Green Washing Tips

Energy-efficient washers can use up to 50 percent less energy and 60 percent less water than standard machines. If you have a top loader, regardless of how old it is, consider replacing it with an energy-efficient front loader.

Energy Star-rated: These machines are 37 percent more energy-efficient and use 18 to 25 gallons per load, about half what traditional washers use. The percentages on our Product Comparison chart represent how much more energy-efficient an appliance is than federal standards require.

Water Factor: Part of the Energy Star rating, the Water Factor is a ratio of how much water is used compared to the size of the drum. For example, a machine with a 4-cubic-foot drum that uses 24 gallons per load has a water factor of 6. The figure is more accurate than gallons per load, since washers vary so much in size. The lower the number, the better. Energy Star-rated machines have water factors ranging from 3.2 to 7.9.

Front-loaders: Front-loading machines are, in general, more efficient than their top-loading counterparts, using 40 to 60 percent less water and 30 to 50 percent less energy. They also have the benefit of faster spin times, which means your clothes dry faster. Some local utilities offer rebates for purchasing front loaders.

Shopping Tips

• Select a washer with variable spin times. Faster spin cycles rid clothes of more water and aid in drying times.

Usage Tips

• Adjust the washing machine so that water levels match the load of laundry.
  
• Wash only full loads.
  
• Wash your clothes in cold water. A slight 10 percent of the electricity consumed in washing a load of clothes goes to run a washer's motor; the remaining 90 percent is used to heat the water. Washing clothes in cold water can cut CO2 emissions down by 100 pounds and save you up to $64 a year on your energy bill. In situations where hot water is necessary (for instance, to kill dust mites in bedding), use cold water to rinse.
  
• Use less detergent, and you'll save water by not having to run extra rinse cycles.

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Green Printing: A Cost Effective Path to Environmental Friendliness

Green printing is a movement that has been gaining a steady momentum over the last few years. Today, however, green printing has captured the attention of large companies and some government agencies. Among those that have begun eco-friendly practices are Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and Dell Computers, all known industry leaders in the field of technology.

For businessmen, green printing can be the cheaper alternative for businesses aiming to reduce operational costs and to make do with limited capital.

But what is green printing?

It is printing in a way which is environmentally friendly. This involves the use of more natural inks, recycled papers and energy conservation.

However, there are no set standards or guidelines to determine which printing company are green and which ones are not. Some companies market themselves as green printers but in actuality are not. In the same light, there are others that practice green printing but do not necessarily sell themselves as green printers, nor make it public knowledge that they are green.

Despite the lack of set standards, guidelines or definitions, there are a set of generally accepted characteristics and standards ascribed to green printers. Some of these are as follows, as listed by the Bay Area Green Business Program website (2004):

1. Use of "treeless," recycled paper and energy-efficient computers and equipment;
2. Digitized or computerized pre-press operations;
3. Recycling of excess or waste materials, such as paper, inks and solvents;
4. Utilization of ink that is free of alcohol, toxins and other volatile organic Compounds (VOCs);
5. Use of paperless communications procedures; and
6. Sincere and active attempts to educate clients on the merits of green printing.

The Printing Industry and its Impact on the Environment.

Many environmentalists and advocacy groups have decried the deteriorating condition of forestation throughout the world as a consequence of industrialization and the need for society to expand its habitats in order to accommodate the growing population.

Numerous toxic substances are typically associated with the traditional printing process. Cook has noted that the inks used by a large number of commercial printers are petroleum-based, which is a non-renewable fuel source. Furthermore, petroleum-based inks have high VOC contents that are leaked back into the air and the water supply. The presence of high VOC in water and air can lead to cancer as well as defects in newborn infants.

The fact is that according to estimates made by the advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund, a single ton of virgin paper makes use of three tons of wood as well as around 19,075 gallons of water (Cook, 2005). It also leads to the creation of over two thousand pounds of solid waste. These figures represent 90% of the printing and writing paper produced in the United States alone. It does not end there, however. The production of virgin, uncoated paper requires a bleaching and chlorination process to make the paper a brilliant white, as well as to make it stronger and more durable (Benson 2006). The process unfortunately releases toxic materials back into the water supply.

Cook also wrote that the solvents and chemicals used in printing presses are also toxic and hazardous, increasing the risk of people working in printing presses to chronic and deadly health problems including kidney and liver failure.

Clearly, the use of virgin paper and the process by which it is produced is dangerous to the environment. For this reason advocacy groups have been pushing for green printing and bringing it to the awareness of the general public.

Green printing: A Better Solution to be continued next posting...

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Help Save Mother Earth : Recycle Your Old Cell Phones

Some people doesn't care and doesn't know that old cell phone, PDA, cell phone batteries, chargers, and other accessories need and or should be recycled. Why?

Cell phones and accessories are made from valuable resources such as precious metals, copper, and plastics - all of which require energy to extract and manufacture. Recycling cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions, keeps valuable material out of landfills and incinerators, and conserves natural resources.

Aside from that, cell phones contain toxic metals that can pollute the environment and threaten human health. When recycled responsibly, the metals can be put back into circulation, decreasing the need for new metal mining.

Recycling your phone recovers valuable materials and helps save energy! This will results in significant environmental savings and can benefit those in need. Imagine recycling just a million cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 33 cars off the road for a year.

