Saturday, June 25, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
General
1. Ban plastic bags from your life. Always carry at least one reusable bag with you and it will soon be as routine as grabbing your keys when you head out.
2. Switch your monthly bills to e-billing. Even if you print them out at home, you'll eliminate the postage carbon footprint and reduce paper use (no envelopes and annoying "special offer" inserts).
3. Before you throw anything away, ask yourself if you can use it in a new way or if someone else could use it.
4. Recycle anything and everything you can. Even if you have to drive items to a depot once a month, it's worth it to save raw materials.
Home
5. Start composting -- it's simple and you get free fertilizer.
6. Install a gray water system.
7. Paint only with no-VOC formulas.
8. Switch to an electric kettle for boiling water. Electric kettles use less energy than their stove-top counterparts, and there are stainless steel options available if you're wary about boiling water in plastic.
9. If you're replacing appliances in 2010, pay a little more for the most efficient Energy Star models -- they'll save you money in the long run.
10. Build a rain barrel to get free water for your garden and plants. (Tip: In the winter, collect snow, scoop it into a pail, and bring it inside so it can melt and be used for watering indoor plants.)
Transportation
11. Walk more, particularly if your destination is less than 30 minutes on foot. It's good for your health and the environment.
12. Take public transit. Students often have a transit pass included in their fees, and some cities even have free public transit, so use it!
13. If you can live without a car, do it. In most cities, the cost of a transit pass is still less than you'd shell out for insurance, gas, and maintenance or car payments.
14. If you must take a taxi, call the company that has a fleet of hybrids or electric cars.
15. In the market for a new car? Choose a green hybrid or electric.
16. Buy a bike, or build one at your local bike shop. While other people are stuck in the snarl of rush hour traffic, you'll breeze by and be home much more quickly.
Food
17. Go vegetarian one day a week. The livestock industry is a huge greenhouse gas emitter.
18. Eat organic -- it may not be nutritionally superior, but it's a lot better for the planet.
19. Refuse to buy foods that are unnecessarily packaged, such as fruits and vegetables.
20. Annoyed by excessive food packaging? Tell your grocer or the manufacturer. Fire off an e-mail or write a formal letter expressing your concern. (As a rule, every letter a company receives represents about 50 people of a like mind.)
21. Grow your own fruits, veggies, and herbs.
Fashion & Beauty
22. Commit to buying green fashions -- think organic cotton, bamboo, hemp and other sustainable, natural fibers, as well as recycled fabrics.
23. Switch to all-natural cosmetics. A good rule: If the ingredients list looks like a lesson in chemistry, steer clear; if you're stumbling over Latin, you're looking at the names of plants.
24. Switch to a nail polish brand that is made without toluene, DBP, and formaldehyde. (Piggy Paint, London, and American Apparel Nail Lacquer are a few options.)
25. Shop at secondhand and charity shops before hitting the mall or your favorite boutiques. You can usually find some great gems.
26. Never buy bottled water again
Trade your bottled water habit for an at-home filtering pitcher and you can help make a dent in the 1.5 million barrels of oil used to make plastic water bottles each year; pair it with a reusable bottle (like one made of glass, aluminum, or recycled plastic), and you'll always be prepared to tackle your thirst. Bonus: With bottled water no longer on your shopping list, you could save as much as $1,400 this year.
27. Brew your own Fair Trade coffee
Carrying your own coffee in an insulated travel mug helps you reduce waste from cardboard cups and carrying sleeves -- which are thrown away at a staggering rate of 58 billion each year. For greener at-home brewing, choose a Fair Trade blend that supports farmers; add organic milk instead of artificial creamers; and try a French press (instead of a traditional brewer) to save electricity.
28. Remember your reusable bags
With more than 1 million plastic bags ending up in the trash every minute, taking reusable bags to the store is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint -- but the hardest part about using them is simply remembering to take them with you. A set like this one from Blue Avocado is almost impossible to forget: It comes with six different bags, sized for everything from frozen goods to fresh fruit, and the entire collection folds down into a slim packet for easy transport.
29. Cut back on paper towels
If you're grabbing a paper towel for everything from wiping up spills and cleaning your counter to scrubbing the bathroom and keeping your hands clean at dinner, it's time to make a change. Instead, invest in a few cotton cloths and some fabric napkins; then drop them in the wash when you run a load of laundry. Using the cloth alternatives is just as easy as using the paper versions, and you only need to buy them once -- plus you can help eliminate the 3,000 tons of paper towels that end up landfills every day.
