Green Europe

There are a few different ways to get fit while being eco friendly and they all help in different ways. One thing you can do is simply to replace short car journeys with cycling or running where ever possible. This cuts down on your carbon footprint and gets you fit at the same time so you can get fit the eco way. Around 20 Minutes of cycling can burn 100 calories and can raise your metabolic rate meaning you take the pounds off, and keep them off.

Another idea is to exercise for charity. There are many cycling and running events our there to help various causes so get involved in them more rather than signing up to a gym. If you do sign up to a gym, don’t drive to it! Try to find a gym closer to home and run or cycle in to it to cut down on pollution and get fit the eco way on route. If you can’t get to one close to home, organise a car sharing trip with friends or colleagues or take public transport.

You could also consider eco-running if you do normally participate in running regularly. Take a couple of carrier bags with you on your run and where ever you see trash that shouldn’t be there such as cans or bottles, pop them in your bag as you jog past and throw them in the next bin you see. This not only keeps you fit and works out your legs it’ll work out other areas of your body too and actively helps the environment and your local area.

When it gets to the time when you have to change your exercise gear such as clothes or trainers, find some eco friendly clothing or purchase clothing from a local charity shop.

Having more eco friendly homes is not just about the way in which people live inside them. It is also about what technology is used within the home itself, and encouraging the use of this technology wherever possible when building new homes, expanding old ones or simply adapting your home to a new eco friendly standard.

There are some great technological advances that really make a difference for eco friendly homes. Installing solar panels for instance can be a great way of reducing your electricity bill. More often than not the solar panels you encounter will be hot water panels. These heat the water directly around the system and then pump it into your hot water tank for use. These can however be costly and cost can go into the thousands.

For a more available alternative why not check your house insulation? There is a large range of housing insulation available that can dramatically reduce not only your heating bill but also your carbon footprint as well making an excellent first step towards eco friendly homes.

Switch your normal bulbs for energy saving ones! This technology got off to a rough start as the bulbs had problems with both price and the time it takes them to reach full brightness. This is no longer the case, they are still more expensive then regular bulbs but they last much longer and will save you money in the space of just one year. The bulbs available today react speedily and reach full capacity quicker then the original energy saving bulbs.

Make your self a compost heap at the back of the garden. Getting into a regular routine disposing of your kitchen waste to the compost heap will provide you with nutrient rich soil for growing your own home grown fruit and vegetables.

Earth 911’s Act Locally section is your place to go for up to date information on what’s happening in your area. Local programs, events and news fill our Act Locally section with actionable information that you can use in your own backyard.

THE RECYCLING OF RENEWABLE PRODUCTS

• The EPA estimates that 75 percent of what Americans throw in the trash could actually be recycled * Incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates one job; landfilling 10,000 tons of waste creates six jobs; recycling 10,000 tons of waste creates 36 jobs
• The national recycling rate of 30 percent saves the equivalent of more than five billion gallons of gasoline, reducing dependence on foreign oil by 114 million barrels
• According to the EPA, recycling (including composting) diverted 68 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2001, up from 34 million tons in 1990
• Recycling aluminum cans at the curb not only covers the cost of collecting and re-processing aluminum, but helps subsidize the collection of other recyclables.

CURBSIDE RECYCLING
Curbside recycling now serves half of the U.S. population, providing the most convenient means for households to recycle a variety of materials. While all curbside programs differ, the most commonly included materials are - The Big Five:- aluminium, glass, paper, plastic and steel. If curbside recycling is not available in your area, consider starting your own recycling program.

ALUMINIUM
Recycling aluminum cans at the curb not only covers the cost of collecting and re-processing aluminum, but helps subsidize the collection of other recyclables.

The aluminum can is the most valuable beverage container to recycle and it is the most recycled consumer product in the U.S. today. Recycling aluminum cans provides environmental, economic and community benefits to communities and organizations across the country.

