Archive for October, 2009

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Waste Management and Skip Bins

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
What is waste management? Simply put it is the collection of waste materials produced by human consumption and activity, transporting it to a facility that will treat it and then the recycling of the waste material, or if it is not reusable, disposing of it for good. Recycling products and materials is becoming the norm due to the growing understanding of the effects it has on our environment; concern about waste disposal practices to our surroundings and is an important issue to companies and local governments. Once, the management of waste would have meant the dustbin truck taking your refuse and transporting it to the local rubbish tip. Fortunately rubbish tips are no longer regarded as an appropriate solution to dealing with waste; refuse, garbage, trash, rubbish, scrap, however you want to name it, is now being accepted as a valuable resource that shouldn’t only be land filled but found many valuable and resourceful uses for.

Governments and private companies aim to control waste by offering facilities to households and businesses to dispose of it, one of the main methods used are the provision of skip bins. Skip bins can be hired to collect a variety of waste including food, plastics, metal, furniture, timber and construction, garden and electronic waste. The kind of skip bin required will depend on the type of materials you are planning on disposing of. For example, green waste skip bins are used for anything from tree clippings to grass and hardfill skip bins for substances like concrete, soil, rubble and tiles. Hazardous chemicals and contaminated waste can’t be put into skip bins due to the dangers involved and so for these materials it is necessary to call the local council and they will advise on how to dispose of them, hazardous substances include acids, solvents, cyanide waste materials, paints and oils. There are also bulk bins and skip bin hire solutions for the collection of refuse from businesses such as building and construction sites, large size developments and industrial companies. As well as skip bins, amenities are provided to safely dispose of and destroy private documents such as quarantine stock, computer hardcopy, tapes and microfiche and out of date products. Electronic waste is also recycled these days and includes components from disused computers and other IT equipment. Collection and treatment services exist for clinical and medical waste from businesses and industries such as laboratories, surgeries, veterinaries, dental surgeries, food processing plants and hospitals.

The skip hire industry and resource recovery facilities are particularly essential for the future of the environment as they create an awareness of how everyone can help in increasing the amount of waste recycled and thus reducing landfill. Nations all over the world are joining in the attempt to find ways of recycling waste, from using complicated methods to change the calorific content present in waste into electricity or sorting through landfills to remove recyclable materials and reduce the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of. Waste management is an ongoing problem for society, a problem that will never go away, but if managed effectively, can be controlled.

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Spray Foam Insulation: Green Building Product

Saturday, October 24th, 2009
Thinking about taking on a green building project? If you want to build an eco-friendly building or home, take advantage of the new technology and product advancements available, that can help you conserve energy while helping the planet. Spray foam insulation is one important innovation that has numerous practical and environmental benefits.

The initial price of applying spray foam will be more expensive when compared to the traditional fiberglass alternative. Due to the nature of the product, it can only be applied by professionals, driving up the costs; however, eventually a foam insulation system will not only pay for itself, but you can even profit from it.

Spray foam insulation is liquid polyurethane that forms into a solid, foam-like substance once it hits a solid surface. The liquid state allows it to penetrate fine cracks and holes in the surface that products like fiberglass can’t protect. Since the entire surface area is sealed, it is much more energy efficient than any other material available.

It keeps more warm air in during cold months, and keeps it out when it becomes hot. Your electric bill will reduce, saving you money and helping the environment. Buildings with spray foam insulation also sell at higher prices, adding value to your property.

The thick barrier that polyurethane foam creates also helps prevent sound from travelling. You won’t have to worry about noisy neighbors, or disrupting anyone if you have guests over. Since it’s versatile and can be sprayed on nearly any surface, you can even use it to insulate floors and ceilings. You won’t have to worry about your guitar practice in the basement upsetting anyone nearby.

Spray foam insulation also discourages pests from burrowing into your home. The insulation is difficult to tear through, and it can be sprayed along cracks and openings to ensure that no uninvited guests attempt to slip inside of your home. You’ll no longer have to fumigate with dangerous pesticides. It can also help keep moisture out, and is excellent for preventing mold and water damage.

In comparison to fiberglass, polyurethane is a far safer and more eco-friendly building product. Fiberglass is less energy efficient, often comes loose, needs to be replaced much sooner, and can be physically harmful. Fiberglass can cause redness and itchiness if touches bare skin.

