You are here: Home / Blog

Washing Clothes the Eco Friendly Way

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

11310680030_50863678-01.jpgLooking after our clothes and ensuring they-re clean is an uphill task at the best of times. Loading the washing machine, separating whites and colours, drying and ironing them and then finally putting them away.
We may have the advantage of washing machines, tumble driers and modern detergents but that doesn’t mean that laundry day is easier than it was in the past.
But it does mean than that washing our clothes is far less environmentally friendly. Whilst nobody would advocate you spend all day scrubbing clothes in the sink, many of us know the value of turning the washing machine to lower temperature. But there is more we can do to ensure that washing day is more eco friendly.
To start with we can avoid those harmful detergents that contain harmful chemicals that cannot only damage the environment but also can cost a fortune too! A fear less expensive and environmentally way of getting clothes clean is to use magnetic balls.

Related Coverage

How to Get Safe Healthy Water in Your Eco Friendly Water Bottles

As more and more of us are concerned about the impact that our ‘throw away’ attitude has on the environment, many of us have been turning to more products which are kind to the environment. In fact a whole new industry has grown in response to the ever increasing demand. The Truth About an Eco Friendly Water Bottle For Biking

Have you got an eco-friendly water bottle for biking? One of the friendliest ways of getting around today is by bike. All the environmentalists are chanting their cause to save our planet, don’t use the car therefore saving on the amount of fumes that are omitted into the atmosphere. 10 Sure Fire Tips For Becoming Eco Friendly

How are you becoming eco-friendly? There are many different ways that are open to you to start living your green life. Some of those ideas are right here in this article – but living green doesn’t just mean saving the planet – it also means saving yourself. Asthma and Allergies – How to Be Eco Friendly in the Kitchen

If you are one of those individuals with Asthma or Allergies, it is important to have an Eco-Friendly Kitchen. Everything you do can have an impact upon your health in a more dramatic way than most individuals. We as individuals are more aware of the impact environmental issues can have on us in our daily lives. This is why our kitchens need to be environmentally friendly toward us.These eco balls for washing machines ionize the water, allowing it to penetrate into the most stubborn of stains.. These magnetic eco balls can do over a hundred washes, which work out far cheaper than expensive detergents and far less harmful for the planet too.
When it comes to drying our clothes there is no more environmentally damaging way than resorting to the tumble dryer. Tumble dryers us vast amounts of power to dry your clothes and while nobody wants to hang clothes on the radiator when it is raining there eco friendly alternatives.
Clothes airers are an eco friendly way to dry clothes. Not only do they mean you don’t have to have clothes slung over all the radiators but also they take advantage of all that wasted heat that has risen upwards.
Eco clothes airers are not only inexpensive and save your pocket they can go a long way to reducing your carbon footprint.
Washing our clothes needn’t be expensive to our wallets or the environment and we don’t have to resort to Victorian methods either.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Clothing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Opt For The Best Eco Heater.

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

f_01310680648_solarrooftop.jpgTABLE OF CONTENT

What are heaters

How do heaters work?

When do you need portable heaters?

What are the different types of heaters?

Electrical Heaters

Non Electrical Heaters

Safety Tips for Using Heaters

Choosing the right heater

How to calculate the approximate voltage for different insulated rooms:

How to buy the correct heater?

Oil filled radiant heaters or electrical heaters?

Heating cost comparison

How are electric heaters economically sustainable?

What are the benefits of heaters?

What are heaters

A heater is an object that emits heat and causes the temperature to rise. In a house hold and domestic setting heaters are used to generate heat and keep the room warm.

How do heaters work?

Electric heaters :

They work because electric current is forced through wires that have a good deal of electrical resistance. Heat is generated when electric current flows through any resistance. They have no insulation on the heater wires because the insulation would catch fire; so, the wire is bare and you can see it glow.

Central Gas Furnace Heaters:

They are really simple to run. They have a controllable furnace, fuelled by gas and uses water that can be moved with a pump to carry heat into radiators in all the rooms. After passing through all the radiators, the water cools down and returns to the boiler where it is heated up again and re-circulated once more. A thermostat in one of the rooms switches the boiler on and off to keep the room temperature comfortable. The hot waste gases flow out side.

When do you need portable heaters?

• Instead of turning up the heat in the entire house, you can use portable heaters to warm up the living area.

• When you don’t want to use central heating and just need your own heater to keep you warm.

• To keep the electricity bills low.

• During cold spells for targeted heat to avoid chills and to keep the rooms warm and cozy.

• For remote rooms with inadequate heat.

• Rooms which have poor insulation that would have draft or three-season porches.

• Accommodate individual warmth preference for everyone in your home.

What are the different types of heaters?