Beverages packaged in aluminum cans are purchased by millions of consumers around the world each day. Have you ever wondered where does that aluminium can goes after you toss it into the nearest recycling bin?

• Two out of every three cans produced in the United States begin the recycling process either at local recycling centers, community drop-off sites, charity collection sites, reverse vending machines or curbside pick-up spots.
• Aluminum cans from these sources are then gathered at large, regional scrap processing companies. There, they condense the cans into highly dense, 30-pound briquettes or 1,200-pound bales and ship them off to aluminum companies for melting.
• At the aluminum companies, the condensed cans are shredded, crushed and stripped of their inside and outside decorations via a burning process. Then, the potato chip-sized pieces of aluminum are loaded into melting furnaces, where the recycled metal is blended with new, virgin aluminum.
• The molten aluminum is then poured into 25-foot long ingots that weigh over 30,000 pounds. The ingots are fed into rolling mills that reduce the thickness of the metal from 20-plus inches to sheet that is about 10/1,000 of an inch thick.
• This metal is then coiled and shipped to can makers, who produce can bodies (the side of a can is the same thickness as a human hair!) and lids. They, in turn, deliver cans to beverage companies for filling.
• The new cans (stocked with your favorite canned beverages, of course) are then ready to return to store shelves in as little as 60 days, only to go through the entire recycling process again!

GLASS
Glass is one of the most popular materials to be recycled today, both because of the purity of the ingredients and the quick turnaround of recycling. Your glass containers actually begin their life as readily-available domestic materials, such as sand, soda ash or limestone. Similar to paper, glass comes in a variety of colors, and this does come into play in the recycling process.

The primary end product of recycling glass is new glass bottles and jars, as glass can be recycled infinitely without losing its purity or strength. However, there are some other uses for recycled glass, including:

• Fiberglass production (second most popular use of post-consumer glass behind beverage containers)
• Frictionator for matches and ammunition
• Abrasives in sand-blasting
• Ingredient in concrete and highway reflective paint
• Ceramic tiles and picture frames around the house
• Providing additional sand to beaches that have been depleted by erosion

PAPER
Paper is one of the most versatile and important materials used in homes, schools, offices, and businesses throughout the world. Each day we enjoy the benefits of paper products, from the newspaper we read in the morning; to the box that holds our cereal; to the paper we use for homework and business purposes; and the documents that mark the significant achievements of our lives.

Paper recovered for recycling is categorized into grades. Each grade of paper has specific characteristics, as well as its own value to manufacturers. Dozens of grades exist, however, they are generally grouped into categories including corrugated (îcardboardî), newsprint, mixed (different colors and types, like inserts and circulars), and office paper. The type of paper collected determines the new product that can be made from it. Generally, the lower grades, such as corrugated and newsprint, go back into the same new products. Higher grades, such as the high quality fiber found in offices and schools, can go back into printing and writing papers, among other uses.

• It is estimated that by the year 2012, the paper industry hopes to recover 60% of the paper Americans consume.
• Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
• Nearly 80% of America’s papermills use recovered fiber to make some or all of their products. Approximately 140 papermills use recovered paper exclusively.

PLASTICS
The Seven Types of Plastic Why are most plastics marked with a number inside a recycling symbol? The simple answer is that each number represents the type of resin made to produce the plastic.

Because each resin is different, these numbers affect how and where you can recycle plastics. You don’t have to remember the name. Plastics are identified by numbers 1-7.

Here’s some common products you’ll find of each type:

• #1 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)*: soda bottles, oven-ready meal trays and water bottles
• #2 HDPE (High-density polyethylene)*: milk bottles, detergent bottles and grocery/trash/retail bags
• #3 PVC (Polyvinyl chloride): plastic food wrap, loose-leaf binders and plastic pipes
• #4 LDPE (Low-density polyethylene): dry cleaning bags, produce bags and squeezable bottles
• #5 PP (Polypropylene): medicine bottles, aerosol caps and drinking straws
• #6 PS (Polystyrene): compact disc jackets, packaging Styrofoam peanuts and plastic tableware
• #7 Other: reusable water bottles, certain kinds of food containers and Tupperware

Plastic recycling affects a range of products, from drink containers to shopping bags to pipes. Plastic is almost always the product of petroleum, a non-renewable resource. This makes recycling plastic even more important. Curbside programs often make recycling plastic containers easier than other plastic products. You’ll likely be unable to recycle plastic bags, packaging and Styrofoam at the curb. These materials are very recyclable, but only at a qualified recycling center.

