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DianaSmith

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About DianaSmith

  • Birthday 10/11/1982

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  • Gender
    Female
  • Location
    Australia
  • Interests
    Environment, ecology, great animal lover

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  1. First and foremost, knowing exactly what organic wine is, is the key to making it properly. Grapes grown organically are the first thing required for making of organic wine. When a certain fruit or vegetable is grown organically it means there were no pesticides and/or chemicals involved in its growing. Many manufacturers of wine tend to break the rules of organic. It certainly pays off more to include some manipulating in wine-making, just to have it last longer and taste better. But since you have decided to make wine yourself, we don’t question your aspiration to get that organic wine just right, in a proper way. So, what you first need to do is gather supplies. Naturally, this sounds like a logical step to take and you are wondering why do we even mention it. Well, because more often than not beginners in wine making tend to omit certain things which then leads to the wine getting ruined by bacteria or bugs. To avoid that, gather these supplies: - An airlock - A 1-gallon carboy (a glass container with a small neck) - Clean wine bottles with corks or screw caps - A 2-gallon crock or glass jar - A thin plastic tube to be used for siphoning - Campden tablets (optional) Once you have all this, the games of wine making can begin! For the record, wine can be made of any type of fruit. So, if you want to experiment and try something unusual choose something else rather than berries and grapes. The most important thing is to choose fruit at the peak of its flavor. Cleaning the fruit Washing the fruit is easy - clean it of any dirt and/or rotten parts. Remove the leaves. Rinse it thoroughly. Done! You’d think everyone is cleaning the fruit before doing anything with it, right? Well, not really. Some wine-makers like not to wash the fruit before crushing it. Given that fruit has natural yeasts on its skin, wine can be made with using only the yeast from the fruit's skin and the air. The negative aspect of not washing the fruit is that wild yeast get to grow and they are likely to produce foul flavors. While, when you wash the fruit you can control the taste and adjust it to you liking. Crushing the fruit Crushing the fruit is done with your hands or a potato masher. All you should do is squeeze the fruit so that it releases its juices. You should repeat the process of until the crock you have previously put washed grapes in is filled with 1/2 inches of the top with fruit juice. If there isn’t enough fruit and juice, top it off with filtered water. To kill bacteria and wild yeast, add a a Campden tablet. It will release sulfur dioxide into the mixture which will effectively kill wild yeast and bacteria. If you’d rather not use a tablet, you can alternatively pour 2 cups of boiling water over the fruit. Also, when using water, avoid tap as it contains additives and it will affect the taste of your wine. Make it your business to use filtered or spring water only. Add honey for sweetness of your organic wine. Limiting honey to two cups will give your wine not so sweet a taste. You can, of course, add more if you like your wine sweeter. If you don’t like honey, you can add (brown) sugar instead of honey. After this is done, it’s time you added the yeast! Stir it into the mixture with a long-handled spoon. Fermenting the Wine To keep bugs out of the crock, cover it with something firm yet such a fabric that will allow air to flow in. Perfect cloth would a t-shirt or a stretch cloth. Just make sure you secure it in place with a large rubber band. The covered crock should be placed in a warm area overnight, with a temperature around 70 degrees. The day after you have made the mixture, you should follow the process of stirring it thoroughly. The stirring should go on for 4 days: - 1st day - stir every 4 hours or so- other 3 days - a few times per day You’ll know fermentation process when you see it - as the yeast moves into action, the mixture should start bubbling. This will lead to delicious wine. Three days after it begins, the bubbling will slow down which is a sign it’s time to strain and siphon the liquid. - Siphon the liquid into your carboy for longer-term storage - Affix the airlock to the opening to prevent oxygen from coming in and spoiling your wine while allowing for the release of gas Let the wine age for nine months. If you are in a rush to try it, then leave it for at least one month.
