The Advantages Of Living Off The Grid
April 25, 2009 by John McRae · Leave a Comment
The shortage of power, the rapid consumption of non-renewable energy, the ever-increasing demand for power supply, the daily warnings about our environment are enough signs to tell us that it’s time to go green for earth. So, what can we do? For starters, how about living off the grid? If I have startled you with that proposition, let me tell you that living off the grid not only helps the environment and helps save power; it also cuts down our electricity bill substantially. Now, that’s a tangible benefit apart from all the good you will do to the world. Trust me, you will feel good doing this and you will be doing your part to help save the earth one person at a time.
Let us first study the advantages of living off the grid.
• Reduced dependability on exhausting resources: Who wants to depend on public utilities all the time? Living off the grid helps you rely only on your resources and not the ones supplied by governments or corporations. How often have you cursed when faced with a power outage in the midst of some important work or a party? Wouldn’t you like to take charge of such factors affecting you life? With alternate power solutions, you can.
• Freedom of usage of naturally available resources: How would you feel when you don’t have to pay for the power you use? Wouldn’t it be delightful to use as much power as you want without worrying about the electricity meter? You can make use of the abundant power available in the nature to light up your home and make your food. The solar power solutions and the wind power solutions are the answers to your power quest (well, literally!).
• Reduced power costs, helping save your money: How would you feel if the electricity bills stop coming in your letter box? The alternate power solutions give you a return on investment very soon, thus making the power supply to your home eventually free!
• Making way for a healthier environment: Don’t you bless the people who planted trees years ago not expecting them to miraculously grow? They planted those trees for the future generations. Make the future of your future generations secure by giving them a greener, healthier world. Cut down on the usage of non-renewable sources of energy. Try to use water minimally. There is not much drinking water left for the next generations.
If you are thinking it is not very feasible to live off the grid, look for alternate power solutions and you will be surprised to learn that they are not only cost-effective but also extremely feasible.
Simple Solutions You Can Do To Stop Global Warming
April 22, 2009 by John McRae · Leave a Comment
Global warming, experts contend, is an urgent problem-but there are concrete steps every American can take to be part of the solution. There are so many things we do every day that use energy-therefore we have so many opportunities every day to make a difference.
The Problem
When cars, factories and power plants burn fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, they release global-warming pollution. These pollutants accumulate in the atmosphere for many decades, acting like a huge blanket that traps heat. That, in turn, warms our planet. The global-warming pollution, primarily carbon dioxide, emitted from the first model T’s is still in the atmosphere, acting as a thickening layer of insulation. With our increased reliance on fossil fuels, the concentration of these pollutants continues to accumulate, threatening the stability of our climate.
Distinguished scientists across the nation have been surprised by the speed and severity of the issue and its effects on people’s lives: the elderly suffering from heat waves, families whose homes are threatened by floods and eroding coastlines, hunters and anglers watching wildlife disappear and homeowners who are at risk of mudslides.
Scientists are convinced that we now have a small window of time to avoid the most dangerous consequences. If we join together now to solve this problem, they say, our children may be spared even more dramatic effects within their lifetimes.
Some Solutions
An energy-conscious family can reduce its global-warming pollution contribution by over 35,000 pounds per year by taking such simple steps as selecting Energy Star appliances and insulating their house.
You can save money on electricity by installing a programmable thermostat, which reduces global-warming pollution.
If you plan your trips to combine errands, this will reduce emissions, saving gas, wear and tear on your car, and your valuable time.
Whatever kind of vehicle you drive, choosing the most fuel-efficient model in its class is the single most important way to cut global-warming pollution.
“Global warming is the most serious environmental challenge of our time. It is more urgent and its dangers are more fundamental than most Americans realize,” explained Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense. “Millions of individual Americans acting together add up to a powerful part of the solution. Many of the transformative solutions will emerge from America, the country with the deepest reservoir of scientists, engineers and bold investors.”
Environmental Defense is a centrist organization dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including the right to clean air, clean water, healthy food and flourishing ecosystems. Guided by science, Environmental Defense works to create practical solutions that win lasting economic and social support because they are nonpartisan, cost-effective and fair.
