustain human civilizations. It's going to be a real challenge as populations increase and the demand for groundwater is exacerbated by that need. Indeed I hope you will please consider this solution and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

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Plastic Shopping Bags Compared to Paper Shopping Bags

As much as we all know, shopping bags are common use while we go shopping, buy some groceries and it is even now used for us not to hand-carry things. It actually gives us an efficient and easier way to go shopping and also go to somewhere else. This is also actually the luckiest way how the shopaholic and non-shopaholic individuals collect all kinds of neither plastic or paper bags at their home in which they can still use and recycle. But just to remind you not all of these bags can still be recycled.

And as the new generation outgrows, new diversities of shopping bags were made which is designed for several uses. The extremity of these bags involves different forms and class nowadays. Designers came up with all simple or even fancy and comfy designs that will be convenient for shop buyers. As such, people also have different perspectives on what to use and what to recycle. But as a heads up, we have two kinds of shopping bags that the individual commonly use, that are plastic and paper shopping bags.

Plastic bags or the so called plastic grocery bags which is obviously made up of plastic can also be reusable and it offers a heavy-duty feature that allows us to reuse the plastic bags many times. Usually plastic bags are made with lots of designs that are appealing to the eyes. It is durable that even wet food can be stored in it and as much as more useful when it's raining. And the most important advantage of this is that we can use it in storing heavy products and that is why retailers and consumers usually uses plastic bags for shopping. At home, often people use it as a trash cans liner to avoid the wastes from spilling on the floor.

The purpose of the plastic bags is that it is also environmental friendly in which it also consumes less air and water pollution than the paper shopping bags since plastic bags has lesser weight comparing to paper bags. However, we must also put in mind that plastics come from non-renewable resources unlike papers. And that is the main reason why plastic are now being banned in some places and that means that plastic bags are hard to be composted.

Paper bags or the so called Kraft bags are renewable resources which originally come from trees. Even though it is easily prone to tearing, the best thing about it is that they can be recycled so on and so forth (that means without any limit). Since papers come from trees, any material made of paper has more degradability which is helpful to our land resources. Yes, it takes a lot of time to produce paper bags but it will also take less time and effort to compost paper bags since it is a biodegradable material than littering plastics elsewhere which can pollute our surroundings.

We actually now have a common goal, to disseminate a more eco-friendly shopping materials that we may use conveniently while shopping and buying some groceries and afterwards to be reused at home. Paper bags are actually offered in some department stores for free and some are not. But plastic bags are the one commonly used by shop buyers when purchasing something.

In the long run, the main goal that we need to consider is to have a proper implementation on recycling either paper or plastic bags. And that will be the greatest solution that may help the community to have an eco-friendly environment.

Let us save mother earth by using recycled Kraft bags. These paper shopping bags help us reduce our consumption or use of toxic chemicals, recycle and reuse resources.

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The Many Benefits of Recycled Street Furniture

ByIan Monaghan

Go to any city centre, and there is a good chance that some of the street furniture that you see is made from recycled plastic. Recycled street furniture is becoming increasingly popular and it has a number of benefits over other traditional types of material. This article looks at a few of the most important benefits.

Durable

Recycled plastic is a very durable material and this means that it can put up with extremes of weather and corrosive salty air when located near the sea. This means that it is a great option for recycled street furniture if you want to create benches and tables which will last many years. In many circumstances this allows the furniture to last up to four times longer than wood.

This also means that it is less likely to crack and splinter, which can be uncomfortable for the users of the furniture and can even cause safety issues.

More Economical

Because it lasts longer, recycled street furniture can be a more economical choice. Perhaps it may be more expensive to buy at first, but if it lasts many more years then you will not have to replace the furniture so soon and one bench can be used for many years before it needs replacing. This makes it a great option for anyone looking for a more economical alternative.

Attractive

Recycled street furniture can be designed to look just like wood. People often prefer timber benches because of how they look, but recycled plastic can look just like timber and still come with all the benefits of plastic. And, unlike stone which looks cold, and metal which rusts, it will be a more attractive feature in any public place.

Better for the Environment

The obvious benefit that recycled street furniture has over other types of materials is that by using recycled materials you are helping the environment in some way. Recycled furniture makes use of materials which would otherwise be wasted and sent to landfill, so you know that by choosing these you are doing your best for the environment at the same time as getting a superior product.

Conclusion

Recycled Street Furniture is the Best Solution

Recycled plastic is a great option for your street furniture. Strong, durable, long lasting, attractive and better for the environment, it has many advantage over other materials. If you want a more economical and environmentally friendly choice, it could well provide you with the solution you are after.

My name is Ian Monaghan and I'm the MD of Miko Engineering. http://www.mikoengineering.co.uk

We are a family firm with over 25 years experience in the design and manufacture of shelters, street furniture, canopies and a whole host of other products.

We pride ourselves on our motto 'all things are possible' so call us today on 0191 428 0452 to find out how we can help you.

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Uncovering the Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy

ByAnne Nicole Brooke

A lot of people these days are becoming much more conscious about the environment and the present economic condition. At this point of both environmental and economic crisis, switching to solar energy is a crucial move that will bring us to a brighter future. But what do you really know about solar energy? Understanding its advantages and disadvantages is a good way to appreciate solar energy as a whole.

Advantages

Eco-friendly. The primary advantage of solar energy is that it makes our environment clean and green. For example, you make use of a 2.5kw solar panel array with 5 hours of sun exposure per day. It can supply about 380 kilowatts per month. If your household consumes about 700 kilowatts of electricity per month, you save 320 kilowatts using the direct energy from the sun. In raw terms, you are saving about 300 barrels of oil per year, or the equivalent mileage of 270,000 driven miles. Needless to say, that cuts down acid rain emissions and greenhouse gases as well. In addition, making use of solar energy for over 25 years is equivalent to planting 5,000 trees. That's a lot of trees equivalent to a simple device installed from the roof of your house!

