Going Green in the Garden

Now, more than ever before, there is a push to go green in the home and in the garden. Going green is something that you can make a commitment to without a lot of extra work or extra time on your part. You will not only make your garden a healthier place to spend time in, you will be cutting down on pollution and giving something back to the Earth. Here are five ways that you can go green in your own garden.

Collect Rain Water
The best water for your plants is rain water and when you purchase a water collection tub or barrel, you will be able to collect the water from Mother Nature to water your garden when dry spells hit. Not only will it save you money on your own water bill, you will be giving your plants the best water they can get, that free of chemicals and treatment that is likely coming out of your faucet. Though that water is best for human consumption, it may not be the best thing to give your plants. You can also add water from cooking, for instance, into this collection barrel as well. Instead of pouring the water you used to boil potatoes down the drain, put it into your collection barrel to water your garden.

Begin to Compost
If you do not yet have a compost pile started, get one started as soon as possible. Not only will you be able to give the plants in the garden the best and most nutrient rich soil as possible, you will be able to recycle your own food scraps. As mentioned above, when cooking potatoes, for instance, put the peels in your compost pile, the water in your rain collection barrel and you are having a sustainable meal.
It is very easy to start a compost pile and since you can add almost all biodegradable substances to the compost pile, you will notice a big difference in the amount of rubbish you are throwing away. What is thrown into the compost bin will soon turn into the richest soil imaginable. Not only will you be doing something great for the Earth, your neighbours will be envious of the beautiful and healthy foliage in your garden.

Choose Green Furnishings
If you want to have a truly “green” garden, you should also have green furniture. No, we don’t mean the colour green, we mean green as in sustainable and renewable materials. For instance, one of the best materials for garden furniture is also one of the most sustainable materials. This material is called “rattan” and is a renewable and abundant resource. Rattan is not wood, like some types of garden furniture, but a vine-like palm. There are many beautiful options available when it comes to rattan garden furniture from full dining sets to gorgeous sofa sets.

Control Weeds with Organic Formulas
All people who have beautifully landscaped gardens will always be fighting the weeds. Though your first thought may be to put harsh chemicals on the areas thick with weeds, there are better ways to do this that are much better for the environment. One of the best ways to keep weeds at bay is to pull them weekly, but this may not be an option for everyone. Another way to control weeds is to layer old newspapers along the ground then cover them with mulch. The newspaper serves a dual purpose of stopping weeds from growing up through the soil and over time, breaking down and fertilising the soil.

Mow More Efficiently
The final suggestion we have to make your garden greener is to switch from a petrol powered mower to a reel mower. You will certainly save a lot of energy by choosing a reel mower, not to mention the money on petrol you will save on top of that. The other great thing about a reel mower is that the clippings that come from the mower will be reabsorbed into the ground and over time, become natural fertiliser.

Author Bio: Robert is a freelance writer for Bridgman who supply Outdoor Furniture.

How Green Is Your Home?

We all like to be good to the environment, but some of us are better than others. Being environmentally friendly is often about the most basic decisions that we make in life.

Given that most of us spend a lot of time at home, it’s natural to think that this is area where changes that we make can have a substantial impact. We often want to do better, but aren’t quite sure of the best approaches to take.

Reducing energy use
Most people are aware that our dependence on fossil fuels means that we’re using the planet’s resources at a rapid rate. This is clearly unsustainable. But what can we do to improve the situation? There are a range of basic steps that we can take around the home and many of them are surprisingly inexpensive.

We can, for instance, remember to turn off lights and appliances when we leave a room. We can also avoid over-filling a kettle, since more energy is required to boil a kettle that’s full of water.

There are some less obvious options available to us too. Experts suggest that it takes far more energy and water to have a bath than it does to have a shower.

Choosing to have showers doesn’t involve a massive lifestyle change, but it can really alter the energy usage in your home.

Alternative Energy
The above changes can reduce the use of energy, but many of us would really like to remove our reliance on fossil fuels. This means taking a closer look at renewable sources of energy.

