Cynthia Madison

Sustainability has quickly become one of the more important topics for both builders and homeowners embarking on new projects. As we know it - sustainability works to accomplish a few yet very essential things, such as avoiding the depletion of natural resources, as well as the ability for the home to maintain itself long term. And it comes as no wonder why sustainable homes became so attractive to many people – with the energy costs on the rise, creating a more sustainable home is desirable to those in need to reduce energy costs and live more comfortably in their homes. Sustainability takes on many forms, not to mention it can mean different things to different people, with many people stressing the importance of green building and others looking at it from a more economic standpoint. Given the current economic crisis brought on by the pandemic and coupled with the fact that most of us are spending time inside, sustainability is taking on a new look for many people. There are many facets of sustainable remodel, and while most will pay for themselves in time, it’s way smarter to take a look at current trends before investing to help boost your potential gains. Being up to date with current trends for sustainable homes and design can also help you give you a viewpoint on the future of this field. Remodelling for Sustainability We make house remodels for many reasons. While some would love to renew their living space or want a new look, others may be fixing something that is damaged. Yet, remodels centred around sustainability are now a widespread trend. The perks that come with an eco-friendly renovation include saving money, helping the environment, and improving a home's resale potential. Remodelling for sustainability means you need to identify the environmental concerns in your home and try to remedy them. Most prevalent renovations involve upgrading appliances. That involves finding energy star-rated appliances that focus on energy efficiency but also doing research on the best appliances for you. Water Conservation Measures Awareness of the foreseen crisis in freshwater supply in many regions will surge as climate change continues to disturb rainfall and the water supply system worldwide in 2020. Take the 2014 – 2015 Californian drought - with more than 70 percent of the state in extreme drought by summer 2015, brought water concerns to national attention, not to mention it was exacerbated by the disastrous wildfires in 2019. These wildfires in CA were reflected in recent years by disastrous summers for fires in Montana, BC Canada, and most recently by those in Australia at the end of 2019. Enhance concern about the impact of the future restriction on water supplies and cost is pushing many building managers, owners, and builders to consider ways to further reduce water consumption in commercial and residential buildings such as rainwater catchment systems, using more water-conserving fixtures, and low-flow toilets and more. Non-toxic Building Materials and Healthy Homes When completing a home remodel, it's vital to consider the type of materials and coating systems that are going into your home. Sustainable home remodel is less about fashion and more about using eco-friendly materials. These materials can be repurposed, non-toxic, easily recycled, and/or natural. You may consider things like steel, wood, cork, and bamboo, which are the best examples of sustainable materials known so far; if you choose to get these materials refurbished, even better. As you may know, most prefabricated homes are made from recycled plastic or steel and tend to generate less waste than a traditionally built house. Another trend in sustainable home renovation doubles as a fashionable choice and a sustainable one; most homeowners find repurposed items to carry a vintage appeal that can turn any space into something special. New flooring, cabinets, and walls created with sustainable, domestic materials are great, but so is finding an old wooden cabinet and reusing it. ZNE – Zero Net Energy Homes The surging cost of energy combined with an increasing awareness of the global climate crisis is the impetus behind the trend towards more energy-efficient home construction. And ZNE home construction is one of the trends that is quickly taking off – if you haven't guessed yet, a Net Zero house is one that generates as much energy as it consumes. It starts with an energy-saving building envelope that includes high-efficiency ventilation and heating components systems to help keep the consumption of your building as low as possible, and it's then powered by sustainable energy sources like rooftop solar panels. Sustainable homes are more comfortable, healthier, and cost less to heat and cool. All these advantages mean that this type of home design is growing in popularity among homeowners who consider green design and sustainability a part of their next building project.

Sustainability has already become a trend in home renovation, and there is no wonder why. As more people become enthusiastic about the eco-friendly way of life, sustainable innovations upsurge and become even more accessible for those in need to create a more sustainable home for themselves. When thinking about sustainability, trending items aren’t just about what is trendy; it’s also about which are doing the most for the environment. With that in mind, when we renovate or build our home, we determine the consumption pattern of that structure for the rest of its life. It’s a unique occasion to make such structural improvements to the efficiency of our homes and minimize their continuous drain on the environment. Investing energy, time and money at this point will only give financial and environmental rewards for years to come in terms of reduced water and energy use and increased wellbeing. Buy reclaimed No matter where you want to start, the golden rule in a sustainable renovation is to buy reclaimed. Even though it might be tempting, try as much as possible not to get caught up with having the shiniest and newest. Take some time and think about other materials such as reclaimed wood which isn’t only a green sound choice, but sublimely striking and growing in popularity in all kinds of home makeover projects. Reclaimed wood can be an exceptional choice for walls, counter-tops and flooring. Often certified kitchen designers rely on reclaimed materials such as wood around the kitchen area as it can save a lot of energy, time and money that would be necessary to produce likewise and newer products. Deconstruct – don’t demolish If you plan on knocking down entire rooms or demolishing, try to walk around your house first to decide on what you can actually reuse and salvage beforehand. This isn’t only environmentally friendly, but it will also save money in the end. Consider everything from tiles, light fixtures, flooring, molding and cabinets. For instance, if you plan on replacing the windows in your dining room, instead of throwing it, think about using them in another room- maybe in your dorm, in your son’s room, even a bathroom will do. Donate your unwanted items So you really had enough of that living-room chandelier and don’t want to see it in any of your rooms. Don’t throw it out, instead consider a consignment shop, there are plenty. Maybe you have a crafty family member or friend who most likely will enjoy repurposing or repainting it. Another great option for your unwanted couch or chandelier, as well as other items such as cabinets or appliances, is a donation station. Not only they will happily welcome your old kitchen cabinet, but they will sell every donation, and 100% of the profits from your materials are used to build new homes for those in need. With that in mind, not only are you helping the environment, but you’re actually giving back to the community. Think energy-efficient Shopping sometimes is unavoidable, especially when you’re renovating. That said, when you’re looking around for new appliances like dishwashers, ovens or refrigerators try to look for those that are the most energy-efficient. Why? Energy-efficient appliances are simply meant to utilize minimum energy to complete a required task. An example of energy-saving appliances would be the energy saver bulbs, solar water heaters and booster water heater. Many of these appliances will operate under lower energy and temperature settings which sustain their efficiency until the achievement of tasks. Why should you opt for energy-saving appliances? To save energy Such appliances are built to spend a minimum amount of energy on operating. That said, they enhance energy conservation, energy that can be used for another purpose at home. To save money Bills and bills again. Using energy-saving appliances will reduce your spending at home, money that can be used for other purposes. For instance, from $5,550 you spend annually on energy, you can reduce by $2,500 through using energy-efficient appliances. To conserve our environment It goes without saying that using energy-efficient appliances can only minimize the exploration of natural resources such as oil, water, gas and coal. Not only that but such appliances are imperative in controlling pollution. Energy generation industry today relies a lot on oil, fuels and natural gas that lead to soil, air and water pollution through emission and effluents, but using energy-efficient appliances helps in controlling pollution. Invest in pre-owned materials A very cost-effective and easy way to redo your home is to consider investing in pre-owned materials. This won’t be a problem as you can easily find retailers across the country, some even dedicated to high-end products. That said, if that energy-efficient and the fancy fridge is an absolute must-have, you could save a lot purchasing one that has been used for a few years. Moreover, kitchen cabinets can actually be the largest expense when it comes to kitchen renovation, but these salvage retailers regularly have high-quality furniture in great condition. It’s an outstanding idea that is honestly worth investing. Visit yard-sales and antique shops Consignment and antique shops are all excellent places to visit for items such as light fixtures, mantels or even doorknobs. Doing so, not only helps you save your budget for something more important, but these charming repurposed items will definitely add a new air to your homes that basically cannot be imitated by their newer counterparts. With that in mind, choosing to makeover your home through an eco-friendly approach not only helps and encourages the environmental movement but also allows you to do it while helping your community and saving serious cash. Being green-minded does not have to cost you a fortune. A well-designed and thoughtful living space that uses repurposed materials, energy-efficient appliances and lights to bring them into sympathy with our environment is the recipe for a fabulous home. Renovating your home in a way that avoids pollution and does not facilitate the decline of our environment will honestly make you smile for years to come.

