An Environmentally Friendly Blog|Information on Going Green and Eco-Friendly Products
Feb
21
Filed Under (Cars) by Go Green Advisor
Carssure asked:
Environmentally friendly cars are supposed to be the vehicles of future generations. Nevertheless such cars exist now and are becoming more popular in the modern car market than conventional vehicles which work on fossil fuels. The advantages of such cars are not only in their lower harmfulness for the environment and people’s health but also in the lower fuel costs. However their production is rather expensive, so it is a moot point both for the customers and the automobile manufacturers. So they are more expensive to buy but they pay for themselves in a period of about 5 years because they consume less expensive fuels.
Here are the common types of environmentally friendly cars:
- Electric cars;
- Fuel-cell-powered cars (hydrogen and oxygen cars);
- Hybrid cars;
- Solar cars.
Electric cars operate on rechargeable batteries which are the most expensive parts of this type of vehicles. Most electric cars look like conventional vehicles and one usually cannot tell them apart. Electric cars are very quiet and produce no exhaust fumes at all. The interior of the cars is stuffed with wiring harness.
Fuel-cell-powered cars operate on chemical reactions between different fuel cells (like hydrogen and oxygen) which merge to turn into a new matter. As a matter of fact fuel-cell-powered cars are similar to electric cars because they work on electricity which comes as a result of such chemical reactions. They are also as quiet and ecological as electric ones, plus fuel-cell-powered cars almost don’t need any maintenance or repairs because there is almost no friction between the car parts of such vehicles. All in all this kind of environmentally friendly cars is supposed to be very economical and ecological and could be the champion among green cars but for one essential aspect – hydrogen is a very flammable gas and when it comes with oxygen a car accident can be very destructive.
Hybrid cars are something in between electric cars, fuel-cell-powered cars or gasoline cars. They are very ecological and produce almost no exhaust fumes. Hybrid cars are more widespread than other environmentally friendly cars.
Solar cars operate on the solar energy which they accumulate with the help of built-in solar panels. Solar cars have a very peculiar shape which most likely resembles spaceships from Star Wars. They are more uncommon and are not produced on regular basis. They can be driven at high speeds for a long time powered only by the energy of the sun.
Environmentally friendly cars have become the choice of many people who decided to reduce the influence of burning fossil fuels on the nature.
GILBERT
Environmentally friendly cars are supposed to be the vehicles of future generations. Nevertheless such cars exist now and are becoming more popular in the modern car market than conventional vehicles which work on fossil fuels. The advantages of such cars are not only in their lower harmfulness for the environment and people’s health but also in the lower fuel costs. However their production is rather expensive, so it is a moot point both for the customers and the automobile manufacturers. So they are more expensive to buy but they pay for themselves in a period of about 5 years because they consume less expensive fuels.
Here are the common types of environmentally friendly cars:
- Electric cars;
- Fuel-cell-powered cars (hydrogen and oxygen cars);
- Hybrid cars;
- Solar cars.
Electric cars operate on rechargeable batteries which are the most expensive parts of this type of vehicles. Most electric cars look like conventional vehicles and one usually cannot tell them apart. Electric cars are very quiet and produce no exhaust fumes at all. The interior of the cars is stuffed with wiring harness.
Fuel-cell-powered cars operate on chemical reactions between different fuel cells (like hydrogen and oxygen) which merge to turn into a new matter. As a matter of fact fuel-cell-powered cars are similar to electric cars because they work on electricity which comes as a result of such chemical reactions. They are also as quiet and ecological as electric ones, plus fuel-cell-powered cars almost don’t need any maintenance or repairs because there is almost no friction between the car parts of such vehicles. All in all this kind of environmentally friendly cars is supposed to be very economical and ecological and could be the champion among green cars but for one essential aspect – hydrogen is a very flammable gas and when it comes with oxygen a car accident can be very destructive.
Hybrid cars are something in between electric cars, fuel-cell-powered cars or gasoline cars. They are very ecological and produce almost no exhaust fumes. Hybrid cars are more widespread than other environmentally friendly cars.