STEEL
Steel is an extremely valuable metal that is present in many of the containers and appliances we use on a daily basis. While steel is the dominant material in the cars we drive and beams of the buildings we work in, for the average person recycling steel will involve the proper disposal of steel cans and scrap metal.

Steel is the most recycled material in North America, and it can be recycled infinitely and turned into new steel products. The majority of the steel produced today, is in some form recycled content. So when you buy a steel product (from a soup can to a washing machine), it’s manufactured with recycled steel. Some of the different products that are made with recycled steel include: * Appliances * Bridges * Cans * Cars/trucks * Construction materials * Desks * File cabinets * Fire hydrants * Guard rails * Utility poles

Steel recycling is an infinite process because there is no loss of durability or quality over time. Some raw materials are mixed in during manufacturing. Starting with recycled steel makes the entire process cheaper and more eco-friendly.

Treatment and disposal of waste is governed strictly in the UK, on and offshore, as well as in most other countries. A license is required for any facility involved in the transferring and treatment of waste. In addition, all people who work at these facilities must be trained properly to handle the, often dangerous, waste.

It is vital that waste management facilities are able to provide quick response in emergency situations. As there is usually little to no warning prior to these emergencies, it is important to have highly trained emergency response teams on standby 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

As each emergency is unique, response teams have to work fast to identify the situation as well as what equipment they need to handle it. These emergencies can range from chemical spills to oil spills or any type of waste issue. Some waste management emergencies need absorbents to mop up any waste. Other times a dispersant is needed to clean up.

Domestic and industrial sources can cause the need for waste management disposal and waste compactors. The major difference between the two is that industrial waste needs solutions on a much larger scale than domestic waste. In addition, industrial waste has a higher likelihood of being a lot more dangerous.

The oil industry has highly specialized requirements for disposal of waste and more intensely trained experts. Oil contaminated water or soil needs specialized treatment due to an accident. The oil drilling process can sometimes result in drilling mud. This also requires proper and safe clean up.

The environment also must be considered before decisions are reached about how to proceed. Such things as storage tanks and special transportation tanks are used. Drivers of special tanker trucks must have a carrier’s license to transport liquid waste.

Waste management facilities handle the treatment and disposal of hazardous material. Non-hazardous waste is collected and handled by local authorities. Commercial and industrial waste that’s non-hazardous is typically handled by the company producing it.

Waste management treatment and disposal is a specialized skill that carries considerable risks. For this reason, regulations and rules applying to using it are very strict. It’s also the reason why the people who do it must be experts.

Even though companies have many reasons for not maintaining an energy efficient utility system, the biggest one seems to be built around money. They simply don’t have a budget that can handle the maintenance nor do they have the money to make the needed changes.

In some cases, the money may actually be available to change things but then there isn’t enough money to implement the changes. However, once company heads find out the significant amount of money that can be saved through implementing these changes, they start to feel pressured to make them.

For companies desiring to make energy efficient changes but unable to afford the upfront payment, the answer may be to implement the changes through Utility Demand Side Management programs. These programs are the result of energy providers joining with energy efficiency providers.

Together, they encourage companies to make energy efficient changes. The program motivates companies by offering very nice financing options that will drastically decrease the initial money upfront to implement these energy efficient changes. Utility Demand Side Management programs present their providers with financial incentives for getting more companies to use these energy efficient power systems. Right now there are 20 states with laws requiring a certain amount of power usage to come through energy efficient technology.