Electrical Heaters

The electrical heaters are the best in heating as they are 100% efficient in converting electrical energy into heat energy. Coal and oil generated heaters convert only 30% of the electrical energy into heat energy. Apart from energy conversions, electrical heaters do not cause any health hazard and there is less chance of the heater exploding or causing fire. There are two types of electrical heaters.

1. Convection heaters: For heating the entire room, a convection room heater would be the best choice. It not only heats but also circulates warm air throughout the room with use of natural ventilation current in the room. Because of this reason, it is quieter than fan heaters. The heating element in the convector heater is either a hot water coil or steam coil. These heaters can be further classified into two.

i. Natural convection heaters: Theses heaters are oil filled heaters and uses air currents to circulate the air, so it is the quitest heater.

ii. Forced convection heaters: Forced convection heaters work on the same principles as the natural convection heaters but the difference is that they use a fan to circulate the warm air. These heaters use less time to heat up an entire room but have higher noise levels.

2. Radiant heaters: These types of heaters are used to heat smaller areas as the heating elements (quartz tubes, carbon tubes, metal coils, halogen tubes) heat up the object at which they are pointing, instead warming the entire space. It is best for those people who don’t plan to stay in a room for a long period of time. These heaters are more energy efficient as they tend to heat up the object instantly. Radiant heaters perform efficiently and effectively in warehouse, garages, storerooms etc. Radiant heaters are also called infrared, parabolic, quartz, ceramic, halogen or reflective heaters.

3. Oil filled radiant heaters: Oil filled radiant heaters are reliable, stable and consume less electricity. When the room is extremely cold it sends full voltage to the rheostat but as the room gets heated the output of electricity is reduced. A fan is used to draw air through the ceramic element and is distributed in the room.

4. Fan heaters: These heaters are not as effective as a convector heater but for heaters but are the best for heating small areas. They pass air from their heating elements and instantly warm the room.

Non Electrical Heaters

Non electrical heaters are best for the outdoors and they also save on the electrical bills. They come in different types depending on source:

1. Inverter heaters: These heaters run mainly on paraffin or odourless Tozane and are mainly used for supplemental heat. They don’t require electricity so are beneficial in saving electricity. They are portable, vented and have double heating capacity. They are most ideal for heating large areas. With the advance in technology these heaters are 99% combustible and have sensors that can detect carbon monoxide/ carbon dioxide in the air and switch off in case the level reaches a certain critical level. Paraffin remains an economical fuel and is typically far cheaper than LPG bottle gas. The electronic thermostat enables you to maintain your chosen room temperature. Once the required temperature has been reached it will either reduce to its lowest setting or turn off according to your setting. Use your Inverter Tozane gas heater instead of turning on your central heating and you can save pounds. Because you “pay as you go” there are no scary quarterly heating bills; they are ideal for households on a fixed budget.

2. Natural Gas heater: This type of heater is also known as LPG (liquid paraffin gas) heaters. These heaters can be connected to a pipe that can provide continuous gas. They are ideal for heating large areas, are very efficient and also available as a patio heaters.

3. Wood burning space heaters: This type of heating system is popular as it helps save on electricity bills. The only thing you require to install the wood stove is a chimney system. It is best used for the patios and is more efficient than the fireplace.

Safety Tips for Using Heaters

Using heaters involves a number of hazards such as explosion, fire, burns, air pollution etc; the following are the safety tips that should be kept in mind while using any type of heaters:

1. Always make sure that the heater has a guard or grill around the heating substance and don’t let newspapers, drapes, clothes or flammable material near the heater.

2. Avoid using extension cords, as they are not able to carry the electricity capacity of heaters. It is also advisable not to put the cords of the heater under the carpet as it may overheat the wire.

3. Do not use heaters in bathrooms or wet areas.

4. Make sure that the plug of the electrical heater is properly fitted into the switch board as loose connection might catch cause a fire due to overheating.

5. Always keep heaters on the floor as they have less chance of falling down.

6. When using gas heaters, make sure there is proper ventilation in the room. This prevents pollution and also makes fuel burn more effectively and efficiently.

7. Always make sure the heaters are turned off before you go to bed.

8. If you are using a kerosene heater, do not use gasoline as it can cause fire. It is essential to have your heater checked by a professional every year as a rusted heater can emit carbon dioxide. Use Tozane instead of Paraffin as it is more efficient and odourless.

9. In case there is a leak in the heating system, do not try to fix the problem yourself; instead call a professional technician to fix it.

10. Installing a detector is useful as it will alarm people in case of fire and smoke, as well as the level of air pollution and carbon dioxide.

Choosing the right heater          

Once you have selected the type of heater you want, you have to determine the right size for your requirements as selecting the right size will help you save on electricity bills. While calculating the size of a heater, there are certain things bear in mind such as the room size, amount of insulation and the number of windows etc. A rough estimate shows that each square of your room requires 10 watts to be heated.

