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A lot more conviction is necessary for businesses to move towards energy efficiency measures
Numerous studies have found that over half of the very best 250 companies in britain have introduced energy efficiency measures at their premises but a majority are worried that the cost of putting in equipment to reduce their carbon emissions is just too expensive.
A survey from Ernst and Young revealed that 71 per cent of the leading companies are choosing to invest in other areas rather than energy efficient equipment for example voltage optimisation units, as they are worried about expenses and the amount of time it may need to recuperate the money they’ve spent on an investment.
53 per cent of businesses have already improved their energy efficiency but just 9 per cent have current plans to make any extra changes.
Nearly all of the businesses who answered said that a substantial surge in energy prices would encourage them to look for ways of lowering their energy consumption and growing to be more effective.
Even when your business can’t manage to set up new products, there are still plenty of energy saving ideas for companies of any size to help companies decrease their carbon footprint. Apolloenviro provide environmental consultancy services to aid businesses of any size reduce their carbon emissions.
The government CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme makes it more essential than ever for businesses to figure out ways to become more efficient to prevent having to pay additional charges, so contact Apollo Enviro today to see what they can do for your business.
Recycled Cowboy Crafts For Kids
There are many recycled cowboy crafts for kids that are fun and easy to do. These recycled crafts are inexpensive and they cater to the interest of your kids. This article will provide you with detailed instructions on creating recycled cowboy crafts featuring a cactus, horse, vest, and sheriff’s badge.
Cactus
You can make an awesome cactus using a plastic bottle, a plastic cup, paint, a paintbrush, toothpicks, glue, and a needle. A small plastic bottle with a rounded top works best for this kid’s craft. The bottle should fit snugly inside the cup. Lay newspaper on the work area before starting this cowboy craft.
Start by allowing the kids to paint the cup anyway they want. While it is drying use the needle to poke several holes in the bottle. Help kids paint the bottle green and allow it to dry. Break several tooth picks in half and set aside. Glue the bottle into the cup. Poke the half tooth picks into the holes in the bottle. Add a little glue to the toothpicks if they are loose. You can also help kids paint on a face on the cactus as well if they like.
Horse
Kids can make a recycled horse using an old sock, paint, two large wiggly eyes, a paintbrush, a long cardboard tube or old broom handle, stuffing, yarn, scissors, and glue. Stuffing can be made from recycled materials such as old newspaper, old rags, old couch cushions, and plastic bags.
Help kids stuff the sock up to the ankle or mid calf. Then place the dowel or cardboard tube inside the sock. Use the yarn to tie it securely in place, and add some glue if you like. Help kids paint the sock whatever color they would like their horse to be.
When the paint has dried add the yarn for hair using glue. A Glue gun can also be used for this project. Add the eyes and paint a mouth on the horse head. When this cowboy craft is completely dry kids can have a great time playing with it.
Vest
An easy recycled cowboy craft is a vest. You will need a large paper bag, scissors, paint, paintbrushes, and markers. Start this project by holding the bag up to you kid’s chest. Use the marker to mark where the arms and neck begin and end.
Then cut a circle into the side of the recycled paper bag to fit the arms. Cut another circle in the bottom of the bag to fit the neck. Then cut straight down the front to separate the front of the vest, Help kids paint the vest and add details with the markers. You can also glue some yarn and buttons to the front to tie the vest shut.
Sheriff Badge
A sheriffs bade can be made easily using a piece recycled piece of cardboard, a large silver yogurt foil, scissors, glue, and a pencil. Start by helping kids draw a star on a piece of cardboard. Help kids then cut the star out.
Cover the front of the star with glue and attach the foil to it. Cut a slit in between each point in the star. Fold the foil around the points to create a finished sheriff badge from recycled materials. Add tape or a safety pin to the back of the star. This cowboy craft is easy and quick to create.
Cowboy crafts are a lot of fun for kids, and these crafts are also made from recycled materials. Try these cowboy crafts with your kids to have fun while recycling.
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How to Save Seeds From Heirloom Tomatoes
Most of the tomatoes you buy in store are genetically engineered, and fairly similar. There are a few different variety, but not nearly the variety you will find when you start to look into the heirloom varieties. These tomatoes can be many different colors, some even have multiple colors. And the flavors are as numerous as the colors. With some tasting very sour, to others that are sweet. Some that are good for stuffing and baking, others perfect for salsa, and some even stand alone as a side dish, or even the main course. But finding these tomatoes can be somewhat difficult, and expensive. So the best way to get these tomatoes is to grow your own. Once you find a variety you like, it is easy to save the seeds, plant them in the spring, and grow your own crop next year. It is also rewarding to know that you are producing some of your own food.