Financial Benefits. As soon as the panel is put up, it provides the household with the energy needed to power up electric household appliances at literally no cost. While the initial or the installation cost may be high, it can definitely help you save a lot of money in the long run. Generous government subsidies and rebates also help make the initial installation cost more attainable for an average family.

Disadvantages

Installation Cost. The main disadvantage of using solar energy is the hefty cost of initial installation. The initial investment is high because the semiconductor materials used in the manufacture of panels are quite expensive. But with continuous research and massive production, the rates are expected to decline in each passing year. In fact, the installation cost of PV panels has already dropped from more than $2 per unit in 2009 to about $1.50 in 2011. In 2013, prices are even expected to drop close to the $1 mark. In 2005, the price was averaged about $3-4 per watt of installed power.

Space and Placement. It is important that panels absorbing energy from the sun should be properly placed in order to get the optimum amount of sunlight needed to power up your systems. And this can be a problem for a lot of people who don't have available enough space for the solar panels. If your house is nestled between two giant structures, then your panel is unlikely to get the maximum amount of energy from the sun. In this manner, you cannot reach the optimal output needed to operate your household devices.

There are various inventions that have been created to specifically take advantage of the natural energy produced by the sun. If only we could harness the solar energy correctly, we can generate more power to meet all of our energy needs for a long period of time.

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Creating a Green Office and Making It Work: 5 Practices and 8 Steps to Healthy (and Clean) Building

Cleaning green in your office building is key to ensuring your building occupants are working at their highest productivity level.

Currently 1 out of 13 people have asthma, and the rate continues to increase. This is partly because indoor air contaminants can reach levels as high as 100 times higher than what is acceptable for outdoor air! Compound this with the fact that today we spend nearly 90 percent of our time indoors. This combination leads to a costly absenteeism rate in our work places. The estimated productivity loss and health care costs associated with our indoor air quality is about $100 billion annually.

After construction is complete and a building comes to equilibrium, the HVAC system has been balanced, and materials from construction have off-gassed, the single greatest and most easily controllable action for a the healthy and safe building environment is housekeeping and maintenance.

With today's focus on sustainability and reducing costs, our buildings, including our homes, have become more energy-efficient (a.k.a., air tight). This results in a higher concentration of chemicals that become trapped in our working and living spaces. How we clean and with what we clean has a direct impact on our indoor environmental conditions.

There are many reasons to be concerned with worker hazards and the negative impact on people who are around these harsh cleaning chemicals. Traditional petrochemical based cleaning products can be dangerous to use and can greatly affect our indoor air quality with harsh alkalis and acids, particulates, glycol ethers, carcinogens, and petroleum distillates. These irritating and toxic fumes extend to our employees, customers, guests, and building occupants. Furthermore there are additional costs associated with using these products such as the disposal of hazardous waste, worker liability, and regulatory reporting.

Green cleaning is a combination of planning and using contemporary cleaning methods. Understanding how green cleaning is different and implementing the appropriate cleaning techniques goes a long way in achieving the desired result.

The top five green cleaning practices to implement to ensure a healthier indoor environment are:

Using color coded microfiber cloths help to improve health and safety of building occupants by preventing cross-contamination. When handled properly these can be used for a very long time. Hence these cloths ultimately reduces waste.
Selecting green janitorial chemicals that are leveraging the latest in cleaning technology. Such as establishing by a "spray and rotate" technique for enzymatic cleaners rather than using the traditional "spray and wipe" approach. Also taking advantage of products that are rinse free will enable you to benefit from the reduced labor costs. Selecting third-party certified products is an important piece of an effective green housekeeping program.
Taking full advantage of chemical management systems with green janitorial chemicals will go a long way to eliminate exposure to harsh chemicals, reduce costs through inventory optimization, and minimize waste.
Implementing an infection control plan. Disinfectants are not, and cannot be, environmentally friendly because they are designed to "kill" everything, similar to RoundUp weed control. There are ways, however, to minimize the impact. For example, selecting a pH neutral, EPA registered disinfectant product combined with targeting it only for bacterial hot zones will leave the smallest possible impact on the environment while still protecting the health of building occupants.
Developing and implementing an indoor air quality prevention plan.

A key aspect to a successful green cleaning program is to have an indoor air quality prevention plan. This is also a key aspect in preparing for LEED certification. Even if you are not seeking certification, these practices prove to be valuable for enhancing building operations. There are eight steps to planning and implementing an effective indoor air quality prevention plan. Implementing these eight steps will make the difference in ensuring the health and safety of your staff.

Set building policy and goalsEnsure management commitment to the pollution prevention planComplete a baseline study to record your current practicesIdentify your opportunities and optionsRank the optionsEstablish a green cleaning training programImplement and evaluateStart over and set new goals

With proper planning, critical thinking, product testing, and problem solving there are solutions that can be found to ensure you have and maintain a safe, healthy and clean workspace. So consider: What do you clean? How can you make it greener than your current practices?

