Getting sick of "green" and every company in the universe trying to tell you that they and you can save the planet? Of course you have to buy their product to do it. Bamboo for flooring, sea grass for rugs, recycled paper, corn for gas, hybrid cars and you'll save the planet from global warming.
Aside from the fact that you cannot stop global warming brought on by the last century of excessive hydrocarbons and CFCs, etc. - it is already here and you cannot reduce or change it in your lifetime. The last tsunami of environmental awareness brought unleaded gas, phosphate free cleansers, eliminations of CFCs, EPA and air and water quality standards. Who knows what incremental changes will come from this awareness campaign? And if all the big things are outside your control what can you do at a practical, down to earth level to be an agent of change? After all there are 6 billion people on the planet, maybe we should focus on getting ourselves in order first.
Law of Unintended Consequences
This law is simple and very much like Murphy's laws. It say that for every good action there will be negative outcomes that are unforeseen. Politicians live in the world of unintended consequences - they make a law that sounds good for a narrow constituency and have negatives effects or the law doesn't achieve or backfires from its intended purpose. The current green classic is corn. Congress passes a law with good enthusiastic intentions to award massive tax breaks for ethanol production that would then become a gas additive and lower polluting car emissions.
Sounds good right? Lots of corn; lower pollution, help the environment, relatively easy to produce and you could even make it organic. Downside, the polluting cost of production is equal or greater than the ethanol improvements, the market price of corn shoots up and it turns out that corn is staple in everything from sweeteners to cattle feed so it drives up the cost of food around the planet, especially affecting the poor and there are no large scale ethanol production facilities and no distribution system to get to dealers, etc. The farming corporations get a windfall in profits of your tax dollars but the practical effect of well intentioned green legislation is mostly negative.
Closer to home and very Catch 22. There is a massive drought in Northern California, EBMUD, the water utility said water usage needed to be cut back, everyone needed to conserve for the good of the area and rates would go up to reinforce good behaviors. What happened - EBMUD got its wish; people conserved; water usage went down to help the communities and rates went up. A few months later, EBMUD says that their revenues are down - so they are going to raise rates to cover costs - no talk of cutting costs. So the consumer gets their rates raise 2 times for doing what they were asked.
What can we really do?
Caring is good, making a difference is good, understanding the big picture is important but you can't let it overwhelm the reality that change is incremental and that being a good role model is what counts. Do simple things that make a real difference and are free:
Make sure your recycle - separate the trash, repurpose items around your house, garage sales, even eBay is environmentally friendly. Feel good about constructively getting rid of items around the house and write it off your taxes as well..
Hang your clothes outside to dry - this will save money, reduce electricity, lower air pollution, extend the life of your dryer and your underwear doesn't care where it dries out.
Refill your plastic water bottles - most people drink bottled water. When you're done just clean, refill and pout in the fridge. You save/delay plastic going to a landfill and save money on lower cost water. In case you're thinking about the water - the majority of fancy water you buy is actually tap water. Read the label closely.
If you're buying - buy big. A lot of times larger quantities actually mean lower solid waste and packaging. Example a 2 liter bottle of your favorite soft drink instead of a six pack of cans or plastic.
Look around your house and come up with changes that match your lifestyle
In the end you can march against global warming, give tax breaks to farmers for corn gas and buy a new hybrid to ease your social conscience BUT the key to change the environment is to make sure that your piece of it is in good shape and share what you do with your neighbors. So while you can't "cap and trade" or fix global warming - keep it real, make it simple and it can all be free to help your neighborhood be a better place. And you don't have to change colors.
Gordon and Lori Townsend have over a decade of experience as wellness coaches and have helped hundreds of people achieve their health and fitness goals without the use of drugs or other medications. Lori lost 28 pounds and 6 inches of body fat, her cholesterol went down 100 points and she got off all prescription thyroid medication in 8 weeks. Gordon lost 30 pounds and went from a size 34 waist to size 30 in 8 weeks. We have not been to the doctor nor have our children for any illness in 4 years! How would you like energy levels through the roof, the body shape you want and fundamentally change how you look and feel about yourself? We believe that success is in the details and the coaching so let's see if we have a match - contact us for a free consultation at loriandgordon@gmail.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gordon_Townsend
Find out how you can do your bit for the planet, @ www.yourecobiz.co.uk
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Friday, 21 January 2011
Monday, 21 December 2009
So What Are You Doing to Help Save This Planet?
Perhaps I should first explain that I have not always been environmentally aware, nor indeed am I considered by those who know me to be your stereotypical "Eco Warrior". Quite honestly I am not naturally an outdoorsy type of person, although indeed I thought (erroneously, I now find, of course!) that this was perhaps a pre-requisite to "going green".