Want To Go Green To Save The Environment But Not Sure How To Start?
April 19, 2009 by John McRae · Leave a Comment
Do you feel like you are being constantly bombarded with negative information about the environment? Does it seem everywhere you turn you are expected to go green to save the planet? Many people feel the same way and have know idea where to begin or think that to save the environment they need to buy a new hybrid car or spend thousands of dollars on solar panels for their house.
The good news is that you don’t need to thousands of dollars to help save the environment. With just a few minor changes in your life you can be on your way to going green and helping reduce global warming.
Here are a few ideas to get started,
Mirrors, placed strategically in a room can be used to make use of natural lighting more efficiently, and reduce energy use as well. When placed near indoor plants, mirrors act like a second window creating better growing conditions while giving the illusion of increased space and greenery to the ambiance of a room.
When loading the clothes dryer, fluff the wet and tangled laundry before tossing into the machine. This allows for immediate and more efficient use of dryer energy. Very hot settings (which can actually shrink clothing) can thus be avoided.
Typically, the heated air from a clothes dryer is pumped outside and wasted. Consider purchasing a dryer vent converter – available at most hardware stores. These are little boxes that divert the heated air from the dryer into the house during the cold and dry winter months – making better use of your energy dollar while saving a little on heating costs. Be warned that this air is moist, and this may not be appropriate in all situations. Homes with dry static air or wood heat would benefit from the moisture, but buildings that already have a moisture problem (evident by mould and mildew or sweating and frosted windows) will only have their issues compounded by doing this.
These are just a few ideas to demonstrate how easy it is to go green while saving some money. Imagine how many other small things you can do around the home or office. Once the ideas have begun to flow, they will cause a ripple effect cascading into other aspects of your life. Then, hopefully, we can begin to save our planet one person at a time.
What Is Global Warming?
April 5, 2009 by John McRae · Leave a Comment
What is global warming? In a nutshell it is climate change that is causing the temperature of our planet to rise. Breaking down what is happening to the environment is a complex thing and a broad overview can help many understand better.
When gasses get trapped in the environment and cannot escape this can cause a temperature increase eventually. Climate change is a natural occurrence and would occur without human activity; however, humans are emitting high levels of carbon dioxide into the environment from man made sources such as cars, homes, appliances, and many other contributing sources.
Although climate change is still considered a controversial subject, many people are starting to realize there is an imminent threat. Popular celebrities are bringing temperature change into the limelight and giving it attention.
Most people know about recycling and car emission reduction, but you need to know who you are doing business with. Make sure that the products you buy are used with recyclable materials and do business with the companies that are supporting the environment. Wind and solar power are getting more attention everyday and more research is being done.
The one thing that is still unknown about climate change is when it will happen. Many experts claim that we are already seeing the affects of temperature change and it is a slow process, however if we keep consuming the way we do we will make global warming become a dangerous situation sooner. It is up to us to do our part to help make future generations safe.
Tips For Combating Global Warming
April 5, 2009 by John McRae · Leave a Comment
With the facts of global warming all over the news, it would be hard to say that you have not heard about it. But as most people understand what global warming is, many do not know what to do about it.
You can do many things to help the environment in your own home. The lighting you use in your home can play a big part in how you contribute. If you simply change all of your lighting to fluorescent lighting you can help make a difference.
You should also unplug your appliances when they are not in use. This may seem silly to most, but all appliances emit carbon when they are plugged in. Unplugging appliances is also a great way to save electricity.
There has never been an easier time to recycle. Many cities offer curbside recycling programs and you simply put your materials in a bin by the curb and a service will come and pick up your recycling for you. If the particular city you live in does not offer this service there are many schools and churches that have bins outdoors to place your materials.
If you are ready to purchase a new car, you might consider an electric or hybrid as your next model. These types of cars are becoming more affordable every day.
Global warming is here to stay and there are many things we can do as consumers to help and slow the process. We owe this to our future generations to provide them a stable place to live.