The small fibers can also break off (which is common). As these wiry, sharp wires float in the air, they can be accidentally and unknowingly inhaled. Their sharp ends can cut the inside of the esophagus, creating scars that are thought to be a potential cause of cancer. It is often colored bright pink and, because of its unusual texture can entice children play with it, or even put it in their mouths.

On the other hand, spray foam insulation stays put. It won’t fall off or disintegrate, and it’s made of safe materials. You won’t have to worry about dangerous particles floating through the air. It is also made from renewable and recyclable resources. Spray foam insulation not only saves energy, is more hygienic, and health friendly, but purchasing it contributes back to the economy.

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Going Green is not Just for Big Business-you Can Grow Eco-profits, Too!

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
going-green-business
The world of big business is making daily headlines by “going green” after discovering that what’s good for the planet is also proving good for business.

IBM recently announced “Project Big Green,” a $1 billion initiative to reduce energy consumption by offering new lines of energy-efficient IT products.

Wal-Mart is adding solar power to more than 20 stores.

PepsiCo is buying renewable energy certificates to offset its carbon footprint. Even major banks and energy firms are being asked by shareholders to prove that they, too, are going green.

It’s not just the biggest businesses that are attracting new customers and shareholders and reaping huge profits by “going green.” Small businesses also are growing eco-profits by embracing surprisingly inexpensive strategies to add value to their products, services and brand.

Consider these innovative examples:

- Bob Smith of Mad River Brewing Company in Blue Lake, California, has attracted positive publicity (and new customers) by promoting his efforts to reduce his small firm’s waste output and take other environmentally conscious steps. In turn, he has received welcome positive publicity from the press. “What PR budget? That is our PR budget,” he told the Albuquerque Tribune about “going green” to market his business.

- In Florida, Natalie Kelly formed Home Therapy Cleaning Services, which uses only nontoxic, all-natural cleaning products for her home cleaning business. She used to sell aromatherapy candles from her home, she told the St. Petersburg Times, but today uses an aromatherapy baking soda blend to freshen carpets.

Here’s what you can do:

- Two inexpensive ways any small business or solo entrepreneur can go green are to change light bulbs to energy-efficient bulbs and use biodegradable cleaning products.

- With that done, tell your customers and the media about these simple ways to go green. You will have just earned instant credibility as a green business, and also as a media resource for simple, effective ways to “go green.”

- Many communities online and offline are forming networks to exchange energy-saving ideas for home and business. Form your own energy network, enlisting neighborhood businesses that will welcome another opportunity to show they’re going green, too. The plus for you is that you will have just positioned yourself and your business as a community environmental leader.

- Copy what the New York Times called “Phase 2″ of the corporate response to global warming. Partner with an environmental group. Travelocity invites customers to donate an extra $10 to $40, which goes to the Conservation Fund to plant trees to offset the carbon used by a client to take a trip. Whole Foods invites customers to buy a $5 “wind power card” that goes to Renewable Choice Energy to build wind farms. What local environmental group can you partner with to promote on your Web site (and vice versa), to set aside a day that a percentage of profits will go to that organization or to make their fliers available at your business?

- Make use of readily available, free information to hand out with your business literature or to make available in your office. For example, create a one-page flier on your letterhead inviting clients to calculate their own carbon footprint by visiting http://multimedia.wri.org/safeclimate_calculator.cfm.

- Go deeper green! Attend a “green” conference in your community or region, and promote your attendance. (Go to Google.com and type in “green” and “conference” and your area to find out when and where they are scheduled.) Write a “green” article on simple ways you are going green and submit it to one of the dozens of “green” Web sites and blogs that invite reader contributions. It’s a great way to market your smart ideas and your business!

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Going Green – What’s it All About?

Monday, October 19th, 2009
going-green
Green: it’s a word we seem to hear everywhere lately. The skyrocketing price of oil and the ongoing debate about the threat of climate change are only two of the factors that prompt people to think about going green.? Nowadays most people, and even some businesses, realize that we humans have an effect on our environment. There’s no getting around it, and that’s why going green can only benefit all of us.

