In order to remain relevant and profitable due to the ever-rising costs of energy,
it is absolutely essential for businesses to begin enacting more environmentally-conscious
practices. Not only will this reduce the energy bill (and, therefore, increase the bottom line),
it will also have a positive impact on the environment. Adopting eco-friendly, green policies
will permit companies to grow in a tightly competitive global marketplace, as well as driving
them to new heights of technological innovation. Here are some ways that a business can
go green and grow their profit margin, too.

Conserving Energy=Boosted Profit Margins
By choosing to buy energy-efficient office equipment, major and minor appliances,
and energy-saving light fixtures and bulbs, a company can reduce their energy bill and
increase the amount of profit they can retain. These extra profits can then be diverted
into other areas, such as hiring new workers, research and development, and other areas.
Energy Star has a website where a company or individual can calculate how much they might
actually save by implementing these simple steps, using Energy Star-certified appliances.

Dispose of Waste Responsibly
By disposing of their waste/trash properly (in an eco-friendly manner), this protects the
environment overall. Many municipalities offer recycling programs just for businesses,
specializing in paper recycling, as businesses generally produce more waste paper than
anything. This saves trees, which reduce carbon dioxide and make oxygen through their
natural processes, by reducing the amount of trees that need to be cut down to manufacture
new paper. It also allows the company to reap the benefits of not having to pay for a waste
disposal service to deal with their trash. Get in touch with the local waste management
department in your town or city to learn more about their recycling programs and
corporate incentives.

Green Business Practices Increase Technology Development
By pushing to be more ecologically-conscious and conscientious, businesses will ultimately
increase their level of technological advancement. This can be evidenced in many ways;
one of the best examples is in the automotive industry, where car companies are working
hard to implement new fuel-saving and alternate-power technologies. This came out of the
push by society and industry to reduce the consumption of dirty, expensive and
non-renewable fossil fuels.

Going Green Influences Others
When a big corporation makes the commitment to “go green,” they influence their associates
and competitors; business is a cutthroat thing, and no company wants to be out-stripped or
made to look bad in the marketplace. By exerting positive peer pressure on their particular industries,
these companies encourage others to implement earth-friendly policies and procedures, reduce
consumption and waste, and generally get “greener.”

In sum, green business is a responsible business practice—and a profitable one, when done properly!

Climate change, pollution and rampant irresponsible energy usage are all things that should concern every person on this planet. Each of these major points can be influenced by the actions of individuals, so it is in everyone’s best interests to begin practising eco-friendly lifestyles. This is no longer something that we should consider optional—it should be a necessity.
Here are ten helpful hints on green living that will make a positive effect on our natural environment.

1. Saving Water

Water is vital: without it, we can’t survive on this planet. Potable water must be conserved at all costs, and this can be done simply. Check around your home to ensure that any of your pipes aren’t leaking, and practise saving water by developing good habits. Turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth, make showing quicker, take fewer baths, and install low-flow shower heads and toilet fixtures in every lavatory.

2. Reduce/Re-Use/Recycle

Our urban landfills are full of items that could have been re-used or recycled. By recycling items such as tin cans, paper, cardboard, and plastic bottles, we reduce the amount of rubbish in landfills and also reduce the amount of materials being used to manufacture new things. Make sure to keen a bin for recyclable materials handy in your home, so you don’t forget!

3. Cut Down on Energy Consumption

Everyone knows that fossil fuels emit the majority of the carbon emissions, or greenhouse gases, and other pollutants. Fossil fuels power our society, so by reducing the usage of these dirty fuels, we reduce carbon and other emissions. Reduce your energy consumption by engaging in energy-saving practises, such as switching to compact fluorescent bulbs and setting your water heater, air conditioning and heating units to more energy-efficient temperatures.

4. Reduce Driving

Our love for our cars has become one of our biggest environmental problems: the carbon monoxide from the patrol burned by our vehicles accounts for more than half of all emissions of this dangerous gas. By taking public transport or carpooling, you can significantly reduce your petrol consumption and, therefore, carbon monoxide contribution. This also encourages more efficient fuel consumption, traffic, and less waste than simply driving yourself

5. Purchase Energy-Efficient Appliances

Buying an Energy-Star rated appliance, such as a refrigerator or washing machine, can dramatically reduce your home energy bill—and thus decrease the amount of fossil fuels burned to manufacture that energy. Not only do you do your pocketbook a favour, you do Mother Earth one, as well.

6. No More Plastic Grocery Bags!

Those plastic bags they give you at the market take years and years to decompose in landfills, not to mention that some emit toxic chemicals as they decay—if they decay at all! Choose a more eco-friendly option by bringing your own canvas or net bag with you next time you go shopping.