1. The exact size of a heater is determined by calculating first the size of the room by measuring the length, width and height of the room. Multiply all three to know the cubic feet of the area. Do the same calculation for all rooms and add them together to find out the total area that requires heating.

2. Estimate your desired temperature increase. Measure the lowest area temperature and subtract this from the temperature you want to maintain in order to calculate the desired temperature increase. For example, if area lows average 38 degrees, and you want to maintain a temperature of 68 degrees, you will need a temperature increase of 30 degrees.

3. Select the insulation level. Older homes are often poorly insulated and they require about 12.5 watt per square foot. On an average insulated home, 10 watt per square foot is sufficient. And for fully insulated home 7.5watt per square foot is sufficient.

4. The BTU (British thermal unit) is calculated by multiplying the total cubic feet area required to heat with 0.133. Then multiply it with the temperature you want to increase. The result will be the BTU required to heat the entire area.

How to calculate the approximate voltage for different insulated rooms:

Poorly Insulated Room measuring 10 feet by 12 feet area with a ceiling of 8 feet

10 x 12 = 120 sq. ft. Now multiply the area with 12.5 watt per square foot i.e 120 x 12.5 = 1500 Watt.

Average Insulated Room measuring 10 feet by 12 feet area with a ceiling of 8 feet

10 x 12 = 120 sq. ft. now multiply the area with 10 watt per square foot i.e

120 x 10= 1200 watt

Fully Insulated Room measuring 10 feet by 12 feet area with a ceiling of 8 feet

10 x 12 = 120 sq. ft. now multiply the area with 7.5 watt per square foot i.e

120 x 7.5 = 900 watt

However, you need to make adjustments depending on the height of the ceilings. Above the height of 8 feet, add 25% of wattage to every additional 2 feet increase in the height.

How to buy the correct heater?

Once you have selected what you want to buy, go through the check lists that you need to consider at this point.

1. Choose the type of heater depending on the area whether you want it for your lobby, bedroom, living room, garage, kitchen or nursery.

2. The safety measures that have to be considered while purchasing heaters, especially having heaters have a proper enclosure to keep you safe.

3. Size of the heater depending on the size of the room that it has to heat.

4. Always buy new heaters and check the noise level.

5. Also know the type of heater you are buying whether it is vented or non- vented. Check if the heater is has a solid and with a well insulated base so that it doesn’t overturn easily.

6. Heaters that have a thermostat should always be considered even though they would cost slightly more but are more efficient and will save money in the long run.

Oil filled radiant heaters or electrical heaters?

Both the appliances are heated by electricity. Electrical heaters operate at 100% efficiency. You put 1 kW of energy in and you get 1kW of energy out in the form of heat NETQUOTEVAR:3. An oil filled radiator takes longer to cool down when turned off, but takes longer to heat up when turned on whereas an electric fire has a more immediate response, so again no difference in energy use there. An oil filled radiator however has two main advantages over an electric heater. It is safer to use in an attic for example as there is no exposed hot element to cause a fire if positioned near combustible materials and most come with a built in thermostat to allow control of the heat output to be controlled.

Heating cost comparison

The following is the average cost of running different heating units. The day time costs differ from night time off peak costs and also depend on which gas or electric company you are registered with. Electricity costs are worked out using a rate of 11p per kWh. This is an average of the prices of the three main Suppliers in September 2006 and includes VAT. NETQUOTEVAR:1

Electric heaters do not posses the safety risks like gas fired heaters, such as carbon monoxide poisoning or explosion. There are no radiators to leak or burst, there is minimal risk of damage to your property or even your neighbours if you live in a flat. Electrical heating is extremely reliable and will normally run satisfactorily for much longer than conventional heating.

The new generation gas heaters combine the power of more than three electric radiators or convection heaters in just one unit. The approximate cost of the gas fueled heaters is 6 pence per kW hour. The use of modern technology has made it possible to reduce noise levels to 20 db*, an almost inaudible threshold. NETQUOTEVAR:2

How are electric heaters economically sustainable?

• An Electric heater has low capital and installation costs.

• They do not incur the costs of an annual safety check.

• They are virtually maintenance free.

• They are 100% efficient at point of use.

• They have a life expectancy of 15 years, unlike gas boilers which are estimated to have a 10 year life span.

• There is no risk of leaking or burst pipes damaging your property.

• They are clean and safe, with no harmful fumes or gases to worry about. NETQUOTEVAR:3

What are the benefits of heaters?

What are the benefits of heaters?