You may think that hydro-electric power, for example, may be an unrealistic option for your home. In many cases, you’ll be right! This doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t find green solutions that are suited to domestic use.

An increasing number of home owners are looking to solar power as a means of reducing their carbon footprint. Solar panels can be installed in many locations and can start generating energy for your home. There are financial benefits here too. With electricity and gas prices set to rise as resources become scarce, there’s a considerable amount of value in generating your own energy.

Depending upon the size and location of your home, wind power may be an alternative option. Small wind turbines are now widely available and can also contribute to producing the energy that you require.

Wasting Less Energy
Most of us also tend to waste a lot of energy. We heat our homes, without paying too much thought to the amount of heat that is being lost. Insulating your home properly is a great way to reduce this heat loss and can also help to keep energy bills low.

Taking an approach that’s kind to the environment doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With a little thought, it’s possible to make some simple changes to the way in which you live.

About the Author- Keith Barrett takes a keen interest in a wide variety of environmental issues. He also writes occasional articles for a number of respected environmental news websites.

3 Ways to Live Green While Living in the City

Everyone has their excuses for not living a more energy efficient lifestyle, but one shouldn’t be because your space is limited from your city-living lifestyle. In fact, living in the city is one of the easiest places to go green because you’ve likely already cut out one of the biggest pollutants: cars. If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and live a little on the light side, here are three ways to easily go green while still living in cities.

Go Smaller, go Electric

It doesn’t take much to notice the effect cars have had on the way we get around, but it’s even easier to see how much of a toll their taking on our environment. In cities like Chicago, public transportation is the norm and full-size vehicles are superfluous. While for the most part, you’re able to get anywhere you need to go by walking or even biking, that’s not entirely practical if you’re carrying extra baggage. Road Rat Motors has a good selection of neighborhood electric vehicles including low speed vehicles, street legal golf carts and even commercial vehicles that are eco-friendly and only cost 1-2 cents per mile to operate. Compare that to the 45 cents per mile to operate a full-size car, more if it’s an SUV.

Know your Food

One of the easiest ways to live a greener lifestyle is cutting back on the mass-produced food you eat and starting to grow what you eat. Tomatoes are probably the easiest thing to grow in small spaces, and nothing beats a BLT with fresh tomatoes from your garden. If you’re a gardening newbie The Complete Guide to Growing Tomatoes can teach eve those with black thumbs how to grow tomatoes.

Other easy things to grow in cities are strawberries, mixed greens, herbs and eggplant. Garden Girl TV also has some great tips on gardening in small space.
If you travel a lot of don’t have the time to commit to gardening, or if space is already limited in your 450 square-foot studio apartment even after you tried all of the IKEA tricks, buy locally instead. Even big cities like Chicago have a handful of farmers markets — Insiders tip: Green City Market in Lincoln Park and Logan Square Farmers Market are good ones to check out — and by buying locally, you’re reducing fuel and shipping costs and supporting your local economy.

Start Composting

Think about how much you throw away on a daily basis. Then, take about 40% of that away. On average, that’s about how much garbage can be composted, which will help you cut down on your trash for the week and even give you rich soil for the small garden that you’ve planted. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be living in rural American to start your own compost pile.

Start with one of the big 20-gallon trash cans (or smaller if you’re tight on space), poke some holes in the top, and keep it where it gets some sun to help expedite the composting. When you first start filling, keep a good balance between soil and food so it’s not just all garbage. When you get a good pile, remember to mix it around to keep circulating air. It’ll take a good 4-6 weeks for everything to break down to useable soil. Need to know what you can compost? Planetea.com has a good list

What are some other things you can do to live a green lifestyle in the city?

About the Author- This post was written by Erin Everhart, the Web marketing director for the web design company, 352 Media Group, that specialize in web development, mobile applications and digital marketing.

Ways to Create Awareness About Green Living

Living in a way that is friendly to the environment and conserves natural resources will be important wherever you live in the world. Environmental activists and regular people should be encouraged to spread the importance of living green, recycling and reusing to their family, friends and the broader community. One way to spread the message is to develop a public awareness movement to help lesser-informed people who must know the consequences of ruining the environment.