30. Use a bike for short trips
It takes a certain amount of dedication to permanently give up a car in favor of a bike, but even an eco-slacker can make it work for short trips that don't require hauling a lot of stuff: picking up milk at the local grocery store, after-dinner ice cream at your favorite dessert spot, your morning yoga class, brunch with friends at the coffee shop. Ride your bike for trips shorter than 2 miles and you could cut your carbon footprint significantly, save money on gasoline and car maintenance, and increase your fitness level -- all at the same time.
31.Order from your local CSA
Going to the farmer's market always sounds like such a great idea -- until Saturday morning rolls around and you realize you have to get up early, have enough cash, and fight other customers for the best strawberries. Instead, have your local CSA program do the hard part for you by putting together a box of their best produce each week -- and, if you're really feeling lazy, have it delivered right to your door so you get fresh, local fruits and vegetables without giving up your lazy coffee-and-crossword mornings.
32. Eliminate phantom power
It takes approximately one second to unplug the charger for your cell phone, mp3 player, e-reader, or iPad -- but if you really can't be bothered, then let nifty, energy-efficient gadgets do the work for you. Use power strips to turn off all your appliances at once; put your television, DVD player, game system, and stereo on a timer so they automatically shut off overnight; and invest in chargers that stop drawing current when the device's battery is full. You could cut your energy bill by as much as 10 percent annually -- without lifting a finger.
33. Switch to green power
Switching your home to run on green power sounds like a big job -- installing solar panels, geothermal energy, or a tankless hot water heater is not a job for the construction-impaired. But you can also make this happen without getting out of your chair: Call your local energy company and see if they offer renewable options (most do). You might see a small jump in your bill, but it's an easy way to make a big change.
34. Replace your lightbulbs
Replacing your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lights may be the ultimate change for the eco-slacker. Despite all the jokes, it takes only one person to change a lightbulb -- and since CFLs last longer than traditional bulbs, you'll be saving time for years down the road while cutting your energy use by as much as 80 percent. Can't even face the hardware store? Order your bulbs online and have them come straight to your door.
These are just a few of the ways you can commit to going green in the new year. Just remember: It can be a challenge as you adjust to a new way of thinking, but it's worth sticking with it.
1. Ban plastic bags from your life. Always carry at least one reusable bag with you and it will soon be as routine as grabbing your keys when you head out.
2. Switch your monthly bills to e-billing. Even if you print them out at home, you'll eliminate the postage carbon footprint and reduce paper use (no envelopes and annoying "special offer" inserts).
3. Before you throw anything away, ask yourself if you can use it in a new way or if someone else could use it.
4. Recycle anything and everything you can. Even if you have to drive items to a depot once a month, it's worth it to save raw materials.
Home
5. Start composting -- it's simple and you get free fertilizer.
6. Install a gray water system.
7. Paint only with no-VOC formulas.
8. Switch to an electric kettle for boiling water. Electric kettles use less energy than their stove-top counterparts, and there are stainless steel options available if you're wary about boiling water in plastic.
9. If you're replacing appliances in 2010, pay a little more for the most efficient Energy Star models -- they'll save you money in the long run.
10. Build a rain barrel to get free water for your garden and plants. (Tip: In the winter, collect snow, scoop it into a pail, and bring it inside so it can melt and be used for watering indoor plants.)
Transportation
11. Walk more, particularly if your destination is less than 30 minutes on foot. It's good for your health and the environment.
12. Take public transit. Students often have a transit pass included in their fees, and some cities even have free public transit, so use it!
13. If you can live without a car, do it. In most cities, the cost of a transit pass is still less than you'd shell out for insurance, gas, and maintenance or car payments.
14. If you must take a taxi, call the company that has a fleet of hybrids or electric cars.
15. In the market for a new car? Choose a green hybrid or electric.
16. Buy a bike, or build one at your local bike shop. While other people are stuck in the snarl of rush hour traffic, you'll breeze by and be home much more quickly.
Food
17. Go vegetarian one day a week. The livestock industry is a huge greenhouse gas emitter.
18. Eat organic -- it may not be nutritionally superior, but it's a lot better for the planet.
19. Refuse to buy foods that are unnecessarily packaged, such as fruits and vegetables.
20. Annoyed by excessive food packaging? Tell your grocer or the manufacturer. Fire off an e-mail or write a formal letter expressing your concern. (As a rule, every letter a company receives represents about 50 people of a like mind.)
21. Grow your own fruits, veggies, and herbs.
Fashion & Beauty
22. Commit to buying green fashions -- think organic cotton, bamboo, hemp and other sustainable, natural fibers, as well as recycled fabrics.
23. Switch to all-natural cosmetics. A good rule: If the ingredients list looks like a lesson in chemistry, steer clear; if you're stumbling over Latin, you're looking at the names of plants.