Rae Ann Dougherty, President of Green Cleaning Products LLC, invites you to learn the why and how of greening your office, commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities http://greencleaningproductsllc.com/commercial-green-clean/. At the same time, get your free gift by subscribing to the information packed Green Living News at http://greencleaningproductsllc.com/newsletter-signup/

(c) Copyright - Rae Ann Dougherty. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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Zero Waste With Biodegradable Tableware

What is the big deal? The disposable tableware used today can be categorized into three major groupings. There are the paper disposable products made from tree pulp. The issue with tree pulp products are the length of time it takes to grow the replacement trees. There are foam disposable products made from petroleum products. Needless to say, petroleum is a product that is not renewable and we depend a great deal on the imports of petroleum. The final major grouping would be the biodegradable or renewable resource tableware products made from the organic substances like sugarcane, corn, bamboo, or other plants that can be replenished within one year to eighteen months.

But what does biodegradable mean? Biodegradable means an organic substance is broken down by the assistance of other living organisms like bacteria and microbes. In other words the plant based renewable product is composted into "earth ready" dirt. The result is zero waste.

Biodegradable tableware is perfect for every event planner that wants to be zero waste. The biodegradable tableware is ideal for events from casual picnics to eco friendly weddings. These biodegradable products meets high standards of quality, durability and beauty. Yes, the unit item of the biodegradable product is more expensive than the foam or the paper, but in looking at the life cycle costs associated with an item that may never decompose, that is dependent on foreign oil, or depends on the new growth of a tree; the total cost would be less for a biodegradable product.

The waste management facilities are near capacity. When a biodegradable tableware product enters a landfill, the item is composted within 50 to 100 days. The environment is cleaner and free of toxins. The cost to maintain a landfill is costly especially when new locations are required. Not only are the new locations usually further from the waste pick up points, but require a more remote location because land fills are not desired within a residential area. Therefore, each new landfill may create a larger carbon footprint because of the increase in gas to transport the waste to the more remote location and the carbon emissions from the trucks. And what about litter? The goods news is a biodegradable products that makes it way into a waterway or roadway will eventually decompose, where as the foam or plastic products will stay as litter until someone picks it up.

So, what is the big deal? The environment needs our help to stay clean from foam and paper tableware products. Some cities are starting to ban the use of foam containers but are meeting with resistance. Anyone with the ability to make a decision within their municipality or business can help make a difference. Going green is easier now with the biodegradable tableware.

Kathy Prince invites you to visit our website at http://ecosmartproducts.net to see our eco friendly tableware. Or, check out our blog at http://ecosmartproducts.net/blog and be sure to leave a comment. We would love to hear from you.

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Recycling Clothes Banks - We Can Do Better

Recycling

Recycling has become one of the buzz words of the 'noughties' and domestically UK councils have asked their residents to play their part.

Most local authorities and many hospices, charities and even private businesses have gone to great lengths to make sure their local area is well catered for when it comes to recycling with the placement of recycling banks in prominent locations, the implementation of collection schemes, the increasing number of charity shops and the good old-fashioned jumble sale.

One of the most popular types of recycling is the reuse or resale of textiles, the benefits of which to the economy and environment are huge.

Clothes Recycling

Did you know that the practice of clothes recycling goes back to 1813 when a Yorkshire businessman by the name of Benjamin Law invented the activity known as shoddy. This was a process, practised on an industrial scale where old clothes were ground down to a fibrous state that allowed them to be respun into yarn and ultimately into new clothes.

This industry was centred in the West Riding area of Yorkshire and was so important that in the 1860's the town of Batley was turning over 7,000 tonnes of shoddy a year.

Although there are a number of shoddy businesses still active today, the clothes recycling industry now concentrates on the resale of clothes through charity shops or the redistribution of garments in third world countries.

More Can be Done

With such a long history in the UK for textile recycling it is sad to note that there is still scope to do much more.

It is estimated that we discard one million tonnes of clothing each year with the majority being household refuse. Of this vast amount 50 per cent could be reused, at present we are only recycling 25 per cent.

The Benefits to Economy and Environment of Clothes Recycling

The strain on land fill sites is greatly reduced as synthetic garments will not decompose.Woollen items do decompose but produce gasses that contribute to global warming.Pressure on source materials is reduced.Fewer imports from other parts of the world improve our economy.The reduction of transportation from abroad reduces pollution.

How Can I Help with Clothes Recycling?

Make use of your local clothes bank.Contact your local authorities if you do not have a local bank and ask why.If you have no local bank ask if the local authority run a collection scheme or take your clothes to a local charity shop.Make use of any local jumble sales or collections.Consider buying second-hand clothes, you could snap up a bargain and help a local charity.Seek out items that use recycled content, although these are not always advertised.

As the jingle goes "Every Little Helps."

METAL MASTERS - Innovators in Clothing Bank Manufacture & Design - Quality Clothes Banks at Realistic Prices - http://www.metalmasters.co.uk

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What to Know About Buying Industrial Cleaning Chemicals

ByTimothy Byron

Industrial cleaning chemicals are becoming more popular with buyers and business owners. These chemicals, including industrial degreasers and contact cleaners are more efficient than regular cleaning products and in many cases more effective on heavy machinery, restaurant equipment, and other industry related surfaces. Buying these products can be tricky, especially for first time buyers. Having the right chemical for the right job is important, but there are many other things to consider when buying these chemicals.

When considering industrial cleaning chemicals, it is important to know exactly what you are buying and the purpose that it serves. There are many options available for all types of surfaces as well as industries so reading labels and product descriptions is a must. Industrial cleaning chemicals, including industrial degreaser are all made for specific types of metal, machines, floors, and materials, and using the wrong product for the wrong surface can not only ruin the material, but it can also create reactions that can cause severe side effects. Using the right product for the right material or surface is vital when using any industrial cleaning product.