  2. Many people are becoming aware of the fact that they have to protect planet Earth in any way possible. Human beings are the only ones who can be able to think and who can do something for preserving this natural habitat. Living green is not something to apply only at home. People can make their workplace a green environment as well. If you don't know how to green business activities and ethics and to obtain an ecological environment at work, the following tips can prove to be useful: Consume Less Energy While working, make sure you consume only the energy that you really need. One of the first steps for doing this can be to use computers on their energy saving mode. If you are leaving the work place for a while, or if you go home, always unplug all your devices, including scanners and printers. Turn off the lights too. While you work, use only the lights that you really require for performing your daily tasks. Consume Less Paper Modern businesses have the advantage of digitized paperwork. Make use of this benefit by keeping as much paperwork as you can in a digital format, in order to save paper. The paper you use for the printers should be recycled paper with less chlorine bleaching. Print each paper that you can on both sides for minimizing paper consumption. Use printers and copiers that allow this procedure. If your business can be able to reuse boxes and shredded paper for packing, it is even better. Commute Healthy and Ecologically For going to work and back, the best thing you could do is using a bike or walking on foot. Driving a car or using other vehicles for transport is not a green way to commute. Only in the United States, about twenty-three gallons of gas a year is used for vehicles. Almost four billion hours are spent in traffic by American people every year. The alternative for drivers can be the use of electric cars, but these vehicles still consume energy. Riding a bike or walking are two wonderful ways of maintaining your body healthy and they constitute a green way of commuting. Use a Natural Working Environment A green working space can be obtained in many ways. You can start by changing your regular industrial furniture with ecological furniture that is made from recycled materials. Then, you can change your lighting from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. Even better could be using modern LED desk lamps, as they consume way less energy than any other lighting solution. The quality of the air in your work space is also important. It can be obtained if you use furniture and carpets with low VOC paints and if you have good ventilation. You could also add plants for making your work place look and feel more natural. Change the Way You Eat at Work It would be better to eat at home when you can and to avoid eating at your work place. If this is not possible, you should at least pack your food in reusable containers. In this way, you will eat healthier and you will recycle as well. Ordering food is definitely not a green way of eating, but you can place large orders for more individuals. You will be able to have less waste in this way. As you see, making your business environment greener is not such a big deal. It only requires some changes that are important for your health and for contributing to saving the planet. If you apply them, you can have peace of mind that your business will be green from now on.
  3. Increased use of various electrical appliances has improved our lifestyle and comfort. However, we have all witnessed that electricity is becoming more expensive every day. A lot of people have discovered that old devices are more energy consuming so they often look for ways to replace them with new ones. In order to properly use a device it is necessary to carefully read the attached instructions before you install it. Every electrical device will last longer and save energy if it’s used in the right way. In addition, improper use of certain appliances can be a potential security risk. Hot water Energy consumption for making hot water in your home depends on the water heater type as well as the electrical installation. To heat up 10ºC to 80ºC will cost you the same as an hour of 100W light would. That means that water heating is not cheap so you should find a way to consume hot water more rationally. Every week we use at least 80 to 210 gallons of hot water. One full tub requires around 21 to 31 gallons of hot water while a shower consumes more than 13 gallons. This means that you will save more money if you rationally use showers instead of baths. Water heaters By replacing old water heaters with new ones you can save a lot of money because new heaters are a lot better insulated. This means that they are much more economical than the old models. When buying a new water heater you should look for one that suits your needs. Large water heaters can heat more water that your family actually needs. Small ones will heat up new water supplies even when the power is not cheap. It is also recommended to reduce the distance between the water heater and taps as much as possible. Refrigerators The use of the refrigerator is determined according to variety of factors. The model and isolation quality plays an important role in energy saving. It is best to choose a medium sized refrigerator without a freezer. You can by the freezer separately and this way you will make sure that it doesn’t cool too much. If you want the combination of both you should buy a model with an automatic defroster. Table models around 39 gallons will use between 0.4 and 1.1KW per day. The most energy efficient model can save you up to 90 dollars a year. The temperature of the room where the cooler is located is another important factor. A cold storage room near the kitchen can be an ideal solution. This room should be well insulated by plastering it with proper material. By reducing the spatial temperature you can save up to 4%. The worst position of the refrigerator is near the stove or heat sources like radiators. Lighting The consumption of light is determined by the strength of the bulb and the time of its glow. Experts claim that TL lamps and energy saving light bulbs are much more efficient the regular ones. If you must use these regular light bulbs make sure that you place them in rooms you rarely use like basements or washrooms. Insulation Houses can be made of different materials and that is the reason why different plaster should be applied for every house. Plastering the house is necessary for several reasons, primarily because of the thermal, acoustic and moisture but it is also good for aesthetic reasons. There are different types of techniques used for internal and external walls. After external plastering every house gets its final shape and appearance. This plaster also protects the walls against moisture, cold or high temperatures. Plaster for interior surfaces should also provide good hygienic conditions and it should be suitable for smoothing, applying paint or wallpapers.