24. Switch to a nail polish brand that is made without toluene, DBP, and formaldehyde. (Piggy Paint, London, and American Apparel Nail Lacquer are a few options.)
25. Shop at secondhand and charity shops before hitting the mall or your favorite boutiques. You can usually find some great gems.
26. Never buy bottled water again
Trade your bottled water habit for an at-home filtering pitcher and you can help make a dent in the 1.5 million barrels of oil used to make plastic water bottles each year; pair it with a reusable bottle (like one made of glass, aluminum, or recycled plastic), and you'll always be prepared to tackle your thirst. Bonus: With bottled water no longer on your shopping list, you could save as much as $1,400 this year.
27. Brew your own Fair Trade coffee
Carrying your own coffee in an insulated travel mug helps you reduce waste from cardboard cups and carrying sleeves -- which are thrown away at a staggering rate of 58 billion each year. For greener at-home brewing, choose a Fair Trade blend that supports farmers; add organic milk instead of artificial creamers; and try a French press (instead of a traditional brewer) to save electricity.
28. Remember your reusable bags
With more than 1 million plastic bags ending up in the trash every minute, taking reusable bags to the store is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint -- but the hardest part about using them is simply remembering to take them with you. A set like this one from Blue Avocado is almost impossible to forget: It comes with six different bags, sized for everything from frozen goods to fresh fruit, and the entire collection folds down into a slim packet for easy transport.
29. Cut back on paper towels
If you're grabbing a paper towel for everything from wiping up spills and cleaning your counter to scrubbing the bathroom and keeping your hands clean at dinner, it's time to make a change. Instead, invest in a few cotton cloths and some fabric napkins; then drop them in the wash when you run a load of laundry. Using the cloth alternatives is just as easy as using the paper versions, and you only need to buy them once -- plus you can help eliminate the 3,000 tons of paper towels that end up landfills every day.
30. Use a bike for short trips
It takes a certain amount of dedication to permanently give up a car in favor of a bike, but even an eco-slacker can make it work for short trips that don't require hauling a lot of stuff: picking up milk at the local grocery store, after-dinner ice cream at your favorite dessert spot, your morning yoga class, brunch with friends at the coffee shop. Ride your bike for trips shorter than 2 miles and you could cut your carbon footprint significantly, save money on gasoline and car maintenance, and increase your fitness level -- all at the same time.
31.Order from your local CSA
Going to the farmer's market always sounds like such a great idea -- until Saturday morning rolls around and you realize you have to get up early, have enough cash, and fight other customers for the best strawberries. Instead, have your local CSA program do the hard part for you by putting together a box of their best produce each week -- and, if you're really feeling lazy, have it delivered right to your door so you get fresh, local fruits and vegetables without giving up your lazy coffee-and-crossword mornings.
32. Eliminate phantom power
It takes approximately one second to unplug the charger for your cell phone, mp3 player, e-reader, or iPad -- but if you really can't be bothered, then let nifty, energy-efficient gadgets do the work for you. Use power strips to turn off all your appliances at once; put your television, DVD player, game system, and stereo on a timer so they automatically shut off overnight; and invest in chargers that stop drawing current when the device's battery is full. You could cut your energy bill by as much as 10 percent annually -- without lifting a finger.
33. Switch to green power
Switching your home to run on green power sounds like a big job -- installing solar panels, geothermal energy, or a tankless hot water heater is not a job for the construction-impaired. But you can also make this happen without getting out of your chair: Call your local energy company and see if they offer renewable options (most do). You might see a small jump in your bill, but it's an easy way to make a big change.
34. Replace your lightbulbs
Replacing your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lights may be the ultimate change for the eco-slacker. Despite all the jokes, it takes only one person to change a lightbulb -- and since CFLs last longer than traditional bulbs, you'll be saving time for years down the road while cutting your energy use by as much as 80 percent. Can't even face the hardware store? Order your bulbs online and have them come straight to your door.
These are just a few of the ways you can commit to going green in the new year. Just remember: It can be a challenge as you adjust to a new way of thinking, but it's worth sticking with it.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Ban on gutkha pouch
 |
Sellers violate Gujarat government’s ban on selling gutkha within 100-m radius of schools |
Gujarat Cancer Research Institute director Pankaj Shah said, “Gutkha is a deadly health hazard. The Supreme Court should ban it completely. Even schoolchildren are consuming this poison. We get cases where 20-year-olds suffer from cancer of the mouth and neck due to this. Sellers also violate Gujarat government’s ban on selling gutkha within 100-m radius of schools.”
