Goal For The Green

Para-education and green living information

Archive for the ‘green living’ Category

Guest Post by Rosie French

If you’re starting up a new business, the thing at the top of your mind probably isn’t eco-compliance. Instead, you’re probably more focused on maintaining your profit and staying afloat. After all, 3 out of 4 new businesses are destined to fail. However, it’s not impossible to be both profitable and green, so follow our advice and you’re sure to be both.

All-Digital Work Flow                                                                       

United Consultancy Services1

United Consultancy Services1 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s no secret that Britain is a digital economy. So, ensuring that your entire work ecosystem is online should be something you’re attempting to achieve, regardless of the green benefits. The environmental effect of striving for a digital-only pipeline is numerous. For a start, you’ll reduce your paper output and save on ink and other toxic products. You can even lower your electricity output by switching it off at the wall when you don’t need it, and also by switching your browser to Blackle, which has already saved over 4,000,000 watts of energy to date.

Paper Policy

Following on from the last point, paper wastage is extremely detrimental to the environment, so having a good recycling policy is essential. However, another benefit which you might not at first recognise is that having a stringent paper policy makes you more likely to resort to digital solutions and this has a number of advantages. From being simple to back up to making transfer of ideas easier across your team, introducing a paper policy will not only save on paper, it will also increase your productivity.

Green Consultancy

If your business strays from the path of the generic finance and advertising company, you might not be aware of all the ways you can ensure your new business is green-compliant. If that sounds like you, don’t panic – there are lots of services out there to support you. For example, look to companies such as ERG Air Pollution Control, who offer consultancy services in the areas of air quality control and odor contamination modelling.

There are lots of similar companies who will be able to answer any specific environmental questions you have regarding your business, so make the most of them: nobody wants to run an energy-inefficient, non-environmental business. With these consultancy firms offering free advice, there’s nothing to stop you, as it won’t cost your company anything.

So ultimately, making sure that your business is environmentally compliant should not affect your profits negatively. In fact, if you follow the advice above, it should increase your chances of staying afloat significantly. So what are you waiting for?

Enhanced by Zemanta

Unconventional Oil

Oct-30-2013 By Barbara Zak

A lot of families understand that the world is changing. With changes in weather, the environment, technology, and the growing population, it’s important to make a conscious effort to reduce our carbon footprints. While this may seem like an overwhelming concept, the truth is that going green is something any family can accomplish. It may take some time and some getting used to, but families can learn to gradually change from being highly dependent on energy to being more comfortable with unconventional oil. 

English: The carbon footprint.

English: The carbon footprint. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First off, if you’re going to go green, you need to talk with your family about it. Never expect that your family will simply understand or go along with your plans until you’ve discussed it. After all, sometimes changes can be scary, especially for children. Instead of dropping the idea of a drastic change on your children, let them know that you’ll be making some gradual adjustments in the way your family lives your life. Explain to your little ones that change can be a good thing. In this case, you’re making changes that will impact and better the world around you in order to make it a more beautiful place for your children’s children to live.

Next, make a plan. How will your family start living greener? Maybe you want to do something extreme and move off the grid. That’s great! Most families, however, will opt for more realistic and gradual adjustments that they can accomplish while living in the same location. For example, maybe you want to reduce the amount of energy your family uses, maybe you want to start cooking with less plastic, or maybe you simply want to replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient ones. Make a list with your family and figure out how you can accomplish each item on it.

It’s also important that you understand making changes can take time. Even though you might be emotionally ready to go green, it may take time to physically accomplish all of the changes. For example, maybe your family wants to start using reusable grocery bags instead of disposable ones. That’s a noteworthy goal. It may take you a few weeks to get all of the bags you’ll need. If you’re on a limited income, it may take a few months. Similarly, your family might take some time to install solar panels or other green changes you want to make to your home. While this shouldn’t stop you, it should help put things in perspective. It’s vital that you remain content and encouraged even while you work on your personal goals toward living a greener, more ecologically friendly lifestyle.

Finally, encourage your children for the efforts that they make in changing the world around them. Your kids might have friends who make fun of them or tease them for the way your family chooses to live, but it’s fantastic that your kids want to make the world a better place for the people around them and for their future children. Remind your kids that if each person starts to make just a few changes, the world will quickly become a better, more beautiful place.

Enhanced by Zemanta

More than 90 percent of American homes are expected to see an increase in their winter heating costs because of rising residential energy prices, according to a recent report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Saving money and staying green throughout the winter months is tough because of colder temperatures. The flurry of holiday travel and visiting out-of-town guests doesn’t make it any easier. Take on the challenge and keep energy consumption down with the following tips that help reduce environmental impact and your expenditures.

Christmas lights

Make It Automatic

The goal is to build systems into your daily life that make conservation nearly automatic. For starters, make it a habit to always turn off lights when you leave a room or the house for the day. Model this practice for your children and any visiting guests to adopt as well. By establishing clear “house rules” for energy usage, your January energy bill will be less likely to make you faint.

Invest is simple, affordable gadgets to help you automatize your energy usage. Lowe’s home improvement store recommends stringing fewer holiday lights. Also, use a timer to automatically shut lights off overnight and during the daytime. Timers are reasonably priced and available at a range of hardware and department stores for anywhere between $10 – $30.

Quick Fixes

During busy weeks of shopping and holiday errands, empty your car out fully each time you come home. According to Energy.gov’s holiday energy tips, driving with an extra 100 pounds of cargo can increase your gasoline expenditure by almost a dime a gallon. Energy.gov also recommends switching from traditional holiday lights to LED lights, claiming that the latter only costs $0.27 for 12 hours of festive light. Traditional electric lights cost almost $10 for the same amount of burning time.

The Long Haul

Paying attention to costs and conversation during the holidays is a good start, but savvy, eco-conscious homeowners know that good energy saving systems are worthwhile year-round. Once the craziness of the holidays dies down, put long-term strategies into place, such as installing storm windows that can significantly reduce your heating costs.

Visit www.electriccompanies.com to learn more about living in one of the deregulated states that allow homeowners to make informed choices about an energy provider that’s best for your budget and your green lifestyle. Choosing your own provider equates to big savings in the long run. You’ll also trust where your energy is coming from and make smarter choices about how to use it efficiently in your own home.