  4. Modern storages feature the use of modern technological solutions that define the processes of accepting, managing and storing the goods. In order to stay competitive you need do more than just meet the standards. Going green will speak for itself because this move will show your reliability and it will save you some extra cash. Walk around and keep your eyes open – While walking around the warehouse think about changing as many installations to more efficient ones in order to save more energy. The warehouse doesn’t produce that much carbon footprint as much as the machines do but it will certainly count as the first measure of making a change. Install self-shutting doors on thermally regulated areas - While you search for any air leaks of the thermally regulated areas the problem might be with the front entrance. A lot of self-shutting doors work on the sensor principle with the shutting speed regulation. Maintaining a certain temperature on some areas may cost a lot of money so it is wise to have the rooms well isolated. By focusing on the door while isolating you can save a lot more than you think. Motion sensor lights – It is not a bad idea to install the motion sensors in every room. This way you will make sure that the light doesn’t stay on in vain and thus consume more energy and money. By installing the motion sensors you can save up to 70 percent of light electricity. Sensors and timers may be useful for a lot more things. For example, it can automatically regulate the temperature every time the personnel are present. This way you will ensure that the goods have an equal temperature at all time. The advantages of skylights – Every distribution center should have windows on the roof in order to provide the daily light and save the energy consumption of the light. Even a smallest window can be very efficient and make a huge difference for your warehouse. The mileage of forklifts – The forklifts are not made to cross many miles but they are doing a lot of heavy weight lifting around the storage. Order the employees to unload the goods as near as possible to the storing place in order to reduce the energy waste and cut the expenses as much as possible. Every moment counts – Every unnecessary motionless moment of a truck is energy consuming and has negative effects on going green with the facility. Making a better organized schedule program can have positive influence on you productivity as well as your savings. Tell the driver to turn off the truck while to loading process is taking place and make him feel comfortable in the waiting room. Rational consumption of supplies – A lot of distribution centers do not have a proper strategy of the loading and unloading process that can be time consuming and affect the air inside the facility. In order to prevent the large amount of carbon emissions of the warehouse, make an illustrated strategy for reducing the time of the machinery usage. Use the natural recourses – Another way to go green is by installing solar panels which will heat specific rooms. You can also use them for heating up water and save reduce the energy expenses even more. Collecting rain water for the maintenance of the surroundings is another way to use natural recourses. This is considered to be a great way to provide you facility with technical which can be used for floor washing for example. Going green is not just a trend it is a way of reducing expenses and showing business partners your reliability which can have impact on your reputation.