Solar cars operate on the solar energy which they accumulate with the help of built-in solar panels. Solar cars have a very peculiar shape which most likely resembles spaceships from Star Wars. They are more uncommon and are not produced on regular basis. They can be driven at high speeds for a long time powered only by the energy of the sun.
Environmentally friendly cars have become the choice of many people who decided to reduce the influence of burning fossil fuels on the nature.
GILBERT
Comments Off
Feb
04
Filed Under (Green Products) by Go Green Advisor
Andy Keeler asked:
Instituting environmentally friendly practices does not mean sacrificing your competitive edge. Business owners are realizing that they can make a bigger impact by changing their business policies than by changing their personal behavior, and this has lead to a change in corporate culture over the last few years that has resulted in a notable environmental impact.
In the past, efforts to institute eco-friendly business practices were admirable, but these efforts appear negligible compared to the changes that are being made today. Minimizing the consumption of paper products and electricity are still effective ways for companies to save money and help the environment at the same time, but many companies are stepping outside these standardized boundaries to effect big changes.
Many companies are choosing to enact organization-wide policies that take enormous effort and patience, and the results of these efforts are just now filtering in. Leaving the choice in the hands of consumers often results in poor choices, but when companies choose to be careful about what they produce and how they produce it, the impact can be tremendous.
In the Great Lakes area of the United States and Canada, wind energy is becoming an increasingly viable source of power for companies of all sizes. Wind powered electricity costs only slightly more than standard electricity for the consumer, and many conscientious business owners are willing to pay the premium. For the producers of electricity, using wind power makes sense as a way to help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Reducing dependence on one commodity allows the producers to further diversify and create a more sustainable financial future for their company. Thus, both the producers and consumers of wind powered electricity benefit from the creation of this clean, environmentally friendly energy source.
Pascale Engineering, a producer of portable trade show displays and trade show flooring in the Great Lakes area, has completely converted to the use of wind powered electricity in its state-of-the-art production facility. In addition to being totally wind powered, Pascale Engineering produces recycled and recyclable trade show displays that are quickly making their way into the market. These displays give exhibitors nationwide a green alternative in their trade show marketing campaign, which only serves to further the environmental goals of many companies.
End users are virtually unaware of the progress made by Pascale Engineering, as they notice no difference in cost. In fact, the Exhibit One Display System line or products produced by Pascale Engineering has seen a marketable increase in quality with no increase in cost. Thanks to research into lighter weight plywood materials, the Exhibit One product line has become more durable and more lightweight. This saves end users huge amounts of money in shipping costs each year, and increases their overall satisfaction with the product. In an effort to make their production process cause less waste, many products within the Exhibit One line use the exact same component pieces. In fact, the entire Exhibit One line can now be produced from a catalog consisting of less than a hundred parts. This means that if exhibitors want to upgrade their trade show display package, they do not always need to purchase new components, as the parts can simply be rearranged in many cases. This saves exhibitors enormous amounts of money each year. Positive environmental change does not always have to be associated with negative economic impact.
Simple changes in business practices and purchasing can make an enormous impact on the environment, and the cost of the choices is usually minimal or non-existent. Whether or not you believe that carbon emissions are the culprit behind our increasingly unstable global climate, there are simple changes that can be made that would make a big impact on the health of our planet.
SUMMER
Instituting environmentally friendly practices does not mean sacrificing your competitive edge. Business owners are realizing that they can make a bigger impact by changing their business policies than by changing their personal behavior, and this has lead to a change in corporate culture over the last few years that has resulted in a notable environmental impact.
In the past, efforts to institute eco-friendly business practices were admirable, but these efforts appear negligible compared to the changes that are being made today. Minimizing the consumption of paper products and electricity are still effective ways for companies to save money and help the environment at the same time, but many companies are stepping outside these standardized boundaries to effect big changes.
Many companies are choosing to enact organization-wide policies that take enormous effort and patience, and the results of these efforts are just now filtering in. Leaving the choice in the hands of consumers often results in poor choices, but when companies choose to be careful about what they produce and how they produce it, the impact can be tremendous.
