With asbestos-related diseases occurring more frequently than ever, asbestos has been a popular topic of discussion lately. Unfortunately, there are still many misconceptions about the mineral. Awareness is an amazing, life-saving thing, but it’s important to be aware of the truth.
Below, we debunk three common myths about asbestos:
Myth # 1: Asbestos is banned in the United States.
As a known human carcinogen, you’d think asbestos would be banned in the United States. More than 50 countries outlaw the use of the fibers – but we aren’t one of them.
We do ban a few asbestos products: corrugated paper, rollboard, commercial/specialty paper and flooring felt. However, everything outside this range is still fair game. Companies may independently choose to use asbestos alternatives to protect their workers and avoid lawsuits, but it’s purely up to them.
Legislation did once seek to implement a nationwide ban on all asbestos products. However, asbestos lobbyists had the law reversed just a few short years later.... read more
Many people are truly very conscious of damages related to the human ecological footprint. More than just a trend, for many people, living an eco-friendly existence is a natural lifestyle. With that said, it is only natural that they would want to work for companies that are also interested in being kind to the environment in whatever way possible.
The same is true for consumers. They want to ensure purchases are made from companies that use eco-friendly manufacturing processes. The problem is, businesses have a goal to make money. They have a tendency to publicly promote the positive things they do, which includes green initiatives, while glossing over some of the practices that are perhaps not so earth-friendly.
It’s trendy to be green – remember, actions speak louder than words!
Green Is In
Obviously, businesses know that there is a definite trend to go green. Most companies have made changes in the way they manufacture products and conduct business. But this does not mean that every business is a green business. In fact, just because a business boasts that they are environmentally friendly in one way does not mean they are in other ways.
Green is in, and that has marketing value. This point has not been missed by businesses.
So how can you find out if a company is really green? Do some investigative work – begin by checking the business’s online reputation.... read more
Building an indoor kitchen garden doesn't have to cost a lot of money. It can be as simple as a few pots on shelving units near the windows, or it can be as elaborate as you wish with heat lamps and UV lighting. There are many bonuses to investing your time into cultivating an indoor kitchen garden whether you are looking to increase the "feeling" of the room or would just like to add fresh ingredients to your cooking.
1. Organic Eating - Of course, eating organic depends on the chemicals you put into your fruits and vegetables. However, you may be inclined not to use such chemicals within your home. Growing your own veggies will provide you with edibles that are unscathed by the devices of humankind. In reality, you can't get any cleaner tomatoes and such outside of utilizing your own garden. Having it in the kitchen only makes it easier for you to add these components into your cooking plans.... read more
We all love to travel to broaden our horizons, our experiences and our cultural boundaries, but planes consume fuel, generate carbon emissions and pollute the planet. In fact, air travel is the fastest growing source of the greenhouse gas emissions that are responsible for climate change. If you dream of heading off to a far flung and exotic part of the world but you’re worried about the damage you’re doing to our planet, you should think about carbon offsetting your flight.
What is carbon offsetting?
Carbon offsetting scheme providers, such as Carbon Footprint, Carbon Neutral Company and Climate Care agree that while everyone inadvertently produces carbon dioxide emissions (some more than others of course!), there are ways that you can help to reduce the earth's total emissions to balance it out. By making a small contribution to one of these offsetting scheme providers, you can render the carbon emissions produced by your flight neutral. This is usually a tiny percentage of the cost of your flight and can be simply done online after making your purchase.... read more
Most everyone around the world understands the importance of going green. They want to try to keep this eco-friendly idea running throughout all they do. This includes wrapping gifts, home items and being aware of what items you use or reuse. For those who are looking for a way to go eco-friendly with their gifts it is easier than you might think. Wrapping paper is not the only way you can wrap you gift for giving. There are actually many ways you can present your gift to a friend or family member while staying environmentally friendly. Check out these wonderful options for the next time you need to give a gift. You will be glad you did when you see how easy it is to go green with gift giving.