Top companies in nearly every industry- even those from the fossil fuel industry- have recently agreed on their “environmental commitment” as a new selling point for consumers who are becoming progressively troubled about their individual contributions to the deterioration of our natural environment. Environmental awareness is on the rise, and this is only the beginning. Eco-friendly businesses are rapidly becoming industry leaders, and as more individuals become aware of our terrible environmental state, their popularity will only upsurge. What is green marketing? Green marketing isn’t only a trend that many companies have chosen to adopt but also a way of doing business. The global tension on our environment, combined with a consumer desire to opt for eco-friendly products for a better living, creates new occasions for companies for marketing themselves as environmentally aware. In short, aligning businesses with green practices can be a successful selling point for small businesses, and, in some circumstances, the “green” notion has shaped a new line of service and product prospects for businesses to explore. Whether you’re looking to connect with consumers interested in doing business with green companies or you’re running a business entirely focusing on green services and products, green marketing can be an effective strategy for small companies in their overall marketing strategy. In this article, we’ve gathered some of the most common green marketing ideas for eco-friendly businesses in need to offer green solutions for their customers. Make Sure It’s Right Going green ASAP looks and sounds nice on paper, but it’s really for everyone. How so? Green marketing can be hugely beneficial only if it’s consistent with your business’s values and mission. When green marketing is only something you're relying on to be a part of a trend, you won’t likely gain the benefits from it. Even more, you can expect some backlash from your clients is they suspect you’re promoting it for selfish reasons. That said, before taking necessary steps in adopting Green Marketing, reflect upon the pros and cons to make sure it aligns with the type of service and products you’re trying to promote. Green marketing strategy has to be a realistic business strategy and not just a marketing trick. An honest green marketing strategy and idea is actually to develop real eco-friendly selling points for your business. For instance, a strategy can be marketing that your service has a low energy solution. Therefore, a service or a product that produces less waste or uses less energy than a traditional method can be a great differentiator. Brand with Insignias and Green Logos If your business participates in eco-friendly practices or has green offerings, consider using a variety of logos and insignias for branding and company marketing that represents green. This may include your web page, marketing materials, advertising, business cards, packaging, signage and many more. Examples of logos may include various membership logos or the standard recycling arrow logo and Energy Star Rating logo. Businesses can even design personalized logos as an effective tool in communicating their green contribution and separate them from the competition. Print on Recycled Paper Using recycled paper to conserve resources can be both an effective and easy way to subtly validate your business as environmentally aware. Several printing retailers offer an option to have flyers, business cards, marketing brochures printed on recycled paper that is almost as affordable as the regular paper. If you have a business presentation that is strongly focused on green marketing and environmental issues, then spending a few extra bucks on recycled paper can be a very significant step in a green marketing strategy. Ditch Direct Mailers and Opt For Digital Marketing Newspapers and direct mailers are more wasteful than ever. You can switch a lot of your marketing efforts to digital marketing if you want to leave a lower impact in the environment. That said, the elimination of regular paper use and other materials used for advertising can be a huge step in a zero-waste advertising approach. For instance, social media can be a very effective, fast and inexpensive way to promote your campaigns. The best part about marketing your business on social media is that you can play with a wide range of graphics. Not only that, but digital marketing makes it easier for like-minded groups to share your brand’s backing to their circle. Promote Local Vendors and Eco-friendly Events Promoting and using local suppliers and vendors is a very green practice as you help to reduce the impact of carbon emission on the environment by encouraging local delivery of supplies and products. Doing so, your customers will see that your business not only promotes the local economy, but it also helps reduce carbon emission and gas consumption by using local vendors. Moreover, if you work in the food industry, using and producing with fresh ingredients from your local farmers can also be a great selling point. Operate Efficient Fuel Vehicles Most probably, you’ve heard it before, but the vehicle your business uses for delivery, service and sales can have a great impact on your brand image. When your vehicle travels across your local market, they can leave numerous impressions on your local customers and prospects. That said, operating FlexFuel vehicles for sales or delivery and service cars will not only help your business reduce the gas expenses, but it will make it obvious that your business is also green conscious. Environmental Donations and Charities There are dozens of environmental causes that will worth your time and money. Another green marketing idea is to support those initiatives by taking actions that will serve the local environmental purpose and making donations. You clients can also support the cause via environmental incentives for sale- such as donating a part of a sale to an environmentally friendly organization or even planting trees. But before that, be sure you clearly communicate your green marketing action to your customers to strengthen your eco-friendly business practice. These green marketing strategies are small steps that eco-friendly organizations can take to minimize their carbon footprint and prove to their customers that choosing their business can make a difference in today’s environmental state.

From rising sea levels, extreme weather conditions and greenhouse gases, today’s climate change speakers ask hard questions. How will all these changes affect species across the globe and communities? And, most importantly how much time do we have to change our ways? Around the globe environmental speakers and young people are mobilizing to demand greater action on environmental issues. More than a million young people have tuned out for global strikes that are also driving home the links between social injustice and climate change, economic inequality, seeking the opportunity of these strikes to collectively raise their voices for a grater desire in defense of the defenseless and at-risk communities impacted but the unimpeded environmental changes. These climate change speakers say yes highlighting what we, as individuals must do on a political, personal and environmental level to ensure a healthier and greener future. Naomi Klein A journalist, award-winning columnist and bestselling author, climate change advocate, Naomi Klein’s This Changes Everything disclosed the long-lasting myths of the climate debate. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Naomi is known to be one of the most prominent voices in the antiglobalization movement. In “This Changes Everything” Naomi has exposed the conflicts between the unimpeded capitalist initiative and the mitigation of global warming. While exposing the climate crisis, Nomi said that it’s always easier to reject reality than to allow our worldview to be shattered. Much of her book is concerned with exposing the fact that those powerful, well-financed and lobby groups are responsible for the denial of climate change in the last few years. Due to human activities, considerable environmental changes are under way, and if left unchecked, it will alter the world in which our kids will have to live. Chris Hines MBE Chris is an authoritative figure on climate change and former Sustainability Director of the Eden Project. As an environmental campaigner and a highly appreciated communicator, Chris Hines uses his deep understanding of the equilibrium between environmental, social and financial aspects of sustainability to encourage others to take action. He aims to find solutions through communication which eventually led him to drive a £5 billion investment on the U.K.’ coastline. In February 2020, Chris Hines was invited by Beyond Skin to Northern Ireland to sustain a workshop but also to do some talks. During his stay in Northern Ireland, Chris mentioned that while living in times like this, we feel scary as we become increasingly aware of the fragility of our environment and the level of destruction we have caused. But as an optimistic-activist, Chris feels lucky to be a part of a campaign that leads to a massive environmental change and keen to share the lessons and knowledge he had learned from almost 30 years of the campaign. Andy Pag Famous environmentalist and public speaker, Andy Peg is no stranger to the speaking circuit. Any is an experienced TEDtalk speaker, who spent almost two decades doing torus and witnessing the impact our carbon footprint has on the planet. Andy is also known as an Eco-Adventurer and reporter to BBC who spent two years driving around the world in a bus-powered by cooking oil. Peg was inspired to change all things in his life that were unsustainable, which eventually led him to experiment with all kinds of power resources during his journeys. Today, Andy Peg relies on his entertaining talks to share how all his adventurous and experimental journeys have taken him closer to understanding what sustainability really means and even more insights on how to achieve it. Greta Thunberg There is no social media platform or News channels who don’t mention her name. Greta Thunberg is a 16-years-old Swedish climate activist famous for striking outside the parliament building in Stockholm. Greta is now the founder of the Fridays for Future, a climate change movement famous among young people. Although diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Asperger and selective mutism, Greta inspired many other young people with speech impediments to take action and raise their voice. Her ardent speeches left powerful politicians speechless, and many young people inspired around the world. Famous for her “only speak when necessary”, made young activists around the globe to credit Greta’s unyielding dedication and bravery to advocate for climate change for inspiring them to take action in their own cities. Through her name, bravery and dedication Greta has helped mobilize the young mind movement that has brought more than 1.6 million people into the stress around the work to ask for greater defense for our planet. According to Greta “you are never too small to make a difference no matter where you come from.” Vic Barrett Vic comes from New York, and she first felt our impact on climate change after witnessing Hurricane Sandy. Vic is now a partner with the Alliance for Climate Education, and he spoke for the climate change at the U.N. headquarters in New York City. Soon after she marched for solidarity with more than 500.00 people at the People’s Climate March, he started to organize all kinds of local climate campaigns. He is currently an undergraduate student at UW-Madison and can be found among 21 youth activists who are vigorously charging the government to take a stand in climate change. Severn Cullis-Suzuki Since she was only 12-year-old, Severn Cullis Suzuki was eager to grab international attention. She delivered a speech at the Rio Earth Summit, asking for the delegates to take greater actions at preserving the planet. Since then she continued to fight for environmental changes – justice for future generations – sharing to people around the world the view of returning back to our most profound human values and taking action with the future in mind. In 2000, Cullis took part in a cycling trip across Canada for climate change awareness and clean air to the gratitude of responsibility agreement, which she took to the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Heat