Rheumatoid Arthritis/ Reynaud’s Phenomenon: The cold weather poses problems for joint pain sufferers especially people suffering for rheumatoid arthritis and Reynaud’s Phenomenon. The cold winter months signals a time for more pain and stiffness. Joint pain occurs throughout the year but the cold, damp weather somehow seems to make things worse. According to the National Institute of Health weather changes on the joints cause stiffness and joint pain. The cause is related to the spasm of the muscles due to contraction and relaxation. The National Institute of Health recommends that arthritis patients should keep their body warm in order to reduce stiffness. NETQUOTEVAR:4 NETQUOTEVAR:5

Asthma: Asthma is exacerbated with cold weather and people have to use bronchodilators more often than people who are in warm environments. Heaters can provide that suitable temperature that would help to reduce exacerbations and attacks.

Psoriasis: People who suffer from psoriasis know that their psoriasis flares up during the winter season, so winter tends to be the most challenging season for people living with psoriasis. Heaters can provide the warmth needed to maintain adequate body temperature and the application of moisturisers will prevent the skin getting dry.

Mould Allergy: The winter season does not only bring cold temperatures but also dampness. The damp can cause mould on walls and furniture as well as making timber window frames rot. Moisture and dampness encourage the growth of mould and mites and increase the risk of developing respiratory diseases. To prevent mould growing in your home, keep a low background heater on all day.

Common cold and flu: As the winter season sets in, more and more people suffer from common cold and flu symptoms. Coldness is one of the precipitating factors that cause common cold and the best thing to do is to keep warm. Heaters with thermostats allow uniform temperature and help in preventing those flu symptoms.

These two links may help to find a large range of economical and best quality heaters and they have also a comprehensive learning centers:http://www.heating4less.co.uk/http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/Heater_Heaters_Heating.html

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eco Friendly Birth Announcements

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

f_21310680649_dsc09051.jpgEco friendly stationery products, also known as plantable stationery, are becoming increasingly popular. And as of recently, eco friendly birth announcements have been added to the product assortment. These ‘green’ announcements do more than just announcement the birth of your child – they are actually a small gift themselves because, once planted, the recipient will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers thanks to you.  They can be planted in a garden or in a container so they are even perfect for those living in apartments without access to a garden.
And planting couldn’t be easier and takes only a minute. Either plant the card whole or tear it up into smaller pieces and put it under a bit of soil. Water daily and within a couple of weeks you’ll see the first seedlings begin to sprout.
Eco friendly birth announcements should be made out of 100% recycled paper waste and embedded with seeds (Be sure to ask what kind of seeds are embedded in the paper).They often come in a variety of styles and colors – even plantable photo announcements are an option. Some you purchase ‘as is’ (meaning that it is like selecting a package of birth announcements  at a store) while others let you custom create your own. 
Related Coverage
Birth Cards and Birth Announcements Cards

Long before your baby arrives, you can begin researching the different baby stationery available so you can know exactly what you want to order when that special day arrives. Some of these sites will even provide same day shipping of your order so you won’t even need to wait for the baby boy birth announcements or baby girl birth announcements to arrive for very long. Eco Friendly Kids Crafts Idea

I was thinking of a good craft for kids that will also start to teach them a little bit about being eco friendly. This idea popped into mind. Allowing children to decorate a cotton drawstring bag. These bags can be purchased blank, and the children can design their little hearts out. Eco Friendly Cleaning Products

Eco friendly cleaning products should not pollute the environment in any way and also help keep your home clean as a whistle. Our homes are overloaded with toxic chemicals, more then we would like to believe, why add more to chemicals to our home when there are perfectly good eco friendly cleaning products that have proven to be as effective as any commercial, chemical based products? For one I think it’s just easier to buy cleaning products off the shelves, more convenient, and two we don’t have time to make our own natural cleaning products. Online Birth Announcements

Many families today have been using birth announcements to spread the word to the whole world about the new baby in their homes. The problem that most couples encounter is that when the baby is born the last thing they would want to think about are the errands and chores that they would have to do to tell the world of the new baby.
Custom plantable birth announcements: When researching this option look for choices that allow you allow you to choose from several styles. If you don’t like the suggested wording ask if you can provide your own. When going with a custom card – make sure that you receive a proof of the card, for your approval, before it goes off to print.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Economical and eco-friendly petrol cars

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

01310679837_toyotahybridx03.jpgInnovation in terms of car manufacturing has led to an ever increasing number of petrol cars being both economical and environmental. Diesel cars have always been top of the table when we consider fuel efficiency on conventional cars but petrol engines have also improved over the decades and there are now plenty of vehicles available which are both economical and eco-friendly.

If you’re looking for a city car, the Fiat 500 0.9 TwinAir is both on trend and economical delivering around 70 mpg with a CO2 emission of around 92g/km. A larger option would be the Honda Jazz Hybrid which in addition to its hybrid powertrain has got a top speed of 109 mph with an average fuel economy of 62.8 mpg. A larger family option is the ever popular Toyota Prius which was the first fashionable hybrid car on the mass market. The current model delivers 72.4 mpg on average with CO2 emissions as low as 89g/km.