Spreading the word of environmental awareness starts with determining your budget and target audience. An environmental crusader could start by informing their family and friends but a more effective method is to inform certain groups of people. Many people do not know about certain environmental problems because they do not know how these problems will influence their lives. Targeted campaigns have helped sell various products like hybrid cars and energy-efficient appliances to people who formerly did not understand or care about conservation or eco-friendly living. It is best to figure out the target audience first so the campaign can be customized for them. Also, promoters who try to work in an underdeveloped country can reach difficult situations so they will have to contact community leaders who will control communication problems and fill cultural gaps.

One of the best ways to spread a message is to start a website or blog that can be crafted by a web designer. A Godaddy promo code, personalized web design help and hosting tutorials can be used with the Godaddy service, which is one of the most trusted and well-known web hosting services online.

Green living promoters can create a string of events to promote their campaign. They should consider promoting workshops that will tell people how to become more environmentally friendly by using common, energy-efficient products like light bulbs and solar panels. Also, promoters can show TV episodes and movies that discuss minor and major environmental problems like global warming.

There are environmental field trips that people can take which could be the most effective way to promote green living. Going out to interact with the environment and acquire a better sense of it may be the only solution to increase awareness. An outing to the zoo may be the chance for people to know about endangered species all over the world. Visiting a local recycling factory may also assist people who want to know the significance of recycling certain materials.

The next step for environmental promoters is to pass out literature that provides valuable information about the most crucial environmental problems. People who reside next to a busy highway should know about the consequences of living near these polluted environments. Booklets, ads, brochures, magazines and books can contain plenty of facts, stories and images that will help persuade people who want to change the environment.

Specialty Solutions to Saving Money and the Environment when Moving

Moving to a new home doesn’t have to be a bad thing for the environment. There are ways around using the hundreds of brand new, three dollar a piece, moving boxes, which generally just end up in the local landfill, that can reduce the impact that your move has on the environment around you. There are also ways to reduce the carbon emissions that your moving vehicle will produce as you make your way to your new home. And while you might think that moving is nothing more than an environment killing and pollution creating event, employing the tips below can really help you save the natural world around you as well as hundreds of dollars on relocating itself.

Boxes and Their Massive Effect

Perhaps the one part of moving that creates the biggest impact on the environment is the sheer amount of packing boxes and packing materials that are used and then thrown away. People don’t often think of saving these containers because they are made of cardboard and they can fall apart quite easily. People also don’t always realize that there is a way to reduce this waste as well as the cost that goes along with it. The answer? Your local grocery stores. Most stores get weekly shipments in large boxes which are simply emptied and thrown away. Most of these stores are also more than willing to part with these boxes if you ask. Make sure to head in on a day that they are stocking and you are sure to score quite a few boxes for your moving needs. Not only will they thank you for taking a little bit of work off of their plate, but they will generally help you find the containers of the size you will need for your task.

A Smaller Carbon Footprint

Another way to reduce the impact that you have on the environment around you is to make sure you can move all of your things in one trip. This means that you should use an online calculator in order to figure out just how big of a moving truck rental you will need to make one way moving in a single trip so that you can rent one that will fit everything without having too much empty space left over. You won’t have to worry about the extra fuel that you would need to drive back and forth to and from your old home to your new one and you won’t have to plan for a day with multiple trips in the vehicle. This, alone, can save you time, as well as fuel costs while helping to reduce the amount of carbon that you are releasing into the air.

Environmentally Friendly Moving

Regardless of where you might be moving, or just how much stuff you have to move, make sure that you consider these simple points when you are approaching the planning stage. You can help save the environment when you are moving by simply reducing, reusing, and recycling throughout the process; you just have to view things in a different perspective than some people who are content with the waste as long as their move is not hard. In the end it is these simple acts that will help preserve the natural world around us for generations to come while putting more money in your pocket to be spent on something else once you arrive at your new home.

Kaida is a moving expert with over twenty years in the moving industry. She strives for excellence when helping consumers with local or one way moving to far off destinations including other countries. For more information or to use the Western Truck Rental moving truck size calculator, please visit her blog at http://www.westerntruckrental.com.