coming from electricity is wasteful, not to mention expensive. Given businesses’ heightened appetite for generating energy, an alternative solution needs to be found. Energy conservation goes hand in hand with CO2 emission reduction. To be more precise, energy efficiency can cut greenhouse gas emissions by half, which in turn plays a major role in restricting global warming. Hydrogen is largely considered to be the best solution in terms of heating. It can be combusted into hydrogen burners or deployed in fuel cells. The method does not really matter. What matters is that hydrogen brings forward a zero-emission alternative to heating. An ever-increasing number of businesses are making the transition to renewable energy in an effort to lessen their environmental impact. Corporations in pretty much every country are reorganizing their operations and carefully reflecting every choice they make. Cost-effectiveness is not the number one criteria when it comes down to heating solutions, but energy efficiency. The challenge with which organizations are faced is decarbonizing fuel with fewer costs to run. If electrification is not the answer, hydrogen is. Hydrogen – a cleaner heating system Hydrogen is a complementary solution to electrification. It can easily make up 20 percent of the content of natural gas supply without making any kind of modifications to the existing infrastructure. When it is burned, hydrogen does not produce carbon dioxide emissions. What results from the process is water vapor and, most importantly, heat. Owing to the fact that hydrogen contains a significant amount of energy, it is highly efficient. It reaches about 100 percent in terms of efficiency. More and more corporations should make the transition to a hydrogen-based system, which is a reliable and advantageous option, while helping maintain sustainability goals. Hydrogen plays a non-negligible role in heating buildings, mainly in combination with heating pumps as part of a hybrid system. There are many advantages to investing in a sustainable heating solution, such as enhancing brand reputation. Consumers want organizations to care about the planet being motivated to make environmentally conscious decisions and exercising their power through the products and services they buy. Hydrogen used in combination with heat pumps can completely eliminate the need for fossil fuels. Needless to say, companies should make an effort to improve energy efficiency. Packaging manufacturers, for instance, have started saving a great deal of money on electrical energy costs by using a waste baler to compact offcuts. According to the experts at Miltek, it is possible to improve the energy efficiency of any baler by using a motor-driven pump to compress the hydraulic fluid. Speaking of energy efficiency, in Sweden, hydrogen has been used to heat steel, in an effort to enhance sustainability. Two firms have succeeded in using hydrogen to heat steel, therefore, lessening the impact of the industry on the environment. The most important thing to remember is that the choices we make can contribute to the transition to a more responsible world. The urgent need for hydrogen in the sustainable economy The ever-changing climate needs a cleaner economy, which is not impossible to achieve. We are facing stronger storms, raging wildfires, more pandemics, all of which indicate that there is a problem in the ecosystem. A cleaner economy can support growth without causing environmental degradation or impacting climate change, so precious resources such as food, water, and energy are sufficient for all people. Hydrogen technologies ensure great performance and cost improvements. Most importantly, they can be distributed extensively. Fossil fuels, which are in great demand at present, will be depleted soon, not to mention that they heat up the atmosphere. The comparison between hydrogen and fossil fuels is pointless. Besides efficiency and environmental benefits, there are tremendous savings in terms of transportation and capital investment. Equally important is that hydrogen enables the prioritization of risks in terms of an uncertain climate future. Capturing and storing hydrogen is the main objective. The options made available now are fairly expensive, but if you take into consideration the fact that it is possible to make considerable cost savings in the long run. The easiest way to cut costs is to make an investment. Trying to defer costs will only result in more costs, so wise decisions need to be taken into consideration. Hydrogen adds more value if it is coupled with widespread electrification, significantly improving resource use. The European Union once described hydrogen as a “great potential for clean, efficient power”. There is no denying the fact that it has a lot of potential. It just needs to be applied. Final considerations Sustainable strategies cannot be implemented overnight. It is an arduous endeavor and planning becomes of the essence. Planning for the introduction of hydrogen technologies implies finding a financing source. If corporations do not make an effort, they set themselves at risk of sudden price changes and shifts in investment cycles. The future economy should not look anything like the past economies that compromise ecosystems. A zero-emission economy is one that includes hydrogen. Owing to the growing share of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, deploying hydrogen as a heating source is an opportunity that anyone can take advantage of. As mentioned earlier, the investment is worthwhile because it facilitates the transition to a more sustainable economy. There are many things corporations can do to reduce the environmental impact and, generally speaking, the damage around the world, by implementing simple measures such as recycling more, enabling remote workforces, and choosing ecological diets. It takes innovation to tackle a sensitive issue such as heat waste. Hydrogen is the optimal solution to responsibly warming buildings and the best thing of all is that it is abundant in the natural world. Businesses would not even notice the difference if they started using hydrogen technologies. Everything would be like before, but everything would be done in a clean and efficient way. Swedish firms have demonstrated that it is simple to push innovative technology into the mainstream. If hydrogen can be manipulated to heat steel, who knows what more can be done to boost sustainability.

People feel more and more determined to go green because they are aware it's their role to change the world, they're living in. Pollution and climate change triggered some extreme, tragic events that destroyed both life and nature. From record heat in Europe to floods in the USA and fires in Australia, they are all consequences of human actions. It's shocking to find out that a small choice you make in your everyday life can trigger a chain of reactions and lead the planet a step closer to collapse. The environmental issues the world is experiencing will always be a hot subject due to their ever-changing characteristics. But during the last years, there was registered a shift that showed people are ready to take responsibility for their actions and make changes. 2019 was about sustainability stories that inspired everyone to get involved in a movement they supported in silence until now. Without further introduction, here are some of the most exciting sustainability stories we witnessed in 2019. Greta Thunberg made the climate protest movement explode Before Greta, climate change protesters made a buzz around the idea, but they never managed to draw global attention. When Time Magazine named the young activist their Person of the Year, she was the youngest to get this title, but also one of the most controversial figures. Greta first introduced herself to the public in 2018, and she quickly started a global movement because she was not afraid to speak truth to power and engage her followers in diverse subjects. She used social media as a tool to draw attention to the problems the planet is facing and educate young people in becoming the leaders of the green movement. Her influence is so strong she convinced tens of thousands of Belgian teens to march weekly to the EU headquarters in Brussels. On 15 March 2019, she encouraged people to march in various locations worldwide, and over 15 million participants joined the movement. In September she also drew attention towards the bad choices, world leaders make when she decided to travel by boat to the UN climate meeting and shame the ones who opted for flight solutions. Greta proves that Gen Z young people are more than ready to lead the way in environmental actions and come up with strategies to lower the level of pollution and destruction. Activists pointed out the seriousness of the climate crisis through distressed messages For many years, environmentalists didn't show the accurate results the climate crisis has on the planet because they were afraid the public would find them too depressing. But as the problem evolved and people refused to understand its extent, they had to go with the gloom and doom. When David Wallace Wells published the book The Unhabitable Earth, he made sure the facts he presented will panic the readers and show what really happens if the planet is warming more than it already did. The scientific community weighed in the ups and downs of sharing with the public how harmful the effects of pollution and climate change are. Still, they concluded that it's best people to know the threats that endanger their existence, than living with the misconception Earth will remain a safe planet no matter what their actions are. The Unhabitable Earth showed that the future could bring some apocalyptic scenarios. If humans continue to change the planet's land to adapt to their ever-growing demands without considering the long-term effects, they will threaten global food security and the planet's ability to capture carbon. If they don't lower the amount of trash, they dispose they will endanger ocean life and bring extinction to plants and animals. The only solution to avoid this outcome is to cut emissions. People and companies have started to take notice of their effect on the planet. They are slowly integrating green practices and use social media and the Internet to point how significant change is. Companies use video content to share their measures and inspire the public to follow their example. They use videos to describe the effects specific actions have and recommend solutions. They try to educate their clients through example. Governments joined the green movement Two significant measures marked 2019, the USA created the Green New Deal's legal environment, and the EU's Green Deal listed its circular economy principles. Some people state that these measures are still not enough to improve the environmental landscape, and they are right, but they put the base for other changes that will support change. The new regulations support brands worldwide to adopt green practices. We will list some examples to show that the world is facing towards sustainability. CleanO2 created a device named CARBiNX that traps CO2 emissions and transforms them into potash to make detergents and soap. Lush Cosmetics is another company that uses technology to lower CO2 emissions in their manufacturing processes. Lyft has joined the Green Cities Initiative that encourages companies to switch to electric cars. Companies like Lyft have a significant impact on the environment because they run fleets worldwide and generate emissions higher than other brands. Lyft has started to replace its old cars with eco-friendly alternatives and allows clients to request a green vehicle using the Green Mode feature. IKEA is another worldwide famous brand that adopted the green initiative. They created a project named A Sustainable Everyday that aims to replace single-use plastic items with disposables made from recyclable materials. Considering that plastic is one of the greatest problems the planet is dealing with, any initiative that promotes plastic cut is more than welcomed. The above names prove that government regulations enabled them to adopt bolder decisions and switch to sustainable leadership. It's expected in 2020 that companies can use their political influence and have a more aggressive role in climate policy. Magazines like Vogue already announced they would use their power to reach companies and individuals and lower the footprint of apparel by educating their audiences.

