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| Going Green |
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Monday, 27 April 2009
Perhaps one of the greatest tragedies and threats of all time is deforestation. Since our rainforests provide us with various living means, any form of peril to it should never be disregarded. Thus, focusing on the issues and planning more for solutions to deforestation is definitely a must.
Like all other problems, solutions come in a wide array of choices. However, you get to pick one first at a time and see if it's capable to yield good answers or not. In deforestation, it is admittedly quite difficult to find solutions to the dilemma mainly because of the huge scope that it encompasses. Remember, this act and its effects are directed not only at a specific area. All other parts of the world have gone through such act and all else have experienced how nature got back at them.
The Traditional Solution
The conventional solution aims to target and fix poverty which they consider to be the cause of deforestation. The government, together with various organizations, sees development as the main key to cure. Ironically speaking though, industrialization and further city developments are also one of the causes of deforestation. This happened to be the reason why the government has been buffeted by issues with regards to the solutions that they tried to provide. Nevertheless, here are the proposed (and mostly unrealistic) solutions the government has to offer:
Tropical Forest Action Plan (TFAP) is one of the anticipated problem solutions by the government. It operates through strategically implementing to the people the value of our forests. This plan has failed many times for obvious reasons. In fact, the government (as they say) should have created a much clever plan to truly eradicate the problem. Bringing up nonrealistic items over the table is just considered to be a waste of time.
Sustained Yield Forestry is one of the projected ways to minimize the output of timber in its yearly harvest. Issues have hovered around corrupt officials who permit excess timber counts in exchange for money. This solution therefore needs honest and responsible professional men to lead along the way to change. The question is, when and where will you see dignified men these days especially with the color of money around?
Reserve Strategies are also one of the seemingly impossible ways of treating the problem. Hording of resources and keeping them for future use is quite an impractical thing to do. It needs more practice, and thus should be disregarded in cases where abrupt changes could be made. Remember, the deforestation process is widely accelerating in number now, and plans which are time bounded should be followed.
Lastly, International Biodiversity Program is also one of the seen probabilities by the government to finish the problem of deforestation. However, it works almost the same as TFAP which is also proven to be non-beneficial. Traditional based planned strategies are all government solutions to deforestation. It is up to your own criticism now as to which will be judged the best.
The Realistic Solutions to Deforestation
The question on how to confront the problem is a bit daunting. It rather involves challenges not only among the normal people, but it also involves those who make the biggest decisions in our world. The evaluation of the solutions is directed towards the response of the people and of the other surrounding parties.
The realistic solutions to deforestation includes: timber labeling, addressing the problems of landlessness, recognizing the rights of indigenous people, and inequality and debt. Although these may be the most realistic ways to halt deforestation acts, it needs the cooperation of everyone else.
After all, a big plan cannot work if there is no full force addressed to it.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Ecological matters affect all life in this planet, from the negligible parasites to the human race. Slight interruption in the Earth's fragile balance can mean particular damage of the very place that embraces the lives of many species.
It is not so easy searching for ways to cure the presently perilous and confronting movements of planet dilapidation which have been a bother on the planet over the recent years. Deforestation statistics is one of the issues that require further study and consideration. Trees have been or are being cut down at progressively higher rates. If this is not blocked, ill-fated effects could be the consequence.
Although deforestation statistics are essentially needed by the government and all environmentalists for further studies, what calls for more attention are the initial steps toward the green movement. It requires every human effort in the planet coupled with sincerity to duties and diligence at the working process.
Why Forests Are Needed
To understand why deforestation is reaching global issues, we must first comprehend the need of forests and everything that it is composed of.
The natural world is the home of 50-90% of all kinds of flora and fauna. It is where the wildlife and ecosystem exists. Without it, the normal world cannot go through the different cycles of life. It is where all sorts of trade happen, from carbon dioxide elimination, to food consumption, and even to unknown organisms which may prove it useful in the future.
Undoubtedly, this is the very reason why such world should remain to be untouched by human hands. The work and doings of people may cause a disruption in the all-natural habitat, and all can turn into a disaster in no time.
Primarily, the forest is the living source of almost all species in the planet. However, it is not only there extinction that we should be afraid of. Studies show that 25% of the human medicines are derived form nature, and perhaps other cure for rare diseases may be there too. Our source of carbon dioxide exhaust is provided by the tree which inhabits in all forests. Without them protecting us, the world could be full of all toxic gases in no time. Truly, the services that nature renders can be totaled in immeasurable ways.