First, what qualifies a tomato as an heirloom variet. Well, an heirloom is generally something old, that is passed down. So heirloom tomatoes are older varieties that have not been tampered with genetically. Wikipedia defines it as “an heirloom plant, an open-pollinated (non-hybrid) cultivar of tomato.” There are hundreds of varieties in various shapes, sizes, and colors. It can be fun to look at all of the different ones and wonder why you have only tried a couple of types. Also note, this process will not work with the hybrid varieties you normally buy in stores, because they are sterile.
The first step in saving tomato seeds is finding the right tomatoes. During the summer there are many Farmer’s Markets where these can be found. Many organic grocery stores will also carry some heirloom varieties, and there are extensive resources on the Internet. Experiment with several different types, and test them out. The flavors will vary, as will the structure of the tomato. Ask around at the stores or research online for the type you are looking for. Are you looking for one that works well for making stuffed tomatoes? Do you like your salsa sweet or spicy? Do you make sauces for spaghetti or lasagna? Do you like to eat them raw? Sweet or sour?
Once you have found the type or types that you want to try growing next season, it is time to get some seeds. Some places that sell the tomatoes may already have seeds, but let’s face it. If you’re planning on growing the tomatoes, and you are reading this article, you’re not gonna just buy the seeds. You might as well buy some tomatoes you can eat and save the seeds from one of them. It’s probably cheaper in the long run anyway. Look through the tomatoes and find the best one, whether it is size or color you prefer, find the best one you can. This is the one we will use to save the seeds. Make a note of the variety that you have chosen, the name, why you like, so that next year you know. This is especially helpful if there are a couple of different kinds that you are going to save.
Now that you have your tomato, it is time to gather your tools and get the seeds. You will need a sharp knife, a sppon, a clear plastic cup, a strainer, a paper plate, and an envelope, that’s it! First, cut the tomato in half horizontally, across the middle. This will give you access to the seeds. Next, with the spoon, scoop out all of the gooey stuff with the seeds in it and put it into the plastic cup. Once you have all of the seeds out of both halves, have fun eating the tomato. Add some water to the plastic cup, enough to cover the seeds by about half an inch or more. Place the cup somewhere it won’t spill, it doesn’t have to be in the sun, but it helps. You are going to let this sit for about 3 days, stirring once a day until then. During this time, the water will dissolve the goo from around the seeds, so you don’t have to. Make sure to write on the side of the cup, what variety of tomato these seeds are for so that you don’t get confused later on. Also write the date that you extracted the seeds for reference.
Once this mixture has had time to disolve the goo, add more water to the cup and let the seeds settle. Notice the seeds on the bottom of the cup, and the ones that are floating in the water. The ones that are floating in the water, are not the ones you want, you want the ones at the bottom. So, dump as much of the water out as you can without spilling the seeds on the bottom. It helps to stir the water slightly before dumping it out. Continue this process until the water is clear, and the only seeds left all sink to the bottom. Now, using your strainer, collect the seeds at the bottom of the cup.
Now, write the variety and date on the paper plate You can also use a coffee filter, or paper towel, but a plate is fine too. Take the seeds from the strainer and spread them out on the paper plate. They need to dry completely and it helps if they are well spread out. Leave these to dry for 3 days, but make sure that they are very dry before moving on to the next step.
Take the envelope and write the variety on it, and the date. Once the seeds are dry, take the seeds off of the paper plate and put them into the envelope. Seal the envelope and you are done. If you want to break them up into a couple of envelopes, that is fine too, is also makes it easier to share the seeds with your friends. When the time comes use these seeds to start your next crop from scratch, and next year, make sure to save the best one again, and bookmark this article so you’ll know where to look for the directions again.
Here are the steps without the wordy descriptions:
1. Find the variety of tomato you want to grow next year
2. Find the best one
3. Cut it in half along its equator
4. Scoop the seeds and the goop out into a plastic cup
5. Add some water to cover the seeds
6. Stir the cup once a day for 3 days
7. Strain the seeds, keeping only the ones that sink to the bottom of the cup
8. Dry the seeds on a paper plate for at least 3 days
9. Put the seeds in an envelope after they are dry
I hope you enjoy expanding your tastes and growing your favorite varieties of tomatoes.