In the Great Lakes area of the United States and Canada, wind energy is becoming an increasingly viable source of power for companies of all sizes. Wind powered electricity costs only slightly more than standard electricity for the consumer, and many conscientious business owners are willing to pay the premium. For the producers of electricity, using wind power makes sense as a way to help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Reducing dependence on one commodity allows the producers to further diversify and create a more sustainable financial future for their company. Thus, both the producers and consumers of wind powered electricity benefit from the creation of this clean, environmentally friendly energy source.
Pascale Engineering, a producer of portable trade show displays and trade show flooring in the Great Lakes area, has completely converted to the use of wind powered electricity in its state-of-the-art production facility. In addition to being totally wind powered, Pascale Engineering produces recycled and recyclable trade show displays that are quickly making their way into the market. These displays give exhibitors nationwide a green alternative in their trade show marketing campaign, which only serves to further the environmental goals of many companies.
End users are virtually unaware of the progress made by Pascale Engineering, as they notice no difference in cost. In fact, the Exhibit One Display System line or products produced by Pascale Engineering has seen a marketable increase in quality with no increase in cost. Thanks to research into lighter weight plywood materials, the Exhibit One product line has become more durable and more lightweight. This saves end users huge amounts of money in shipping costs each year, and increases their overall satisfaction with the product. In an effort to make their production process cause less waste, many products within the Exhibit One line use the exact same component pieces. In fact, the entire Exhibit One line can now be produced from a catalog consisting of less than a hundred parts. This means that if exhibitors want to upgrade their trade show display package, they do not always need to purchase new components, as the parts can simply be rearranged in many cases. This saves exhibitors enormous amounts of money each year. Positive environmental change does not always have to be associated with negative economic impact.
Simple changes in business practices and purchasing can make an enormous impact on the environment, and the cost of the choices is usually minimal or non-existent. Whether or not you believe that carbon emissions are the culprit behind our increasingly unstable global climate, there are simple changes that can be made that would make a big impact on the health of our planet.
SUMMER
Comments Off
Nov
06
Filed Under (Clean Fuel) by Eco Friendly Advisor
Rudy Van Lancker asked:
Alternative fuels may seem like a new topic or new invention but in reality companies, organizations and individuals have been researching and developing new ways to power vehicles. In fact, regular gasoline has contained ethanol for some years now and many countries around the global are mandating minimum ethanol requirements. For example, Canada, the United States, Britain, Argentina and Brazil all require a certain percentage of ethanol to gasoline. And as time passes, each couple of years, the minimum increases.
So what are alternative fuels and how do they differ from fossil fuels such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel? These fuels have limited life spans in the sense that when all the oil supply is depleted fossil fuels will no longer exist. Contrarily, alternative fuels are sustainable resources made from various biodegradable substances such as sugar cane, wheat, and corn. Alternative fuels are normally produced from food sources, waste food products, plants and other organisms that can be replenished and continue to grow.
The most prominent alternative fuels in the automotive gasoline market are ethanol and biodiesel. In Canada and the US, ethanol, an alcohol, is typically made with corn or wheat. It is then mixed with gasoline to create a cleaner burning fuel. But the problem still lies with the gasoline portion. As long as gas can be produced, things are fine. But as soon as gas shortages begin, it will be necessary to turn to other fuels. Further, gas is harmful to the environment and to people due to the pollution and the smog. Again new, friendlier technologies are needed. Lastly, with the current state of the economy, gas prices are very high leading consumers to wonder whether better methods of fueling vehicles are available.
Countries who are enforcing minimum mixes of ethanol and gas are ranging from two percent to five percent to ten percent. Experts claim that fifteen to twenty percent of ethanol is the largest amount that can be mixed without having to physically change the mechanisms of present day vehicles. But there are already cars being manufactured that can take as much as eighty-five percent ethanol. The biggest problem is the starting of a vehicle. Apparently, using gas as an igniter is very easy but ethanol is more difficult.
Many areas are also trying to find alternative sources of ethanol than the standard sugar cane, wheat and corn based products. Mesquite, different sweet grasses, vegetable oil, palm oil, soybean oil, recycled cooking oil, and animal fat run-offs are all being researched. In addition to these fuels, other alternative fuels already exist and have been sold for years. Many taxi fleets and delivery trucks use propane as opposed to gas and there are also electric cars.