The Extent at Which Deforestation Ate the World
Developing countries with bigger populations such that of Europe has had about 90% of their forests turned into urbanized areas, and all for the purpose of metropolis revolution. Other countries have shown to have hit almost the same records too. All over the world, countries have followed deforestation into the extent that almost 80% of the total forested areas of the world have been compromised.
The effects are variable for every country too. Others had problems of greenhouse gases, soil erosions, limitless floods and other human catastrophes, and a lot more. The rates of disasters due to deforestation are only going sky high. The need to reverse the situation is called for by all leaders of earth movement. If not stopped, even human life can put to extinction in the coming years.
True enough, deforestation statistics is not perfectly accurate. However, we can see from our day to day lives that the world has changed in so many ways. It is a good thing if the world can progress yet remain to be untouched, but what is happening now is something that should be prevented even if it offers bigger benefits for humans.
Even the seas are now dumped with cement and transformed into dry lands for the construction of malls or other company buildings. One day, the world may change into a fully industrialized spot, and there would be no room for nature to grow.
While it is still early and stoppable, deforestation activities should be halted. Let nature freely live on its own; it would be better letting it live as peaceful as it is and as unharmed as it was.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Human beings have always been and possibly will be dependent on forests to some extent. Trees were there form of homes, their natural world, their mine for food and their shelter from opponents. Forests are greatly significant to man, and other living creatures as well; and unfortunately, it is one of the largest threats that the world is facing today.
Mainly, the problems we have are due to massive deforestation; and at the present moment, we are realistically experiencing the detrimental effects of deforestation and suffering from them at the same time.
Deforestation can be characterized by the great scale depletion of forests. Deforestation transpires when forests are transformed to barren lands and areas for industrialization, for source of human consumption, and other explanations without adequate restoration of the forests. It is rather the undying damage to the vast land areas on earth; and thus should be stopped and halted before the untoward effects become totally inevitable.
Effects of Deforestation in the Environment
Forests are one of the most organically distinct areas of the world. Millions of plant and animal species inhabit the forests and may or may not have been classified yet. The unique surroundings of these untouched beauties permit the existence of what we call biodiversity.
Simply, if the forests are to be destroyed wholly, all forms of biodiversities in it will be swept away. There is no probability of getting them back and having to reconstruct again a forest that is as perfect as the ones we have right now. Furthermore, if these places are completely shattered, the prospect to explore other probabilities would be lost forever.
The effects of deforestation on the coming genre ahead can be absolutely inestimable. Thus, the preservation and the protection against extinction of many species can leave the world with many opportunities open for the forthcoming people ahead. Areas such as medicine and other essential inventions can be gaping for future possibilities for the further advancement of humanity.
Effects of Deforestation in the Society
Much of the effects of deforestation weigh on the indigenous people bracket; this is because they form the largest inhabitants of the forests plus they earn a living from there too. All other groups affected such as hunters and agriculturists have been greatly tormented by the influx of colossal devastation of the forests. All forms of reproductions which people benefit form these land areas have been stopped; and thus, the whole world also suffered from its inescapable effects.
Indigenous people will become homeless if their form of habitation is taken away from them. The natives of every country would be fleeing to live somewhere else, thus bringing another set of problem for the world to absorb. Since they would assumingly transfer to rural and urban areas, their chances of living are narrowed because unlike city inhabitants, these people know less of the busy and buzzing world.
Overall, the terrible effects of deforestation cannot be compensated by the plans of further world development. No matter what great importance industrialization may bring, we must also consider that nature serves us in far better ways than buildings and other facilities you can see in urbanized areas.
Nature knows how to get back at us, and we can inevitably wait for more disastrous effects if humans to do not stop destroying it.
Monday, 27 April 2009
There are many examples of how going green saves you money. Kermit the Frog was wrong - it IS easy being green, and it saves you money at the same time. As the planet faces a period of warming where our actions are believed to be the prime cause, it makes sense to seek out examples of how going green saves you money and act on them.
That cell phone charger that stays plugged in, the DVD player that waits for the occasional playing, and the TV that sits on standby all night, these are prime examples of how going green saves you money - if you unplug them, that is. For even if the items are not working, they are consuming energy!