It is quite one thing for me to enjoy long walks in the New Forest - a beautiful place which certainly leaves me inspired by nature - but as for the more determined nature type thing eg. my holiday nights spent in a field under the stars (well OK then, maybe under a canvas tent)? Oh deary me, no. Why would I want to worry about creepy crawlie things slithering past, and not being able to see beyond the end of a flickering torchlight, when instead I could be relaxing in a luxury hotel room with all the comforts: running water, electricity, air conditioning (or indeed central heating - depending on the time of year, you understand)...
But then, little by little (and with some thanks to the ever increasing media attention that this whole "green" issue attracts) the "energy saving" light dawned on me; I realised that I could actually enjoy spending my time the way I want to, but without costing the earth (literally). Simple changes in my lifestyle (and nothing too drastic which would make me act or outwardly appear any different to those who knew me) could make a difference. Things like switching off excess lights round the home; running less water in the bath; opening a window instead of cooling the air around me electronically. It suddenly made sense! Not only was I going to be helping to save the planet, I was going to be saving money too - so there was definitely a reason to try to do both.
Actually it only became finally clear when I saw a great new website with lots of eco-friendly products on it earlier this year (I was looking for an item in particular - and yes I found it - just see bottom of this page if you are curious as to what it was!) .... when I started to read about how the earth is damaged by some of the stuff we all do without realising it, and that's when I started taking a bigger interest in lowering my own carbon footprint**. Anyway, I digress. If you want to make an ecofriendly effort too (no matter how small - it will all be worth it, in the end - as long as we don't all spend too long just thinking about it folks!) then maybe take a look at the hints and tips reproduced below from one area of the site on Wikaniko-world which I found. Wikaniko, by the way, is pronounced "We Can Eco" - good, eh? Here is part of their list of Hint & Tips:
1. Shower instead of having baths
2. Using a low flow shower head a family of four can cut water usage by as much as 280 gallons a month - and yet not feel much difference in water pressure.
3. Install a water butt for watering gardens and flowers
4. Get a device that that transfers your sink water etc. to a water butt
5. Use rechargeable batteries where possible
6. If you need to throw batteries away make sure to recycle them
7. As your light bulbs go replace them with Energy saving light bulbs. This will greatly reduce your electric costs and they last much longer.
8. Fit electricity regulating plugs on all appliances especially on fridge and freezer as these are energy guzzlers, this will regulate the amount of electricity they use.
9. Don't leave doors open on fridges and freezers
10. Defrost your freezer as often as possible to ensure it remains as efficient as possible
11.Don't replace white goods unnecessarily. If you need to though make sure to recycle the old and when you get your new make sure it is as energy efficient as possible.
12.You don't have to buy new! Before you hit the shops to buy your new item of furniture, have a look at web sites such as freecycle
13.Using solar panels is a great way to save electricity. You don't have to kit your whole house out with them, using them for your outside lighting is one way, and you can get portable solar chargers for things like your mobiles and mp3 players, which not only save electricity but are incredibly handy!
14.Remove yourself from junk mail lists. This will take a few months to kick in but will reduce the amount of paper waste you have significantly.
15.When you go food shopping take your own bags with you. There are a great range of re-useable bags available from net to recycled juice cartons. Or you can use biodegradable bags.
16.When you go shopping don't buy produce that has unnecessary wrapping, like polystyrene trays. Buy as much loose fruit and veg as you can.
17.Buy fruit and veg that is seasonal. Try to avoid food that has traveled long distances, and been flown in, as this adds to pollution, and buying from your area supports your local farmers.
18.Get a rain harvester to catch the rain, this then goes through a small filter system and can be used to flush the toilet, shave etc
19.To save water you can fit spray taps to your sinks you can either fit new taps, install metal screw-in adapters or buy cheap rubber versions to push on to the end of your taps.
20.To save water when you flush the toilet you can put a full 1 litre plastic bottle in the cistern, which will reduce the amount of water used per flush, whilst still being effective.
Well, that's just 20 quick tips from the site; you will have to visit the website for the rest of them - but it's worth a quick visit anyway. You will learn more about the environment, access Free e-kards (if you want them), as well as some online "Eco games" to play - Great fun!
OK - now I'll tell you: one of the products I bought there was a "Waspinator". I hate wasps (sorry, wasp lovers - if any exist?) but this is a simple device which mimics a wasp nest and deters the little blighters from flying into your picnic or garden area. Small, compact, effective (and useful for pub gardens, too).