7 Tips for Saving Water around the House

By now most of us are well aware of the need to conserve resources such as energy but we tend not to think about all the water that goes to waste every day. Whether you are doing the washing up or trying to clean out your Siemens oven, the following tips should help you to save water.

Tip 1. Jug in the Fridge

There are times when we all like nothing better than an ice cold glass of water. Keep a jug of water in the fridge for when you want a cold drink and save water because you are not waiting for it to run cold. If you have zip taps installed then you can get hot and cold water instantly so you don’t have to run it till it’s cold.

Tip 2. Using Your Toilet

It may surprise you to know that around a quarter of the water that we use in our homes is simply flushed away just by using the toilet. If you get what is known as a displacement device (you can get one from your water company) and place it in the cistern, it reduces the amount of water flushed away.

Tip 3. Washing Up

When you bought your Siemens oven you may also have purchased a dishwasher, providing it’s full when you use it, a dishwasher uses less water than washing up by hand. Make sure that you have a full load before you turn the dishwasher on otherwise you won’t be saving any water.

Tip 4. Washing

You should always make sure that you have a full load before turning on your washing machine as this uses less water. Check the manual that came with your machine as some have special programmes that are designed to reduce the amount of water used for a wash.

Tip 5. Cleaning Your Teeth

Many of us tend to leave the tap running when we brush our teeth and this can waste up to six litres of water a minute. Turn the tap off while you are brushing your teeth and then rinse your mouth afterwards and save some water.

Tip 6. Mend that Washer

More than 5,000 litres of water are wasted every year just because of a dripping tap. If you know that your washer needs changing get it done straight away, alternatively get some zip taps fitted as these help to conserve water and give hot or cold water instantly.

Tip 7. Take a Shower

Each time you take a bath you can use up to 80 litres of water while taking a quick shower only uses around a third of that amount of water. You need to be careful if you have a power shower because these can use just as much water as you would with a bath. Make sure you have a short shower and you should save water. If you don’t have a shower then run less water into the bath and when you have finished reuse the water for watering house plants or the garden.

If you follow just a few of the tips outlined above you should be able to save a significant amount of water.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf the Kitchen Appliance Centre who stock great products like Zip Taps and Siemens ovens. James writes on subjects relating to the home.

10 Green Resolutions for Businesses in 2012

All businesses have a duty to take action to become more eco-friendly. Raising awareness and making simple changes can make a significant impact. As a new year starts, here are 10 green resolutions for your company to keep throughout 2012 and beyond.

1) Promote Company-wide Recycling
Businesses produce a huge amount of waste. Clearly marked recycling bins should be installed throughout your premises and employees should be reminded of the need to place all suitable waste in them.

2) Discourage Unnecessary Printing
Placing signs near your printers and sending a friendly email reminding employees only to print when necessary can reduce your paper usage. Attaching a reminder to your company’s email signature will spread the message.

3) Encourage Cycling To Work
A large number of companies encourage their workforce to cycle to work rather than drive their car when possible, which reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Adding an incentive, such as cycle loan schemes, is a great way to promote cycling to work.

4) Allow Flexible Working
Can your employees work remotely from time to time? If so, allowing them to work from home can reduce your company’s energy consumption long term. Occasionally letting employees work from home also boost morale, which can improve performance and productivity.

5) Hold Conference Calls and Virtual Meetings
Using conference calls and web-based video conferencing for your meetings removes the need for business travel, which reduces CO2 emissions from work-related road and air miles and saves your company money. Only travel when absolutely necessary and encourage your partners and clients to use conference calls and virtual meetings.

6) Ban Personal Heaters
It can get cold in offices during the winter months, but your facilities manager should adjust the heating to maintain a warm working environment. Personal electric heaters consume a large amount of energy and can pose a fire risk, so ban them from your workplace.

7) Encourage Double Sided Printing
Remind your workforce that if possible they should print what needs to be printed on both sides of each sheet of paper and make sure they know how to change the printer settings to do so. This will reduce your paper use, wastage and supplies budget.