Another of the prime examples of how going green saves you money is switching from bottled water to filtered tap water. The average family spends some $1,400 a year on bottled water. And the worst part is that 95% of the plastic bottles are not recycled! For less than $100 you could get a high quality staged water filter to make your tap water perfect.
Examples of how going green saves you money are everywhere. Do you drive as fast as the law allows? You shouldn't. Car engines perform most efficiently at around 55 miles an hour. If you combine that with gentle driving on properly inflated tires, you will save money and help the planet too.
You could always use a bicycle to travel around town. Or you could simply walk for those short trips. You won't be pouring hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, warming the planet, you will save money, and you will get some good exercise at the same time. Walking and cycling when you can are excellent examples of how going green saves you money.
Some 65 million newspapers are printed every day in the US. Some 70% of them will not be recycled. What a waste of trees! You can do your bit to help, and read whatever news you want to read at the same time simply by going online. Very few newspapers don't have an online presence these days, so save some money and read from the web pages.
Do you want more example of how going green saves you money? They are all around you. Just look and you certainly will find them.
Monday, 27 April 2009
The earth receives more than enough energy from the sun in an hour to supply the world's energy requirement for the whole year.
Unfortunately, only a tiny portion of it is harnessed and the world still relies on power plants that burn fossil fuels. The good thing, though, is that there is a constant increase in demand for solar energy; and over the years of continuous development, solar panels are much cheaper today.
During peak hours, the maximum power density that the sun can give is about 1kW per square meter. In other words, one square meter of solar panel can produce as much as 100 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity in one year. That is enough to power 50,000 houses.
If a solar power plant is build on 1% of the total land area of the Sahara desert, it will satisfy the world's energy requirement.
The efficiency of solar panels depends on several factors such as pollution, clouds, temperature and atmospheric humidity.
Solar power plants are very similar to other conventional power plants - with one significant difference: The majority of power plants draw their power from fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas.
When power plants burn fossil fuels, they produce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Solar power plants or solar thermal power plants (or Concentrating Solar Power plants) utilize the power of the sun's rays to generate electricity.
The process could not be any simpler. The solar panels receive heat from the sun, which will be reflected to the receiver. The receiver converts into steam the concentrated solar energy. The steam is stored on tanks which will be used to turn the turbines and generate electricity.
The whole process does not involve any burning of any fossil fuels. Thus, solar power plants do not contribute to global warming.
The increase in the use of solar energy will bring down the demand for oil.
Today, there are more than 10,000 households with solar energy systems and the number is constantly increasing. If the demand for solar energy as well as other forms of alternative energy, the demand for oil will drop and the cost fuel will likely to follow.
Residential solar energy system can turn your electric meter backwards. Given that you are connected on a power-grid, the excess energy that your solar energy system produces will go to the electric lines to be used by other homes. As a result, any excess energy you give will be reflected on your bills. Your electric supplier will even pay for the electricity you supplied.
Residential solar energy system can save you money.
While the initial cash out for installing solar energy system at home is big, the device will pay for itself in the long run. Not only you will save money on solar energy system, you also help the environment by not contributing to carbon emissions.
Solar energy systems are reliable and can last for a very long time.
PV cells are last from 25 to 40 years. Many manufacturers of solar panels give 25 years product warranty. This is the assurance that solar panels are very dependable.
In addition, solar panels require little or no maintenance and the can be installed on most places where there is sunlight throughout the year.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Everyone should be driving to save gas, or more accurately, driving in such a way that you do save gas and therefore money while also helping the environment by creating less pollution. This is all part of being green and saving money. You kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Your car lasts longer, costs less to run, and you feel good about the cleaner air around you, for you are now driving to save gas. Here are 5 great tips to help you.
1. Slow things down. At 70 miles an hour you are not driving to save gas. A car engine operates most efficiently at around 55 miles an hour. At that speed you will burn the gas you need and waste as little as possible. You will also get to where you are going just fine, so keep the speed down.
2. Every time you plunge your foot to the floor, or brake hard, you are not driving to save gas - you are wasting it. Sure, it may look macho, but everything about your car suffers, and so does your pocket. When you are driving to save gas you will drive gently. You will accelerate moderately and brake smoothly. Always anticipate the need to slow down so that you don't have to slam the brakes on at the last moment or corner harder than you meant to. Driving to save gas comes easy when you think ahead.