  5. Protecting the earth has become a top priority these days, when the planet is more polluted than ever, more and more trees are cut down, ocean levels are rising, species of beautiful animals become extinct and this paradise may soon become a hell if we are not careful. People who care about the earth are getting involved and one of the best ways to do something positive about this issue is to raise the awareness of other people who may not realize what's going on. But, what happens when traditional campaigns are not enough? People can have all sorts of ideas and this is how the strangest "save the planet campaigns" have been started. The Strangest "Save the Planet Campaigns" In one particular campaign, the forces of darkness represented by Darth Vader in white socks jumping on a beautiful flowering field are saving our earth. The forces of darkness encourage people to shut off the lights for one hour. The controversial image of Darth Vader in a summer outfit is meant to make people think and wake up. In another creative picture, the forests of the world are made to look like the lungs of our beloved planet. One of these lungs has been partially "deforested", so the capacity of the lungs to breath is diminished. For raising the awareness about the extinction of ocean life, a picture used as a Greenpeace ad showing a stream of garbage that flows through the water is very suggestive of what is happening with our oceans. Another controversial but awesome picture is the one of a women coming from her travels with souvenirs that come from animal abuse. There is a trail of blood from her suitcase. Even stranger is a video that encourages people to pee in the shower in order to save water. One of the strangest "save the planet campaigns" ever conducted is the one involving condoms. Why condoms? Because a major cause of the mass extinction of animals happening in the recent history is the fact that humans are overpopulating the planet. Species that are now becoming extinct can be the loggerhead sea turtle, the Atlantic bluefin tuna, the Mississippi gopher frog, the Lange's metalmark butterfly, the Gulf sturgeon, the polar bear, the Florida panther and others. These animals are just in the United States. The disappearance of species is now one thousand times more rapid than ever, due to human population growth. The condom campaign is about freedom of choice, education, diversity, respecting human rights and empowerment. People must have easier access to family planning. Family planning is a matter of health, welfare and a universal human right. It also has an impact on the environment. Contraception is encouraged, because women who use this method are healthier, more educated and empowered and also, economically productive. During this campaign, hundreds of thousands of condoms are given to people for free. The Earth Day and the Valentine's Day are especially considered for this purpose. In an attempt to do anything in their power to save this paradise called earth, people who care are doing desperate things. Raising the awareness about the negative effects some human activities may have on the environment is the primary concern. Creativity is a must in this type of work, because starting innovative and controversial campaigns may be one of the best ways of making people wake up.
  6. Saving the planet is not a one-time event; it’s a whole belief system you need to be constantly working on. Therefore, implementing ‘green’ into your business seems like a logical thing to do. Read the advice below that’ll help you do so! Clever management. Clever use. Clever re-use. It is kind of hard to resist the temptation of abusing resources given to us. It’s not that we are insensitive, but just rarely have the time to stop and think of what we’re doing to our planet. Now that you have stopped for a second, it is a safe bet to say that you are on the right path to making a difference for the planet. Giving up on all benefits of modern world is no solution. The key is in wise management of what you’ve got going on around you. Breaking old habits will be hard at the beginning, but once it becomes a reflex, you’re set! Start small: re-use plastic cups for water or just use regular glasses/mugs tone it down with the use of paper in the office; if, however, you must use it – use both sides when printing, photocopying, etc. re-use pots and jars; clean them and use them as storage for pens and other random items at the office. You can also use jars as vases, they’ll look equally fashionable at your office and your home envelopes can be used couple of times, just stick labels over the address; after you’re done using them, use them as scrap paper for notes Lights, set, go! Being smart about using electricity is not really a big deal. Basically, all you need is a few tips to guide you and that’s that. So, for starters, do this: In case you are leaving the office for longer than half an hour, make sure all gadgets are unplugged. In case some gadgets are too complicated to turn on and off each time, that’s fine – skip those. Just turn off and unplug all those pieces of equipment that are wasting the electric energy for no reason – printers, computers, photocopiers, scanners… all those are a huge source of electricity abuse All compact fluorescent bulbs should be replaced with the incandescent ones. If you are leaving the room for longer than 15 minutes, turn the lights off Abuse of paper is such an unnecessary enemy of the environment. Instead of wasting tones of paper on printing out stuff that is barely important, encourage your colleagues/employees to start sending e-mails. All presentations, proposals, handouts and other can be sent via e-mail. It’s even better to have them stored in a computer, as paper is easily lost among piles of folders and other documents Air-conditioning management should be one of your top priorities. You are obviously not going to let yourself sweat or freeze to death, but you need to start thinking smart: don’t heat or cool rooms you don’t use. Leave air-conditioning on only during working hours. and make sure it’s set to energy-saving mode. To additionally save up, add insulation (i your budget allows it) or install carpets that will help warm up the room Office supplies are a factor, too! Since we use office supplies all the time, we need to be aware that they factor in saving the planet, too. There are eco-friendly supplies that cost about 5-10% more than regular ones. Yes, they are more expensive but it’s a small price to pay if you consider you are contributing to overall pollution decrease. Non-toxic highlighters, refillable ink cartridges, 100% recycled paper and regularly replaced air filters are the direction you should take! Promotional items All promotional items you’ve prepared for your clients should be eco-friendly or have a marking that says your firm is eco-conscious. You can even put a slogan next to your firm’s logo, or just use one of generally used symbols. That way you’ll encourage your clients to follow in your footsteps and save the planet!