Knowing where to buy industrial cleaning chemicals is just as important as knowing how/what to buy. There are many physical stores that sell these products and chemicals. An advantage to buying any industrial cleaning chemical or industrial degreaser in an actual store is having the ability to ask a store associate relative questions about the products that are carried, but sometimes having an associate is not necessary. If you are a more confident customer, these products can also be found online. Online stores provide a large variety of these products in all sizes and brands, which makes it easy for any consumer to find exactly what he or she is looking for. Online pricing is also generally a little cheaper than the pricing in physical locations.

Regardless of the pricing of these industrial cleaning chemicals, it is important to consider the effects they will have on the environment, not only on the natural environment, but on your personal work environment for you and your employees. Having green or eco-friendly industrial degreasers and cleaners will not only help to keep you and your employees safe from the often harsher chemicals that are in these products, but it will also help you leave a smaller imprint on the environment. Many companies offer products that dispense less of these chemicals into the air so that breathing while using them is easier. They also make products that are often more biodegradable than generic products so they stay in the environment for a shorter amount of time.

Many businesses cannot get around using industrial cleaning chemicals, so knowing how and what to buy when shopping for them is crucial. Whether you are buying and industrial degreaser or any other type of chemical product, doing a little bit of research on these products regarding usage, pricing, and the effects they will have on the environment, is important.

When buying industrial cleaning chemicals, or industrial degreaser, it is important to consider the proper usage, the price, and the effect that these products will have on the environment.

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Eco Friendly Solvents: How to Find a Suitable Alternative

ByTimothy Byron

Eco friendly products are taking the market by storm as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to increase awareness regarding the effects of using toxic cleaners and materials. Volatile Organic Compounds also called VOCs are solvent composites which get released into the air under normal temperature conditions. The liquid evaporates into gas form without any additional temperature or environmental change. Their low boiling point makes it easy for many molecules to enter the air as evaporation occurs. Paint is a good example because the formaldehyde slowly evaporates while it is sitting idle. VOCs are very dangerous to people, animals, and the environment. They can be found in either natural or man-made compounds. Use of these substances in doors is regulated because the release concentration is higher. Long term health conditions can develop from extended exposure. Skin, eye, or throat irritations are the short term signs of inhalation. Eco friendly solvents labeled low-VOC or no-VOC are a safer alternative to many of the standard cleaning solutions used today by businesses.

Industrial Solvents: Choosing a Safe and Functional Cleaner

Industrial solvents have evolved to include options with high performance capabilities but reduced negative effects. Paints, strippers, cleaners, pesticides, and adhesives are examples of VOC emitting products. Most emit at least a small amount into the air when used and stored. Pollutant levels may remain in the air for an extended period of time after usage. Industrial facilities are a setting where compound release can be very high. Automotive, aeronautic, and military environments consistently use degreasers or cleaners. The EPA provides specific regulations regarding types of chemicals including restrictions on certain organic solvents. Eco-friendly alternatives make it easier for a business to meet guidelines and still obtain needed performance.

Finding a replacement for high VOC industrial solvents should be the first step a business takes to increase safety in the workplace. This step forward also creates a better green image for a business. Reduced costs are a direct result of limited compound release and minimal hazard clean up. A business can take other measures to reduce VOC release as well. Ventilation should always meet if not exceed the solvent recommendations. Store containers appropriately, ensure workers handle them as specified, and dispose of all used solvent according to requirements. Organic compounds are most dangerous in an enclosed environment. The EPA estimates indoor concentrations to average one thousand times more than measured outdoors.

Testing of eco friendly solvents occurs prior to the inclusion of color additives. These also emit organic compounds and can increase the amount released into the air from each solvent. This is important to keep in mind when selecting an alternative cleaner for business or home use. Water-based solvents have lower VOC levels and green products do not add additional compounds to the air during use. An industrial facility in most scenarios cannot use water-based products due to the nature of the cleaning. They are being utilized to clean parts susceptible to corrosion or rusting when exposed to water. These environments must use a chemical based solution that may be substituted with a lower VOC product.

Industrial solvents are dangerous because they emit gas compounds during evaporation. Eco friendly solvents may be used in place of common products to reduce air contamination.

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Everyday Uses for Industrial Parts Solvents

ByTimothy Byron

Industrial cleaning products can be hard to tell apart unless you are an expert with buying these items and chemicals. Industrial solvents are no exception to the rule, and knowing what to use them for and when it is appropriate to buy them is crucial. So why would you need to pick up an industrial parts solvent? Here is a guide that will assist any buyer in knowing a few of the most popular reasons to buy these solvents

One of the most popular reasons to buy an industrial solvent is for use as a removal agent. Industrial parts solvents are great for removing soil and other unwanted material from parts and machinery as well as general surfaces. For the things you need to clean up that cannot be handled by a normal or even industrial cleaner, solvents offer a stronger option. Solvents often dry quickly and make your products and machinery ready to use again in almost no time after application. These chemicals are a great option for those who need to remove a serious amount of soil or material from their items.

Industrial solvents are also often used for dissolving certain materials, particularly adhesives and sealants. Removing these types of products from surfaces is often difficult, seeing as the majority of them are made to be permanent solutions. Industrial parts solvents can help remove them by simple application. These solvents release the bonds that are made by the adhesives and sealants, returning the product back to what it was prior to adding these materials. Industrial solvents not only remove sealants and adhesives, but they are also great for removing paint, enamel, and varnish from interior and exterior surfaces. Mistakes are easy to fix with solvents, as are new "do it yourself" projects and massive manufacturing undertakings.