3. Keep your tires properly inflated. Your engine uses some 20% of its efforts just overcoming the resistance of tire rolling. That percentage figure increases when the tires are under-inflated. The amount of gas you burn increases too. Keep your tires inflated at the manufacturers recommended level at all times, and only then will you start driving to save gas.
4. Lighten the load in your car to a minimum at all times. We're not talking about passengers here, but the junk that most people carry around with their cars. Go through the trunk and dump anything you don't absolutely need. Do the same in the car's interior. You will be surprised at just how much you have accumulated. It could be as much as 100 pounds. Carrying that much excess weight is not driving to save gas!
5. Only run your car's engine when you actually need it. Consider this: it has been estimated that customers sitting in line in idling cars at Burger King waste an amazing 16 million gallons of gas a year. That's certainly not driving to save gas! Starting your car uses about the same amount of gas as it will burn in one minute when idling. If you think you will be waiting longer than a minute, switch off. Driving to save gas is mostly common sense with a little thought. You can do it!
Monday, 27 April 2009
Drive smart, save green. It's a great phrase, and if more people took up the challenge, the whole country - no, the whole world - would benefit immensely. How can you make a difference to the environment with your driving? This article provides you with 7 great tips that you can put into action right away. You'll save money and help the environment too. OK, time to drive smart, save green...
1. It has to be said: the very best thing you can do to help the environment with your car is stop driving it! However, you may not have that option, so drive slower instead. Most cars perform best at speeds of between 50 mph to 60 mph. Not too slow and not too fast is how to drive smart, save green.
2. A staggering 20% of your car's fuel consumption is used up just overcoming tire roll resistance! How can you drive smart, save green in these circumstances? Buy quality tires that get great reviews. They may cost a little more, but they will perform better. And remember too that under inflated tires will cost you more in gas bills!
3. Lighten the load in your car. I'll bet there are things in your car's trunk that don't need to be there. Go through each item you regularly carry. If you don't really need it, dump it. You can drive smart, save green with a lighter load. That will let your car be more fuel efficient.
4. Switch off your engine while you wait if you are likely to be waiting more than one minute. Restarting your engine burns roughly about the same amount as one minute of idle time, so if you think you will be idling for more than a minute, cut the engine. You'll save gas and money - drive smart, save green.
5. Drive smoothly. This one shouldn't need to be mentioned. It should be the unspoken part of drive smart, drive green. Erratic driving with sudden accelerating and hard braking uses up extra gas. It puts extra wear and tear on your car, which means extra costs to you and the environment.
Learning to drive smart, save green is largely common sense. If you really need your car, then learn to drive it responsibly and sensibly. However, if you can walk easily to where you need to go, then do so! Only drive smart, save green when you can't walk.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Every business, small or large, should be thinking of how to go green at work in order to save money and the environment at the same time. Workers can be wasteful at work. Sometimes it's because they are not paying for their carelessness, or maybe because their boss doesn't care either. Knowing how to go green at work, at least a little bit, is invaluable. We should all be doing it and we can easily do it too. Here are 5 simple tips to help...
1. The office printer is one appliance in the work place where you can start learning how to go green at work. Paper comes from trees. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, preventing it from accumulating in the atmosphere and adding to the global greenhouse effect. You can cut paper usage in half at a single stroke by simply printing on both sides of every sheet of paper. That's one example of how to go green at work and save money too!
2. Business travel costs a huge fortune every year. This is not how to go green at work. No one travels by bicycle, or walks to meetings. No, they travel in huge gas-guzzling jets, or along highways in comfortable cars. Business travel puts a considerable strain on the planet. The answer? Use video conferencing as much as possible. With a good high speed Internet connection and a decent web cam, you can speak to anyone anywhere in the world. There's a good choice of conferencing software available, and all at a mere fraction of jet travel.
3. Work from home. That answers the question of how to go green at work by cutting down on office expenses. You heat your home anyway, and as long as you have the necessary communications needed to do your job, then why not work from home! Of course, if you're a truck driver, or a circus clown, it may be more difficult.