  7. Home insulation is a very important exercise that will not only save you of energy but will also make your home a great place to be in. A well insulated home will give you a good internal environment where you and your family can enjoy even in the dead of winter. Because of poor insulation, many homes overwork their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems leading to doubling or even tripling of power bills. One of the closely watched components when it comes to insulation is the cost. Many home owners are price-sensitive when it comes to home insulation processes. To save on your hard earned pennies, below are tips that can help you insulate your home on a budget. Choose Your Insulation Carefully There are two main categories of insulation that you can choose from. The first is bulk insulation while the other is reflective insulation.Bulk insulation makes use of pockets of trapped air to resist the transmission of convected and conducted heat. Regardless of the direction from which heat is flowing, its thermal resistance remains the same. Reflective insulation relies on an air layer measuring about 25 mm. Unlike bulk insulation, the thermal resistance exuded by reflective insulation varies depending on the direction of heat flow. Both bulk and reflective insulation come in different materials such as glass wool and cellulose fiber and you can choose the one that suits your budget. Compared to receptive insulation, bulk insulation is effective both in winter and summer. Know the Insulation Levels for Your Climate Different climates have different insulation levels. By knowing the specific or recommended insulation level for your climate, you will be able to save money by installing the exact insulation required without any additional or modifications. The R values for the roof insulation and that of the wall differ. Normally, the ceilings and roof will need insulation materials with high R values compared to the materials used on the walls. Where to Install the Insulation In order to save on costs while getting the maximum possible benefit, knowing where to install the insulation will save you a great deal. The most common areas to insulate include the roof, the ceiling and the floor. However, windows also need insulation to limit chances of heat loss. Roof and Ceilings – Insulation installed under roofing material will help in cutting down radiant heat gain. On the other hand, insulated ceilings will reduce significantly any heat loss or heat gains. On the ceiling, the insulation is usually installed between the joists. In instances where outdoor living spaces are extensively used, insulating veranda roofs can help in reducing radiant heat gain in hot climates. Floor – To enhance heat retention within your home, consider installing insulation on the underside of your floorboards. Because of the technicality, this process may have to be undertaken by a registered installer. One of the ways in which you can insulate the floor is by use of a solid rug. By putting a solid rug on bare floorboards, your toes will be kept warm and it will also block some draughts. Fit Draught-Proof Gaps To help in solving draught where some areas of the house are colder than the rest, you can install draught excluders. These are fitted in the gaps around your windows. Covering draughty letter boxes can also be an amicable solution. All these measures will help in retaining heat within your home. If you are good enough, you can do the insulation installation on your own but if you feel inadequate, a specialist can help you at a small fee.