Companies are given options to make their buildings more energy efficient. However, most companies feel their priority is to retrofit their current inside lighting system. So an energy efficiency consultant conducts a technical and financial study of the lighting system and then offers a plan to retrofit the lighting that will still be energy efficient. They can also do the same analysis with the outside lighting so that more solutions can be offered.

Another way to help implement these energy efficient plans is through peak load management programs. These were developed as a way to keep a good balance of the supply of electricity with the demand for it while decreasing the strain put on the grid. This will also work to cap the use of more costly and least efficient operations. As long as companies cooperate, it can work to the good of everyone when they understand the importance of being more energy efficient.

Any person or family can benefit from choosing green cleaning one way or another. Green cleaning doesn’t involve the harmful chemicals commonly used in non-green cleaning, and is just as effective as other cleaning methods. Green cleaning will leave your floors comparable to bleach cleaned floors without having to use bleach itself.

Here are some of the various benefits of using green-cleaning:

Less Allergic Reactions

Allergies are becoming more and more common among families. Many times standard non-green cleaning chemicals contain allergens that can cause deadly, even deathly allergic reactions. These products containing allergens include chemical sprays, bleach, and regular home-cleaners such as Oxyclean. This is especially dangerous if there are children or elderly in the home since they’re both much more prone to allergic reactions.

Contains No Dangerous Toxins

Many common home cleaners contain deadly toxins, which are known to cause cancer, harm the human respiratory system, and have been shown to irritate skin. When non-green products are sprayed into the air people in the area run the risk of inhaling the poisonous substance. There’s also always the risk of accidentally consuming the chemicals.

Less Risk

Only a few of the various risks involved with using regular cleaning agents were listed above. Whether or not you do the cleaning yourself, you may be at risk.

- Cleaning agents used for cleaning your counter top will usually make their way down your drain, and into your home’s drinking water source. These chemicals are very dangerous to consume, and not to mention the fumes from the chemicals may seep up from the sink, which is also another safety hazard.

- Some of the chemicals in regular cleaning products are highly dangerous when exposed to humans, such as the chemical alkyl phenol. Various studies have been conducted on the matter, showing that the cleaning products usually end up in your homes water system where they can easily cause reproductive effects in wildlife.

Why Choosing A Commercial Cleaning Company Is The Right Choice

There are actually many different reasons why you should choose green products over traditional non-green products.

Some of the benefits include:

- Green products don’t contain any harmful chemicals at all
- Green products are made with the environment in mind, having much less of an impact on the environment around you
- Sometimes green products even costs less

What are your so called eco friendly clothes made of? Are they really as environmentally friendly as they claim to be? There are many different clothing stores out there that claim to have the most eco friendly clothing available but there are many different factors to consider when determining if clothing is eco friendly. Here we look at just one factor that you should consider for all eco friendly clothes first. How eco friendly is the material the clothing is made from?

Wool
While wool itself can be a fantastic resource, little to no eco friendly clothes will be made of wool today. Factory farmed sheep live in appalling conditions and cuts are common in efficiency driven farms. Wool has a much larger carbon footprint.

Cotton & Organic Cotton
Contrary to popular belief cotton is not typically an eco friendly product. People usually think that because the cotton is natural it is also naturally eco friendly. Cotton is responsible for around a third of the world’s use of pesticides. It is difficult to obtain real organic cotton. Most organic cotton has no bleaching agents used on it but still has a large proportion of pesticides used. Be on the look out for the Soil Association logo to prevent purchasing a wrongly labelled product.

Hemp
Hemp plants grow quickly, densely and have a natural resistance to pests so the use of pesticides on them is generally not required. They are the fastest growing eco friendly clothes material on the market today because of their benefits. It requires no irrigation and the minimum of processing which means its carbon footprint is significantly less than other materials. It was traditionally used as naval rope due to its fantastic ability to resist water and therefore rot. Clothes made from Hemp are made to last.