4. Invoice by email. This is one of the simplest ways of how to go green at work. As in tip number one, you save on paper and a lot of paper too. Let your customers have the option to pay online of possible. The more you can do electronically that has traditionally been done with paper, the more the planet will benefit, and you'll save money too.
5. Use laptops rather than stand alone computers and monitors. A laptop will consume around 50 watts of energy while in use compared to a computer and monitor, which consumes around 270 watts of energy. Also, have all laptops set so that they go to sleep if not used for more than 15 minutes. Screensavers do not save money. Quite the opposite; they use more! How to go green at work and save a lot of money? Switch off all computers and laptops when not in use. If all businesses did this they would save enough to power the city of Chicago for one year!
Monday, 27 April 2009
Everywhere you look these days it seems that the main message is, "go green and save money." This is an appealing message for most people as we are constantly warned of the dire consequences of global warming out of control. People want to do their bit to help save the planet, and if they can save money at the same time, then it just obviously makes sense all round.
You can go green and save money just about anywhere. Your home is probably the most obvious place to start, but you can also do wonders with your car, in the office, out shopping, traveling on vacation, and much more. The opportunities are almost endless; going green doesn't have to be more expensive, you can definitely go green and save money at the same time.
Your home probably leaks heat out during the winter and leaks heat in during the summer. For this reason most of us have winter heaters and summer air conditioning units. This should be the first place you investigate of how to go green and save money. Are all your windows tight? Are the door seals tight too? This is where heat can leak out and make your electricity bills soar.
If your house doesn't have good loft insulation heat will pour out in winter and pour in during the summer. Insulation is one of the best ways to go green and save money. Your walls can have their cavities filled with insulating foam as well, all keeping the heat inside in winter and outside in summer for more comfortable living.
The water you use in the home is perhaps the easiest "go green and save money" source you have. Look for leaks first. Leaking faucets, even just the occasional drip, accounts for a lot of money wasted over time. You could waste as much as 140 gallons in a week!
Are your hot water pipes insulated? They should be if you aim to go green and save money. Insulated pipes let the hot water reach the faucets faster, thereby saving water, while you go green and save money too. Low flow toilets are another way to save water. You don't need to flush gallons of water away every time, just what you need.
Edison was a genius, but his light bulb invention has been superseded by the new compact fluorescent light bulbs. These are bulbs that use a mere 25% of the energy that a traditional light bulb uses. They also last 10 times longer. Replace all your traditional bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs and instantly go green and save money!
Monday, 27 April 2009
If you want to go green in your home, and save a little money at the same time, it's never been easier. As the planet faces an uncertain future of global warming, which is believed to be the result of us all burning fossil fuels indiscriminately, we all have a duty to do the best we can to redress the balance. Here are some vital tips to help you get started...
Your home is where you spend a lot of your income, so it makes sense to be spending it as efficiently as possible. You can start to go green in your home by insulating the house. Loft insulation, wall cavity insulation, and double or even triple glazing - it will all make a tremendous difference. Yes, there is an investment to consider, but you will save in the long term, and save a lot too.
We all use too much water. Go green in the home by cutting back as much as you can. We could all, collectively, save one billion gallons of water a year by changing our old flush toilet cisterns. The old ones use three and a half gallons per flush and the new high-efficiency ones use just over one and a quarter gallon. It makes a big difference! If you did only this to go green in the home you would save 20,000 gallons of water every year, and pay a lot less in water bills.
The standard light bulbs that most homes have are very inefficient. Compact fluorescent light bulbs burn around 5% of the old bulbs and they last 10 times longer. They may cost slightly more to buy initially, but this is an obvious way to go green in the home and save a bundle in the long run. But you can do even better, the new LED lights are almost twice as efficient as even the compact fluorescent light bulbs, and they will last even longer too.
Heat leaks out of a house in winter and into the house in summer. Better insulation all round is a great way to go green in the home. Look at your loft, your wall cavities, your windows and your doors. Sort out all of these and you can go green in the home and really save too.
Home utilities are a drain on energy. Did you know that modern washing powders are so good that they don't really need hot water? Your washing machine uses most of its energy heating the water, so wash your clothes cold. They will clean great while you go green in the home. You may think your dishwasher is also an energy drain, strangely, it isn't. If you use it fully filled it uses less resources than if you wash by hand. Once you know these little tips and tricks, it's easy to go green in the home!
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