Below is a diagram that illustrates the Cell Phone Life Cycle:

Some NGOs in America and Canada like EPA and their Plug-In To eCycling have already started their campaign on simple Cell Phone Recycling and many of the major cell phone retailers (both cell phone stores and big box retailers) will take back your old cell phone to recycle.

Where to Recycle Your Cell Phone

Drop It Off

Drop off your old cell phone, PDA, cell phone batteries, chargers, or other accessories at one of the retailers or service providers below. Visit the links for detailed drop-off and collection event information.

AT&T * Best Buy * Office Depot

Sony Ericsson * Sprint * Staples

T-Mobile * LG Electronics * Verizon Wireless

Note: EPA does not endorse the commercial services or products of its Plug-In To eCycling partners. All the previous links exit the EPA site

Mail It In
Mail in your old cell phone, PDA, cell phone batteries, chargers, or other accessories at one of the retailers or service providers below. Visit the links for detailed drop-off and collection event information.

Nokia * Sprint * Samsung

T-Mobile * Motorola * LG Electronics

Verizon Wireless * Sony Ericsson

Note: EPA does not endorse the commercial services or products of its Plug-In To eCycling partners. All the previous links exit the EPA site.

Don't Forget:

• Before you drop off or mail in your old cell phone, make sure that you have terminated your service contract for the phone and erased any data in the phone.

• To ensure that personal information is cleared from the phone, you can: manually delete all information and remove the SIM card; contact your service provider or phone manufacturer for instructions; or use a data erasing tool such as ReCellular's Cell Phone Data Eraser

YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OUT OF THIS JUNK STUFF!

Scott S. Andrews, has been into recycling business for 30 years discovered Cell Phone Recycling Business, an unknown business opportunity by most people worldwide. He will guide you all the way how to profit out of used cell phones/PDA recycling.

Don't Trash Your Cell Phone -- Recycle It!

Help keep toxic metals out of the environment and make money.

Did You Know?

Recycling all of the 100 million cell phones

ready for end of life management in the US

would save enough energy to power more

than 19,500 US households with electricity

for one year!

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Simple Ways To Save Energy Daily

I have already covered in my last posting about the sources of energy we use daily, its importance to our environment and our economy today. I have also mentioned why it is important to conserve energy. So today, i will be sharing with you simple and easy ways on how to save energy in our day to day lives.

"Remember, the energy that we use in our homes pollutes the environment and reduces the availability of energy in the future".

You do not have to reduce your standard of living when reducing your energy consumption – you only have to think a little about how you can use them more wisely.

Lighting
Lighting accounts for around 15-20% of your domestic electricity bill. There are simple ways to reduce energy use in lighting without having to grope in the dark.

• Switch lighting on only when you need it.
• Use daylight whenever possible.
• When buying new lighting, consider choosing compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 75% less energy than standard bulbs for the same amount of illumination.
• Place your lighting carefully where you need it.
• Use dimmers where possible (except for fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent bulbs).
• Use non-opaque, light-coloured lamp shades.
• Keep light fixtures and lamps clean to maximise their efficiency.

Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is another major form of energy consumption in your home, but there are ways in which you can use it more wisely.

• When buying an air-conditioner, check its Energy Efficiency Ratio, with lower numbers denoting better efficiency.
• Avoid installing air-conditioners where they will be exposed to direct sunlight.
• Close off areas that do not require air-conditioning, and turn air-conditioners off in unoccupied rooms.
• Keep windows and doors shut when the air-conditioner is running.
• Place weather strips on doors and windows to prevent the leakage of cool air.
• Clean or replace the filters in all air-conditioners at the beginning of summer, and clean them every two weeks from then on.
• Set the temperature to an energy-efficient level so that you will feel comfortable rather than cold.
• Use fans instead of air-conditioning whenever possible.

Cooking

• Choose a cooker or oven of a suitable size for your family needs.
• A multi-jet cooker or oven offers you more flexibility, and can minimise wastage.
• Adjust the flame to fit the bottom of your pan.
• Cook several dishes in one session when using an oven.Use the simmer burner rather than the oven to reheat food.
• Use your grill to its full capacity rather than cooking one item at a time.
• Always put the lids on pans to trap heat.
• Boil only as much water as you need.
• Steaming and stir-frying is an energy-efficient way of cooking.
• Turn your oven or ring off before you have finished cooking, and let the remaining heat gently finish the job.
• Check your oven door seal for heat leakage, and replace it if necessary.

Water Heating

• If you take a shower instead of a bath you will save about 50% in heating costs.
• A low-flow shower head also saves water and heating energy.
• Only use hot water when necessary.
• When not using your water heater, switch off the pilot light.
• Have your water heater inspected from time to time as recommended on the unit's label to ensure its efficiency and safety.

Water Use and Energy Savings
You can also reduce energy use in other ways when using water. Just remember that energy is used to transport, store and treat all water.

Resources For You:

• Beating Energy Cost - DIY Power Plans
• A Beginners Guide To Solar Panels
• Manual Guide on How To Build Your Own Solar Power System AND Wind Power System for under $200!
• Build and Install Your Own Wind Power System
• Build Your Very Own Solar Power System
• Build Your Own Wind Generator - Wind Generator Plans
• Free Power For You

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