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Leave a commentBaumgartens Products – Bathroom Cleaner, w/32 oz. Refillable Bottle/4 Tablets, Lemon – Sold as 1 BT – Bathroom cleaner cleans tile, bowls, basin, showers, and tubs with a lemon scent. Kit contains a 32 oz. pump spray bottle and four tablets for four refills. Drop one effervescent tablet in the reusable bottle, fill with water, and start cleaning. Environmentally friendly kit saves three plastic bottles from landfills. Cleaner is free of petro-chemicals, phosphates, and acids. Reviews
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Batteries, we use them everyday for a many reasons. It seems like almost every device that we use requires battery. There will come a time when the battery is no longer usable and it needs to be disposed of. For many people this means simply throwing them away into the dustbin. Many people do not know that disposing of a battery into the dustbin is not a very good idea. You can recycle batteries and it is a much better option.
Heavy Metal Toxins
One of the main reasons that batteries should not be thrown away with the regular garbage is that batteries contain toxic heavy metals. Such metals include:
- Nickel cadmium
- Alkaline
- Mercury
- Nickel metal hydride
- Lead acid
While these metals are necessary to help the battery perform its desired function, when disposed of improperly, these metals can seep into soil and water sources, causing contamination.
Problems that can occur include:
- pollution tot lakes and streams
- leaching from landfills
- environmental exposure to heavy metals
- burns and physical danger
Proper Disposal
The proper disposal of batteries is important. You should always search out the local rules and regulations about the proper ways to dispose of batteries. There are many different types of batteries and each type needs to be disposed of in a different way. It is important to know what type of batteries you have and how to properly dispose of them.
There are two main types of batteries – one use and rechargeable. Most people will have a variety of both kinds of batteries in their home. Here are some examples of each type and tips for how to recycle each kind of battery.
One use: These batteries include alkaline, carbon zinc and lithium manganese.
These batteries should be recycled according to local recycling standards.
Rechargeable: These batteries include nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride and lithium ion. These batteries must be recycled. You should never throw them away in the garbage.
With the use of batteries being an almost everyday occurrence it is very serious for people to dispose of them properly with battery recycling. About 3 billion batteries are purchased each year and if those batteries are not recycled properly then they can cause serious harm. Proper battery recycling will help to protect the environment and will help to protect you and your family.
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Do Raw Foodists Need Greens to Be Healthy?
Most low fat raw vegans, including Dr. Douglas Graham, are big on greens and assert that we absolutely, positively need to consume them in order to thrive on a raw food diet. On the other hand, there are many raw foodists out there, including 17-year fruitarian Anne Osbourne, who say that a person can live on fruit alone and be healthy.
While I’m certainly no expert on the matter, I think I can shed some light on what greens can offer to a raw food diet and perhaps help answer the question: Do raw foodists need greens to be healthy?
What Are Greens?
Before I go any further, I want to clarify what I mean by greens. “Greens” refers to all the lovely tender, leafy, and mild vegetables out there. This includes:
Romaine lettuce
Boston/bib/butter lettuce
Red lettuce
Mesculin
Spinach
Iceberg lettuce
Mint
Oregano
Basil
Cilantro
Parsley
Cabbage
I also include mild herbs such as mint and parsley in this category, as they are obviously green, obviously tender, and obviously mild.
And don’t forget the less conventional, but equally delicious, tender green varieties such as bok choy, beet greens, and sauropus!
I do not include dark greens, like kale, or cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, in this list as they can be hard to digest and unpleasant to eat due to the bitterness. However, many raw foodists do enjoy these ingredients and do not experience any digestive troubles when blended and consumed with sweet fruits.
Greens are Mineral Rich
This is the main benefit of eating a diet rich in tender, leafy greens. Sweet fruits are generally considered rich in vitamins, while greens are rich in minerals.
Calcium, sodium, and potassium, phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur, and magnesium (just to name a few) are all present in sufficient quantities in tender leafy vegetables.
And if you’ve ever been anemic, have experienced any problems with iron deficiency, or know anything about sailors who love spinach, I’m sure you are familiar with the spinach-iron connection.
In addition, greens have higher levels of protein as well. For instance, 100g of bananas contain 4% of total calories from protein while 100g of romaine lettuce has 24% of calories from protein.
Greens are Cravings-Busters
Eating mountains of savory greens helps with cooked food cravings. The higher amount of sodium, relative to sweet fruits, is said to stop salty food cravings in their tracks.
To be honest, I think this might be a case of confusing the chicken with the egg.
Usually when people start eating greens and stop craving salt, they have also completely eliminated any rock salt – table salt, sea salt, popcorn salt, etc. – from their diet. It could certainly be that these people no longer crave salt because the salt is no longer in their system, not because they have started eating greens.