8 ) Purchase Recycled Stationery
When it comes to ordering your office supplies, make it company policy to purchase recycled stationery whenever possible. Inform your supplier, who can help you order environmentally friendly stock.

9) Turn Your Hardware Off
Making sure all computers, printers and other hardware in your office are turned off overnight and when not in use can significantly reduce your company’s energy consumption. There really is no need for computers to be left on standby overnight, so discourage your employees from doing so.

10) Turn Your Lights Off
Why leave lights on in empty rooms? Encourage employees to switch lights off whenever possible. Have your facilities team make sure lights are turned off overnight when the offices aren’t being used. Fitting sensors on your main lights can help you with this.

Robert is a business blogger with experience in reducing warehousing CO2 emissions.

Five Ways You Can Help the Environment…Today!

Going ‘green’ is on everyone’s mind these days. From the abundant recycling bins that are next to trashcans to corporations implementing new eco-friendly measures, helping the environment has become a big deal. Even if your neighborhood doesn’t offer free curbside pick- up for recyclables, you can still do your part to help preserve the planet. Here are five things you can do in your home that will reduce both your carbon footprint and your utility bills.

1. Run the dishwasher less – Dishwashers use hot water, energy, and gallons of water. To maintain efficiency, keep piling dirty dishes in and wait until it’s full before running it. Also, let your dishes air dry. This will cut down on your energy consumption.

2. Use towels more than once – Towels, especially thick ones, do not get dirty right away. They can be reused several times before they need to be washed. It takes more energy and water to wash towels than just about anything else because of their thickness. You can save both by reusing your towels.

3. Only wash a full load of clothes – Most washing machines fill up completely with water no matter how heavy the load is. The most efficient use of your washing machine is to wait until you have a full load of clothes before putting them in. Otherwise your machine will pump out gallons of extra water that will do nothing more than drain out of your house.

4. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth – You’d be surprised at how much water gets wasted this way. The water you’re not using goes down the drain untouched. Help conserve water by turning the faucet off when you’re not using it.

5. Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescents – Not only does this measure help the environment by reducing waste it will also lower your energy bill. Compact fluorescent bulbs use a fraction of the energy that regular bulbs do and last much, much longer. This one is a win-win.

Doing your part to help the environment isn’t completely about being eco-friendly. You can save major dollars as a homeowner by doing simple things around the house like taking shorter showers. Most of these tips focus on water conservation but there are definitely ways to expand, such as recycling and donating used goods to charity to reduce waste. If we all pitch in and do our part we can make a significant difference in everything from waste to air and water quality. The best place to start is at home.

Georgia Oilmen’s Services is a leading Georgia environmental firm that offers turnkey remediation services. As a Georgia environmental company, GOS provides soil and ground water assessments, oil removal, corrective action plans and more. For more than 10 years, we have been a competitor among all Georgia environmental companies because of our commitment to excellence and expertise.

How to Prepare Your Garage for the Winter Cold

People keep a lot of valuable items in the garages, be it tools, bikes, lawn mowers and even the family car of course… So when winter approaches, bringing with it cold weather, the potential for snow and subzero temperatures, you have to get ready to protect your garage against the onslaught.

Just as you wouldn’t leave your home unprotected against the cold, there is plenty you can do to ensure that your garage and its contents are safe from damage. Here are a few tips:

Check the perimeter

Check all round the interior and exterior of your garage for any potential trouble spots. Gaps should be sealed or repaired in plenty of time to protect the building during the winter months.

Is the garage door secure?

If the door doesn’t fit properly it doesn’t matter how well you’ve fixed gaps elsewhere. It can let in cold, wet, snow and damp very easily indeed. Start by ensuring the door closes securely and that there are no gaps around the edges or any holes in the door.

If there is any damage, it may be fixable or sealable and it is worth trying to fix if you can, otherwise consider investing in having a new door fitted. Although expensive, it can be a wise investment.