In the US, in 2003, the president allocated just over one billion dollars to the development of hydrogen powered vehicles, particularly lightweight cars, SUVs and small pickup trucks. And while the process is agreeably very slow, it is estimated that by 2020, there could be as many as two million hydrogen fueled vehicles on the road.
Conversationally, alternative fuels are also known by other names including bio fuels, biodiesel, agro-fuels, green gas, bio energy, and non-conventional fuels.
ZACHARY
Alternative fuels may seem like a new topic or new invention but in reality companies, organizations and individuals have been researching and developing new ways to power vehicles. In fact, regular gasoline has contained ethanol for some years now and many countries around the global are mandating minimum ethanol requirements. For example, Canada, the United States, Britain, Argentina and Brazil all require a certain percentage of ethanol to gasoline. And as time passes, each couple of years, the minimum increases.
So what are alternative fuels and how do they differ from fossil fuels such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel? These fuels have limited life spans in the sense that when all the oil supply is depleted fossil fuels will no longer exist. Contrarily, alternative fuels are sustainable resources made from various biodegradable substances such as sugar cane, wheat, and corn. Alternative fuels are normally produced from food sources, waste food products, plants and other organisms that can be replenished and continue to grow.
The most prominent alternative fuels in the automotive gasoline market are ethanol and biodiesel. In Canada and the US, ethanol, an alcohol, is typically made with corn or wheat. It is then mixed with gasoline to create a cleaner burning fuel. But the problem still lies with the gasoline portion. As long as gas can be produced, things are fine. But as soon as gas shortages begin, it will be necessary to turn to other fuels. Further, gas is harmful to the environment and to people due to the pollution and the smog. Again new, friendlier technologies are needed. Lastly, with the current state of the economy, gas prices are very high leading consumers to wonder whether better methods of fueling vehicles are available.
Countries who are enforcing minimum mixes of ethanol and gas are ranging from two percent to five percent to ten percent. Experts claim that fifteen to twenty percent of ethanol is the largest amount that can be mixed without having to physically change the mechanisms of present day vehicles. But there are already cars being manufactured that can take as much as eighty-five percent ethanol. The biggest problem is the starting of a vehicle. Apparently, using gas as an igniter is very easy but ethanol is more difficult.
Many areas are also trying to find alternative sources of ethanol than the standard sugar cane, wheat and corn based products. Mesquite, different sweet grasses, vegetable oil, palm oil, soybean oil, recycled cooking oil, and animal fat run-offs are all being researched. In addition to these fuels, other alternative fuels already exist and have been sold for years. Many taxi fleets and delivery trucks use propane as opposed to gas and there are also electric cars.
In the US, in 2003, the president allocated just over one billion dollars to the development of hydrogen powered vehicles, particularly lightweight cars, SUVs and small pickup trucks. And while the process is agreeably very slow, it is estimated that by 2020, there could be as many as two million hydrogen fueled vehicles on the road.
Conversationally, alternative fuels are also known by other names including bio fuels, biodiesel, agro-fuels, green gas, bio energy, and non-conventional fuels.
ZACHARY
Comments Off
Oct
29
Filed Under (Green Products) by Eco Friendly Advisor
Simon Churchgate asked:
No matter what one would have us believe, printing services are still among the most sought after services. Even in this age of electronic communication and ‘paperless’ offices, mankind has not been able to fully shrug off the need for paper. Printing jobs are still in need and printing presses everywhere are keeping busy with a steady influx of orders everyday.
This is also an age marked by an increased awareness about environmental issues. There is a conscious effort everywhere to go green, stop environmental pollution and save the planet we live in. This new heightened awareness has necessitated the need to take a fresh look into industries and commercial organizations, which have long been blamed, to varying extents, for polluting the environment and depleting the earth’s natural resources. We have also started to think how such harmful effects can be diminished and keep the planet green.