However, I definitely think there is something to be said for the power of savory dinner dishes.
Eating super sweet fruit all day can be rather monotonous (and even sickening for some at first) and eating a delicious savory, hearty, and satisfying green-packed meal can make all the difference in a person’s efforts to stay raw.
Greens Offer Variety
Getting a good variety of produce in your diet is important for a couple of reasons:
Variety helps to ensure proper nutrition (this is particularly useful if the quality of your fruit is less than optimal).
Variety helps to keep things exciting, since we all know how “terribly boring” it is to eat raw.
Variety (in the form of both ingredients and recipes) is especially important during the colder months, when both the quantity and the quality of fruit may be limited and/or less than optimal.
Since high-quality greens are available year-round, this can be an easy way to add more tasty variety into your raw food diet.
But Do We Need Them?!?
I think Michele from Raw Natural Hygiene said it best:
>
Miss Anne is one of those fortunate few that has access to some AMAZING quality fruit and does well with-out greens and I respect that. For the rest of us, though, greens are an important “supplement”, if not staple. >
I agree.
If you are lucky enough to eat extremely high-quality sweet, non-sweet, and fatty fruits – we’re talking 100% organic, home-grown goodness – then you’ll probably do well without greens.
Fruitbat Anne (the “Miss Anne” Michele is referring to above) and her 17 years as a fruitarian certainly stand as a testament to that.
Otherwise, I think it is very important for optimal nutrition to eat enough greens.
Does this mean you have to eat buckets of bib lettuce everyday? I certainly don’t. In fact, I rarely even look at a lettuce leaf during the summer months, with all the delicious local tomatoes and cukes around.
That said, you certainly should not neglect your greens or their mineral-rich, non-sweet fruit friends like tomatoes, bell pepper, and cucumber.
The Golden (Apple) Rule
Most importantly of all, never forget that sweet fruit comes first. As great as greens are, they are simply too low in calories to make up the bulk of your diet.
This is why I do not consume my super salad until after I have eaten all my fruit for the day.
And if I find myself hungry afterward? You know the drill…I just eat more fruit!:D
Swayze
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How To Save Money On Your Utilities
How to Save Money On Your Electricity, Gas, and Water
Many times todays modern people spend almost as much on their utilities, if not more than they do on their rent or mortgage. The good news is that there are many ways to cut costs on these:
-Be aware of your local utilities rewards to customers who cut their energy use.
-Take advantage of your local utilities energy saving services and information.
-Plant trees to save energy; in the summer they will provide shade to cool your house.
-Regularly replace your smoke alarm batteries: this will save the precious lives of your loved ones.
-Buy energy efficient light bulbs.
-Be sure your light bulbs are the correct wattage for their fixture.
-When you leave your room turn your lights off.
-Turn off your television when you leave the room.
-Use low wattage light bulbs.
-Use florescent light bulbs.
-Buy appliances with high EERS (Energy efficient ratios).
-Don’t set your refrigerator or freezer thermostat too low. Turn up your refrigerator of freezer a few degrees; and
you’ll save money.
-Use your microwave or toaster oven rather than your regular oven.
-Only run your dishwasher when it is full. If you need a glass or spoon or fork, wash it by hand.
-Don’t use your dishwasher’s heater to dry your dishes, save money and let them dry naturally.
-Turn off your freezer if you don’t store a large supply in it.
-Install surge protectors either for your entire home or for individual outlets.
-Some utilities charge less during off peak times electricity rates that are lower; if this is so in your area, use your washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher, etc. during off peak hours.
-Don’t use your dryer if you washed just a few items, hang them up. Also keep some hangers around your washing
machine to use when needed.
-Dry two loads of laundry at once. The dryer is one of the largest energy users in your house and the less you
use it the more money you save.
-Use cold water detergent to wash your clothes, it may work for some of your clothes
-When using your dishwasher, use fewer cycles.
-Use less hot water, it increases your bill.
-Buy a water saver for your shower.
-Install a single-control shower valve which lets you preset the temperature, saving you from making adjustments
-If your house is empty during a vacation or other get away time, turn your water heater off.
-Wrap your hot water heater in a coat, it will kindly return lower heating bills.
-install a hot water timer control which will allow you to have hot water when you need it but you won’t be
paying for having it when you
don’t need it.
-Insulate your hot water pipes; this you will get hot water quicker and cheaper.
-Install aerators on all of your faucets.
-Don’t waste your money on water purification sales pitches.
-Lower your toilet’s water level, lowering this a little bit can save you a lot through the year.