7. Stop the Paper Trail!

One very simple way to behave in a more environmentally-conscious manner is to reduce your “paper trail.” Trees are one of the main ways that carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is reduced. Trees take CO2 and make it into oxygen, effectively scrubbing the air. When you stop using so much paper, you contribute less to the cutting down of these vital natural carbon reducers. It can be as simple as paying your bills online, rather than queuing up and getting a paper receipt.

8. Plant a Tree! Or Two!

As discussed in number 7, trees are extraordinarily important to a healthy Earth. By planting a few you will help improve the air quality and the aesthetic impact of your local environment.

9. Put Out the Butts…Permanently.

Cigarettes are a source of pollution, one noxious puff at a time. Every exhalation of cigarette smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals which are not only bad for you, but are also bad for the environment. Reduce your chances of serious health complications and reduce the pollution of your immediate environs by quitting smoking, permanently. You’ll also save a lot of money!

10. Go Rechargeable.

Those batteries in your torch, TV remote control or other household appliances are horrible for the environment: they are full of toxic acid and trace heavy elements that pollute the soil and water when they decay. Switch to rechargeable batteries, which will also save some change in your pocket.

It’s really not hard at all to become more environmentally-conscious.
If we all do our part, every day, you will find that our world will be a cleaner, greener and safer place for us and future generations.

If you are watching your water bill spiral out of control or want to make sure that your
impact on the environment is not as great, you may want to consider recycling the
grey water that your home generates. This is water that has been used for purposes
such as washing or in the kitchen rather than water that has been used in a toilet or
septic system.

In a standard system, both grey water and black water (water from the toilet) enter
the sewage system. A home with a traditional set up will use municipally treated
water or well water in every area of the home from cooking to washing clothes to
showering or bathing. This totals about 40 gallons of water per day.

Alternative water usage can save money
There is no reason why you need to utilize treated water for every task in your home.
If, for example, you plan to water your yard there is no reason why you should use clean,
fresh water to do so. There are many areas of the home where recycled grey water can be
used on a daily basis. This will reduce the amount of treated water that homeowners will
be billed for. Not only will this reduce a homeowner’s impact on the environment,
it will also substantially reduce water bills as well.

Avid gardeners will tell you that using grey water to water gardens and for other outdoor purposes
can be very helpful. They have been doing so for years. They enjoy benefits such as septic systems
that are no longer overburdened and water and sewer bills that are much lower than if the grey
water was simply allowed to escape unused.

Grey water systems can be simple or complex
There are a range of different solutions that allow you to take advantage of your home’s grey water.
Systems can be as simple as collecting dish water after it is no longer needed and taking it outside to
water gardens or lawns. More complex systems collect water from shower drains, sinks and laundry
facilities and store it until it is needed for other purposes.

You may want to consider a system that is landscape-direct. This will divert grey water from a
washing machine and will then allow it to travel to mulch basins that are located around trees,
bushes or garden beds.

A qualified expert will make it easier for you to choose the system that meets your needs the best.’

Summers seem to be getting warmer every year. Many people have installed central air conditioning systems into their home and use them as an attempt to beat the heat. While they can work well they do cause a jump in a home’s hydro usage. If you are looking for a way to keep your home comfortable without a corresponding spike in hydro usage here are some alternatives that you may want to consider.

Tried and true designs may make for cooler homes
Some traditional design methods can actually help keep a home cool naturally. They were used for many years although they have become much less popular in the last century or so. If you are building a new home or are renovating an existing structure you may want to work them into your design.

Ventilation can be the key to a cooler home
Do not underestimate the impact that ventilation can have on your home. In the past, homes were designed and positioned so that they took advantage of the natural airflow around them. These worked for several reasons. The first is that they helped evaporate moisture (in this case, sweat) off of the skin. This makes people feel much cooler. In order to take advantage of this in your own home you should position the building or the windows in such a fashion that there is a decent amount of air flow in a home.

In older homes, there were often large windows that were positioned across from one another. Copying this design can help ensure your home is cooled down naturally. Placing windows on adjacent walls can also help to increase air flow although it will not be to the same extent.

The stack effect can cool your home
You may also want to consider using something known as the “stack effect” to cool your home naturally. Heat rises and taking advantage of this tendency can help keep a home much cooler. In order to take advantage of the stack effect it is important that you place openings at the top and bottom of an area. This allows air to move in lower down and push hot air up and out of a room.

Energy efficient windows can also help you keep your home cooler
You can also help to reduce your home’s energy use and increase the cooling effect by installing energy efficient windows. These will help trap more cool air inside a home and may reduce how hard your air conditioning system needs to work in order to keep a home at a comfortable temperature.

It can take a lot of energy to heat water. Usually, the majority of the hot water goes down the drain and all of the energy that was used to heat it can go to waste. If you want to make sure that you get as much impact for your heating bills as possible, you may want to consider a drain water heat recovery system. This takes water that has already been heated and repurposes it. The heat from the water is used to warm the air inside of a home.

We actually use about twenty percent of a home’s energy to heat water. As much as seventy percent of that hot water is used to bathe. When a bath or shower is done, the heated water simply trickles away down the drain and is of no benefit to homeowners. That is, it is not of use unless a homeowner has a drain water heat recovery system installed.

How a drain water heat recovery system works
Although some systems may be configured differently, all drain water heat recovery systems work in much the same way. A series of coils are positioned around a home’s drain stack. When hot water passes through the drain stack, the heat is absorbed by the coils. The heat from the coils is then used to heat water that is waiting to be used.

The hot water that has been heated by the drain water recovery system can be used in a number of different ways. It can travel into a radiant heating system and provide heat throughout a home or it can be used to wash or cook with. The water does not actually come into contact with the drain water and therefore there is no chance that the fresh supply of water would become contaminated in any way.

A home does need to have a centralized drain stack in order for this type of system to work. This will ensure that all of the hot water that is leaving a home will travel past the heat coils. Users of these systems have reported that their energy use has decreased by as much as ten percent simply by reusing the heat that was originally utilized to warm water.

There are a number of advantages to this kind of system. One is the reduction in energy usage in a home. Because heating systems are not running as much the greenhouse gasses that are produced will also be reduced. They will also pay for themselves in as little as five years.

You may have heard a lot of people talking about radiant heating systems. They have been around for many years but advances in the design and materials make them a much more reliable heat source than they were in the past. As a result, these types of heating systems are being used in an increasing number of homes because of the advantages that they offer. Here is a look at whether or not a radiant heating system is right for your home.

Radiant vs. forced air heating systems
Radiant systems are very different than forced air systems. A forced air system uses a central heat source (usually a furnace) that heats air which is then forced through a series of ducts. This allows the heated air to reach different areas in a home. A radiant system, on the other hand, uses heated water that travels through tubes from a central heating unit. The heat can be let into a room via a wall mounted radiator or it can travel through a series of tubes that are placed underneath a floor.

Air quality considerations
One thing to consider is the air quality in a home. If you are someone who is dealing with severe allergies you may want to consider a radiant heating system. Duct work can be the perfect place for allergens such as mold and dust to accumulate. The air moving through the ducts pushes it out into a room where it can cause allergies to act up.

Radiant heating is also much less drying than forced air systems. Radiant systems use heated water and some of the moisture will end up in the air. This can help keep skin and hair from drying out the way they may with a forced air system.

Equal heating throughout a room
Another problem with a forced air system is that there can be hot or cold zones in any room. The air around a vent can be quite a bit warmer than the rest of the room. This can be a problem as it can make a home much less comfortable when extreme weather hits. A radiant system that uses in-floor tubing will provide evenly distributed heat throughout any room. It can also be precisely controlled on a room-by-room basis, allowing individuals to reduce the amount of energy they use to heat their home.

Only you will know whether or not a radiant heating system is right for you. A qualified heating and air conditioning specialist can go over the options and help you choose the system that is right for your home.

If you are planning a major home renovation or are planning to build an extension on your home you may want to think about making it a green one. You can help to lower energy bills and protect the environment by being careful about the materials and technologies that you use in your home. Here are a few options that you may want to consider.

A strong foundation is important
A strong foundation is important if you are planning an extension on your home. Often, these are made out of cement and are fairly standard in their construction. It is possible to decrease the impact that a foundation will have on the environment. If you want to help ensure your home is as well-insulated as possible you should consider using earth or straw in the construction of your foundation.

Straw and earth can act as natural insulation that will help you lower your heating and cooling bills. Because it looks the same as a standard foundation you may not be able to tell the difference between your new, energy efficient foundation and the one that was part of your original home.

You can also tie energy efficient heating systems into your extension. A heat pump can help to heat your home affordably and reliably and will not impact the environment in an appreciable way.

Insulating your new extension
Additional living space needs additional insulation in order to help keep the temperature at a comfortable level. You do not want to ruin the energy efficient nature of the rest of your home by under-insulating your new extension. Luckily, there are several different insulation materials that are quite energy efficient.

One option is insulation made from spun glass. This insulation traps air in much the same way that traditional fiberglass insulation does. The glass for the insulation is obtained by recycling glass bottles. Another type of environmentally friendly insulation is made from paper. If you have constructed your foundation using straw or earth you may find that you do not need to add as much insulation to the walls and air pockets in your extension.

Once you have finished the construction of your extension it will be time to decorate it. You can then choose flooring materials and paint that will also not have an impact on the environment or your own health. You will end up with a beautiful extension that will add value and functionality to your home.

If you are renovating your home there are many decisions that need to be made. You may be wondering which contractor to use or which areas to renovate first. What many people should think about (but don’t) is how to make sure that the renovation process is as environmentally friendly as possible. Here are a few things that you need to consider.

Your home’s energy supply
You may want to consider how your home will be powered. A home renovation can be the perfect time to add a solar panel or to convert from burning fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas to using biomass boilers or a heat pump system. You may even want to use a combination of several different heating methods. For example, you may want to use a heat pump system in combination with a biomass system.

Environmentally friendly heating systems are those that are as close to carbon neutral as possible. A biomass system only releases as much carbon as was absorbed by the plants or trees during their lifespan.

Upgrade windows to energy efficient models
If you are renovating your home you should consider replacing your windows with ones that are more energy efficient. Good choices are double paned models that have a layer of gas in between the glass. This will help reduce or eliminate heat transfer in or out of your home. Different windows will have different R-ratings as some gasses are much better at preventing heat transference than others.

You may want to consider replacing any windows at ground level as well. A significant amount of treated air can be lost through basement windows and yet some individuals do not see the importance of changing windows that are not immediately visible to the outside world.

Use recycled materials whenever and wherever possible
It is important for you to use renovation materials that are made from recycled materials. They have several advantages. The first is that they have already released any toxic gasses when they were in use before and will not contaminate the air in your home. The second is that you are not compounding the problem when some materials are harvested from their natural environment.

Barn board flooring, for example, is a beautiful choice to use in a home or cottage. It can provide a rustic touch to your home or cottage and is good because it prevents landfills from being filled with materials that can easily be reused.

Energy bills are getting more and more expensive each month. People are trying to find ways that they can save a large amount of energy and attempt to accomplish this through the use of energy efficient appliances and by changing the way that they power or heat their home. What they, and you, may not realize is that a lot of energy can be saved simply by stopping the slow drain in your home.

Power bars can use energy even when they don’t appear to be on
The power bars that we plug our appliances and electronic devices into actually use a small amount of power on a continuing basis. This is what allows us to turn our devices on without waiting for them to power up. Over time this energy usage can add up. If you want to stop this slow leak of energy you need to do one of two things.

The first thing that you can do is to physically turn the power bar off. They come with a switch that allows you to turn them off and then they will not drain any more power. The second is to use power bars that operate on a timer. This allows you to set the bar to be off at certain times and on at others.

Check windows and doors
Your home can use a lot of energy in order to keep the air temperature comfortable. If you want to make sure that your home does not waste energy you need to check your windows and doors. Small gaps or spaces around windows and worn out weather stripping around doors can allow a significant amount of loss in terms of heated or cooled air.

If you want to make sure that your home is as energy efficient as possible you need to make sure that your windows are new and that you have ensured that the weather stripping is in good condition.

Insulating your home can reduce your energy use
It is important to have a qualified professional look at the amount and type of insulation in your home. If you have an older home it may not have the level of insulation it needs in order to be truly energy efficient. If you are finding that your home is overly cool in the winter and overly warm in the summer you may want to find out whether your home is insulated properly.

By checking all of these areas you can be sure that your home is as good at conserving energy as possible.

If you are interested in building a green home or renovating an existing structure so that it is more environmentally friendly there are many choices that you need to make. One important decision is what kind of flooring you use in your home. There are many options to choose from and the key is to learn more about them and choose the option that is best for you.

What makes certain flooring materials “greener” than others
There are several different criteria that make certain flooring materials greener than others. One is that they do not release harmful chemicals into your home. The other is that they do not use a large amount of water or energy in the manufacturing process. Another is that it is made from materials that are salvaged or recycled and thereby conserves natural resources.

You want to make sure that your flooring materials do not emit any harmful chemicals. The emission of these harmful fumes is known as off-gassing. Studies have shown that some housing materials can severely contaminate the air in your home. In some cases it means that the air inside a home can actually end up being more contaminated or polluted than the air outside may be.

Flooring options you may want to consider
The type of flooring you will want in your home often varies from room to room. For example, you may love the idea of wooden flooring in a living room, family room or bedroom but want to use other materials in rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms. Therefore, you may need to source out several different types of flooring materials so that your home is as functional as possible.

If you are looking for flooring for a kitchen or bathroom you may want to consider concrete flooring. This can be made with recycled industrial ash so that it is more environmentally friendly. Good quality linoleum flooring that is not made from synthetic vinyl is a surprisingly eco-friendly choice. It will not off-gas (emit harmful gasses) and is very durable. It is also made from organic materials.

You may want to consider bamboo flooring for a living room, dining room or bedroom. In order for it to be environmentally friendly you need to choose flooring made from mature bamboo. You need to make sure that it comes from a reputable green supplier and avoid flooring that is poor in quality and made with toxic ingredients.

Taking the time to learn more about green flooring options is worthwhile. That way you know that the floors you walk on are not harming your health in any way.