Proper nutrition is essential, especially in times when our immune system should be the highest priority. However, while many things might seem to be way beyond our control right now, the way we eat really is not. Indeed, comfort food is all we crave in times like, but a well-balanced meal should also be an integral part of your equation. While in lockdown, you might be tempted to rely on an abundance of food delivery services and even skip important meals, thus, ignoring how you eat, what, and when you eat can be easy. Moreover, since quarantines are associated with the interruption of work routine, this could result in boredom. Boredom, in turn, comes with greater energy intake, as well as the consumption of higher quantities of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Additionally, not only does boredom trigger your food cravings, but continuously hearing or reading about COVID 19 without giving yourself a break can be stressful. This, in turn, pushes you towards overeating, particularly looking for “comfort foods.” How do these food cravings manifest? This longing comes along with a strong desire to eat, seek, and think about food. Proper nutrition is crucial in uncertain times, particularly when our immune system needs all the necessary tools to fight back. And, because for some, the options are endless, here are some helpful suggestions regarding your lockdown nutrition. Strategize the use of ingredients and make sure you prioritize fresh products While nothing works well without a steady plan, you should start by strategizing and planning your food and try to avoid as much as possible a panic buying behaviour. It is, therefore, highly important to consider your needs, as well as those of others, regardless of how difficult a situation may appear to be. You can start by calmly evaluating your home food inventory and planning your intake. Indeed, you might feel like buying or experimenting with all sorts of recipes, now that you have got plenty of time, but a better idea would be to consider and utilize what you already have in your pantry. Doing so, you can allow other access to food they truly need and even avoid food waste. Strategizing your food intake is not an impossible task. First, consider your fresh ingredient and those that have a shorter shelf life. If fresh products, especially vegetables and fruits, continue to be available, make sure you prioritize them over durable products such as canned goods and dried fruits. Limit Salt Intake Because the amount of fresh foods is likely to decrease during this period, you might be tempted to rely more on frozen, processed, and canned foods. Many of these products contain high amounts of salt. And, while the World Health Organization advises us to consume less than 5 g of salt per day, you should prioritize foods with less or no added salt. Moreover, given that you might already consume enough salt, make sure you avoid extra salt intake when cooking. If you are avid to experience a more intense taste in your foods, we highly recommend you experiment with a variety of fresh or dried herbs and spices. Do not overlook supplements While many people are staying indoor to help slow the spread of COVID 19, as a result, they have less access to sunlight, which is a natural source of vitamin D. Not only that but neglecting your old eating routine due to boredom and stress, might drain your body of essential nutrients you might need to fight back prompt mood changes, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Vitamin D Numerous studies have found that the” sunshine vitamin” helps protect against heart disease, diabetes, colds, flu, and cancer. Increasing your vitamin D intake while in isolation is optimal for your overall health and well-being. Omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3s are crucial for many conditions such as heart disease, depression, anxiety, arthritis, and asthma. If you need omega-3s, you should consider eating more fatty fish, like tuna, sardines, and salmon, but if you do not have fish a few times a week, you should consider supplements. Full-spectrum CBD oil, for instance, is an ideal source of both Omega 3 and Omega 6. Omega 3 acids play a crucial role in producing the hormones that regulate contraction, inflammation and relaxation of your arteries. They also reduce triglycerides levels in your blood, which lower your risk of suffering from stroker and heart disease. B vitamins There are three key B vitamins that should not miss from your diet. Vitamin B6, for example, is helpful for women suffering from depression that is linked to the PMSs and can easily be taken by eating more steady breakfast cereals, peanut butter, bananas, fish, and chicken. B12, in turn, can help you when you are struggling with memory loss and mood changes and can be found as supplements or in foods such as milk, eggs, meat, seafood and cereals. However, before taking any vitamins and supplements, make sure to tell your doctor so you can avoid unintended interaction with medications. Limit Sugar Intake The World Health Organization recommends us to not to exceed a 5% sugar intake. In case you crave something sweet, try not to forget healthier alternatives to sweets. Frozen fruits, fresh fruits, dried fruits are a great option. It is easy to fall into sugar cravings while indoors, a reason why paying attention to your portions is necessary. Practice mindful eating In uncertain times like these, it is normal to feel sad, anxious, stressed, and scared. However, being diligent in your daily routine can help you kick out some of that stress. One great way we can do that is by sticking to a certain mealtime and plan our meal in advance. Practicing mindful eating is a great way to maintain a healthy relationship with food. Stay still while you eat. Do not eat on the go; make sure you have a seat. Remove all sorts of distractions and ensure there is nothing like phones, laptops, TVs around you. Resist the urge to eat straight from the package. Prepare your meal like you would for someone else. Take yourself on a date. Chew your food because your stomach does not have teeth. Take small bites, taste, and enjoy the texture of your food. Avoid finishing the whole plate. If you feel full, then you surely are full. Spending more time at home will inevitably make you crave more food. But, following basic healthy living advice such as staying hydrated, being physically active, and eating a balanced diet are the best recommendations for staying healthy and sane during self-isolation.