  8. Home insulation is a very vital procedure not only for new home builders but also for owners of old homes. However, some people tend to take it for granted. Non-insulated homes allow heat to escape which may make a home an uncomfortable place to live in especially during winter. Some people may be willing to insulate their homes but the lack a procedure and guideline on how to go about it. Before a person can embark on any insulation activity, he/she should be made aware that the level and type of insulation that a home requires is dependent on the prevailing climatic conditions in an area. Once that has been understood, it will be easy to install an ideal insulation. Types of insulation that new home builders should consider at all times 1. Bulk insulation Bulk insulation is ideal on locations where heat is lost through conduction or convection. The thermal resistance of bulk insulators is equal regardless of the direction where the heat is moving. Examples of materials that are used in thermal insulation include wool, glass wool, cellulose fiber and polyester among others. 2. Reflective insulation Reflective insulation is applied where there is radiant heat loss. The insulation relies on the presence of air layers of about 25mm next to a surface i.e. a shiny surface. Reflective insulation has been in use for many years and it has seen big institutions as well as homes reduce the loss of heat by big margins. Depending on the situation where the insulation has been used, certain kinds of insulation can function as vapor or moisture barriers. Procedure and guideline on how to properly insulate your home 1. Stopping heat loss through the doors To effectively stop heat loss via the doors, it is advisable to fit draught excluders around all exit doors. Draught excluders can be obtained from local stores. 2. Insulate the windows Windows are another area that allows heat to escape from the house. Proper insulation of the windows involves filling the cracks and crevices with sealers. Window dressings can also be used to enhance insulation. For example, closing curtains and blinds are known to facilitate trapping of warm air which in turn prevents draughts. Good curtains and blinds are those that have thermal backing. 3. Floor gaps If your home has gaps between the skirting board and the floor, it is a high time that you consider getting silicone sealers. Insulation beneath floor boards can be achieved by engaging experts. 4. Insulation of the loft The loft and the attic can also be a source of heat loss. In that case, laying some simple loft insulation is a great idea. It can enable a home owner to save a lot of money since the charges bills will be reduced significantly. Loft insulation is simple especially if we are talking about new and modern luxury home. Losing heat via the loft is unexplainable. Essential tools that is necessary when carrying out the insulation process · Gloves and masks · Stable guns and stables · Torches · Goggles · Tape measure · Ladder With the information above in your fingertips, you will be sure to have a warm home. Your family members and pets will enjoy being at home always regardless of the season. Be sure to consult an expert in case you are in dilemma about how to carry out certain insulation procedures.
  9. Why is the insulation necessary? What benefits do you have from it and which insulating material do you need to select? There are a lot of questions when it comes to insulating your home so here are some ’’how to’’ tips: Life in a house with no home insulation is hard to imagine because you can encounter at least one of the following five symptoms: -The feeling of lack of heat in a well heated room in the winter time. -House rapidly cooling down after turning off the heating -Unbearable summer heat in the premises -Dampness, mildew, condensation and fungus in the cracks and corners -Cracks in walls and in the plaster The importance of the insulation Insulation is mechanically protecting the structure and extending its existence. It is reducing the energy consumption when using the heating and the cooling and saving your money this way. It is affecting the creation of a healthy microclimate for a good accommodation of your household members. Insulation is directly affecting the value of the property and protecting the environment by reducing the amount of carbon footprint of your home. Façade insulation During the adaptation of the facade it is necessary to install the insulation. The additional cost for the insulation is from 20 to 40 percent of the total cost of renovating the façade. By placing the insulation on the outer side of the facades it is solving the problem of condensation of steam (showering, cooking) and this occurs due to the low temperature of the wall. This way you are also solving the formation of the mold. This is increasing the thermal comfort in the area of the wall due to the increased temperature. The thermal insulation protects the buildings from harmful external activities and their effects (like moisture, freezing, overheating) which prolongs the lifetime of the structure. The most frequently used insulating materials are the mineral wool and polystyrene (Styrofoam). If we compare the two houses of same sizes, one built with and other without the insulation, the cost of heating can be up to 6 times greater. Roof insulation The attic is usually the part of the house that is most ignored and it usually has a function of a pantry where you place all of the unnecessary things. About 60% of the energy gets lost through the poorly insulated ceilings. If you don’t plan to have a living space on your attic than all you need to do is to insulate the attic on from the upper side of the ceiling. Frist thing you need to do is clean the entire ceiling and warp it with a protective layer of mineral wool with at least 5 cm of thickness. Second thing that you have to pay attention to is that the wool must be hard-pressed so you can place the plastic on top of it. The next step is covering the plastic with the concrete floor with the thickness of 4 to 5cm. If you anticipate that you will use this room as a living space then you need to insulate the roof and the gable walls. Fill the space between the rafters with soft mineral wool with minimum thickness of 10cm. Place a protective aluminum foil on the outer side that will act as a vapor barrier and this will prevent condensation of water vapor. Place the plates on the bottom side below the wool. This can be done either with plaster, OSB flooring or by paneling. The side walls should be covered with polystyrene with a thickness of 5 cm and attach it directly to the wall. Next, cover that with a net and finish it off with the sealing compound. Useful information for this article has been kindly provided by acgbuilding.com.au.