Industrial solvents are also great for the cleaning of certain materials. Certain types of solvents are great for cleaning metal and metal parts on machinery. Applying an industrial parts solvent meant for cleaning any type of metal will give you the desired result, making it look as good as new. These solvents are also used for cleaning other materials such as resin. Resin is notorious for being difficult to remove from most surfaces. Solvents make the removal of this tricky material quick and effective.

Industrial solvents are also sometimes used as a degreasing product. Though industrial degreasers actually exist as a product on their own, solvents also provide a tough degreaser for many surfaces. Mainly used for metal and machinery, industrial parts solvent used as a degreaser allows for a clean, soil and grime free surface that would be hard to achieve without the use of these products.

Using industrial solvents is a smart and practical way to get your materials to their best clean, remove unwanted coatings and adhesives, as well as removing unwanted materials such as soil and grease. This product is a great multi-purpose solution for any industrial strength cleaning need.

The aforementioned is a short-listing of the popular uses for industrial solvents and industrial parts solvents in everyday life.

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Popular Uses for Industrial Parts Cleaner

ByTimothy Byron

In the world of industrial cleaning products and industrial degreasers, there is no escaping industrial parts cleaner. For those who are new to the industry, it may be difficult to determine which parts and machinery need to have the strength of an industrial strength cleaner and which ones simply do not. Here is a guide that will list just a few of the many uses for industrial parts cleaner for any level of professional.

One of the most common uses for industrial degreaser is pressure washing. Serving many purposes, pressure washing is a necessary and common practice within businesses and as an industry within itself. Using industrial parts cleaner in a pressure washer allows for an extreme clean of many items, such as engines and walls. Whether cleaning the outside of a building or heavy manufacturing machinery, adding an industrial parts cleaner or degreaser can get the job done more efficiently and leave it with an overall cleaner look and feel.

These cleaning products can also often be found in automatic floor cleaning machines. Using an industrial degreaser on a floor can help loosen all of the dirt and grime that often collects on the floors of businesses. Regarding restaurants, the grease and food trash and debris that builds on floors is easily removed with this high strength degreaser. This product does not solely have to be used in a machine. It can be used to simply clean up any floor with a good old-fashioned mop and water. Regardless of what you use to actually disperse the industrial degreaser with, it is a strong chemical that will leave any floor with the best possible clean.

Another common use for industrial parts cleaners and industrial degreasers is a simple spray and wipe usage. Just like retail household cleaners, these spray and wipe industrial strength products are both easy to use and effective. This particular version of these cleaners is intended for many surfaces, such as walls and windows, cooking equipment, and even machine parts and gears. These are great for removing film that can often clog machinery and make equipment hard to run. Also, with boasting industrial strength, these products can make sure that your place of business is clean and ready to go for inspections and for healthy operating.

Another common use for these products is immersion cleaning. Using an industrial degreaser as a dip or immersion cleaner allows for items to be soaked for an extended period of time so the grease and grime can fully be dislodged from any object. Industrial parts cleaners also make for a great immersion cleaner because small machinery parts or cookware can be soaked and later scrubbed for a maximum clean result.

When looking for something a little stronger for cleaning your business or sometimes even your home, industrial degreasers and industrial parts cleaners might be exactly what you are looking for. Though these products may cost a little more than your average grocery store product, they will assist you in saving money in the long run by getting the job done right the first time.

An overview of some of the popular uses of industrial degreasers and industrial parts cleaners in daily life.

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Waterless Urinals: Cut Costs And Help Save Water

Many businesses provide bathroom facilities for their customers. It's something that the general public has come to expect, although the cost of maintaining public restrooms can quickly add up. Waterless urinals would sound appealing to a business owner looking to cut down on water costs, or an event organizer looking for convenient restroom facilities for event-goers. Creators of this landmark invention claim that waterless urinals can save between 15,000 and 45,000 gallons of water per year. When compared to a conventional urinal, this is assuming that the unit would be used between 40 and 120 times daily.

Invented by Canadian Klaus Reichardt, this urinal model has been secured with several patents, including a patent for a model introduced by the Waterless Company in 1991 and then another by Falcon Waterfree Technologies in 2001. Duravit also have patents on their own models.

One design of the urinal works by using a trap and liquid sealant instead of water. When a man uses the waterless urinal, the sealant, which is lighter than water, floats on top of the urine, sealing off odors. The urine collects into a U-bend pipe. The cartridge and sealant must be replaced from time to time. Another design works by using an outlet system that traps the odors instead of a cartridge. Yet another model employs a deodorizing block for trapping the odors.

This model of urinal has proven to be very effective, whether it be for businesses or large outdoor gatherings. It is so effective in fact that the city of Brisbane, Australia has made their use a necessary mandate due to water restrictions. It's rare to see a flushing urinal in the city anymore. Another example is the Liberty Property Trust Tower in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2006 during the construction of the tower, city planners decided to use waterless urinals for the building, which got local plumbers upset enough to protest since they felt it would mean less work for them. However the city insisted on using the urinals, which would save the city of Philadelphia an estimated 1.6 million gallons of water.

The downside to odorless urinals is that they don't remove surface stain odors. Despite this, waterless urinals would are useful in situations where water supply is limited and the means of supplying water are very few. They are also a better choice for those environmentally minded, cutting urinal water usage by up to 98% and any systems are completely biodegradable.

If you are looking at waterless urinals, you should see the new Greenheart Waterless Urinal System, it can reduce your water usage by up to 98% The the Greenheart waterless urinal system is completely biodegradable and is safe for people and the environment.