Traveling far and wide has never been easier. When the urge to wander kicks in, you can now hop on a plane and the next thing you know you’re miles away from civilization and life as you know it. Maybe you’ll have to change a few transport means in between, but eventually you’re going to reach your destination. We’ve all become modern day explorers and there’s not much this planet can hide from us anymore. Let’s take a look at some numbers to put things into perspective. The total contribution of travel and tourism to global economy amounted to 9.25tr USD in 2019. In the same year, 4.715 billion USD were spent in global leisure tourism and in 2018 approximately 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded. What do these figures tell us? That we travel a lot. But while scouring the earth and discovering new places, cultures and experiences is a great way to nurture your spirit and broaden your horizons, it can also take a serious toll on the environment. That’s why sustainable travel has come into focus in recent years, as an alternative to traditional tourism. While we travel, we must also think of how our actions affect the planet and find ways to minimize the impact on the environment, so that generations to come can also enjoy this world’s wonders. So here are some tips you can think of in-between takeoff and landing if you want to travel green and go from average tourist to superhero ecotourist. Don’t follow the hype There are some destinations that attract tourists like a magnet. Every year millions of travelers flock to hyped locations as if there were no other places on earth left to visit. It’s quite tempting to follow the pack and see for yourself what they have to offer, but as wonderful as these destinations might be, the crowds, the hustle and bustle, the hours spent waiting in line to see certain attractions take away some of their beauty. And what’s most important, their ecosystems are already under a lot of stress due to the high number of visitors, which means they really need a time out from tourists. So instead of adding to the numbers you can choose less popular places and give those hyper visited locations a well-deserved break. Do your homework When visiting a new place it’s always a good idea to learn a few essential things about it before you get there. Each destination has unique features and it’s worth getting as informed as possible so you can understand how you should behave once you are there and what you can do to protect them from damage. Learning about local specificities, local culture and the communities you’ll come in contact with will help you become more aware of your surroundings. By practicing empathy you’ll be able to connect better with the environment and enjoy your travel adventures while also caring both for your safety and for the planet. Respect the wildlife Wild animals are meant to live unbothered in their natural environments and not be used as means of entertainment for tourists. Unfortunately, in many popular destinations you’ll see wild animals in captivity, trained to do tricks for tourists. Don’t take part in wildlife shows or attractions if you don’t want to encourage these cruel practices. Watching animals in their natural habitat is a unique experience, but you must make sure that your presence doesn’t disturb the wildlife. For example, if you want to go dolphin watching in the Algarve, choose a professional tour operator that follows local regulations and has high ethical standards regarding wildlife protection. Before adventuring into the wild, remember that wild animals are not pets, so refrain from feeding them even if they seem friendly and cute, and when buying souvenirs, make sure they don’t come from animal sources. Choose your transport wisely How you travel is also important. Planes might be the fastest way to get to your dream destination, but they’re far from being eco-friendly. If you can, take the longer route and travel by train, bus or ferry. If you don’t have these options, the least you could do is book non-stop flights as they use less fuel. Of course, in an ideal world we would all cycle our way around the world, and while you can’t use a bicycle as your exclusive transport method, you could include it in some parts of your journey. And when the odds are against you, public transportation is the second-best choice. Look for eco-friendly accommodation Hotel chains are not the greatest option if you’re looking for sustainable practices. Fortunately, they’re not the only type of accommodation available, so do your research and try to find an eco-friendlier alternative that will suit your ecotourism principles and your budget. Chances are you’ll be able to find smaller, independent accommodations that are much more in sync with nature and you’ll also have the chance to get a feel of the local community. If you’re lucky enough, you could come across organic farms or eco-lodges that promote a sustainable lifestyle and are actively involved in environmental conservation. Buy local Supporting the local economy is another way to get involved in ecotourism. Don’t eat at famous fast-food chains just because you’re familiar with the menu. Since you’re not at home, try something different and get a taste of the local cuisine. You could eat at family-run diners in the local community or, even better, you could check out the local grocery shops, buy fresh products and prepare your own food if you have the possibility. As for shopping, you could always roam all the small local shops and buy as many souvenirs as you like for everyone at home, but make sure they come from local sources and were not imported from some other place half-way around the world.

According to NASA, 800 million people are vulnerable to droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events caused by climate change. At the same time, carbon dioxide emissions are at an all-time high and rising temperatures endanger the polar ice cap every year. The time to act is now and everyone from governments to businesses and homeowners needs to make a change and embrace more sustainable alternatives. The measures required to protect the planet are, of course, extensive, and more than one sector needs to go green if we want to see lasting changes. However, some improvements are more impactful than others and one that can definitely benefit the planet and society as a whole is green buildings. The size of the green building market has increased considerably in the past few years and is expected to grow by an additional 10% by 2023. There is overwhelming evidence that building sustainable constructions, both for residential and commercial use, can reduce greenhouse emissions and create better conditions for everyone, while at the same time saving money. At present, North America has the most mature green building market, but the trend is starting to pick up in Europe and Asia as well. Building rating standards are also beginning to change, so that modern developers no longer have to design beautiful buildings that stand out against the urban landscape and offer the latest tech innovations, but also that have a low carbon footprint. Here’s why: Green buildings help the environment In order to understand how green buildings help the environment, first we have to define what makes a building be green. First of all, green buildings stand out through the efficient and responsible use of resources and energy. The materials used for green buildings are sustainable, come from ethical sources (meaning that they don’t contribute to deforestation), they’re non-toxic, and don’t affect air quality. Secondly, their environmental impact was considered every step of the way, from design to implantation. Green buildings use energy efficiently, and often feature elements such as solar panels and smart roofs, which reduce dependence on heating and cooling systems. Green building developers may also use special equipment to add greenery to the roof and increase eco-efficiency. What are the results? Green buildings produce 34% fewer carbon emissions compared to conventional buildings and consume 25% less energy. According to UNEP data, the building sector has the biggest potential to reduce greenhouse emissions than all other sectors and, if the current trend continues, the industry has the potential of saving as much as 84 gigatons of carbon dioxide by 2050. Another 2016 study also found that green buildings could help prevent the rise in global temperatures. At present, almost every country has set up sustainability ratings to help developers design and build greener constructions, and provided data to back up their benefits. For example, buildings that have obtained the Green Star Certification in Australia have been proven to use 50% less potable water compared to other homes, while the buildings that have obtained the LEED certification in the United States consume 35% less energy. Whether you want to build a new home, an office building, or any other commercial construction, complying with these sustainability standards can help you protect the planet. Green buildings are good for the economy The fact that green buildings have a lower carbon footprint is a strong enough reason to consider them. However, that’s not their only benefit. Studies have shown that green buildings are also highly economical, not only because they require fewer resources to make but also consume less energy in the long run. In fact, the average green building saves energy by 50%, helping owners and occupants spend less money on gas and energy bills. On a global scale, green buildings have a huge financial potential. According to the European Commission, sustainable building standards could save up to €410 billion on energy spending. Additionally, each country’s economy can benefit. For instance, Canada’s green building industry alone generated $23.45 billion and created 300,000 jobs in 2014. As for developers, they can benefit too. According to a 2016 study, new green buildings or renovated old ones get a 7% increase in asset value. In other words, everyone benefits. When green buildings started being popular, many feared that they were just a fad and that the costs weren't worth it. Now, it’s clearer than ever that sustainability is not just a trend and that green buildings can pay for themselves in the long run. Green buildings are better for society If environmental and financial benefits weren’t convincing enough, studies have also shown that green buildings also help society as a whole. First of all, green buildings are healthier because they are made with non-toxic materials. As a result, indoor air quality isn’t affected and this reduces the incidence of respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies. Furthermore, living and working in green buildings with good ventilation have better sleep quality and show better cognitive performance. The latter is particularly relevant for the green office building trend, which more and more corporations are interested in. When they work in a green building with optimal comfort levels, workers are more productive and, since they’re exposed to fewer health risks, take fewer sick days. Green buildings are also better for children’s development, which is why schools all over the world are rushing to renovate old buildings or at least expose kids to more daylight and environmental practices. Last, but not least, there’s also the fact that people are now aware of the importance of sustainability and want to be part of the change. Working in a green office or renting an apartment in a green complex creates a sense of pride and people are happy to contribute to the solution by choosing green buildings over the ones that merely meet the minimum requirements.