But what is “green”? Ask 10 people, you’ll get 10 answers. Not even the U.S. government has a standard definition, so consumers must decide for themselves based on various definitions and standards created by different organizations. Usually, the word “green” connotes energy efficiency (a “green”? washing machine that uses less water and electricity, for instance) or environmental friendliness (such as paint stripper made from non-toxic materials). You might even be doing something green without knowing it, perhaps to save money. Have you abandoned commercial cleaning products in favor of using the natural products Grandma used, like baking soda, vinegar and ammonia? That’s green, because you’re opting not to use possibly toxic chemicals in your home!Do you put mulch, compost or manure on your garden instead of chemical fertilizer? That’s green, because you’re reducing the amount of potentially dangerous chemicals right in your own backyard! Do you like to shop for bargains at flea markets or secondhand shops instead of buying something brand new at the mall? That’s green, because you’re “recycling”? already-manufactured goods and most likely using up less packaging that would otherwise swell the town landfill! Even large organizations–schools, local governments or corporations–have gone green by switching from paper to electronic billing (less paper used = fewer trees cut down) or by installing solar panels instead of a new oil heating system.

Developers, architects, contractors, local governments and utilities are also getting into “green building.”? Just as individuals go green by recycling and businesses go green by reducing their paper use, those in real estate, construction, and associated fields can ride the wave of environmental awareness by adopting green concepts. Instead of clearcutting a forest in order to lay out a typical subdivision, some real estate developers have turned their talents toward refurbishing older hometown neighborhoods. Contractors can pledge to avoid arsenic-treated lumber or focus on reusing salvaged or surplus building materials. Architects can incorporate the newest energy-efficient technologies into their designs. In many areas, the local government or utility company is happy to perform an energy audit of a home or commercial building in an effort to reduce energy consumption and waste, and they may be able to supply information about green products and services that are good for the budget and good for the planet. Common products in this category include solar energy devices that can lessen dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels (i.e., home heating oil), long-lasting fluorescent light bulbs, or safer replacements for harmful “traditional”? materials such as fiberglass insulation.

Consumers can teach themselves how to go green. You can start small, with something as simple as choosing a product at the supermarket that uses less packaging than the one next to it on the shelf. Congratulations–by making that decision, you’ve just reduced the demand for styrofoam, which has the potential to sit in an ugly landfill for hundreds of years. Or you can think big by trading in your gas-guzzling SUV for a gas-sipping hybrid-electric vehicle. The bottom line is, you don’t have to be rich, a scientist, or a tree hugger to go green! You don’t have to change your lifestyle completely in one fell swoop to go green. Every little bit helps, and every little bit adds up to a lot.

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Grid Tie Renewable Energy Setup

Saturday, October 17th, 2009
A common route to take when you decide to switch over to renewable energy is a “Grid-Tie” setup. What this means is your house is tied in with your renewable energy system and tied in to the power grid. The reason this is such a popular route to take is that it allows you to move to renewable energy as you can afford it.

The beauty of a grid-tie system is that it can be configured two ways. The first way is to set up your system with solar panels and wind generators and hook them up to a battery bank. This battery bank is then hooked up to an inverter and powers some of the appliances in your home. This system costs more and is harder to install for several reasons. Firstly, you need to do some re-wiring of your home to integrate you renewable energy system. This requires a licensed electrician and can be a time consuming process. Secondly, you have to buy a battery bank to store the electricity that you generate.

The second setup which is more cost effective and easier in the long run is to simply wire your system directly into the power grid. What this means is that the electricity you produce is being fed through your meter. It’s really cool to watch it spin backwards. There are some things that you should know about this setup though. You will have to check local laws to see whether this type of system is allowed, and you will have to check with your energy company to see whether they will allow you to run this type of system. Lastly, you will need a licensed electrician to do the setup. This way has several advantages though. You don’t need to initially spend a huge amount of money to get up and running, and expanding simply means hooking another solar panel up. You also don’t have to do any re-wiring to your house.

As time goes on you can add solar panels faster because your electricity bill has gone down, and after it reaches $0 you can start buying batteries for the storage system.

For those of us who can’t afford to make the switch to off grid living all at once this is the way to go. It allows you to build your system one piece at a time as you can afford it. It may take you 2-5 years to get running completely on renewable energy, but it is definitely worth it.

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