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Green Janitorial Chemicals - 7 Shocking Facts to Consider for Protecting Your Building Occupants

Cleaning yields a clean surface, right? Nope, not necessarily. If you use the traditional, conventional cleaners you may have created an even greater issue. Although the surfaces may be free from dirt and grime, they may not be free from toxins that result from the petrochemical based cleaning products used. It is for this reason that it is so important to ensure only green janitorial chemicals and supplies are used in your facility.

Ever since a 1984 World Health Organization report suggested up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be linked to aliments and symptoms of sick building syndrome (SBS), there has is an ever-increasing awareness of what poor indoor air quality can do to building occupants and guests.

There are many more reasons to strive for a safe, green, clean result. Here are seven shocking facts that serve as additional reasons.

Indoor air pollution levels can be 100 times higher than outdoor air pollution levels, according to the EPA estimates!
Fewer than 200 of the 62,000 chemicals available since the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1979 have been tested for chronic impact on human health.
It takes only 26 seconds for a toxic chemical to get into our body! Chemicals enter into our body through inhalation, ingestion and absorption through our largest organ (our skin).
Asthma has increased in the last 20 years over 600 percent. Today, twenty (20) million people in the USA (including 6.1 million children) have asthma. Asthma accounts for more than 14 million outpatient clinic visits and near 2 million energy room visits.
The average person can be exposed 82,000 toxins to in their daily life. (Of the estimated 85,000 chemicals in the U.S. marketplace, only a small fraction of them have ever been tested for their chronic impacts to human health. While Europe has banned 1,100 chemicals from use in products, the U.S. has banned fewer than ten.)
Ever since the flu pandemic a couple of years ago, many different varieties and brands of antimicrobial soaps, cleaners, sanitizers, have been formulated and available. Unfortunately 275 of the ingredients in anti-microbials are classified as pesticides. US EPA classifies these active ingredients as pesticides because they are designed to KILL microbes.
Cancer rates have doubled since 1960. The cancer rate in 1900 was about 1 in 8,000, Today it is about 1 in 2 during a lifetime. Even with treatment many of these cancers are the cause of death.

Cleaning supplies and products are a huge industry. In fact about $14 Billion is spent each YEAR. For example, in a single state (California) it has been estimated that the following has been sold every single day of the year: 34 tons (or 68,000 pounds) of air fresheners; 74,000 tons (147 million pounds) of all-purpose cleaners, 109 tons (or 218,000 pounds) of toilet bowl cleaners, 102 tons (or 204,000 pounds) of glass cleaners (Source: California Air Resources Board). Recapping this is about the same volume as is contained in twenty-four (24) Olympic size swimming pools! If this is the volume of liquid cleaners sold in one state on one day, can you imagine how much is consumed in the entire country (USA)!

As a result of the demands generated by the end users (building owners and facility managers), new formulations ensure green janitorial chemicals and supplies have high efficacy and are becoming more cost-effective all of the time.

Rae Ann Dougherty, President of Green Cleaning Products LLC, invites you to learn the why and how of greening your office, commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities http://greencleaningproductsllc.com/commercial-green-clean/. At the same time, get your free gift by subscribing to the information packed Green Living News at http://greencleaningproductsllc.com/newsletter-signup/

(c) Copyright - Rae Ann Dougherty. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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Learning The Way Solar Energy Functions

ByLincoln Gartrell

The fact that plants can use sunlight to sustain themselves can seem nearly magical, but recently humankind has developed its own system to work with solar energy. We've progressed far beyond using the sun to simply heat things. Solar energy systems, also called photovoltaic systems, can generate electricity to allow people to run home appliances with solar panels. This is a great option for many individuals not only to save money, but to avoid releasing dangerous emissions in our environment. But how does solar energy work?

The word "photovoltaic" can be split into two parts, with "photo" meaning light, and "voltaic" referencing volts, which are units of electrical force. Putting them together, you get electricity generated by light. Solar panels consist of photovoltaic chips that use this process to create energy for homes. PV chips are almost always made of the material silicon which is a semiconductor, meaning it has a good capacity to release energy when light strikes its surface. This allows for solar panels to easily create energy for a directed purpose within the full scheme of a solar energy system.

The photovoltaic cells in a solar energy system use two layers of semiconductors in order to excite electrons. One layer of cells is positively charged and the other negatively, and so tension is created between them and volts are generated. This is all well and good, but the electricity made when the sun hits a solar panel is in the form of direct current, or DC energy. To change this into something that will be compatible with a normal 240V home appliance, it needs to be changed into alternating current (AC) energy using an inverter.

AC energy tends to be more effective than DC energy. Electrons only flow in one direction with DC energy. With AC energy, electrons continually switch directions in the electrical current, which allows it to be safer (since different amounts of power can be transmitted), and travel longer distances without losing any energy. As described, solar energy systems can generate electricity with an inverter, but they can be supplemented by a city's electricity grid. If you are unable to meet your electrical requirements with solar energy alone, then the grid can provide you with additional electricity for you to seamlessly continue everyday living. Better yet, if you can provide all of your own electricity and still have some left over, it will be fed into the grid and the city will compensate you with cash for the extra energy you've provided.

It's clear to see that the benefits of a solar power system are extensive, and the science behind them is simple and efficient. In case you find the possibility of setting up a solar energy system on your own to be a little overwhelming, many professionals are around to help out with getting a solar energy system installed on your home. In the long term solar panel technology will only grow more sophisticated, and more ways will be found to enhance the usage and amount of electricity people are able to generate. By committing to solar energy and finding out how it can support you, you will be on your way to lowering energy bills and creating a healthier future.

He is an Environmentalist and Energy Conservation Advocate which has a wonderful advocacy in propagating the information about the positive aspects and uses of Solar and Green Energy as a replacement to the traditional resource of energy.