Is it time to panic? Well, taking into consideration that a great many trees are dying all around the world and aren’t being replaced, it’s safe to say that we’ve got a crisis situation. Up to 90 percent of the saplings planted in Turkey across its 81 provinces died only after a couple of months. And let’s not forget about the dreadful Australian bushfires. The mixture of rising heat and drier weather left trees to ignite near some of the most densely populated areas of the country. Trees are dying at a fast rate and this is quite unfortunate because they are essential in natural and human-dominated environments. Have you ever stopped to think about what would happen if there were no trees on Earth? Just so you know, it would be impossible to survive. We rely heavily on trees for oxygen, preventing flood and erosion, beating air pollution, and more. When they are planted in strategic locations, trees also block out loud noises from airports and highways. Given How Many Dead Trees Are Found, It’s Normal to Want to Know What’s Going On There is potential for high devastation. This translates into the fact that more trees are likely to suffer die-offs in the years to come. Arborists and tree huggers are terrified of the future because they believe it will bring nothing good. Trees aren’t considered paramount to public health. It seems that people fail to understand the important things they do. Saplings bring about important advantages for the ecosystem and planet, which is why bringing back to life forests should be a priority. The question now is: Why are all the trees dying? Climate change is the reason why we’re seeing declining trees. Climate change and its effects are accelerating and the disasters are starting to pile up. Climate change shouldn’t be confused with global warming. They refer to distinct realities. Climate change refers to the changes currently affecting our planet, while global warming refers strictly to the rising temperatures. More precisely, global warming is just one of the many aspects of climate change. Trees Are at Great Risk Due to Climate Change Throughout the years, scientists have examined trees from Asia, South America, and Africa to figure out what is going on. They arrived at the conclusion that saplings are passing away due to climate-change-related factors. Examples include carbon starvation and hydraulic failure. Plants are no longer able to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere because of the high temperatures. Trees literally die because they starve of carbon. Plus, they have to compete for limited resources such as water. Dead Trees That Fall and Get Buried in The Soil Provide Fossil Fuels In the process of decomposing, the greens use up the oxygen they previously released and eliminate all the carbon dioxide they previously consumed. When trees die, the carbon flow is interrupted. This basically means that carbon is released into the soil and the atmosphere goes down. More carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere, so it becomes much more acidic. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that dead trees leave the second biggest carbon footprint in the world. Tree mortality has a considerable impact on ecosystem processes. It’s difficult if not impossible to spot a dead tree from a living forest. The disintegration and decay of that tree include the redistribution of wildlife habitat. Some even believe that dying staples will further accelerate climate change. If forests aren’t managed sustainably, they will emit more carbon than they store if temperatures continue to rise. In case you didn’t already know, climate change takes place because of increases in carbon dioxide concentration. Additional contributions from forests will only contribute to the problem. Forests should be taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, not the other way around. The fact is that destroying the forests adds to the CO2 problem. Tree Surgeons Are the Only Ones Who Can Save Surviving Trees There are quite a few trees left on Earth, so it’s necessary to help the survivors. Like any other being, saplings need good nutrition, a healthy environment, and periodic care. Tree surgeons are the only ones capable of helping these living organisms, which play such an important role in the ecosystem. A tree surgeon is a professional who is trained in the profession of arboriculture. They are like doctors, in the sense that they perform delicate operations like deadwood removal. A Quick Overview of The Tree Surgeon’s Equipment List The tree surgeon profession is a challenging one because it requires skill and knowledge. Like any professional, the tree surgeon has specific tools. The job is a physical one and it’s performed outdoors. Arborists use a wide range of specialised tools, such as: Chainsaw – The plants are always assaulted by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and insects. It’s essential to eliminate the diseased parts. With a chainsaw, it’s possible to work on heavy branches. The chainsaw can be fuelled by battery, gasoline, or electricity. Telescopic handlers – A telescopic handler, commonly referred to as a forklift, is a machine used to move heavy objects and loads. Tree surgeons frequently resort to telehandlers to gain access to parts of the staple which are normally out of reach. It comes in handy when it comes to operations requiring pruning. Wood chippers – Tree surgeons need to be proficient in using wood chippers, which are used to reduce the tree trunks and branches into small chips. Wood chipping is beneficial in terms of recycling tree waste. Unfortunately, trees aren’t invulnerable to maladies. They are prone to developing many illnesses, which is why particular care is required. It’s important to understand that greens deserve just as much attention as we do. If a staple is having problems or it’s about to die, it will lose its shine and become weaker. Tell-tale signs to look out for are insect activity, dead leaves and branches, and cavity building up within the trunk. To sum up, tree surgeons have the power to save the environment by doing what they know best. They have a non-negligible role as far as tree care is concerned. Given the escalating climate emergency, their help is more than welcome.

Have a green business? Why not tell the world about how you support our Mother Earth with your green practices? In fact, you may be the example that motivates other entrepreneurs to go green too. Promoting a green business is pretty much like promoting any other kind of business. The only difference is that your marketing strategies seem a little bit more narrow. And, this may sound a little intimidating. Yet, let us tell you that sustainable branding is gaining momentum these days. Today’s consumers have become so aware of our planet’s environmental concerns that they no longer support businesses that don’t go green. So, consider yourself a tough competitor on the market already because consumers are voting with their dollars against unsustainable brands and they are willing to help those businesses that go green. Avoid greenwashing Words like “all-natural”, “organic”, “fair trade” and “green” are the buzzwords written on more and more products across stores these days. But how accurate these descriptions are? A good example of greenwashing would be putting on your product that is “recyclable”. Sounds eco-friendly, right? Yet, although your product may be recyclable, if consumers don’t recycle it, it is only a beautiful lie you tell to yourself and your customers. On the flip side, if your product is 100% made of recycled materials, then you can truly say that you are a green business. So, point is that you need to avoid misleading your audience with your marketing strategy. Why? Because your lies will most likely come out to light eventually and this can truly hurt your reputation. Therefore, make sure that in your marketing strategy, you only use data about your green practices that are 100% accurate and eco-friendly. Even if you feel like there is much more you can do about making your business greener, be honest about it with your audience and tell them that you are making great efforts to achieve these goals. Trust us on this one, your customers will appreciate your initiative more than if you would tell a lie that will later come out. Use eco-friendly marketing materials It’s no brainer that if you want to promote your business as a green one, you need to make sure that the materials you use are eco-friendly. Yet, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean that you need to go entirely paperless and focus your marketing strategy on the online environment. You can, for example, use recycled paper to create your pamphlets, business cards, and flyers. However, the best way to use green marketing materials is to not use paper at all if possible. So, you may want to focus on online marketing campaigns since you, anyways, have so many promoting tools online. You can, for example, use social media platforms, create a professional website, and, why not, even a mobile app. Also, you can use influencer marketing by connecting with an environment influencer and ask them to help you promote your products to their audience. Choose your audience carefully Choosing your audience is a key element that can determine the success or failure of your marketing efforts. How so? If you choose the wrong audience, consumers that don’t care about environmental concerns, for example, your marketing will most likely won’t have the impact you are hoping for. If you will try to persuade people who don’t care about the environment to go green, like it or not, you will just be spending your money in vain. That being said, you need to concentrate your marketing efforts on places that are most visited by eco-friendly potential customers. So, make sure that you select the channels that will allow you to connect with people that are already environmentally-conscious. From that point, you can focus your advertising efforts to turn these potential customers into loyal customers. Show what your business can do for the future Eco-friendly initiatives, in general, have a long-term goal. We all know that throwing waste in the trash bin, for example, is a green practice but its effects can only be visible in the long-term. Therefore, you shouldn’t hesitate to show your audience what are your brand’s sustainable goals for the future. Why? Because customers understand that one company can’t change everything overnight on its own but they want to know that you get involved and care about this kind of stuff. So, for example, you can create a video that shows the positive impacts of your green business in the future. You can even use futuristic music as background music to evoke stronger emotions in your audience and engage them to help your brand achieve those goals. Attend green local events Even in today’s digitalized era, face-to-face meetings remain a key element in establishing strong brand-customer connections. Keep in mind that today’s consumers are overwhelmed by online ads from faceless companies that don’t even care about the but only about their profit. So, making efforts to truly connect with your audience is the key to their hearts and long-term customer loyalty. Therefore, identify green events in your surroundings (be it festivals, conferences, parades or small gatherings focused on environmental concerns. Next, take advantage of these events to spread the word about your company, your products, and, most importantly, about your green practices. With today’s consumers preferring sustainable brands over those that don’t go green, promoting your eco-friendly business will be easier than you’d imagine. All you have to do is to use sustainable marketing materials and to make sure that you reach out to the right audience.

