Natasha Tasha

The world is going green, and so can you! Having an Eco friendly kitchen starts with what’s in your fridge and extends all the way out to what materials and tools you use, food preparation that is energy efficient, and cleaning using sustainable materials instead of toxic chemicals. These are all super important for having a kitchen that is truly green and Eco friendly. The great thing about converting your space from a regular, unhealthy kitchen to something that is phenomenal and efficient is that the change will be fantastic for your well being as well as save you dollars while saving the planet. What could be more amazing? Trade In Your Cookware And Cheap Kitchen Supplies You may not think of it, but the tools and materials that you cook with actually have a big impact on your health. For cook ware and utensils, you want materials and cookware that is going to last a long time as opposed to being ultra-disposable. Plastic has to go. Teflon pans, while perhaps convenient, are not very green. They also cause cancer which makes them a big no-no in the kitchen. The best thing you can do is purchase cook ware that is sustainable as opposed to convenient. That means investing into a thick, classic cast iron skillet. These babies last forever and are a dream to cook with. Go for bamboo and environmentally friendly spoons and stirrers, and ditch all the plastic and low quality stuff that’s hiding in your kitchen. Instead of buying paper towels over and over, purchase some nice cloth towels that can be washed. Lastly, invest in ultra high quality knives that can be sharpened and used for decades. Having Ecological Enlarged Windows Having enlarged windows can bring the element of light into a kitchen and really work to open a space. When you enlarge a window, you can make a room more bright without spending more energy and money to bring that extra light in. Rooms have natural light during the day, and when you extend a room you can cut back on overhead lighting powered by electricity. This is a simple way to enhance your kitchen and cuts back on overall energy costs, making your kitchen even more green. Cooking And Being Energy Efficient Cut back on energy costs by cutting out preheating. Modern ovens heat up easily. Try to change the way you cook by putting the food in as soon as the oven is turned on. Then turn off the oven a few minutes early and allow the dish to cook in the remaining heat. Cooking multiple things at one in an oven will also save energy. Use a toaster oven or microwave for smaller dishes and you can save 80% of the energy you would normally use by putting in the big oven. Using Gas Or Electricity To Cook There are different advantages to each cooking method. The best thing to do to be green is to purchase the electricity from a source that is sustainable and use electric equipment. The cost is a little more now but carbon prices will change that and save you more. Electricity sourced from a station that uses coal as a power may be worse for the environment, so in that case going with gas is a superior option. Most electric cooking equipment is the more efficient choice because the energy created goes towards what you are cooking, where gas a lot of the energy dissipates and goes to waste. Electric induction tops cook faster and are more efficient than gas by up to 55%. Emissions for electricity are lower than gas since the emissions for gas are generally higher at the start of use. Electricity for cooking is more sustainable and is even more environmentally friendly when you buy electric appliances that are efficient. 4.5% of the energy used at home comes from cooking. That’s only a small part of carbon emissions, but they matter. Gas burners can give off heat that is instant and have more control over temperature, so that is an advantage of using gas. Electric stoves do take more time to heat up and cool. However, new oven models that utilize electric ignitions in place of a pilot light use 40% less gas, making them an energy efficient choice.

Environmental pollution is defined as any adverse change in the environment brought on by the introduction of contaminants. It has been around as long as human civilizations have, as evidenced by soot found on the ceilings of prehistoric caves and core samples of glacial ice that show signs of pollution dating from ancient times. The industrial revolution and globalization have resulted in an exponential growth in pollution, making it a key environmental and political issue which we, as a species, have only relatively recently started to tackle in a reasonably effective manner. The modern age had also brought us new kinds of pollution in addition to reinvigorating the more traditional ones, which finally forced us to take the problem seriously and try to reduce our harmful effect on our surroundings, aptly called the ecological footprint. To that end, here are some facts about pollution you might not have known. Air Pollution Air pollution is defined as the contamination of air by harmful gases, smoke or radiation. Carbon, sulfur and nitrogen oxides are the most prevalent and are considered the most harmful air pollutants, partly due to their large quantities always being present in the atmosphere. They are produced by vehicle exhausts, the burning of fuel, radiation spills and nuclear accidents. Air pollution is linked to asthma, allergies and other respiratory illnesses. Adopting alternative energy sources can improve air quality by decreasing the amount of airborne pollutants. Replacing fossil fuels with cleaner renewable energy sources would decrease the production of carbon dioxide. Another way to combat air pollution would be to reduce the burning of sulphur-rich coal and gas as this would lower the levels of sulphur-dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere. Land Pollution Land pollution is the degradation of land caused by an improper use of resources and unscrupulous waste disposal practices. This accumulation of man-made toxins in the soil has adverse effects on all living things. Burning less fossil fuels would lead to less acid rain, and in turn to less soil pollution. Reducing the earth’s dependency on plastics and pesticides would help, as would proper treatment of sewage and industrial waste. Noise Pollution Noise pollution is defined as any unwanted sound released into the environment. Apart from being annoying to humans and animals it can also cause mental and physiological damage and help worsen the symptoms of several very different health issues. The leading cause of noise pollution is identified as traffic, be it on land air or water. Several steps can be taken to combat noise control. Sound absorbing barriers can be set up on the sides of highways close to settlements to reduce the noise level. Soundproofing living and working environments also helps, as do advances in the automotive industry that allow for quieter vehicles. Water Pollution The contamination of any body of water is called water pollution. Water pollution is closely linked to land and air pollution as contaminants from the air fall as rain onto the soil and drain off into groundwater, lakes, rivers and oceans. Reducing the pollution of Earth’s waters requires a stabilization of the eco-system. This can be done by a reduction of waste input, recycling and reutilization of waste and pollutant removal. Various pollutants can be removed by methods such as absorption, electro dialysis, reverse osmosis and ion exchange. Thermal pollution Thermal pollution is an increase in temperature caused by human activity. Large scale deforestation means there is less greenery to soak up the sun’s thermal energy, which directly causes the temperature to steadily rise, as we all know. Cities are also a large cause of thermal pollution as they are vast areas covered with concrete that deflects the sun’s rays almost entirely absorbing only a very small amount of heat. In addition, factories use water for cooling and then dump it into rivers or lakes, which results in higher water temperatures. Re-forestation is a good way to help heal the environment and bring down the temperature. Stricter industrial wastewater disposal standards are also required. Some would say the introduction of stricter guidelines in various areas of human endeavor in order for us to reduce our harmful influence on the environment is too slow, but the fact is we have gone a long way in this regard during the past couple of decades. Getting more in tune with the nature is bound to be a slow and tedious process. It’s up to everyone of us to speed it up as much as we can, so that the next generations have an easier time with it than we did.