Reusable Gift Bags
While gift bags are quite popular a new trend is arising. Reusable bags are a great way to give your gift but also give a little something extra. These bags can be found in many department stores and are a great idea to put with your gift. They can reuse the bags for shopping, trips to the library or even pass it on to a friend. These bags have an endless amount of use to them and are not going to end up in the trash can. They can be used for trips to the beach or a picnic to the park. They typically have designs on them as well and you could even have them personalized. Many stores offer them so you can use them again and again to buy your groceries. Some stores even give you a discount for bringing in your own bags. ... read more
The perfect hybrid of green, healthy and beautiful are qualities that we should look for in our day-to-day lives. Providing a lovely living space while nurturing our families and helping them grow is the formula for a good life. Sadly, not everything is made of sunshine and daisies, and the water you drink and the veggies you eat, might not be as pure as you think. According to the EPA, there are pesticides used on your food can have negative effects on your health and the environment. Although the use of pesticides have been reduced since 2007, the EPA uses close to a billion pounds per year of commercial pesticides on crops in the U.S.
Pesticide manufacturing plants have even been known to make the National Priorities List (NPL), a list of places labeled extremely toxic by the EPA. To help in the reduction of toxic sites, there are remediation companies, like Sevenson Environmental, that can restore valuable plots of land.
A Bounty In Your Kitchen
If you don't have a yard, or you'd like to keep gardening during cold winter months, there are plenty of kitchen or spare-room friendly gardening options for you. You've probably seen the infomercial for the Topsy Turvy Tomato grower, which can be grown indoors and found online for less than ten dollars. The same company also makes a Topsy Turvy Strawberry grower that can hang from just about anywhere. For the devoted kitchen gardener, Urban Farmer makes a mushroom growing kit for less than 30 dollars. You can grow up to two pounds of fresh mushrooms in as little as ten days.... read more
There are obvious benefits to living in a clean environment. Besides the fact that it’s more comfortable, a clean space is healthier to be in. Dust, dirt, bacteria, and other forms of unclean irritants can lead to various health problems, some of which are more serious than others. With that in mind, it is not surprising that cleaning products of some sort can be found in nearly every home and workplace.
The good news is, eco-friendly cleaning products can be used to clear away dirt, germs, and grime just as effectively as those products made from harsh chemicals. These products are safe to use, and they are kind to the environment.
Keep your home clean and healthy with eco-friendly cleaning products.
About EPP
EPP stands for Environmentally Preferable Purchasing. This is a sort of guide provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is designed to help the federal government in making green purchases. Besides just considering how a product impacts the environment, other things are also taken into account, such as its performance, availability, and price competitiveness.
These same considerations can be used to determine quality eco-friendly products for the home. In other words, begin by ensuring that the product is kind to the environment. Consider the ingredients used, but also consider things like the packaging and shipping methods.
For instance, concentrated formulas and refillable bottles are one green option. Recycled-content packaging is another. Bulk shipping is a green initiative. Pumps are more eco-friendly than aerosols, and all products should provide clear labeling that includes information about how to use the product as well as how to properly dispose of the product.... read more
As consumer awareness of energy efficiency rises many people are being motivated to help the environment and save money on their electric bills at the same time. Regardless the motivation behind the goal, those of us looking to get a better handle on our energy bills should consider solar energy.
Solar screens
The number one access point for heat entering your home is through the windows. Fortunately you can prevent a good quantity of heat from entering your home making it easier to keep cool by investing in solar screens. Not only do solar screens your home cooler during the summer months, but they also create a custom look for you home, protect your carpet, furniture and blinds from UV damage and provide an increase in daytime privacy.... read more
In a bid for “Most Churlish Political Maneuver of 2013,” six Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works committee have boycotted Obama’s nominee to lead the EPA. Gina McCarthy, Obama's choice, worked under two Republican governors and has a solid, centrist record of administrative achievement. But, of course, that’s not the point. The point is that the only way Obama can affect climate change is to do an end-run around congress by enacting stronger regulations through the EPA. And, if Republicans block his EPA nominee they block his efforts to stop climate change.
Even more to the point is that the Republican Senators who are trying to block McCarthy’s nomination have each received 1 million (Vitter, Inhofe), a half-million (Barasso, Wicker), or hundreds of thousands (Crapo, Sessions, Boozman) in campaign dollars from oil and gas interests over their Senate careers. First-term Republican Senator Deb Fischer took a measly $95,070 from oil and gas, but she’ll catch up. (OpenSecrets.org.) It’s obvious why these Senators take the money -- money wins elections -- but it’s less obvious why their constituents let them. After all, 51% of Republicans now understand that the climate is heating and the boycotting Senators are all from the deep South or the arid west -- regions that will be hit hardest by climate change. I don’t expect a groundswell climate movement to rise up across Ol’ Dixie and cowboy country, but people in these hotter, drier regions are going to suffer the worst from climate change and you’d think they’d want to stop it. They have children too, right?
Yes, but they also (mostly) have conservative ideologies and research shows that even a whiff of environmental protection gives conservatives the hives. A study out of the Wharton Business School found that conservatives were less likely to buy energy-efficient lightbulbs that promised to save money when the packaging declaimed, “Protect the Environment.” They did, however, choose more efficient bulbs with eco-neutral packaging that promised to save money. Predictably, liberals responded positively to greenie packaging -- and were more likely to burn old sneakers for illumination if told it would “Protect the Environment” (Just kidding, that last part.)... read more
In addition to a privileged zip code, the ultimate expression of success may now include a commitment to “building green.”
The smart-celeb- set including Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, and Johnny Depp insist on the use of recycled materials and “off the grid” energy solutions. The rich and famous now compete to achieve the coolest eco-friendly environments while addressing major pollutants such as asphalt-shingle waste in roof replacements and grey-water waste.
Green building improvements are rapidly challenging traditional ostentation and decor as a new hallmark of power and prosperity. Home renovation advocates compete to build sustainable mansions for eco-friendly stars with features like living roofs and radiant geo-thermal heating. Eco-friendly values and resource-efficient building methods have come to define design, construction, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction of new and existing structures. ... read more
We all love to travel to broaden our horizons, our experiences and our cultural boundaries, but planes consume fuel, generate carbon emissions and pollute the planet. In fact, air travel is the fastest growing source of the greenhouse gas emissions that are responsible for climate change. If you dream of heading off to a far flung and exotic part of the world but you’re worried about the damage you’re doing to our planet, you should think about carbon offsetting your flight.
The perfect hybrid of green, healthy and beautiful are qualities that we should look for in our day-to-day lives. Providing a lovely living space while nurturing our families and helping them grow is the formula for a good life. Sadly, not everything is made of sunshine and daisies, and the water you drink and the veggies you eat, might not be as pure as you think. According to the 
There are obvious benefits to living in a clean environment. Besides the fact that it’s more comfortable, a clean space is healthier to be in. Dust, dirt, bacteria, and other forms of unclean irritants can lead to various health problems, some of which are more serious than others. With that in mind, it is not surprising that cleaning products of some sort can be found in nearly every home and workplace.
In a bid for “Most Churlish Political Maneuver of 2013,” six Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works committee have boycotted Obama’s nominee to lead the EPA. Gina McCarthy, Obama's choice, worked under two Republican governors and has a solid, centrist record of administrative achievement. But, of course, that’s not the point. The point is that the only way Obama can affect climate change is to do an end-run around congress by enacting stronger regulations through the EPA. And, if Republicans block his EPA nominee they block his efforts to stop climate change. 
In addition to a privileged zip code, the ultimate expression of success may now include a commitment to “building green.” 