See the full list of helpful hints at: http://www.Wikaniko-World.com and view over 650+ eco-friendly products (for households, business, gardens & gadgets, including cosmetics, toiletries, stationery etc)
For FREE to play games (with a message to help children - and adults - have fun while learning about the environment) visit: http://www.EcoGamesOnline.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Teresa_Steventon
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It is quite one thing for me to enjoy long walks in the New Forest - a beautiful place which certainly leaves me inspired by nature - but as for the more determined nature type thing eg. my holiday nights spent in a field under the stars (well OK then, maybe under a canvas tent)? Oh deary me, no. Why would I want to worry about creepy crawlie things slithering past, and not being able to see beyond the end of a flickering torchlight, when instead I could be relaxing in a luxury hotel room with all the comforts: running water, electricity, air conditioning (or indeed central heating - depending on the time of year, you understand)...
But then, little by little (and with some thanks to the ever increasing media attention that this whole "green" issue attracts) the "energy saving" light dawned on me; I realised that I could actually enjoy spending my time the way I want to, but without costing the earth (literally). Simple changes in my lifestyle (and nothing too drastic which would make me act or outwardly appear any different to those who knew me) could make a difference. Things like switching off excess lights round the home; running less water in the bath; opening a window instead of cooling the air around me electronically. It suddenly made sense! Not only was I going to be helping to save the planet, I was going to be saving money too - so there was definitely a reason to try to do both.
Actually it only became finally clear when I saw a great new website with lots of eco-friendly products on it earlier this year (I was looking for an item in particular - and yes I found it - just see bottom of this page if you are curious as to what it was!) .... when I started to read about how the earth is damaged by some of the stuff we all do without realising it, and that's when I started taking a bigger interest in lowering my own carbon footprint**. Anyway, I digress. If you want to make an ecofriendly effort too (no matter how small - it will all be worth it, in the end - as long as we don't all spend too long just thinking about it folks!) then maybe take a look at the hints and tips reproduced below from one area of the site on Wikaniko-world which I found. Wikaniko, by the way, is pronounced "We Can Eco" - good, eh? Here is part of their list of Hint & Tips:
1. Shower instead of having baths
2. Using a low flow shower head a family of four can cut water usage by as much as 280 gallons a month - and yet not feel much difference in water pressure.
3. Install a water butt for watering gardens and flowers
4. Get a device that that transfers your sink water etc. to a water butt
5. Use rechargeable batteries where possible
6. If you need to throw batteries away make sure to recycle them
7. As your light bulbs go replace them with Energy saving light bulbs. This will greatly reduce your electric costs and they last much longer.
8. Fit electricity regulating plugs on all appliances especially on fridge and freezer as these are energy guzzlers, this will regulate the amount of electricity they use.
9. Don't leave doors open on fridges and freezers
10. Defrost your freezer as often as possible to ensure it remains as efficient as possible
11.Don't replace white goods unnecessarily. If you need to though make sure to recycle the old and when you get your new make sure it is as energy efficient as possible.
12.You don't have to buy new! Before you hit the shops to buy your new item of furniture, have a look at web sites such as freecycle
13.Using solar panels is a great way to save electricity. You don't have to kit your whole house out with them, using them for your outside lighting is one way, and you can get portable solar chargers for things like your mobiles and mp3 players, which not only save electricity but are incredibly handy!
14.Remove yourself from junk mail lists. This will take a few months to kick in but will reduce the amount of paper waste you have significantly.
15.When you go food shopping take your own bags with you. There are a great range of re-useable bags available from net to recycled juice cartons. Or you can use biodegradable bags.
16.When you go shopping don't buy produce that has unnecessary wrapping, like polystyrene trays. Buy as much loose fruit and veg as you can.
17.Buy fruit and veg that is seasonal. Try to avoid food that has traveled long distances, and been flown in, as this adds to pollution, and buying from your area supports your local farmers.
18.Get a rain harvester to catch the rain, this then goes through a small filter system and can be used to flush the toilet, shave etc
19.To save water you can fit spray taps to your sinks you can either fit new taps, install metal screw-in adapters or buy cheap rubber versions to push on to the end of your taps.
20.To save water when you flush the toilet you can put a full 1 litre plastic bottle in the cistern, which will reduce the amount of water used per flush, whilst still being effective.
Well, that's just 20 quick tips from the site; you will have to visit the website for the rest of them - but it's worth a quick visit anyway. You will learn more about the environment, access Free e-kards (if you want them), as well as some online "Eco games" to play - Great fun!
OK - now I'll tell you: one of the products I bought there was a "Waspinator". I hate wasps (sorry, wasp lovers - if any exist?) but this is a simple device which mimics a wasp nest and deters the little blighters from flying into your picnic or garden area. Small, compact, effective (and useful for pub gardens, too).
See the full list of helpful hints at: http://www.Wikaniko-World.com and view over 650+ eco-friendly products (for households, business, gardens & gadgets, including cosmetics, toiletries, stationery etc)
For FREE to play games (with a message to help children - and adults - have fun while learning about the environment) visit: http://www.EcoGamesOnline.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Teresa_Steventon
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