To explore more, visit the link below.

Renewable Energy

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Electric Bikes Can Help Your Wallet and the Environment

If you are looking to improve your personal transport situation then it's a no-brainer to think about using an electric bike. In these stressed economic times there can be few choices which can give you such a bang for your buck and help the environment at the same time. However, helping to save the world like Clark Kent is one thing, but there are a few common questions many people have about e-bikes. I will try to address them here.

I guess most people think of electric bikes as being nowhere near as fast as a motor bike and much more expensive than a regular bike. That is true to some extent. Still, it depends on how far your regular journey is likely to be, and how quickly you need to get there. An e-bike can get you from a to b nearly as quickly as most motor bikes or scooters in an urban setting - and what's that I hear? Nearly free to run? Yes pretty much, apart from a lot of plug-in time. It's definitely the transportation of the future. Over 100 million Chinese people can't be wrong! The trouble is...the initial expense.

Or is it? Have you thought about making an electric bike yourself? Some pre-built electric bikes have given the whole concept a bad name, it's true. Expensive to buy, poor range, low power, sometimes odd looking. You may find a good one, but having a bit more control over your pride and joy could lead to... pride and joy.

So what do you need to make one, and how much will it cost? About $300 should do it for a first attempt, plus a decent donor bike. There are a few quality variables like the motor, and the batteries especially. You definitely get what you pay for, and the cheaper variety can be a false economy. They will probably need replacing much sooner. You will also need access to a few power tools to put it all together properly, and a decent plan of what you want to end up with.

If you have time you can pick up a lot from the many forums on e-bikes, maybe buy a book, or take the easier option and buy a kit. That will cost you about two-thirds the price of a pre-built electric bike, and should be quite easy to put together for most people. For the more adventurous though, I would definitely go for your own 'special'.

You can get a pretty comprehensive plan for a really fast electric bike if you want to take a look this site exploring the future of electric bikes. The author is passionate about 2-wheeled transport and also low energy use - so if you Click Here you can find out how to cut both your journey time and expense!

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Renewable Energy Solutions and Their Importance

Renewable energy solutions are known as systems that generate electricity from resources which are naturally replenished. It is hard to imagine a better world without renewable energy. Until recent decades mankind has only used those methods which have significantly damaged the environment including the atmosphere. Fossil fuel and coal powered electricity are two examples of these harmful methods. Due to the fact that these sources will one day run-out and the mass negative impact they have on the environment, renewable energy solutions have gained significant importance among governments and individuals at present.

There are four major types of renewable energy solutions that are widely being used to generate electricity. They are; Solar, Hydro, Wind and geothermal solutions.

Solar energy solutions:

Solar power is the most widely available source of energy in the world. Solar panels are used to harness the power of the sun into usable electricity. At present, solar plants or solar farms could be common seen in many countries. These plants have of hundreds, if not thousands of solar panels placed to generate mass electricity. The beauty of this technology is that it is very flexible. Solar cells can even be found in calculators and wrist watches.

Hydro energy solutions:

Hydro energy solutions are a technology that uses the flow of water to generate electricity. This is one of the oldest forms of renewable energy that exists. There are some countries in the world that are entirely depended on hydro energy for electricity without the help of any other forms of electricity production. Hydro electricity is generated by capturing the motion of water using water turbines. It is considered efficient since it uses the resource which covers up 75% of the earth's surface.

Wind energy solutions:

The use of wind turbines to harness the power of wind into electricity are known as wind energy solutions. Wind speeds highly determine a wind turbine's capacity of producing electricity. Wind turbines need maximum wind flow without any structural obstructions, to operate at their best. This is the reason why they are usually placed in remote areas and sea shores.

Geothermal energy:

Geothermal energy is produced by using the natural heat of the earth's crust. Geothermal renewable energy solutions are primarily used for heating. Massive power stations are used to produce this type of energy and they are considered quite costly.

Apart from global warming being a primary issue, scientists and scholars have already predicted an energy crisis due to the rapid rate in which the human population is growing. Inventions and mass developments in green energy solutions is said to be the only viable solution to overcome these issues. Fast paced developments in the fields of Information technology has massively contributed to the ways in which these technologies have been developed today. This has been evident since the last decade where bright minds around the world are helping make renewable energy solutions as much effective as they can.

Electricity from Dirt is another method of renewable energy production that's relatively new. It is often considered as the cheapest method of electricity production and has facilitated electricity supply for many under-developed nations.
Most renewable energy methods mentioned in this article are being applied and scaled down to create electricity at home by many residents. Clean green energy produced at home could massively benefit both the environment and the household in terms of reducing pollution and electricity costs.

Fore more information on residential electricity production visit: GreenerkWh.com

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How to Know If Green Janitorial Chemicals Are Really Green: 4 EcoFriendly Certifications to Help You

Beware, listing "Biodegradable" on a green colored label does not make a product environmentally friendly! You want to be green but it is difficult to determine if you are limiting your impact on the environment or just buying another pretty label that the marketing department directed it to be green.

There are good reasons to use green janitorial chemicals and supplies. Indoor air quality that we live and work in is frequently worse than our outdoor air, especially of concern since most of us spend much more time indoors than outdoors. Additionally using non-toxic, environmentally friendly, green janitorial chemicals has been found to enhance health of the cleaning staff, as well as the building guests and occupants.

There are reliable certifications that you can use to select your green janitorial chemicals. While the logos may be simple, the environmental criteria behind them are tough. While not perfect, they are independent. Use these certifications as your guide. They are science based, rigorous, well-respected and have been around a while.