Related Coverage

Eco friendly honda used cars

Since we all know about Honda from the inception itself, we can say without any doubt regarding the perfection and quality they deliver to the Customers Eco-Friendly Cars Review

Hybrid cars, also known as hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are the most effective ways to solve the problems of fuel shortage. Car producers these days utilize the design and production of environment-friendly cars to respond to the fuel crisis. The invention’s ingeniousness have attracted lots of customers. Saturn hybrid or Toyota hybrid cars are words which are all becoming familiar and popular t Fords EcoBoost petrol Ford Mondeo

While buying the ford car from market you need to keep a check on several factors like price range in different places. But you should also be careful of quality of car. How To Cut Petrol Consumption

High petrol prices are becoming a very serious problem for a lot of people. One way to handle the problem is to convert your car to hydrogen and petrol. The benefits are enormous. There are numerous …And if you’re after something more luxurious, why not check out the Mercedes E200 CGI BlueEfficiency which is a classy executive motor delivering 41.5 mpg with CO2 Emissions of 159g/km. Its improved fuel-efficiency is down to a four-cylinder direct-injection engine that delivers 181 bhp. If you would like to try out a new Mercedes-Benz, Crawley is one area you will find a local dealer willing to help.

But if you’re after a top luxury vehicle which also delivers something back in terms of savings, the Audi A8 3.0 TFSI is perhaps the one to watch. It isn’t as thrifty as smaller cars with its 31 mpg but apparently outdoes most of its class rivals. Gadget wise a car like this will give you things like pedestrian recognition features and a sat-nav linked to Google earth.But if you’re after a top luxury vehicle which also delivers something back in terms of savings, the Audi A8 3.0 TFSI is perhaps the one to watch.
It isn’t as thrifty as smaller cars with its 31 mpg but apparently outdoes most of its class rivals. Gadget wise a car like this will give you things like pedestrian recognition features and a sat-nav linked to Google earth.

So for every wallet there should be something economical and eco-friendly to choose from that also delivers on comfort and style. It’s just about making the right choice.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Cars Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eco-Friendly Bamboo Clothing

July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

21310680110_gogreen.jpgWhen we bought our first bamboo clothing we were amazed at the softness. Nothing in my closet compared except for my cashmere sweater. Bamboo clothing gives you the softness of cashmere at a small percentage of the cost. After some investigate we discovered some unique properties about bamboo fabric. It is hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and the organic fabric wicks moisture and odor away from your skin, unlike cotton and wool that absorbs and holds moisture in. Bamboo also has natural UVA protection.
We found that bamboo fabric is ideal for people with delicate skin or with skin allergies. I used to get itchy rashes on my arms, but they stopped when I started wearing bamboo clothes. We decided to sell this unique line of clothing so every one can take pleasure in its benefits. Go to our website and try an item or two of bamboo clothing, you will love its softness and your skin will thank you.
Another splendid feature about bamboo clothing is that it is a truly “green” eco-friendly fabric.
Related Coverage
Bamboo Clothes

Did you know bamboo is a woody grass? It sure looks like a tree! Because bamboo grows as fast as grass, it renews itself every 3-5 years. Bamboo is grown naturally, without pesticides or chemicals, making it a totally organic, eco-friendly resource. Bamboo is a leader in helping to preserve our environment with sustainable earth friendly products. Understand Bamboo Flooring

When it comes to an eco-friendly and more affordable alternative to wood flooring, bamboo is growing in popularity by leaps and bounds. With bamboo flooring, you can get the look and feel of wood floors at a fraction of the price and while doing less damage to the environment. Innovative Uses For Bamboo Fencing

Bamboo fencing has become a very popular and eco-friendly alternative to hardwood fencing in the past few years, as environmental awareness has grown amongst the general public. This is because bamboo is one of the most easily renewable natural resources we have, and can yield sometimes over 2 times of the quality building materials that a typical hardwood forest can. Eco Friendly Cleaning

Housework it seems is never done and often it is all too easy to resort to harsh chemicals and energy guzzling appliances to get our chores done. These shortcuts can save us bags of time but quite often they have a negative effect on the environment.Bamboo is a woody grass that requires no chemical pesticides or fertilizers to grow and it renews itself every three to five years. Because it is grown organically the fabric is as close to pure as you can get. Cotton requires toxic chemicals to grow and causes pollution. Not so with bamboo. If you are earth friendly and would like to help sustain our planet, go to Bamboo-Clothing.Net and help contribute to a better world.
If you think bamboo clothing is merely plain old tee shirts, think again. Our line of clothing is very stylish and our clothing can be worn casual, or dressy. We offer dresses, sleepwear, shorts, jackets, slacks and tops in a variety of styles.
We also offer maternity clothing, bedding and bath products. For an added bonus bamboo clothing is wrinkle- resistant and easy-care machine washable. Go check out our website now and you will find eco fashions to suit your life style.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Clothing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eco Friendly Outdoor Furniture

