navigation
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
New Perspectives: Don’t Burn Up! Alternative Heat for Winter
When colder seasons roll around, I always find the smell of wood stoves to be incredibly comforting. It’s a nostalgic scent, and it reminds me of the holidays. More importantly, many homeowners consider it a valid alternative heating source for their homes as the prices of oil climbs ever skyward. However, my appreciation of burning wood is pretty illogical when you consider all the downsides that wood stoves and fireplaces have to us and the environment.
While it’s undoubtedly cheaper, the downsides are intense to say the least. As reported by USA Today a few years ago, wood releases carbon monoxide and carcinogenic chemicals when burned. The soot and liquid waste that wood burning produces can cause complications such as heart disease and respiratory problems.
The concerns caused by burning has blanketed some regions entirely even here in the states, with particle pollution far past the point of federal safety limitations. It goes without saying that this form of fuel also causes damage to our ozone layer. Check out this booklet to learn more about the various ways that wood-burning causes more harm than good.
While many people value wood-burning as a more economical approach to heating a home, it certainly isn’t the cleanest or most efficient. Even if you aren’t exactly the “green” type, you’ll be saving plenty of green with these simple cost-beneficial tips to improve your home’s heating efficiency.
• Install some simple modifications in your home to improve how well your house retains heat. Windows can be one of your greatest assets in making sure that you deflect or insulate heat as necessary. Window films can work wonders, as well as shutters and storm windows. Anything to improve your seal and absorb more sunlight around your home can effectively improve your home’s natural heating abilities.
• Have your heating and air equipment regularly checked up on. You might not need to rely on cheaper and dirtier varieties of equipment if your system is regularly cleaned and tuned up. In addition, having an energy audit performed in your home could be just the ticket, especially if you’re in an older property with a lot of air leaks.
• While nobody wants to hear these words, bundling up is a strategy that can pay off dividends on your energy bill. While nobody likes sweat pants, simply putting on a few extra layers is one of the only truly cost-free ways to warm yourself up. Likewise, make sure your house is “bundled up” too by checking your insulation if you think you’re losing a lot of your heat through the walls.
Author: J.G. Tenuto, an eco-obsessed writer with Gila Films. Although he mostly writes and researches for his 9-to-5, he spends his downtime fine tuning every aspect of his home to reduce his carbon footprint (and save some cash along the way.)
Friday, November 22, 2013
What You Need to Know About Asbestos
Fact sheet courtesy of Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance
To learn more about Asbestos and Mesothelioma, check out these resources: http://www.mesothelioma.com/
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Pencil It In: Green Tour of the Lenox Hotel
image courtesy of http://www.lenoxhotel.com/
WHEN: Thursday, November 21, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
WHERE: 61 Exeter Street, Boston, MA 02116
WHY: Since the 1980s, The Lenox has been committed to being green, while preserving the rich sense of history and beauty of the building. Come and take a tour of some of their environmental initiatives and find out why The Lenox is considered a global sustainability leader in the hotel industry as well as a pioneer in ecotourism!
Register here.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Eco Travel Essentials
Going away for Thanksgiving? Make sure to keep the earth in mind when packing for your trip. These eco travel essentials can help guide your way.
1. Go Toob - No need to purchase travel sized toiletrees and waste plastic, instead use this refillable container to bring your favorite products wherever.
2. Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Pocket Guide - Eat ethically with this much-trusted pocket guide. There is also an iphone app available!
3. Tom's Sunglasses - Sunglasses are a must on any trip, why not bring an ethical pair?
4. Water Bobble - Find yourself purchasing a lot of bottled water on vacation? The bobble filters water in a portable container!
5. Patagonia Fleece - layer with this classic from a super green company!
6. Carbon Offsets for your travel, the best and easiest way to ensure your vacation has minimal impact on the planet.
Monday, November 18, 2013
New Perspectives: Changing Your Home Without Hurting The Environment
Changing Times
Many were stunned by the recent shocking news headlines about 30 Greenpeace activists facing 15 year jail sentences in a Russian prison. This is due to their protests at an arctic oil rig in relation to the environmental consequences of arctic drilling. In conjunction with an announcement from Greenpeace regarding a change in their strategy, they believe that by staging more proactive, high-profile campaigns, there will be a push from the public to force the government to act on important environmental issues.
Make Changes to Your Everyday Life
Most of us are in agreement about the state of the planet, and find it hard not to connect all the natural disasters and volatile weather conditions to climate change. However, most of us don’t fancy abseiling down the shard to drill this statement home to the masses. There are still changes we can all make to contribute to sustaining the environment and the natural balance and harmony of life.
It is up to each and every person to take responsibility for the impact that their actions have on the environment. Everything should be taken into account in regards to their lifestyle choices - in terms of simple things such as recycling, reusing carrier bags, planting flowers to attract wildlife into our gardens. Take things a step further by making your home as energy efficient as possible, by insulating your loft or refitting those drafty windows, you will see a reduction in your electricity bill.
Use Sustainable and Recycled Materials
If you are redecorating or renovating your house, think about how the materials you used were sourced. Floorboards suit every room, from a rustic kitchen to an urban studio space. Using a reclaimed wood product is also extremely important in regards to the environment; after all, we need to save trees. The Reclaimed Flooring Company has a beautiful selection from French Oak beams to original Victorian Pine floorboards.
We take wood for granted and can be careless when disposing of items we no longer require. But if you want to reduce the chances of landfill and preserve trees, then using reclaimed wood is a positive way to do it. Are you craving an industrial, raw space with exposed brick-work, wrought iron and distressed floorboards? Or how about a cozy kitchen with a vintage dresser and lacy net curtains? By using reclaimed and recycled materials you add dimension and texture to your room and you don’t feel like you are compromising. If anything, the authenticity, using pieces rich with history, looks far more unique than a clinical set of MDF drawers and some faux-wooden flooring.
This post is sponsored by The Reclaimed Flooring Company.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)