  10. Every pet owner dreams of going green with his/her pet but a few of this individuals realize their dream. Those who fail to realize their dream have one reason to blame – they are not aware of the ways to go green with a pet. When our pets are living green, we not only facilitate the creation of a healthy earth but we also aid in ensuring that our pets are healthy. In the light of this, going green with our pets should be a goal to be attained by every pet owner. 1. Purchase pet gifts that are eco-friendly When you go out to buy a gift for your pet, ensure that the gift is eco-friendly. Gifts that are made of recycled materials and sustainable fibers e.g. hemp are recommended. For example, if you go out to buy a pet bed, a bed that is made from materials such as organic cottons are the best since they are comfortable and are friendly to the environment. 2. Feed them using organic foods Going green requires us to watch the kind of food that we use on our pets. If you are keen enough, you must have realized that most pet foods that are found in food stores are made from animal by-products and fillers that are processed in dangerous ways. In fact, the materials that have been used to manufacture such food have been rendered harmful for human consumption. Surely, if they are harmful to us, why should a person buy the same food for his/her pet? The best option is to go for organic foods that have been minimally processed. Always buy organic foods that have been approved by reputable organizations. 3. Scoop the poop Most of us are used to the idea of using polythene papers to dispose pet poop. That is wrong. Considering the fact that our pets will always live with us for a significant amount of time, it means the number of poop bags that we will dump will increase over time. In that case, it is advisable to scoop the poop and dispose it without using the polythene bags. This will not only reduce the number of non-biodegradable bags in the environment but it will also reduce the cost of having to buy the polythene bags regularly. Alternatively, if you should use a container, go for a biodegradable one or simply use a toilet trainer. 4. Clean your pet using earth- friendly detergents There are plenty of earth-friendly detergents that you can use in cleaning your pet. Others cleaning agents e.g. pet shampoo are not only earth friendly, they are also safe on your pet since they contain no chemicals and toxins. The shampoo also breaks down easily in water hence it is harmless to the water system. 5. Adopt a pet instead of buying If everyone contributes to towards the reduction of the number of pets in our streets, there is no doubt that going green with our pets will be achieved. Nowadays, our streets are filled with homeless pets that wander around while polluting their environment. In that case, serious persons who want to go green with pets should start with adopting at least one pet from local shelters.
  11. If someone told you 10 or 20 years ago that you will be in presence of such wonder as shipping containers are (and their multiple use!), you’d probably laugh it out. But, since you both are here now, there is nothing else to do but admit it’s what an amazing and functional piece of equipment shipping containers are. Even if you think they look bleak and plain, you are wrong – their design is pretty amazing, the choice of colors various and their use – stunning! Apart from being used in shipping industry, they are now known to be used in several innovative ways outside the industry as well. We give you some of the possible uses of shipping containers and it’s up to you to choose your favorite! Multiple Innovative Uses Shipping containers are not just a thing of outback – they are very well received in urban centers, too. Most often they are used as mobile offices on mining and construction sites due to their easy transport. On rural properties they usually serve as storage or even temporary emergency housing due to storms and other natural catastrophes. You’d be surprised to know that these don’t only serve as temporary solutions – most are used as permanent homes, offices, establishments and a large number of architects got interested into adding some design and making them modern-looking dwellings. Great thing is that unlike homes built from scratch, choosing to go with a shipping container means you are not required to have the same approvals from various councils. Another positive aspect is that containers are already built to be airtight which means you won’t have additional expenses of insulation. Believe it or not entire complexes can be created from multiple, stacked shipping containers with one being at the cost of around $30,000. Environmentalists worldwide have also embraced reused shipping containers! They can be easily outfitted with sliding glass doors, windows and all other features that will make it as functional as actual homes. Some people have even embraced the mix and match situation – they have ‘updated’ their homes by adding shipping containers as an extension in the purpose of it serving