Look for the following four certifications. Each of these third-party reviewing bodies have developed and continue to maintain a strong standard for the products they evaluate.

Design for the Environment (DfE) is a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program, created in 1992. The EPA DfE program provides information regarding safer chemical formulations, as well as best environmental practices. It seeks to prevent pollution as well as the risk pollution presents to humans and the environment. Three main goals of DfE are to define best practices for the industry; promote green cleaning and recognizing safer consumer and industrial and institutional products through safer product labeling; and identify safer chemicals. DfE is unique in that testing happens not only after formulation, but also the individual ingredients are tested even before products are combined for the formulation. This provides an additional level of protection since the manufacturers cannot dilute otherwise harmful chemicals to disguise their existence.
EcoLogo is an eco-labeling scheme that was launched in 1988 and today is a part of the Environment Canada (Canada's equivalent to the US EPA) Environmental Choice Program. It was established to help identify products which are less harmful to the environment, including green janitorial chemicals. EcoLogo is one of oldest certification programs in the world. EcoLogo provides customers with the necessary assurance that the products and services bearing the EcoLogo logo are green and has been verified by a third-party auditor.
Green Seal is a US-based non-profit, third-party organization that began in 1989. The evaluation process is based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for environmental labeling programs, ISO 14020 and ISO 14024. It takes into account a life cycle assessment approach by evaluating a product from the raw materials through the manufacturing process and ending with recycling or disposal. Having a Green Seal certification means that the product has passed post formulation tests and it works as well as others in its class.
European Eco with its eco label flower logo has been used throughout the European Union since 1992 to identify goods that meet strict scientific criteria for minimizing environmental impacts. This voluntary certification has proven to encourage businesses to market products, such as green janitorial chemicals and supplies, that are kinder to the environment. The criteria are agreed at European level and the label itself is only awarded after verification that the product meets high standards. Only the very best products, which are also kindest to the environment, are entitled to carry the European Eco label.

By setting standards and evaluating products, these certifications helps the consumer (public, corporate, entrepreneur, and consumer) to identify, trust, and buy environmentally preferable ("green") goods. In each case, green janitorial chemicals only become certified after a rigorous science-based evaluation by an independent third-party.

Beware of imposters. There are many in the market. Some are company owned, some are developed by industry associations, some are marketing ploys. Some are quite clever. (One of my favorite examples is the graphic of sea lion that was colored green!) Watchdog organizations have sued many of these imposters, but as buyers and users with limited time and a full slate of other responsibilities, you do not have the luxury to research this yourself. Seeking products with one of these four certifications for your green janitorial chemicals will streamline your busy schedule.

Rae Ann Dougherty, President of Green Cleaning Products LLC, invites you to learn green janitorial chemicals that have received these certifications at http://greencleaningproductsllc.com/commercial-green-clean/. At the same time, get your free gift by subscribing at http://greencleaningproductsllc.com/newsletter-signup/

(c) Copyright - Rae Ann Dougherty. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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Save Money and the Planet - Smarter Use Of Energy

According to energy savers.gov the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. And each year, electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. The good news is that there is a lot you can do to save energy and money at home. Start making small changes today.

Plugged In? - Unplug chargers (think cell phones and iPods) when not in use. Only 5% of the power drawn by a cell phone charger is used to charge the phone. The other 95% is wasted when it is left plugged into the wall.

Use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use. You'll save the energy equivalent of a 100-watt light bulb that is always on.

The U.S. Department of Energy tells us that not only do appliances continue to draw electricity while the products are turned off, but in the average home nearly 75% of all electricity used to power electronics is consumed by products that are switched off.

New Appliances -

1. Refrigerators--According to the NRDC new refrigerators consume 75% less energy then those built in the 1970's. A family replacing a 1980's fridge with one that meets today's standards will save more than $100 a year in utility costs. Go one step further and buy an Energy Star-qualified model, and your new refrigerator will save you an additional 15 percent or more by using better insulation, more efficient compressors and better temperature control and defrost mechanisms.

2. Dishwashers-god already gave you the most energy efficient and cost effective dishwasher that would be your hands. Most of us however prefer to use a dishwasher. Technology has come a long way with these too. When looking to buy try to find energy star rated these are 25 percent more efficient than the minimum federal standards. Replacing a dishwasher made before 1994 with an Energy Star model can save $25 a year on utility costs. Or at the very least find one with energy saving cycle. Do not rinse dishes before putting them in dishwasher just scrape them this will save thousands of gallons of water a year. Also try to find one that has air dry option and use it instead of heat dry.

3. Water Heater-- Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home, totally about 14 percent of your energy bill. An old water heater can operate for years at very low efficiency before it finally breaks down. If your gas water heater is more than 10 years old, it probably operates at less than 50 percent efficiency.

4. Washer - Replacing a washer built before 1994 with an Energy Star model can save a family $110 a year on utility bills. Energy Star washers use 50 percent less energy than other standard models, and only 18 to 25 gallons of water for a full-sized load, compared to 40 gallons for Standard full-size washers. Many Energy Star models also advertise lower fabric wear, better stain removal and quicker drying times. Wash your laundry in cold water whenever possible. Most of the energy used by your washing machine is used just to heat up the water. If you usually use hot water for your washing you can drop your energy consumption in half by choosing warm water, and up to 90% if you choose cold. This drastically reduces the energy you use and leads to reduction in global warming pollutants that are created either directly in your house by your oil or natural gas water heater or by the power plant that supplies your electric water heater. Don't wash partial loads of laundry. If at all possible use clothes lines or racks to dry your clothing it will make your clothes last longer and save you tons of money on gas or electricity.

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