July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

01310680177_spaghetti-pe-wh.jpgThere may not be unanimous agreement on just how fast natural resources are being depleted, but most people will agree that human activity is having a negative effect on the environment. Each person playing their part in ensuring sustainable resource can go a long way toward protecting the environment. Using green outdoor chairs is one such way each person can contribute to better management of our ecosystem. There are a number of tips to follow when purchasing eco friendly outdoor accessories.

*Only buy furniture that has been sustainably produced Forests produce oxygen and also serve as the home for billions of insects, birds, mammals, reptiles and fish and thus must be protected. Buying eco friendly outdoor chairs made from trees harvested from sustainably cultivated forests ensures that there is no disruption to indigenous forest life and the processes it supports.

*Purchase furniture made from reclaimed materials – Invest in furniture made from discarded wood.

Related Coverage

Is Global Office Furniture Eco Friendly?

Global office furniture is a manufacturing company which was established in 1966 in Toronto, Canada by Saul Feldberg and Bill Kemeny. Their initial challenge was to produce an office chair that the ordinary man in the street could afford to buy… Eco Friendly Laundry Products

Eco friendly laundry products are becoming the cleaning products of choice for many consumers. Eco Friendly Marketing Tips

Many people harbor these very associations with business-type institutions, and not without good reason. Corporate neglect and disregard for the health of our planet runs rampant these days, and it clashes violently against the backdrop of environmental change being birthed all across the world. Green is the new black, in that consumers demand products be made attuned to their beliefs and lifestyles. Thankfully there are many out there who realize the importance of this issue and make steps towards decreasing environmental damage every day- this is one “trend” you definitely cannot afford to miss out on. Eco Friendly Hair Products

People are becoming more savvy when they go to the store to buy beauty and health care products for their personal use.Such wood may come from the destroyed structure of an old house, old furniture no longer in use or wood scraps in the neighborhood. You will have slightly but significantly reduced the need to cut more trees to make wood furniture. What’s more, aged wood when used for furniture is known for its rich patina.

*Consider eco friendly outdoor furniture made from bamboo – Strictly speaking, bamboo is not a tree but a type of grass. Bamboo can vary in color from lime green to maroon. The use of bamboo is growing rapidly but it is not only because of its abundance and the short time it takes to grow to maturity. Rather, bamboo is versatile and can be used for flooring. It can also be grown without the need to use any pesticide meaning it does not cause damage to the ozone layer.

*Durability should be a key consideration when buying wood furniture – durability reduces the likelihood of disused furniture ending up in landfills thus clogging the environment.
Long lasting chairs can be passed down to future generations thus saving the trees that would otherwise have been cut for use in new furniture.

*Invest in vintage furniture – Purchasing second hand or vintage also helps negate the need to cut down more trees for a brand new set. Another great quality of vintage is that it can usually be sold at an even higher price than one bought it unlike new furniture which rapidly depreciates on purchase.

*Buy local furniture – Buying local furniture can be a significant step towards eco friendly outdoor furniture. When it has to be transported over a distance, it utilizes carbon fuels whose gas emissions are a major environmental pollutant. Buying local ensures the set need only be moved over a short distance.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Furniture Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Saving The Planet Vs Saving Lives: The Car Crash Risks Of Eco-friendly Cars

July 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

21310679838_hyundai-sonata-hybrid-2011-1024x768-wallpaper-01.jpgLast week the G-Wiz electric car, a common sight in inner areas of London, claimed its first victim.

Dr Judit Nadal, a 47 year old research scientist and leading academic, died when her tiny electric vehicle was involved in a car crash with a Skoda Octavia in Hendon, north-west London, last Monday afternoon. Photos show that the car was torn neatly in half. Dr Nadal was thrown clear of the car.

She was taken to the Royal London Hospital, but died at 8.21pm.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of the Indian-built eco-car in recent years, with Top Gear magazine being a vocal critic after a crash test at a mere 40mph demonstrated that it would inflict ‘life-threatening injuries’ on its occupants.

The fact that the G-Wiz is not technically a car, but rather a quadricycle, means that it is not legally subject to the same stringent road safety tests as full-sized passenger vehicles.
Its UK distributor, GoinGreen, say that they voluntarily perform their own tests on the car. This may be true, but the manner in which the little urban runabout snapped in half in Dr Nadal’s crash is undoubtedly a cause for alarm.

