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5 Star homes to be Mandatory in Australia
The Building Code of Australia seems set to introduce 5-star energy ratings for all new homes. While some associations in the building industry are concerned that this is likely to push the cost of building up, it is s step in the right direction...
Affordable Renewable Energy for Everyone
Have you ever wanted to power your home or office with renewable energy, but thought it was too expensive? Or you didn't want to deal with installing and maintaining equipment? Now there is a way that everyone can use solar, wind, and other...
Earthquakes and Tsunamis
Tsunamis Tsunami - a seismic sea wave - means in Japanese "harbor-wave". It is also misleadingly called "tidal wave". It is an ocean wave caused by an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on the Richter scale (or greater) that occurs less than 50 kilometers...
Get rid of that clutter
Why is it that clutter seems to build up so easily in our homes? No sooner do you have a clearout than it seems to start creeping back in – one pile appears in the hallway and before you know it, it has spawned other piles that go down the hall and...
How to Make the Benchmade Axis Perform
How to Make the Benchmade Axis Perform by Joe Talmadge
I've had my Axis for quite a while now, courtesy of Les. I've
made this my everyday carry 4"-blade folder, and have learned a
bit about what makes this knife perform so well....
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Create an environmentally friendly shopping policy
These days, buying green products does not mean sacrificing your quality of life or needing to become a hippy. There are many high quality environmental products which are better for the environment and your health.
Today, you have far more options when it comes to purchasing products that do not harm the environment. Products that were once only found in the health food shop are now showing up on the supermarket shelves. However, with the more companies jumping on the environmental bandwagon it is becoming more difficult to determine what really is environmentally friendly and what is not. This article is a staring point for you to put together a shopping policy that works for you, your family, your budget and the environment.
To have a totally environmentally friendly purchasing policy you need to look at the cradle to grave analysis of every product. This means looking at:
-where it comes from,
-what sort of pollution occurred in the production
-any possible toxic by-products produced
-derivation from non-renewable resources
-energy needed to transport it to your home
-was it produced locally or the other side world
-what happens when you have no more use for it
-the potential for it be reused, or recycled
-the problems its eventual disposal will create
This is a huge task and not one that can be easily undertaken by the individual. But make some noise, put some pressure on your local political representative and let them know that you want a new way. Let them know that you want to know the direct and indirect consequences of the products you purchase.
Every time you make a purchase consider what you are buying and the message that it is sending to the producers. Buy products that are good for you and the environment. Develop a purchasing policy that makes waste minimization a priority.
Before buying anything consider
-Is the product can be made from recycled materials?
-Can it be reused or recycled after initial use?
-Do you really need to buy it at all?
-Could you reuse something else?
-Could you find the product second hand?
-Is the product from a
relatively natural source or has it been chemically manufactured with possible toxic by-products?
-What sort of processing was involved in its production?
To make your shopping more environmentally sound, when given a choice:
-avoid disposable products
-buy organic and natural products whenever possible
-buy in bulk to reduce packaging
-buy products that are recycled and/or recyclable
-do not buy products which have been tested on animals
-buy quality products that will last
-do not buy products which negatively influence or are made from endangered species.
-do not buy products which negatively effect your health
-do not buy products which cause significant damage to the environment during production or disposal
-do not buy over-packaged goods
-buy goods with packaging that can be reused, recycled or which is biodegradable.
-buy organic fruits, vegetables and meats whenever possible. Common agricultural practices can be very polluting. Run off and leaching from pesticides, fertilizers and fungicides contaminate our underground water and rivers, killing off aquatic wildlife and making it unfit for human consumption.
-keep cleaners as natural as possible. Detergents, shampoos, dishwashing liquids, oven cleaners etc that contain chemicals are very difficult treat in our sewage systems. The result is many heavy metals and toxic chemicals in our streams and oceans because treatment can not remove them all. Soil and rocks are excellent filters for natural biological materials but can not cope with the chemical cocktails that they are subjected to today.
-when purchasing new appliances, buy the most energy efficient that you can. It may cost a little more initially but it will pay itself off by lessening your energy bills.
-do not buy appliances that are bigger or more powerful than you need
-what are the energy requirements for operating the product
About the Author
Kerry-Ann Cox is an author and environmental scientist. Find out where to shop online for organic and natural products with a free guide to online shopping get your copy at
http://www.wildlife-wilderness.com
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| Department of Energy - Homepage |
| Governmental department whose mission is to advance energy technology and promote related innovation in the United States. |
| www.energy.gov |
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| Department of Energy - Page not found! |
| US Department of Energy information for consumers, business, and communities. Links to many energy pages of the DOE. |
| www.energy.gov |
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| Energy Quest Room |
| California Energy Commission's energy and environmental education site for students, parents and teachers. Includes information, Q&As, projects, ... |
| www.energyquest.ca.gov |
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| The Energy Story - Introduction |
| Detailed guide explains what energy is and where it comes from. |
| www.energyquest.ca.gov |
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| EIA Energy Kids Page - energy facts, fun, games and activities |
| Features various sections about energy including what it is and the forms it comes in. Find out how humans use energy through quizzes and a 'fun facts' ... |
| www.eia.doe.gov |
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| Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy ... |
| Section of the US Department of Energy (DOE) providing statistics, data, analysis on resources, supply, production, consumption for all energy sources. |
| www.eia.doe.gov |
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| Energy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| Free encyclopedia article explaining the scientific notion of energy. Includes units of measure, energy transformation concepts, types of energy, ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Department of Energy - Homepage |
| U.S. Department of Energy Awards Contract for Management and Operation of Ames ... The Energy Star label is the government's seal of energy efficiency. ... |
| www.doe.gov |
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| Home : ENERGY STAR |
| US EPA Energy Star programs and products help save the environment and save consumers money by using less energy through advanced design or construction. |
| www.energystar.gov |
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| National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Home Page |
| Facility of the US Department of Energy (DOE) for renewable energy and energy efficiency research, development and deployment. |
| www.nrel.gov |
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| European Commission - Energy - Home page |
| Welcome to the European Commission's "Energy" website ... A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy ... |
| ec.europa.eu |
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| DTI - Energy - Introduction |
| The DTI’s Energy Group deals with energy-related matters, ... UK energy statistics are provided, including production, consumption and prices. ... |
| www.dti.gov.uk |
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| U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Home Page |
| US Department of Energy web site for information on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. |
| www.eere.energy.gov |
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| Energy for America's Future |
| Provides an overview of President Bush's energy policies. |
| www.whitehouse.gov |
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| International Energy Agency |
| Energy Security, Growth and Sustainability through Co-operation and Outreach. |
| www.iea.org |
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| energywatch: Home Page |
| Independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog, providing help to domestic, commercial or industrial energy (gas and electricity) consumers. |
| www.energywatch.org.uk |
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| EnergyAustralia - Home |
| Details of one of Australia's largest and oldest gas and electricity supply companies. Includes information on accounts, energy saving tips, appliance sales ... |
| www.energy.com.au |
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| U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources |
| Has jurisdiction over energy policy, regulation, and research. Also deals with energy and mineral conservation, ports used for energy transport, irrigation, ... |
| energy.senate.gov |
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| bloomberg energy prices |
| www.bloomberg.com/energy/ - Similar pages |
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| Energy Bulletin |
| A clearinghouse of information concerning the peak in global energy such as oil and gas. |
| www.energybulletin.net |
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