After numerous events have proven to be a result of climate change, people keep underestimating the effects we have on the environment. It’s important to raise awareness toward the possible dangers, a reason why environmental documentaries are considered to be a great manner to teach people from all walks of life how important a change in our lifestyle could be. We encourage space exploration and new technological developments, but what’s troublesome is how we ignore our environmental problems hopping to colonize other planets. There are yet so many things unexplored on Earth, so many issues waiting to be solved such as pollution, hunger and deforestation and these are just a small part form the issues we’ve encountered so far. Our world is facing serious environmental and natural resource challenges which means that over the next 40 years, demands for food will increase 70%, demands for freshwater will rise to 50% while those for energy will double. These must be solved immediately while at the same time we need to deal with deforestation, depletion of rivers and climate change. An Inconvenient Truth 2006 One of the most influential documentaries, An Inconvenient Truth has inspired a global movement towards what we call new climate crisis. After eleven years, this breath-taking movie motivated millions of people to start asking important questions like, “What can we do?” or “What can I do?” Everyone at some point should start wondering about possible solutions on how to develop the modern climate movement. Fortunately, climate science had discovered a new way to improve and save the climate through renewable energy such as wind or solar which is way cheaper than the usual fuel-based energy. An Inconvenient Truth was known to be a great hit, getting to win two Oscars and two Academy Awards. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, An Inconvenient Truth has succeeded to raise awareness of climate change. Chasing Ice 2012 Chasing Ice has surprised stunning images that breathe life into an ice world. This amazing documentary should not miss from your watch list. For those curious about how climate changes affect the world of ice, they can rely on this documentary. Chasing Ice offers you stunning insides on the biggest glaciers that contribute to the global sea-level rise. Moreover, this documentary is a story of one single man’s mission who struggle to gather indisputable evidence that our planet is changing. After a couple of months, a team of devoted photographers realized the bravest expedition called The Extreme Ice Survey. With a highly efficient team, James Balog has arranged extraordinary time-lapse cameras to capture the world’s biggest glaciers. Before the Flood 2016 This documentary has been described as a straightforward and elegant way to present climate changes. Featuring the Oscar-winning star Leonardo DiCaprio, Barack Obama and many others, this documentary presents extraordinary suggestions on how to save and reduce climate change. Before the Flood, acclaims the Paris Agreement as being an essential boost to bring humanity to an understanding on a single issue and encourages the new technological developments as the best way to stop climate change issues. Wasted! The Story of Food Waste 2016 Produced by Anthony Bourdain, this alluring documentary introduces effective solutions for the 21 world food problems. It explores the food waste problem within a broken food system. They encourage the use of everything and how nothing should be wasted. This is just another unseen problem of mankind which is yet not taken seriously. Constantly, in the United States, 40% of the food ends up on the garbage which means that more than 365 kilograms of food is wasted while the starvation problem keeps rising. This documentary will offer you valuable solutions on how to change or life-style and limit or end-up food wasting. Our Planet 2019 One of the most recent documentaries on Netflix narrated by David Attenborough expose issues of conservation, capturing the heartbreaking images of the hopeless species that due to climate changes have lost their home. This documentary has been harshly criticized while it offers serious reasons for how humans impact the environment. Rather than focusing on traditional documentaries that expose only the wonders of nature, Our Planet offers you only the painful truth which is exactly what the human species needs to wake up. More Than Honey 2012 Lastly, More Than Honey examines the decline of bee colonies and the possible motives of their disappearance. Bees are an important part of our agricultural industries, a reason why people cannot survive without them. Where there are no bees, there is no life. Huge bee colonies keep declining and human impact on the environment is the only reason why. As Einstein has claimed, “If bees disappeared man would have only four years to live”. More than Honey is a Swiss documentary directed by Markus Imhoof and captures the honeybee colonies from China, Swiss, California and Austria. Make sure you won’t miss this Oscar-winning documentary if you’re interested in the faith of our bee colonies. These are only a couple of documentaries a climate ranger should watch at least one in his life. Regardless of everyone’s social status and age, watching these documentaries might offer critical insights into the looming threats we’ve surrounded ourselves with. The saddest thing about this issue is that not everyone is yet aware. We’ve exhausted the planet’s resources and overrun the planet carrying capacity which extremely alarming for all the species existing on earth. The problem would be what type of resources we need in order to flourish and encourage the next generations. A reason why people should rely on innovations in the science area and technology. These are the only good tools humankind might use to save itself. Leaving in rapid technological development time it would be a total shame not to make use of it, and even the most influential people encourage the use of it. This as anything can be solved through education, and documentaries are a great way to raise awareness and educate people.

Because the energy costs keep rising, you might be looking for ways to be more energy-efficient without causing a hole in your budget this winter. Before throwing yourself on unplanned investments consider getting a quick energy assessment so you can determine how much energy your house uses. This small assessment will include an energy rating that indicates how energy-efficient is your home and what upgrades you could choose. These upgrades might prove essential for your home and family and moreover, you’ll cut from the unexpected energy expenses you encounter every winter. As you know, there is no good investment without a well-planned budget and patience. There are definitely plenty of upgrading options so you can obtain better control over energy-efficient features in your home. Here are a couple of energy-saving must-haves to include in your home this winter. 1. Invest in Proper Insulation One of the most efficient ways to keep your home warm this winter and save money is to make a good investment in proper insulation. It is well-known that a quarter of a home’s heat is lost through the uninsulated spaces in your house such as the floor or certain roof spaces. Insulating your home should be the best investment you’ve made this year because it will offer you great durability and will maintain your home cosy during the whole winter. There are plenty of guides you could use to learn how to properly insulate your home. Make short research and see which material are best for you home. You have a variety of natural materials such as sheep’s wool or why not, loose cellulose which is made from recycled newspaper. Mineral wool is known to be one of the best because it has amazing sound-insulation features and even better, has good fire resistance. 2. Efficient Heating Systems Because when we talk about the most efficient home heating upgrades, we should be talking about efficiency from the perspective of financial costs and even more environmental costs. Plan accordingly and review every heating system in your house. See which one should be replaced or perhaps upgraded. Schedule in time your annual service to ensure your boiler is working properly, but if it’s more than 10 or 11 years you should consider replacing it. A good boiler is easy to find and all you have to do is to take the perfect measurements to see where it can fit best in your house. You can even opt for a steam boiler rental for when you’re using your house just for holidays or you’re planning to move soon. To avoid extra expenses on heat, make sure you check if your radiators and boilers are working effectively and if you see some changes in your energy bill after you’ve made the upgrades. 3. Smart Appliances You already know that upgrading your home for this winter requires patience and good taste in choosing the right appliances that look great and consume less. As DOE says, your appliances account for almost 15% of your house’s energy consumption. A great solution to decrease your consumption level would be to invest, for example, in a smart lighting system. This will offer you long-term durability you’ll avoid plenty of expenses because you won’t have to replace your bulbs every month. Smart bulbs, for example, are amazing in helping users to streamline their lighting system because they can be controlled very easily using just a smartphone. Another great solution for your home would be investing in smart plugs if you wish to have control or monitor your appliances energy usage. 4. Consider Premium Windows This should be another long-term amazing investment that your house would need because as you know a lot of your home’s heat is lost through the old windows. We know that many people would choose old windows style just because they wish to add some charm in their homes, but this is not actually a great idea, especially when you want to avoid extra expenses on your energy bill. When you plan to make accountable upgrades to maintain a stable temperature in your home during this winter you should opt for premium windows. This would help more than you think to both save money on energy and care for the environment. For those who consider some improvements in their home this winter, must know that this requires more than just replacing your fridge or boiler. You should handle everything with care and patience and of course, a well-developed plan. Before throwing yourself on these investments be sure you consult in detail with your family. After all, your family needs are extremely important when you choose to make some major changes in your home. There are plenty of specialized companies, perfect for those who can’t handle home renovations by themselves. Above all, you could use a professional opinion before planning to upgrade your home. Make a list with whatever you consider needs improvements and negotiate with a specialist or someone who already made these changes in his home. This won’t be an easy task and you know it because people often tend to underestimate this process. Be smart and when you start shopping for new energy-saving appliances such as light bulbs and heating systems be sure you have a well-prepared budget. This is not like you’re just buying a new pair of shoes, it’s a long-term investment that may affect your budget if you’re not doing it properly. There is a possibility to make these new small adjustments in your home without undertaking major works, but this often depends on what type of home you have. If your home is an old one, this means you’ll have more things to work at and you’ll need a proper budget to finish your project before winter. In other ways, to save energy this winter would mean to make a big an wise investment and this should be achievable if you’re planning smart.