Greater risk of death in a crash

In 2007, the Transport Research Laboratory decided not to use their most expensive crash test dummies, worth around GBP130,000 each, when testing the G-Wiz because they were concerned that its flimsy build would result in them being annihilated.

Now government officials are calling for the cars to be banned, along with AA president Edmund King: “The G-Wiz is classified as quadricycle hence exempt from standard testing. It should be banned as it is unsafe.”

Costing under GBP10,000, the cars have become popular in the capital in recent years thanks to their compact size and exemption from the GBP8 congestion charge in central London.
Their batteries can be topped up from a standard household socket, and above all, they are environmentally friendly, something that is becoming increasingly important in these eco-conscious times.

But saving the planet arguably shouldn’t take precedent over saving lives. Leading car designer Gordon Murray, who made his name penning championship-winning designs for Formula One teams Brabham and McLaren in the 1980s, and who gave us the McLaren F1 supercar, thinks that the UK should follow Japan’s lead and implement different accident regulations for city cars.

He told businessgreen.com, “To date, the only government that’s taken urban cars seriously is Japan,” he said. “It has had the Kei car format for decades, which makes up [a substantial part] of the market in Japan.”

The EuroNCAP safety scheme, he argues, has been very successful but has resulted in cars that are dangerous in an urban environment. “For urban cars, we need a crumple zone that starts working at 15 to 20mph, not at 40mph.”

In September, Murray revealed the designs for his iStream T25, which is shorter than a Smart ForTwo, and yet can comfortably seat three people and is designed to pass full-size car crash safety regulations.

As we become more eco-aware, let’s make sure we don’t compromise on safety as well. Smaller cars shouldn’t mean bigger crashes.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Cars Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eco-Friendly Patio Furniture

July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

21310680179_candy-yellow.jpgEco-Friendly patio furniture comes in many shapes, sizes and materials. Plastic patio furniture can be one of the most eco-friendly furniture around. Learn the different ways plastic patio furniture is made. The next time you are shopping you know what to look for.
Instead of buying a new patio set made out of metal or aluminum, why not do something good for the environment. Buy a patio set that can last forever, conserve landfill space and look attractive. Plastic patio furniture can fill these requirements. Not all plastic patio furniture is made the same way. Here is what you need to know to buy the right furniture.
What makes plastic furniture great? Good quality plastic patio furniture does not rust, fade or need to be brought inside every winter. It is easy to clean and easier to maintain. Besides just looking great, plastic furniture usually comes in many different colors to choose from.
Related Coverage
What Is Patio Furniture?

We often hear and read about the word patio furniture in most conversations and magazine articles. Yet most people are not quite familiar and cannot imagine what sort of furniture are these. This article briefly discusses such items. Elegance is Seen in Patio Furniture

Not all homes have patios built with them but for those who do have one have the pleasure of selecting the appropriate patio furniture to give beauty to the ambiance. Patio furniture also referred to as garden furniture is basically a type of furniture set created and designed for use outdoor; sturdy enough to survive the rigors of rain and recurring sunlight. How to Find Eco-Friendly Furniture

With so much emphasis on going green and preserving the earth’s natural resources, everyone is trying to do their part. Did you know that there is even furniture that is considered eco-friendly? Home Decor With Patio Furniture

Patio furniture is one of many materials and designs to choose from to enhance your interior and exterior spaces. There is a huge selection for you to choose from whether you are looking for a contemporary or traditional theme.You can even mix and match the colors of your chairs.
Many people have bought or sat in cheap plastic patio furniture. It is not sturdy, not very attractive and probably is made from virgin plastic. When the wind blows harder than 5 miles an hour, your plastic furniture is flying all over the backyard. When you sit down in a seat, the plastic legs give a little bit. Don’t try and lean back in the chair because the legs will start to wobble and you will feel as though the legs are about ready to break.
So what should you look for? There are different types of recyclable plastic lumber (RPL). The most eco-friendly plastic and the best plastic for garden furniture is High Density Polyethylene recycled plastic. This recycled plastic comes mostly from recycled milk jugs or similar types of plastics.
Because the disposed plastic must be uniform, it raises the cost of the furniture since the plastic must be sorted by the recyclers. But because the plastic has been sorted, the plastic is of the best quality and allows for the plastic to be modeled and created in any color.
Here are some additional features you should look for in your plastic patio furniture to make sure it stands up to all different elements. Make sure the plastic is sturdy and has some weight. A chair should weigh around 35 lbs and a table, depending on size, should weigh at least 50 lbs. This means that your patio furniture will not be flying around the back yard the next time the wind decides to blow. The plastic Color pigment and UV protector should be added when the plastic is being processed and not as a spray coating over a finished piece of plastic. The color pigment and UV protectors should be solid throughout the plastic.
If you follow these suggestions, your patio will be good for the environment, good to look at and last a long time.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Furniture Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eco-Friendly Options for Cars