In our relatively recently revived quest for reducing our devastating environmental impact and ecological footprint, packaging is one of the most recent additions to the list of our products that need to be more in tune with the needs and limitations of Mother Earth. Sustainable green packaging constitutes an approach that requires a thorough analysis of the whole supply chain, including basic function, marketing, end of life and the rebirth. It requires a somewhat more detailed analysis of the package design, choice of materials, its processing and the life cycle than some of the older environmental trends in packaging. Here are some tips on how to shift towards more eco-friendly packaging practices in the department of packaging your products. Consider the Relation Although some statistical data regarding packaging can be analyzed without knowing any details about the corresponding product, the packaging cannot be viewed as an independent issue. It must always be seen through its relationship to the product it is meant to house. For example, using stackable, usable drums and barrels may be a greener alternative to disposable ones, but this sort of a decision must be made in accordance with, first and foremost, the type of product they are meant to hold. Similarly, value of a packaging is inextricably linked with the value of the product, but packaging is not simply a physical protection for your product. Keep in mind that industrial packaging had been with us for quite some time and that we all have some sort of established mechanisms in assessing a new packaging that falls into our hands in big part on the based on our experience. Psychological implications of various packaging features are a subject in its own right, but keep in mind that reducing your eco footprint can boost your sales this way. Connect and Communicate Besides effectively communicating your best efforts to make the Earth a better place by informing your customers of it, use the packaging to inform them on all of the important sustainability issues. For example, make sure to explain how a package should be treated towards its end of life. It is important to stick to the facts, as accurate claims in this department resonate best with the customers. In addition, it is important to provide easily understandable sourcing and recyclability information. Also, try to connect with the similar companies with similar interests and issues regarding packaging. Collaboration on spreading the information about these issues can only bring a boost in sales, as an educated audience will know better how to appreciate your efforts in reducing our devastating impact on Mother Nature. Invest and Get Creative One of the benefits of living in an age when technology advances in such giant leaps as we have the pleasure of witnessing is being able to marvel at the great scientific achievements very often. This goes to show as the next big thing is just around the corner, so do not be afraid to experiment and invest in new ideas for making more sustainable packaging for your products. In will surely be worth the effort in more ways than one.

Tips for Eco Friendly Pools Maintaining a pool can be costly because of the huge energy requirement to keep it clean. Fortunately, there are certain steps and improvements that you can do to lessen this cost and make your pool become more eco-friendly. By eco-friendly, this means that you would be reducing water and energy wastes, which are both important and limited resources. With the following tips, you will be hitting two birds with one stone. You will be helping the environment, as well as reduce your maintenance cost. Replace Your Pump Check if the pump that you are currently using is designed exactly for your pool size. Many pool owners are unknowingly using bigger pumps than what they actually need, thus increasing their energy consumptions. Have an expert check your pool so that he can calculate the right type of pump that you need . When shopping for a new pump, you should also consider the efficiency of the equipment to avoid wasting energy while running it for several hours a day. Cover Your Pool Pool covers will prevent water evaporation therefore reducing the number of times you need to refill your pool with fresh water. Covers will also help keep the water warm, so that you no longer need to keep the heater running for long if you want to swim during the cold months. Another benefit you can get from covering your pool is that it will prevent falling leaves and dirt from going directly to the water. As a result, you no longer need to use too much chemicals to keep your pool water sanitized. Improve the Landscape Adding plants around your pool is a good way to improve its appearance, while at the same time helping the environment. The more plants and trees you have around your pool and your home, the cleaner the air would be in your surroundings. While at it, try installing glass pool fences for pool safety too. This will keep kids from wandering into your pool unattended and it will keep stray animals from contaminating your pool as well. Get a Robotic Pool Cleaner This machine will skim the pool water continuously to remove solid wastes that have fallen in your pool. In doing so, it will significantly reduce the amount of waste that your pool filter has to process. When the dirt load is lessened, you can save on energy used in circulating the water for filtration and you can also save on the usage of chemical disinfectants. Nowadays, there are solar – powered pool cleaners available in the market. It uses free energy from the sun, so you do not have to worry about additional costs in operating it. Use a Pump Timer Many of you probably are guilty of leaving your pump running for longer hours than necessary because you were busy doing other things and forgot to turn it off. A pump timer will let you schedule the time when the pump should start running and when it should stop. If you have it in place, you can do other chores and still be assured that you are not wasting unnecessary energy while cleaning your pool. If you happen to live in an area where your utility company offers off- peak rates, you can even schedule your water circulation during these off-peak hours to save on energy costs.