Like most production operations, printing houses also produce harmful wastes. Printing houses produce what are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), caused by the use of petroleum-based inks, laminates, varnishes and adhesives. Studies have shown that these compounds, when inhaled, greatly increase the risk of asthma attacks. As a result, measures are being adopted by many printers worldwide to comply with existing regulations and adopt environment-friendly practices.
However, this is only half of what “eco-friendly printing services” are really all about. The issue of conservation is no less important than the need to stop polluting the environment. Eco-friendly printing is all about a successful merging of the two.
It is surprising to learn that the paper and printing industry ranks fourth among manufacturers in the amount of energy used. Producing paper and the electricity used for factory operations, as well as the actual printing process, demand lots of fossil fuels. Printers, thus, put a major strain on the planet, draining her natural resources in alarming magnitude.
Certified eco-friendly printing services keep track of the total energy usage and implement strategies for offsetting the environmental impact of their businesses. Their goal is to be “sustainable printers”, meaning they will be carefully planning operations to minimize electricity use, put a lighter drain on natural resources and source paper from companies certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which is virtually synonymous with well-managed forests that adhere to strict environmental standards. It also means recycling and reusing paper and other supplies whenever possible. That’s what “green printing” is all about.
By choosing eco-friendly printing services for all our printing needs, we can show that we really care about our environment and act as responsible citizens of the planet. It’s always comforting to know that we’re doing our part to protect and conserve the environment. It’s also reassuring to know that our printing requirements will not endanger the earth by adding toxins and harmful pollutants, or by depleting natural resources. Everybody should insist on printing green. After all, we all owe it to the planet that we can call home in this vast universe. Sending all our printing jobs to certified green printers offering eco-friendly printing services can go a long way in helping conserve the environment and ensure a greener tomorrow for our children.
BETH
No matter what one would have us believe, printing services are still among the most sought after services. Even in this age of electronic communication and ‘paperless’ offices, mankind has not been able to fully shrug off the need for paper. Printing jobs are still in need and printing presses everywhere are keeping busy with a steady influx of orders everyday.
This is also an age marked by an increased awareness about environmental issues. There is a conscious effort everywhere to go green, stop environmental pollution and save the planet we live in. This new heightened awareness has necessitated the need to take a fresh look into industries and commercial organizations, which have long been blamed, to varying extents, for polluting the environment and depleting the earth’s natural resources. We have also started to think how such harmful effects can be diminished and keep the planet green.
Like most production operations, printing houses also produce harmful wastes. Printing houses produce what are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), caused by the use of petroleum-based inks, laminates, varnishes and adhesives. Studies have shown that these compounds, when inhaled, greatly increase the risk of asthma attacks. As a result, measures are being adopted by many printers worldwide to comply with existing regulations and adopt environment-friendly practices.
However, this is only half of what “eco-friendly printing services” are really all about. The issue of conservation is no less important than the need to stop polluting the environment. Eco-friendly printing is all about a successful merging of the two.
It is surprising to learn that the paper and printing industry ranks fourth among manufacturers in the amount of energy used. Producing paper and the electricity used for factory operations, as well as the actual printing process, demand lots of fossil fuels. Printers, thus, put a major strain on the planet, draining her natural resources in alarming magnitude.
Certified eco-friendly printing services keep track of the total energy usage and implement strategies for offsetting the environmental impact of their businesses. Their goal is to be “sustainable printers”, meaning they will be carefully planning operations to minimize electricity use, put a lighter drain on natural resources and source paper from companies certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which is virtually synonymous with well-managed forests that adhere to strict environmental standards. It also means recycling and reusing paper and other supplies whenever possible. That’s what “green printing” is all about.
By choosing eco-friendly printing services for all our printing needs, we can show that we really care about our environment and act as responsible citizens of the planet. It’s always comforting to know that we’re doing our part to protect and conserve the environment. It’s also reassuring to know that our printing requirements will not endanger the earth by adding toxins and harmful pollutants, or by depleting natural resources. Everybody should insist on printing green. After all, we all owe it to the planet that we can call home in this vast universe. Sending all our printing jobs to certified green printers offering eco-friendly printing services can go a long way in helping conserve the environment and ensure a greener tomorrow for our children.
BETH
Comments Off