as a bedroom, a studio, home office, storage units, garages... basically for anything your heart desires. Hotels, Stores, Mini-Malls and other It is no secret that shipping containers are easy to put together, they are known for the speed of assembly and, maybe most importantly – for the lowered costs! Imagine just how much money you need to spend on concrete, bricks, wood, rebar, and other building materials! Include expensive transport and you’ve got yourself a huge bill! This is why hotels worldwide are starting to embrace the notion of shipping containers as structures over conventional buildings. And it’s not just hotels – stores, mini-malls, summer houses and similar are pretty open to it too! You’d be surprised to find out that another increasingly popular alternative use for the containers is student residences. They are bright, pleasant, and highly functional! In addition to providing regular containers, most companies (if not all) offer the option of transforming containers with the addition of interior walls, windows, doors, electricity and water supplies to serve a variety of purposes, including home offices, change rooms, first aid rooms, temporary accommodation units, mine or construction site offices, ablution blocks, and much more. The Future If you think about it, the era of shipping containers is already here (and some pretty amazing at that) so can you even being to imagine how much the overall shipping containers business will advance in the upcoming years? Shipping containers are incorporated into defence, road and rail, and a range of other projects and events. Still, this doesn’t mean their use as homes is over. With so many interested parties – designers, engineers and architects, we believe the multi-purpose uses of shipping containers will continue to grow worldwide. So, what will YOU be using your shipping containers for? Useful information for this article has been kindly provided by allshelter.com.au
  12. There are many reasons why you should do your best if you want to have the most energy efficient home possible. The first one is the environmental consciousness as we all should do our share in order to stop, slow down or even reverse the ongoing pollution and energy waste all over the world. The second reason is not as humane as the first one, but it is important to you as an individual, and that is saving money on the long run. Therefore, get a little more educated on the topic and make a really energy efficient home. Insulation It is inevitable that you need to heat up the home during the wintertime, but it doesn’t mean that the whole house should be burning up like in the middle of the summer. You need to bring it down a notch, but also, you need to make sure that you are not heating up the street and wasting it all. This would mean that you need to spend more energy in order to heat the same place. Insulating should start from the windows and doors that need to be taped so that they don’t allow the air flow. Also, windows need to be vinyl rather than aluminum. The last, but not the least are the floor and the ceiling. Since all the heat tends to go up, having a well-insulated ceiling can save a lot of energy. In summertime, all this will help the heat from coming in, leaving your home cool with the least energy spent possible. Alternative Sources Perhaps you will not be able to heat up your home on solar panel, but at least, you will be able to cut down the usage of other type of fuel. For example, you don’t have to hook up your heaters on solar panels or windmills, but you can use them for lighting or water heating for the dishes and other minor things. When those minor things add up, you get a cut down on your energy spends by 30%. Timers and Regulators Everything that can be turned off when you are not using it, should be turned off. This goes for all sorts of heaters, ovens, air conditionings and other things around your home. Get them all on times and regulators so that every minute they are working is well spent. This will be a major cut down on your monthly energy bill. Eco-Friendly Devices There are tons of devices nowadays that are very eco-friendly as people became more environmentally conscious in the recent years. All those washing machines, water heaters, ovens and fridges now have their alternative variants that do the job just as well, but using far less energy. Try investing in them as they are remarkable allies in a fight for lower energy consumption. They may be slightly more expensive and you will probably need a special tool supplier to start with, but they pay off quite quickly. These are among the things that anybody can do. Regardless of the fact if you are about to think twice before buying just any kind of floor tiles when you can buy the ones that save the heat from going away, or are you about to invest in alternative sources of energy, you need to do something and start somewhere. You should consider it your duty as a citizen of those planet.
  13. Hello DianaSmith, welcome to Green Blog! :)

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