Move electrical items to another location

Many people store electrical items in their garage. This is fine during the warmer months but not so good in the winter. In fact if you leave them there, come the summer they might not be working at all. Move them all out in plenty of time and store them in a warm and dry place.

Move those fizzy drinks!

If a carbonated drink freezes, it has the potential to explode. Obviously this can happen regardless of whether you store the drinks in a refrigerator or anywhere else in your garage. If the temperature outside drops low enough, it could cause the drinks to freeze even if they’re standing somewhere out in the middle of your garage.

Check the floor

This is particularly important if you have room to actually park your car inside your garage. Remember that even though it might be nice and dry inside, it won’t be once you’ve driven your car through slush, rain or snow to park it in there. Install mats or something similar to prevent puddles being formed and to give you a solid safe surface to stand on.

Be vigilant throughout the winter, as pools of water which collect during the day can make the garage damp which can lead to further damage.

Summary

We’ve all got a lot of things to think about come this time of the year. But make sure you devote some time to your garage and getting it ready for the bad weather too. It’s better to spend a little time on it now than to spend lots of time trying to repair any damage when spring rolls around again.

This guest post was written by Alex from Message Garage Doors In Los Angeles, thanks for reading.

Sustainable Packaging: Right Products for Greener Living

Today’s shoppers are increasingly mindful about how the packaging they buy affects the environment. In response, many companies are scaling back on packaging, providing eco-friendly labeling and offering biodegradable or reusable containers. If you want to be kinder to the environment when you shop, keep an eye out for the following eco-friendly items:

Refillable packaging
According to the EPA, America uses enough plastic wrap every year to cover Texas. Plenty of that plastic comes from environmentally unfriendly packaging, and avoiding unnecessary packaging is a crucial step toward an environmentally friendly way of life. Refillable packaging is a fantastic alternative that is offered in its simplest form as a glass bottle. A generation ago, buying milk or soda in reusable bottles was commonplace: then plastic cartons and aluminum cans became the norm. Luckily, a number of environmentally aware dairies and beverage companies across the country are now offering their products in reusable bottles. Utilizing glass bottle programs in your area is a great way to reduce the amount of waste you produce.

Recycled packaging
Recycled packing materials is another simple way to be kind to the environment. One of the easiest ways for companies to recycle materials is by using recycled newspaper to pack their products for shipping instead of Styrofoam peanuts. Those annoying little peanuts never fully biodegrade, and when they do break down they produce styrene, a substance that the World Health Organization has deemed a likely carcinogen and neurotoxin. When ordering products online or from a catalogue, ask companies about the materials they use in shipping. Many environmentally friendly companies are switching away from products like bubble wrap and foam peanuts, and those that aren’t making the switch need pressure from consumers to do so.

Eco labels
Eco labels are an easy-to-understand sustainability measurement displayed on environmentally friendly products. Eco-friendly labeling can be found on food and consumer products alike, and it can guide consumers toward environmentally smart choices. Shoppers sometimes think that eco labels are the same as labels indicating organic foods, but while there is some overlap between the two, eco labels cover a much wider range of products. Eco-friendly labeling can indicate organic, sustainably produced, low-emission, energy efficient, biodegradable or environmentally low-impact items. This type of labeling has been around since the 1970s, but it has exploded in popularity since the United Nations Earth Summit Conference of 1992.

Environmentally friendly printing
Products that use environmentally friendly printing in their labels and packaging are taking their commitment to the environment even further. Environmentally friendly printing may use paper with a high level of recycled materials, printing processes powered by alternative energy sources, non-toxic, naturally produced inks or a combination or all three. Alternative printing processes cut down on pollution, and the use of paper containing high levels of recycled material reduces the approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper that we throw out annually in the United States.

Keeping the environment in mind when you shop is a wonderful way to minimize your impact on the Earth. Try to choose reusable, recycled and environmentally friendly products, and you’ll be doing the planet, yourself and the next generation a big favor. Being green is everyone’s responsibility, but with the wealth of environmentally friendly products and labeling available today, it’s never been easier.

Jessica Wiener is an expert in environmentally friendly printing and environmentally friendly labeling. She writes for Lightninglabels.com.