-When you need to replace your toilet replace it with a shallow trap toilet, it uses less water per flush.
-Fix your dripping faucet.
-Fix your constantly running toilet by checking a home repair manual, or your computer for this info.
-Clean and inspect your sump pump annually.
-Water your lawn at night rather than during the day when a good part evaporates.
-Fix a leaky faucet.-Insulate your attic.
-Uses shades or drapes to insulate your windows.
-Add more insulation and find out from your local utility how you can do this.
-Check if your are eligible for state income tax credits for insulating your home.
-Wear an extra sweater and turn down the heat.
-Correctly estimate your air conditioning needs by consulting your air conditioning dealer or by using your computer for ideas.
-Room air conditioners may actually be cheaper than installing a central air conditioning.
-Save a great deal of money by running your air conditioner less.
-Use your fan instead of an air conditioner.
-Close down the several rooms in your house that during winter to save on your heat.
-Install a zoned heating and/or air conditioning system.
-Use fans instead of air conditioners.
-Install heat reflectors behind your radiators.
-Have your heating and air conditioning systems cleaned every year.
-Install a programmable thermostat.
-Heat your house with wood or coal which can be cheaper than using electricity or gas.
-Close your shades if it is warm outside, then open them at night; during the winter it is the opposite: open them
during daylight and close at night.
-Don’t leave your fireplace open.
-Use the smaller burners on your stove: this will mean smaller gas and electric bills.
-Don’t rent telephones, buy them: its cheaper.
-Make your long distance calls at nights or weekends; or check for a telephone company that gives unlimited
long distance for a reasonable cost.
-Use your telephone book or better yet use your computer to find a phone number rather than calling for directory
assistance.
-Keep an up to date address book with telephone numbers.
-Avoid charging your credit card for telephone calls.
-Write down what you want to talk about before making your call.
-Eliminate unneeded extras on your phone service.
-If your are away from home for a period of time try suspending your phone service.
-Listen to the voice on your answering machine; if it is a salesman, don’t answer.
-Pay your utilities online or in person: you’ll save stamp price and some utilities charge less for paying online.
-You may be able to save on your online monthly charge by using wireless internet which is provided for free at many locations; be careful in this though when doing financial transactions online, if one particular wireless doesn’t steal your privacy use it, but consistently monitor your bank account’s balance and financial transactions.
-Don’t use your freezer to freeze merely one package of meat.
-Because surge protectors can prevent expensive damage if lightening hits, place them on your vcrs, lamps, fans, cell phone’s etc.
-Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs; they will save you p to per bulb over time.
Sources:
Brainiac, eHow user
1001 Ways To Cut Your
Expenses by Jonathan D. Pond
How To Save money On Utilities by Mark P Cssen, eHow contributor
SaveWaterAmerica.com: Save money, save water, and support Habitat for Humanity. www.savewateramerica.com http
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LED Light Bulbs in Homes Soon
Article by Led Light123
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Just as compact fluorescent light bulbs have all but fully replaced incandescent lights in nearly every application, LEDs are on their way in. In much the same fashion, LEDs are plagued by high initial prices that are taking time to come down.
Even with the high price of LEDs, their advantages are many. One common complain about compact fluorescents is the ramp-up time to full brightness. Even instant-on CFLs have a ramp-up time; they start at a relatively low lumen count and then steadily get brighter until they’ve reached maximum lumens.
With the instant full intensity of LEDs, they are great for rooms/applications where cycling is a factor (turning on and off frequently). Repeated power cycling does not harm or hinder LED light bulbs. On a similar note, LEDs can also be dimmed as normal, albeit by slightly different means; a pulse-width modulator or lowering the forward current.
LEDs have a “slow failure”, that is their failure is a gradual dimming with a stop at the end. Incandescent bulbs have a direct failure that can easily result in bulb explosions if not carefully handled during removal.
LED size can be misleading considering the tiny size of the bulbs and their incredible life span, which is estimated at 35,000 to 50000 hours. If you use the LED light bulbs in the right places (away from extreme heat), they should attain the aforementioned life spans.
I’ve seen LED lamps in use to replace flood lights in a basement. They didn’t provide the same amount of light as I would have wanted, but they must have been an equivalently lower wattage than the incandescent had been.
I think that with all the advantages of LED light bulbs, once the prices start coming down we’ll see them used a lot more in homes and business. They’re already being used in the streets with LED traffic lights, although that has raised issues of its own. Nonetheless, I look forward to using them in my home. Some of my favorite things about CFLs are the various color temperatures you can get to customize as you see fit.
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