If your property is losing heat due to inefficient windows, you could be wasting more energy than you realise not to mention increasing your utility bills. Upgrading your windows and replacing your existing ones with energy efficient windows can make a huge difference. Replacing your windows will also increase your own comfort by reducing cold drafts and you can turn your heating system down a notch to save energy.

Replacing your Light Bulbs

You may not think that changing your light bulbs could have such a huge effect when it comes to saving energy but this simple step can generate huge savings. While it may cost you to purchase new light bulbs for your home, you will soon be earning it back in savings. Start by replacing the light bulbs that you use the most and don’t forget to include your outdoor lighting also.

Insulate your Home

Ensuring that your attic is properly sealed and insulated can help to keep the heat in your home in winter and out in summer. Taking control of the temperature of your home with insulation in this way can help to take the pressure off your heating and air conditioning systems and save your pennies in the process.

Air Sealing your Home

Is one room in your house colder than the others? If you have a constant cold draught, this is a sign that your home is poorly insulated and sealing it can help. The first place to seal is your doors and windows as this is where you lose the most heat. However, you may consider sealing the attic and the basement too.

If you want to increase your energy savings this summer and lower your bills, book an energy assessment to see which areas of your home could be improved. The first step to greener living is to have a professional come to your home to do an energy analysis. This will help to highlight the ways in which your home is losing energy. Mark Group specialises in energy efficiency Pennsylvania and beyond. Get in touch with Mark Group to see how much you could save today.

Between 1880 and 1920, European and American artists rediscovered “crafts,” working their magic on everything from fine hardwoods to concrete. The so-called “crafts movement” produced exquisite works of art for everyday use, and the finest architects of the time often went out of their way to incorporate handicrafts in their designs. Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright ornamented some of their most famous designs with the best of the crafts movement. Everything in Frank Lloyd Wright’s own home in Oak Park, Illinois, shows the craft movement’s influence: every piece of furniture was handmade from imported hardwoods in compliance with Wright’s designs, and even the wallpaper was custom-printed by paper artists. Because the crafts movement made a political as well as an artistic statement, protesting exploitation of factory workers who mass-produced household goods, the movement’s wonderworks were fashioned by hand from all-natural materials—“organic handicrafts” in their purest form.

A renaissance in fine organic handicrafts

Not surprisingly, the crafts movement is enjoying a twenty-first century renaissance. Recognizing the earth-friendliness and durability in organic handicrafts, interior designers, fine artists, wise homeowners, and visionary entrepreneurs are using organic and recycled materials as their media-of-choice for everyday household art. Architectural salvage experts are collaborating with custom builders and upscale renovators as they integrate antique organic handicrafts into their post-modern designs. Just as importantly, the world’s best clothing designers are using hand-woven, organically grown fabrics for their apparel lines.

According to Amanda Brennan-Bolanos, an up-and-coming southern California interior designer, “Name any household or office item, and I promise I can outfit you with the organic handicraft model of it.” Ms. Brennan-Bolanos guarantees she can deliver “the handcrafted, organic model” of everything from your plates, glasses, and silverware to your bathtub and toilet. Or she can outfit you with an organic hand-crafted computer desk and custom-fitted office chair. She also can find an organic-handcrafted hardwood floor for your home or office. She concedes you pay a little more for these custom-crafted artifacts, but she stresses they are “indestructible” even in the roughest everyday use. “And when your children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren inherit your home or business, the organic handicrafts will still look good as new,” she stresses.

Organic handicrafts in home décor

The word “handicrafts” takes precedence in the discussion of all-natural home and office products. Post-modern craftspersons invest their talent, skill, pride, and passion in fashioning furniture, draperies, bedding, stoneware, glassware, and silverware by hand, using techniques first perfected in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Moreover, they add features that enhance both function and durability to their organic handicrafts—dovetailing in furniture joints, carving in table legs and feet, extra high sides for spill-proofing on dishes and bowls, and all-brass hand-forged faucets on bathroom fixtures.

Woodworkers show their sensitivity to environmental issues, acknowledging that some of the world’s finest hardwoods have been harvested from endangered South American rainforests or old-growth North American timber. They stress, however, in order to satisfy the strictest standards for labeling their products “organic,” they frequently must use recycled hardwoods, fashioning their handicrafts from recycled building materials. Sean McCreary, a furniture maker, argues, “If I used particle board, plywood, or plantation-grown wood in my pieces, I not only would encourage poor forest management but also would introduce all kinds of volatile organic chemicals into people’s homes. Particle board, the essential material in most manufactured furniture, is some nasty, nasty stuff,” he shakes his head in disgust.

Organic handicrafts in fine apparel

“Factory-farmed” cotton ravages the earth. In order to grow cotton year after year on the same acreage, commercial cotton farmers must pre-treat the soil and then constantly “nourish” their crops with chemical fertilizers, because cotton sucks all the nutrients from the soil as it grows and blossoms. Even more dangerously, protecting their crops from weevils and other pests, commercial cotton farmers use extremely toxic pesticides that frequently work their way into water supplies. In the third world, major cotton producers use a variety of chemicals banned in the United States and throughout the European Union. Even with extensive laundering, cotton fibers do not release all the toxins they have collected as they have grown. Cotton stands-out simply as the most extreme example. High-volume producers of almost all fabrics abuse the environment in their relentless pursuit of profits. Sadly, they compromise not only the quality of their land and produce but also the quality of their products.

By sharp contrast, organically grown and hand-woven fabrics dyed with vegetable colors generally are softer, more workable, and far more durable than their commercial equivalents. More importantly, organic, hand-crafted fabrics do not waste water in manufacturing, nor do they pump chlorine bleach into the waste water. Of course, weaving these fabrics leaves little if any carbon footprint, and your great-grandmother’s quilts testify the fabric and garments crafted from it will last for at least a century.

Environmental reports start by producing an aerial photograph of the area in question. The old adage that a picture paints a thousand words is very applicable here as an aerial photo within environmental reports quickly highlights and showcases any issues that need consideration.

Next, depending on the criteria of the environmental reports, the study will start to fully disclose the history of the area or land in question. Key issues such as whether any mining has been carried out on the land, whether there has been any infill on a previous quarry or landfill in the area will be considered. Fully understanding these critical issues is imperative to ensure that development of the land is not endangered, that the type of development is appropriate or simply that an investment or purchase is secure.

Environmental reports also look thoroughly at the geology. By considering the bedrock and any other mineral sublayers, the reports can give a clear indication of

the viability of a potential plot and allow clients to make informed decisions by forewarning them of any potential issues.

Where environmental reports excel is by collating data from multiple sources. In the United Kingdom and other countries, local authorities, planning agencies and other institutions hold plenty of current and historical data on property but to gather all the relevant information is a painstakingly laborious process that is best left to the professionals. These consultants will have ready access to the most authoritative sources of information that are compiled within environmental reports.

These sturdy containers are made from hard wearing materials and can keep the contents safe and dry. As the winter months approach, it is now more important than ever to invest in weather resistant storage. Shipping containers are a practical storage solution and can store staff bicycles, musical equipment and more.

Shipping containers can create additional areas such as a recycling area and additional facilities such as a student center. Browse an extensive range of 10ft, 20ft and 40ft shipping container for hire online.

The focus of the drive is to remove the troubles faced by the highly affected areas of Haiti and China Horquin Desert due to deforestation.

In China, the company has come into a deal with GreenNet, a Japanese NGO which has been into operation since 2001 to reforest the barren areas and also bring together the localities of the regions to join hands and contribute towards the task of planting trees and shrubs. In Haiti also similar such deal has been struck with ‘Trees for the Future’ and ‘Yéle Haiti Foundation on Yéle Vert’ to encourage community based agro-forestry & environmental education programs.

In order to bring in a larger number of audience in contribute towards the reforestation program, Timberland Company has a virtual forest. It is essentially a Facebook application designed by Bridge Worldwide, a digital marketing agency and is called ‘Timberland Earthkeepers Virtual Forest’. This application is targeted to help consumers to plant virtual trees in addition to that by the 5 in 5. The Company believes that this would indirectly help in making the virtual turn into a real tree planting effort.

The users of the application can name their virtual forests, add messages to the trees in their friends’ forests and also get ranked amongst other users. They can also view videos featuring farmers participating in Yéle Vert and also get information about Timberland.

Those interested in having their own virtual forests may visit http://www.Facebook.com/Timberland and for those interested in information regarding Timberland, visit www.Timberland.com.

I am a developer and domain investor. I sincerely believe that as more and more citizens become aware of the importance of protecting our environmental balance, we are bound to see a bigger collective movement…specially on the Web.

A few days ago, I acquired OrganicAuctions.com and currently am looking for interested marketers and investors for a joint venture on developing the domain.

Two other eco domains that I currently have for sale are:

EcoSystem.me and HybridHut.com

I am willing to sell it to the right person who would be willing to develop the domains. In a few years from now, with a little effort and time, we would have walked a long way…

Feel free to get to back to me at: director@adflect.com if you’re interested in partnering with us on OrganicAuctions.com project or buying the domains mentioned above.

Best,

Alistair

Another reason that could be attributed to food waste is the growing number of Restaurants. It can be evidently said that the rate of food waste has been consistent with the growth of the idea of ‘eating out’. There are almost negligible restrictions on personal portions of food in a given helping. Moreover the buffets are characterized by much of the food being thrown out either as people taking much more than they can possibly have or as excess preparations at the end of the day.

Do we have any idea that what are the other damages that such wastage is causing apart from the very cause itself? May be these few facts may give some:

The PLOS study shows that wasted food currently used about three hundred barrels of oil per year (approximately) which accounts for about 4% of the total US oil consumption in any given year!

The waste also uses up one fourth of the total freshwater consumption of the country itself!

Another report of the researchers revealed food waste being used as land-fills rotted up and produced significant quantities of methane which poses greater danger to environmental pollution than CO2 .

Sodexo, an organization working for curbing food wastage is currently taking steps like writing blogs, publishing articles, initiating talks in order to make people aware of the alarming situation and join hands to control food waste.

The history of green fairs is an interesting one, and the more one reads about it, the more hopeful one gets about the future of the planet and its possible salvation from environmental threats. If ecologists and environmentalists work towards organizing these green fairs, more awareness will be dispersed across the globe, paving the way for a greener, peaceful planet.

If we look back into the past, we find that the habit of celebrating nature and raising awareness of its many resources started as early as the 1800s. One such event was the Brome Fair, an agricultural fair home to the small village of Brome, situated in the Eastern Townships region of the city of Quebec in Canada. This fair is celebrated every year on the Labor Day weekend. This fair started as early as 1856, and although it cannot be called a full scale ecological or green fair, it was a start in the right direction.

Expo ‘74 is another such environmentally geared event that was held in Spokane, Washington as early as 1974. The common theme that ran through this green fair was that of “Celebrating Tomorrow’s Fresh New Environment.”

A familiar event for environmentalists is the Camden Green Fair that is held every year in London. The aim of this fair is to raise awareness of London residents about environmental issues, and to help them keep their surroundings clean and green.

The main purpose of most green fairs is to raise awareness of crucial environmental issues such as the harmful effects of plastic or the deteriorating impact of pollution on the health of the planet. Besides celebrating the spirit of nature, green fairs are also meant to get like-minded people together and provide them a common platform through which they give vent to their apprehensions and voice their opinions.

Green fairs are immensely useful in the way they get together a diverse group of people that comprise of eco-friendly business entrepreneurs, community members, visionary thinkers, and many of the environmental groups. The motive of such ecological fairs is to help build up relations between such groups and work towards the collective good of the environment.

Such fairs focus on the ways in which environmental groups can team up with businesses to create winning products and services that are conducive to the growth of the planet. We all know that the use of harmful chemicals to manufacture goods hampers the environment, and many businesses are now looking at going the organic way to manufacture environmentally friendly products. A green fair is the perfect platform for business leaders to meet green activists and exchange valuable ideas and notes on how to take a green campaign forward.

Most of the green fairs organized around the world also feature useful workshops and lectures on environmental issues. This is not just useful for students and research scholars or businesses but also for the common people who could much benefit from such vital knowledge. It helps to know about the state of the planet that we live in, and in what manifold ways we can go about making a difference. Since green fairs are huge crowd pullers this is an excellent way to grab their attention and inform them in a fun and exciting way about the many possible ways in which they can keep the planet beautifully green.

The importance of organizing these ecological fairs lies in the fact that they showcase all the natural richness of the planet in an easy to understand and attractive manner. Most times we read about crucial environmental issues on the newspapers, but the entire meaning may have got lost owing to the technicalities in the language or descriptions. Such reports may be child’s play for an environmental researcher, but for the common person it may be something too overwhelming. This is why it is important to organize green fairs to attract the masses and speak in their language. At the end of every green fair there is a tremendous amount of information that gets shared, and that makes for a great, positive step towards a healthy and green environment.

· Aggressive conservation— Ask a representative from your electric company to conduct an energy audit. Your energy auditor will walk your office with you, looking for energy saving opportunities; she may also itemize your electric bill, showing you where you spend the most for electric power, and suggesting ways to conserve.
In most offices, heating and cooling cost the most, followed closely by your large office machinery, your computers, and your lighting. If you have not already taken these measures, take them right away:
(1)Adjust your thermostat so that your heating and cooling system maintains the office at 72 degrees during the day and shuts-down completely at night. Better still, adjust the air conditioning to 74, making it a little warmer but still comfortable; adjust the heat to 70—everyone can add sweaters as needed. If your office has functional windows, use them; your energy auditor will help you arrange a schedule to capitalize on fresh air as an alternative to air conditioning.
(2) Turn-off your overhead fluorescent lighting and equip each workspace with a low-energy CFL desk lamp, insisting that your associates turn-off the lights when they take their breaks, go to lunch, and leave at the workday’s end.
(3)set your computers to go to sleep when they are not in use, and ask your associates to turn them off as they turn off their desk lamps.
(4)Make sure that your doors and frames are properly weather-stripped; and, if you have old fashioned windows that actually open and shut, make sure they have fresh weather-stripping, too. If you have exposed tile floors, lay down thick padding and then carpet them. The floor needs a layer of insulation, too.

· Natural light— Morale improves and you save money when you rely on natural light. Your energy auditor or an interior designer may show you alternative arrangements for your workstations, so that you may make the most of the natural light you have available. Give serious consideration to installing “three-dimensional skylights”—elevated well above the roof line, they have glass on the sides as well as the top, allowing for maximum sunlight from dawn until dusk. Ideally, you will install one large skylight over every major work area. Natural lighting is a great way of saving energy as well as maintaining great aesthetics for the workplace.

· Indoor landscaping— Plants act as natural insulation, and they purify your air. In other words, well-placed natural landscaping helps you control your heating and cooling costs, because it regulates the air’s natural circulation by maintaining a constant temperature throughout your open spaces. If some of your windows create hotspots in the office, put that sunlight to good use, letting it shine on a row of small trees or large containerized plants. Fertilize your indoor landscaping with the grounds from the coffee machine, and work with your office landscaping service to start composting food waste with the debris from routine maintenance of the grounds.

· Efficiency— Your printer, copier, and fax machine suck-up almost as much energy as your heating and air conditioning. Try to eliminate the fax machine altogether; regard your fax as a fossil relic from the 1990s. Save paper and electricity by printing only essential documents. In most settings, you can manage more than 90% of your documents electronically. Moreover, you know that your associates are comfortable and proficient with text messages; take advantage of that post-modern expertise. Similarly, manage projects to control printing, so that you may shut down the copier for extended periods—at least part of every business day, always over night, and often for days at a time.

The raising of awareness will result in something bigger that will elevate the overall condition of the earth. In order to help spread the whole aspect of environmental knowledge and aspiration for something better on earth, the new efforts are going to make massive changes. Many environmental concerns are expected to get solved this year.