Act Green Blog

Archive for September, 2009

There is greater awareness about conserving the environment and people are now turning to green cars. Generally, green cars cost more than ordinary cars and for this reason insurance companies offer discounts to those who own them.

The lower insurance costs for these cars are also as a result of the research done on drivers who use them. The drivers are less reckless compared to those who drive the fuel guzzlers. This means they are viewed as less of a risk and those considered to be low risk get to enjoy lower insurance premiums.

To enjoy the low premiums, buy a car that has low emission and also get into the programs that are offered by the insurance companies that are aimed at carbon offsetting. The programs take off a percentage of the price on your policy and the amount is used in the projects that assist in carbon offsetting.

Green building is a phenomenon that aims at instilling environmental-friendly practices in contractors and others involved in construction of buildings. Some of these trends that have been adopted include: substituting cement with other materials that are less toxic. These include fly ash, rice hull, silica fume and slag. Just like cement these materials are durable but cause no adverse effects on the environment. Another trend is use of low or no volatile organic compounds paints that are a major air pollutant. An alternative is the latex-based paints.

Another trend is use of bamboo for making floors as opposed to the hardwoods. Bamboos are beautiful and grow very fast. Further still, builders can incorporate equipment used for harvesting and storing rain water in the buildings as this reduces demand on the country’ s water supply. Installing of solar panels is also a green building practice as it makes use of the sun-a natural resource.

Is your bathroom out dated and needs remodeling? Well you can now go green by renovating your bathroom with energy saving and eco friendly resources. The products to use in a bathroom should be recycled and attractive altogether. By improving you bathroom with green products it becomes more valuable especially in a time like this when people are looking to buy “green” homes. Vanities and floors made from environmentally friendly material are the way to go. No matter you choice make the bathroom look attractive.

As you renovate you bathroom go for recycled countertops, refinished sinks and fixtures, they will in the long run save you money. Changing the old standard toilet in your bathroom to a smaller dual flush toilet for reduction of water consumption is a good idea. The lighting in the bathroom can also be changed from incandescent to halogen or fluorescent lighting which saves much energy.

The elements of green design includes: sustainable site design, water conservation and quality, energy and environment, indoor environmental quality, and the issue of materials and resources. When designing, one is supposed to choose sites such that they do not damage any parts that are critical to the ecosystem. This ensures that certain important parts of the landscape including water towers do not become unnecessarily endangered.

When planning for the structure, the designer should create a budget that allows for retention of low impact storm water and include in the design features which will make it possible to achieve this. Solar energy is quite an effective resource if only one could work in features that help them capture the passive potential of this source. Maximization of the day’s light and making it well ventilated makes for a well designed structure. Engineer designed stress building materials make for an efficiently safe structure.

Green carpet cleaning is use of ecologically-friendly solutions that have no adverse effect to the environment. Green carpet cleaning is not just important for environmental purposes but heath reasons as well. Harmful chemicals used in the conventional cleaning solutions have been found to cause ailments such as asthma and weakening the immune system.

Other benefits of green carpeting cleaning include; that it protects the indoor air quality thus the occupants’ health is not at risk. The green cleaning solutions are safe for the pets that usually lie on the carpet so that no hazardous chemicals will be inhaled. The green ingredients used in the solutions are biodegradable and no volatile organic compounds that can pollute the air. When using green chemicals lesser amounts of water are needed thus prolonging the lifespan of the carpet as well as conserving this precious resource. The likelihood of molds growing on the carpet is also reduced.

Many ways have been put into place to ensure that the environment is preserved. The use of eco friendly methods and facilities is encouraged. One of these eco-friendly methods is the use of green printing. It is an excellent strategy to reduce carbon footprint on the earth. Many benefits of green printing are:

Eco-friendly Inks

The use of green printing methods employs the use of vegetable-based oils than the traditional printing that utilizes petroleum based ones. The use of green inks makes an easier and healthier method of disposing the inks without harming the environment.

Green Paper

This type of paper is not treated by use of chlorine and is 100% recyclable. This helps preserve our forests.

Clean Power

Since all the printing facilities require power to run, the green printing facilities considers the environment when searching for a power source. This allows others to invest in renewable energy methods reducing impact on the environment.

Hang tags are used by the manufacturers as an overall packaging and branding of their products. The hang tags also let the customer know all about the brand they are purchasing. But most often these hang tags are taken out and thrown away without any further use. These hang tags use up a large amount of paper which becomes useless. Instead the brands should design the hang tags in such a way that it promotes their commitment to nature.

The color of the hang tags may be kept green with a picture of tree or leave to show that you work for the noble cause of protecting the nature.

The hang tags can also be made as business cards so that the customers don’t throw them away but keep them for future need.

Instead of using paper for making the hang tags, one can go for cloth or any natural material designed aesthetically as hang tags.

One can also mention the ways that the product will contribute to conserving nature. For example you can mention that for each product sold, a tree would be planted. This will reflect you good cause and brand commitment to nature.

A person spends a lot of time at his work place. It has been estimated that offices and work places consumes one third of the total energy consumption of a city. It also is a major source of energy wastage. These can overcome if we go green at office also by following some easy methods:

Try to take advantage of the natural light and air. Make it possible to use the most of the sunlight during the day time.

Keep the air-conditioning at a normal temperature instead of lowering the temperature too much.
Computers in the office consume a big chunk of electricity. Set your computer in the hibernate mode. This will save unnecessary wastage of electricity. Before going home don’t forget to switch off the computer as well the power strip where it is connected. The monitors, computers and printers etc should be of energy saving models. This will ensure huge savings at long run.

Being print smarter is also a big way to go green. Print only the necessary data, rest send as email if possible. Use recycled papers for printouts. Use the discarded or used papers to write drafts etc.

During the spring and winters people flock around the beaches and mountains for swimming, hiking, trekking etc. it is the time when dermatologists as well as beauty experts advise you to dab sunscreen to protect your skin from the UV rays of the sun. UV rays can cause premature aging of the skin and a long exposure can cause skin cancer also. But most of the sunscreen lotions damage the environment also so it is important that one goes green with the sunscreen also.

Use sunscreen that has natural base. The herbal sunscreen can not only protect your skin but also can protect the delicate corals of the sea when you go for swimming.

Use the product that has not been tested on the animals.

Go for mineral sunscreen that has broad spectrum coverage and protection. The sea mineral based sunscreen is a better option.

Avoid using sunscreen based on petroleum ingredients like mineral oil instead go for natural emollients like olive, jojoba, sunflower oil, cocoa butter etc.

If possible use protective clothing instead of too much of sunscreen to protect your skin. The clothing is better as most part of the body would remain covered and only the exposed parts will need sunscreen.

To go green in 2010 is not a fad but a necessity of the time. There are many ways, by which it can be accomplished but it requires effort from all including individuals, firms, companies and even government.

First and foremost would be to reduce carbon footprint. This calls for manufacturing and using vehicles which are fuel efficient. New low fuel and hybrid vehicles are the need of the day.
Planting of trees should be encouraged at all level. Deforestation in the third world countries need to be checked.

Every individual should take oath to personally save the environment by going green.
Use of electricity and energy should be minimized. The water is another natural resource that needs to be conserved.

Stop using too much of paper and paper products to save trees.

Alternate sources of energy should be promoted and made available at affordable price.