Business growth requires a long-term vision… If you decided to start a business, you’re probably a risk taker. You assessed the business industry and when you identified a solution to a problem, you decided to establish a business that delivers that solution. You work hard to deliver top-notch services on the market, but in your haste to identify business opportunities you may forget to establish a long-term vision. You are a well-intentioned business manager, but you may have no idea how to make your company sustainable. You need to transform your vision into a sustainable business model to attract more clients and to withstand the obstacles the business world poses. By creating a sustainable business plan, you can address a wider public, and drive higher success. Building an eco-friendly business isn’t difficult if you count on eco-focused methods from day one. Create a long-term vision that guides the business operation As a leader, you need to cast your vision for your business. When creating a business plan, base it on your vision to decide what’s the purpose of the company, and what activities will take you there. The members of the organisation should follow the guidelines the business plan establishes to navigate the industry. 60% of millennial clients choose sustainable brands. Considering that they make up for your largest group of buyers you should base your business decisions on their buying patterns. 70% of millennials are willing to pay 70% more to buy products from an eco-friendly brand. When you establish what your long-term vision is, you should establish a reputation for environmental protection to attract loyal clients. A sustainably-minded business is successful in winning millennials, who easily become loyal clients when they share the same values with the brand they buy from. Make critical decisions based on the issues that may arise A successful entrepreneur anticipates the problems their business can face, and plans solutions in advance for each of them. You can’t anticipate all the issues you’ll deal with when running your business, but you can foresee the common ones, all companies are dealing with. You need to create strategies to overcome these key problems. Isn’t simple to deliver services that solve your clients’ problems and stay eco-friendly at the same time. Key decisions that determine your business sustainability will arise frequently and they can affect not only your reputation, but also your liability and income. To manage an environmentally friendly business that produces income, you need to consider multiple time frames. Don’t ever make decisions based on a single time frame because it will influence the long-term sustainability of the company. When passionate about green policies, you have great chances to run a successful venture in the future. It all depends on how you anticipate problems and come up with solutions. Allocate the right and necessary resources You can’t run a successful company if you don’t allocate the needed resources, in terms of money, tools, people and time. Before allocating any resource, identify which and how much of each you need to provide. Your project managers can help you determine these aspects. People are the heart of an organisation. Start from identifying how many specialists you need to run the venture and what skills they need. To put in practice sustainable practices, you need to create a sustainability team to supervise and organise operations to meet green practices. The assigned team brings the sustainability plan to fruition and communicates with all employees to ensure they are fully aware of the activities they need to complete. Embed your goals in the corporate culture, so every new employee knows and respects them. The sustainability team should work as an advocate for the role of eco-friendly practices. Build a sustainable supply chain Always source raw materials from sustainable sources and ensure your partners respect green practices. Before buying raw materials check their origin to determine if the entire supply chain is sustainable. Conduct a periodical supply chain audit to identify the areas that require upgrades. Cover in your audit all aspects, from production to packaging and transportation. Your supply chain should rely on environmentally friendly and recyclable materials. When it’s possible to reduce the amount of materials used by recycling old ones, you should choose this option. Reducing the carbon footprint is a priority for green businesses, so you should comprise it in your long-term vision. Ensure you’re working in an eco-friendly environment An essential step in building a sustainable brand is to work in a green building. When constructing a new building it’s easy to ensure you respect green policies. Quality materials are always a good starting point because they last longer and require less maintenance. For example, by installing high-quality windows and doors, you maintain a constant temperature and you save energy. Collaborating with professional industrial pumps service providers allows you to maintain equipment functional and reduce the impact your organisation has on the environment. Expert service can check, repair and replace damaged units that cause extra costs. Use alternative sources like solar or wind energy to power your business. They are renewable resources and can help you reduce the production of greenhouse gases. It’s impossible for a business to become 100% green, but it’s possible to build a sustainable company if you make the right decisions. The sun has a beneficial effect not only on people but only on businesses. It makes people healthier and it provides a practical energy source for organisations world-wide. Solar panels convert solar energy and can easily power your equipment and building. The roof of the building is the most underused area, and by installing solar panels you transform it into a source of energy. But if you want to use the roof for other purposes, you can install the solar panels elsewhere and direct the energy to your premises. All the efforts you make towards a sustainable business are better than none. If you work hard you can run an organisation that makes sustainability its long-term goal.

As we know, pollution has an enormous impact on our health. The amount of toxic matter in the air we breathe, the organic pollutants and heavy metals we ingest from our daily supply of water and food are damaging for millions of lives every year. There is a reason to be worried. An unhealthy environment causes annually diseases like heart conditions, chronic respiratory disease and stroke. These are all the products of air pollution. There are solutions, and each individual has the power to decrease the amount of pollution that we create. We can start by identifying a specific location or source of pollution, where we as individuals can make an actual difference. Pollution doesn’t appear from anywhere, there are small sources from large land areas that later are concentrated in streams or rivers. People, of any age, can help to reduce these problems by taking actions. If you’ve planned to make some changes and you feel an inclination towards a healthier environment, here are a few aspects you should consider: Use Energy Efficient Products There are many ways to decrease your household’s energy use, starting from simple habit adjustments to considerable home improvements. The main reasons why you should start taking action as soon as possible is to protect the environment and save on utility bills. Here are some simple actions you could include in your routine and house: Adjust Your Daily Routine If you’re avid to make some changes you should purchase only energy-efficient products and start making some adjustments in the way you use energy. Learn to use energy-efficient. Whenever you’re leaving the room, turn off the lights and devices when you don’t need them anymore. You can save plenty of energy by taking care of your household task manually. Why not washing your dishes manually? It simple efficient and your energy bill will unexpectedly decrease. Replace Traditional Light Bulbs It’s well-known that traditional light bulbs must be replaced more often than other energy alternatives and consume an excessive amount of electricity. To avoid this, you should embrace the halogen incandescent bulbs, or light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) that last three times longer than your old bulbs and use 25-28% less energy. Even though energy-efficient bulbs are more expensive, their benefits are amazing not only for your wallet but for the environment too. Reduce Emissions of Any Type Huge industries that produce a great number of toxic emissions are one of the main threats to air quality. Big businesses are already acting towards this issue. They advocate for the use of public transportation, waste control and some of them are even using technologies for fume extraction that have expanded considerably in the last few years. The environment must be protected, and everyone can do something. It only needs the right attitude towards it and a strong will for small changes. Consider Public Transportation If you’re willing to help reduce pollution, global warming and your monthly expenses, one of the great things you can do is to say goodbye to your car. By encouraging public transportation, you will significantly reduce the volume of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Public transportation can also be safer and healthier. People who are using public transportation tend to be healthier than those who don’t because they exercise by walking from subway stations, bus stops to their homes and offices. Moreover, you can take into consideration the reduction of costs overall. Use a Bike or Walk Choosing to cycle can be the best decision you’ve made in life. Replacing your car ride by walking or bicycling will not only help reduce traffic but also emissions. It’s an amazing way to stay healthy, save the environment and cut daily expenses on transportation. In particular, cities when some trips tend to be shorter, it will be much easier to choose cycling as an alternative to transportation where you’ll generate zero air pollution. Choose Sustainable Products and Consume Less To start reducing the amount of waste and develop a healthy life you should first imagine all the complex processes necessary to build new items from scratch. Every stage of manufacture is related to the emissions of polluting particles, chemicals and greenhouse gases. It’s clear how our consumption needs are affecting the environment. People should consume less and check twice before buying an item. Whenever you feel the need to buy new products, do some research and find some local companies that are dedicated to sustainable practices and decreasing air pollution. Plants Can Help Some cities suffer from environmental degradation while others preserve and improve their environmental quality. People should take as an alternative to fighting the “urban heat island” effects by taking care of their urban green spaces. The effects of urban heat could be highly dangerous to the environment. How do urban green spaces could fight pollution and reduce heat? By increasing the number of bushes and trees, the heat will be alleviated by the moisture and shade. This is how plants work. Not only do green spaces provide shade in the agglomerated cities but they also produce transpiration. It is the effect of moisture that is carried from the roots to the leaves and later released in the atmosphere. This effect helps reduce the heat and release the necessary moisture in the air. In this day and age is important to develop a strong mindset towards environmental solutions. There are answers to this problem, and everyone can act. Regardless of age and race, people should consider some small changes in their habits if they’re determined to help the environment. Many people are taking a stand, they’re waking up and going green. Simple changes will always make a big difference towards the environmental issues and you already have the know-how. Because life is a circuit of bad and good habits, people who are aware of this fact are more likely to improve their lifestyle. There is a chance for improvement and a better world and all it requires is a strong will to make better changes.