July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

11310679835_hybrid-back.jpgIf you are concerned about the pollution that a typical car emits, here are the things that you should consider so that you may be able to have an eco-friendly car.
Hybrid cars are known to be eco-friendly since it is capable of effectively managing the fuel resources by switching from electric to fuel and vice versa to run the car. Since hybrid cars may run on electricity, they emit less pollution as compared to normal vehicles.
Electric cars are another option when it comes to having an eco-friendly car. With electric cars, there is no pollution since there is no combustion. Since electric cars do not use fuel, they do not emit carbon monoxide which is a byproduct of fuel combustion.
Cars which run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG are considered eco-friendly since they do not emit that much pollution.
There are actually a lot of ways on how we can save the nature from all the pollution coming out from cars and one is to choose eco-friendly cars instead of the normal ones.

Related Coverage

Whether Motorcycles Are An Eco-friendly Option

This article will show you whether motorcycles are an eco-friendly option or not when they get roughly double the amount of gas mileage of a typical car. Eco-Friendly Cars Review

Hybrid cars, also known as hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are the most effective ways to solve the problems of fuel shortage. Car producers these days utilize the design and production of environment-friendly cars to respond to the fuel crisis. The invention’s ingeniousness have attracted lots of customers. Saturn hybrid or Toyota hybrid cars are words which are all becoming familiar and popular t Eco friendly honda used cars

Since we all know about Honda from the inception itself, we can say without any doubt regarding the perfection and quality they deliver to the Customers Bmw To Develop Eco Friendly Supercar

BMW, the luxury auto marker, is soon to join the green club of the car makers. If the insiders are to be believed, the luxury car manufacturers are soon planning to come with its first hybrid car.We cannot only contribute to the betterment of the nature but also we will be able to save more on fuel consumption.
To find the right eco-friendly car for you, you may go online and search for online car dealers. Look if they have the type of car that you are looking for. You may also want to consider looking on online auction sites since there are also people here who sell and bid their cars.
If you have decided to purchase a car online, make sure that you also choose a reliable auto shipping service. This is to ensure that you will be able to receive your car easily and more securely.
Compare prices of different auto shipping companies and choose the most affordable one.
 

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Cars Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas

July 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

f_11310681190_all-bottles-group-640x520.jpgAn eco friendly wedding is an excellent way to go green and save some money at the same time. It really seems like green weddings are the newest trend because there are so many fun and easy ways to turn a regular wedding into an environmentally friendly event.
How to Pull Off a Green Wedding
Weddings can be really fun, or really uptight and stressful. It seems to me like eco friendly weddings tend to have a more laid back and fun atmosphere because everyone is aware of the positive energy that surrounds an environmentally friendly event. The best part about green weddings is that they are so easy to create. Even the simplest alterations here and there can turn a plain wedding into an eco friendly blowout that everyone will be talking about for weeks.
The first step to going green at your wedding is the invitations. You can use invitations made from partially or 100% recycled paper, and then ask your guests to recycle them after the wedding is over.
Related Coverage
5 Cheap Wedding Ideas

Getting married is a truly exciting time for the happy couple and that excitement can lead to a very expensive occasion but it doesn’t have to be like that. You can get married cheaply. There are many ways to limit your total spend on the wedding, just because you have a budget does not mean it has to be a cheap day. Ideas For Eco-Friendly Dates

Having an eco-friendly date is the bee’s knees and is sure to inspire the eco-friendly person in all of us. So, next time you are with your significant other or newest love interest try these five eco-friendly date ideas and you will for sure have a great time! Environmentally Friendly Wedding

Over recent years just as individuals and companies alike have become a lot more aware of green issues, so too it seems have couples planning their wedding. It is said that the average wedding emits more CO2 than the average person over the period of a year! Unique Wedding Ideas to Know

The satisfaction of having a wonderful and unique wedding comes to the person that has the “will and initiative” to make such a wondrous event occur. Weddings usually only come once in your life so you might as well go all out with your creativity and passion for it. Most women dream of the most fantastic wedding life has to offer.You could also use an e-vite, which is an online wedding invitation. This way, paper products are completely unnecessary. Online invitations can really allow you to be creative because you can set up your very own website that allows you invite everyone in your own unique way. Not to mention, online invitations will help you save money because you won’t need to order fancy and expensive invitations and then pay to have them shipped.
You can also go green at your wedding by using eco friendly flowers. By “eco friendly flowers,” I mean flowers that are locally grown. A lot of florists will use bouquets that need to be flown in from Europe, which is incredibly energy inefficient. After the wedding is over, you could then recycle the flowers by donating them to a hospital or nursing home.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts