That is where a hot water heater blanket comes in to save the day. It might cost as little as 10 dollars, and would benefit you in quite a lot of ways. For instance, think about your hot water storage system – if it’s more than a few years old, then it might not be insulated properly. If the sides of the tank are warm, then you need a hot water heater blanket. The jacket of this reduces the heat loss by a large percentage, and thus increases your savings at least up to 10% of your water heating costs.

However, there is one major thing that you need to take into consideration. That is that some water heaters’ manuals specifically state that a hot water heater blanket shouldn’t be used. So before you go out and buy one, check what the manual says. This could help you from wasting money.

A hot water heater blanket is quite easy to install, and you will also get a set of instructions. If you have an electric heater, it would probably be a good idea to view the Department of Energy’s guide to installation. If your heater runs on gas or oil, then the installation would probably be a little more difficult. Therefore it would be a good idea to get in a plumber for the job.

1. Avoid Strong Chemicals

Elbow grease costs nothing but if you leave your bathroom for too long without cleaning it you might find that it is difficult to get clean without using harsh chemicals. The best solution is to wipe over your bathroom every day and give the toilet a good clean with a toilet brush so that scum and dirt never get a chance to build up. If it is too late, you can do well with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Leave it on for 30 minutes before using more of that elbow grease. If you really must use a product look for eco friendly bathroom cleaners at the store.

2. Save Water

Do not use running water to wash, fill the bathroom sink instead. When brushing your teeth, turn on the faucet only when you need to rinse your brush. Don’t have it running for 2 or 3 minutes while you brush your teeth. Take a shower rather than a bath and if you tend to daydream your time away there set a kitchen timer to remind yourself you have been in long enough and flushed enough water down the drain. If you have a dual flush on your toilet, use the minimum flush facility instead of the full flush until you need to.

3. Avoid Disposables

Of course, you can’t avoid disposable toilet paper too easily but don’t even think of using products like disposable floor wipes or toilet brushes. What a waste! When it comes to products like liquid soap, buy the refills and fill up your own lotion bottle. Yes, you are allowed a bathroom set with toothbrush holder, tumbler and lotion bottle as long as it comes from sustainable resources!

4. Fresh Air

Opening a window is the best air freshener around and will prevent a build up of mold and mildew. If you feel a little perfume is in order use a little essential oil on a damp cloth to leave a pleasant fragrance in your room.

Despite being so densely populated, Japan has always managed to be ahead of the curve in terms of sustainability. The Japanese government has been investing large amounts of money into companies developing new advances in green practice, as well as to create more jobs related to green. One way this is done is by offering loans with a better interest rate (or no interest at all) for companies focusing on green technology and sustainability.

By offering these companies funding for no interest, they are able to expand their business and hopefully hire new sustainability related jobs. This is a great opportunity for the new employees to learn a skill that will probably be in high demand as these practices continue to become more common.

There may not be an objective classification system for what makes a company green, but any company can work towards qualifying under a specific portfolio. A larger corporation can work on greening its general practices and a smaller company can choose to focus on producing something that will improve the environment in some way. The government is encouraging this in part by offering grants and the no-interest loans discussed above.

There are many different options available for green investments such as green mutual funds that are a collection of equity in companies focusing on green. In addition, there are green REITs (real estate investment trusts) available that focus on green properties. These have actually begun to show that in some cases a building can be more valuable in the eyes of the public if it is LEED certified. For example, property with a LEED certification might be able to attract a higher rent than a similar non-LEED property. In addition, the World Bank in Japan has recently introduced the ability to invest in green bonds. This provides a great low risk method of investing in sustainable development.

Green investments are an great addition to the world of finance and an interesting way to discover Japan Slowly.

Let’s take a look at solar panel covers as just one example.  The most popular or common type of solar application is the photovoltaic (PV) system.  It has suffered through the years with poor efficiency and problems with sufficient battery backup and similar issues.  Well, many of the earlier releases of this technology were truly sub-par.  Now, with advancements in technology and then credits or tax breaks for using solar, these types of installations are becoming more and more of a reality for many homeowners.  Not all installations are for running an entire home’s energy use off of solar however.  This is likely to happen in a few more years.

What you can do, however, is use something like a solar patio cover to get your ‘feet wet’ with solar power.  This can give you an amount of energy that can be run back ‘into the grid’ and can offset your energy use and bill.  This application is really nothing more than using these PV solar panels as your patio roof.  This gives you the shade you want for your patio space and the energy production from that ‘wasted space’ atop your patio.  It is a great way to see a double benefit.  This type of solar panel covered patio might be one way that residents in the ‘sunbelt’ can make the solar industry more of a viable long-term solution to our energy demand crisis.

Brought to you by your friends at Patio Covers Place

So think twice before buying toys made of plastic – consider instead wooden toys or those made from other natural materials.  Toys these days are so quickly outgrown that adding to the pile of discarded toys with more plastic is not going to help the environment. Look to the toy manufacturers who are offering choices of green toys. Many are offering toys made from renewable resources, including organic fabrics and soy products. Others have changed their manufacturing processes to be environmentally friendly and use organic products for their toy materials and finishes. The golden egg in terms of eco-friendly toys are those that are handmade locally. These avoid the need for transportation and also support local employment in the community. Finding green toys is now much more convenient than it used to be and those that you do find are more interesting and likely to attract your children than you might think.

A fluorescent light bulb recycling program may be something as simple as taking the used bulbs from home or work to an authorized disposal center near you. While this is one way to help, the repeat trips to the center can become a hassle. For many, this could cause what may have started out as a noble act with the best intentions, to fall by the wayside.

The other, more viable option is to purchase a fluorescent light bulb recycling kit online. These kits are available for 4’, 8’ and compact fluorescent bulbs. The kits differ in price depending on the supplier but most start around $50.00. The kits includes disposal bags for each bulb, a shipping box to send them to the recycler and pre-paid shipping labels that take all of the effort out of recycling.

The kits are quite simple to use and are accompanied by a complete set of instructions. To use the majority of the kits, you simply bag each bulb individually, place them in the shipping carton, seal and send. The labels that are included are pre-paid and included in the initial cost of the kit.

Many office buildings and places of employment already have a program in place for the recycling of bulbs and other hazardous materials. For a smaller business, this particular avenue is the easiest way to comply with state laws on the disposal of lamps. By conforming to the rules set by the E.P.A. and many state and local authorities, a recycle program when properly used helps everyone.

Recycle Technologies, Inc. is a leader in Minnesota spent lamp recycling and more.

Most people will probably think first about retaining as many trees as they possibly can. The consensus in Irish forestry, especially when it involves natural woodland, is to try and keep as many trees as can be kept. But there are several points that you should think about which showed help you to make your decision.

First you must decide if the trees are too old to maintain. Most of the time, when making decisions such as this, you need to hire in the help of a tree surgeon who be able to judge the age of the tree and if it is a danger. There’s no point in holding onto a tree that only has a short life expectancy. Next, you have to look at the size of the tree and make the decision as to whether the tree has grown too large. One of the biggest factors that are involved in large trees is if they are going to constitute a danger from falling branches or from the whole tree falling over. Also, very large trees can adversely effect the development from a planning point of view. Forestry in Ireland must take into account the danger element all the time, we have to decide whether the tree is going to prove to be dangerous.

Lighting – you will be quite light dependant on your big day to illuminate the ceremony and reception to their fullest extent. Where possible this should be via the use of natural light coming in through multiple windows in the function room, along with light sensitive lights situated close to such windows. An eco venue will also be one where they use lights with motion sensors in their corridors and parking areas as well as low wattage bulbs.

Conservation of energy – wedding reception venues should turn out lights when they are not needed as well as limiting heating and cooling machines to only come on when necessary. The kitchen should be powered by gas.

Outdoor facilities – venues where the wedding can take place outdoors on grass for example will be saving energy. Bedouin tents should be available should rain try and spoil your day.

Garden irrigation systems – systems should be in place to shut down any sprinkler systems in the luscious gardens in the event of rain. Irrigation systems should be those that lose little water through evaporation and landscaping should also have been designed to depend on little amounts of water.

Local produce served – eco venues should grow some of the fruit and vegetables that they use on site and should try and source other products and fish from local sources rather than importing. This also goes for beers and wines served at the bar.

Recycled paper products – if possible the venue should provide invitations or at least the place cards and menus made from recycled materials.

Recycled decorations – there can be quite a lot of waste from wedding parties so as many decorations as possible should be recycled. Floral arrangements should also be obtained from local florists that use only in season flowers. Where possible potted plants rather than cut flowers should be used and after the wedding, flowers should be donated to hospitals or similar centers.

Waste recycling – confirm with the venue that all waste is separated into the usual recycling categories of glass, paper and plastics and is collected by a registered waste management company.

If you can find a wedding venue that meets all of these requirements you can relax in the knowledge that your big day is not impacting on the planet.

The first step is to look at your other light bulb choices.  Tungsten and halogen light bulbs are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs are, and they create a cool, natural light that compliments the skin’s tone.  Halogen has a more natural tone than tungsten, and it comes close to replicating natural sunlight.  These light bulbs are a bit more expensive and don’t last as long as CFL bulbs do, but they work great in the bathroom.  The trade off is that you can get away with a much lower wattage than if you used incandescent bulbs.

Another easy trick is to use a dimmer switch.  When the light is not turned on all the way, it is using less energy.  This adds ambiance to the room, especially when used with bathroom vanity lighting where lighting is generally harsh.  This also has the benefit of not shocking your eyes when you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning since you can turn the light on only as much as you need.

Being green isn’t tough, but to do so while improving function is tough.  The steps above will do both in your bathroom.  Save money, help the planet, and improve your bathroom all at the same time!

An average CFL lamp contains between 3.5 and 15 milliliters of mercury. Granted, this amount alone is not enough to pose a serious health risk (although spills must always be properly cleaned). Still, due to the sheer volume of light bulbs used worldwide, improper light bulb disposal could have catastrophic environmental effects, which is why diligent fluorescent light bulb recycling is so important.

One of the biggest concerns with mercury pollution is water pollution. Even a small amount of mercury can contaminate a fairly large area of water. Of course, the biggest threat in terms of mercury water pollution is fish contamination.

When mercury gets in the water system, it gets into eco-system and eventually into the food chain. This is particularly bad for humans that eat fish because pescatarians are very much a part of this mercury laced food chain. Larger fish generally contain the most mercury because larger fish prey on smaller fish that have also been exposed to mercury. Shark and swordfish often contain the highest mercury contamination amongst edible seafood, however, tuna poses the greatest threat because it is the most commonly consumed large fish.

Proper fluorescent light bulb recycling is just one of many steps that need to be taken to reduce mercury levels in our nations’ rivers, lakes, and seas. Industrial sites and coal power plants are probably the largest mercury pollution offenders. Still, recycling fluorescent bulbs is one part of mercury reduction where the individual can most certainly make a difference.

Recycle Technologies, Inc. is a specialist in Minnesota lamp recycling.