92 gutkha brands
Retired food inspector Tushar Bhatt said, “Ninety-two brands of gutkha are available in the state and 70 lakh Gujaratis consume gutkha at an average of 10 gutkha pouches per person.” “The turnover of gutkha in the state is a staggering Rs 2,500 crore annually. Moreover, duplicate packing of all brands across the country are manufactured in Gujarat,” he claimed.
Environment department director J K Vyas said, “The packaging material for gutkha has 70 per cent plastic and 30 per cent metal foil.” Thousands of processing units could be forced to close as a result of the ban.
Environmental hazard
Welcoming the apex court’s decision, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti Chairperson Rohit Prajapati said, “The SC did what the states should have done. But SC has its limitations. The state government has never shown any seriousness in this direction.”
Empty gutkha pouches dirty city streets. “It is non-biodegradable waste that pollutes the environment. The amount of gutkha packets we recovered during the Ahmedabad Mirror Cleanliness Campaign is almost impossible to dispose of. Amdavadis are educated, motivated and patriotic in nature. Therefore, the social acceptance of eating gutkha and littering the packets baffles me,” said Aditi Vyas, a cleanliness volunteer.
Sheena Varghese, another volunteer, said, “One way of keeping these wrappers off the streets would be to hold the manufacturers responsible in some way. If they reap profit from cheap packaging, they should also pay for clearing up the mess. A plastic packaging tax could be levied to pay for cleaning projects and implementing recycling schemes. They can also be sent to jail.”
Conduct survey
Food and Drugs Commissioner Hemant Koshiya said, “We will conduct a survey on the material used in packing gutkha and its disposal. We will call a meeting of gutkha manufacturers in Gujarat and suggest an alternative for packaging. We will also frame rules to take action against manufacturers who violate plastic packaging ban and seize their products. If the gutkha is from outside the state we will seize the stock.”
GPCB in charge
Secretary (Forests and Environment) S K Nanda said the Gujarat Pollution Control Board will implement the ban in the state. “We will issue strict instructions to manufacturers and dealers. We will frame rules to ensure that the ban is strictly implemented. The gutkha should be packaged only in tin or paper packs.”
He added, “During a clean-up operation in Girnar forest following tourist season, we collected 1,000 tonnes of plastic — most of them gutkha pouches.”
It is estimated that more than 240 million Indians use some form of cheap and addictive tobacco — which is linked to more than a million deaths every year.
http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2010120820101208020414799b3b35227/Ban-on-gutkha-pouch-good-for-the-health-of-Amdavad-Amdavadis.html
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Corporates going ECO Friendly
Today we all can see various corporate companies are using various ways to go green like using solar energy, constructing smart buildings, collecting litter.
Johnson and Johnson Ltd’s Mumbai, where biodegradable waste is recycled, Wipro has joined hands with WWF India, one of the largest conservation organizations in the country, to directly deal with issues of climate change, water and waste management and biodiversity conservation. Infosis coordinates projects related to the ‘4R’ principle: Refuse – Reduce – Reuse – Recycle, they banned the use of polythene bags on the campus and have also initiated a Food Reuse project to deliver surplus food from the cafeteria at the Bangalore DC to hospitals and destitute homes.
As far as the hospitality industry is concerned, the list of initiatives taken by the hoteliers to conserve the environment is exhaustive. The Orchid, an Eco-tel hotel in Mumbai is a best example of this. From the basic architecture of the building, to water conservation, to use of rubber wood instead of real wood, to use of energy saving devices, the hotel does it all to qualify as an eco friendly hotel. They reuse biodegradable waste generated in their hotels and also deploy various techniques to conserve water.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has launched a host of products like wind electric generators, solar heating systems, solar photovoltaic systems, solar lanterns and battery powered road vehicles in a bid to conserve the environment.
Many savvy companies realized that investing in green product development would pay off, and lines of eco-friendly products can be found in many regions of the world today as a result. These products are usually made in factories which are environmentally friendly, such as facilities built from recycled materials which use solar panels for power, and they are made from components which are also good for the environment, like plant-sourced ingredients for soaps, or recycled metal for electronics. Product packaging, advertisements, and other materials may also be eco-friendly.
people who are really committed to the environment need to modify their lifestyles, reducing the amount of resources they use by living more efficiently.
Johnson and Johnson Ltd’s Mumbai, where biodegradable waste is recycled, Wipro has joined hands with WWF India, one of the largest conservation organizations in the country, to directly deal with issues of climate change, water and waste management and biodiversity conservation. Infosis coordinates projects related to the ‘4R’ principle: Refuse – Reduce – Reuse – Recycle, they banned the use of polythene bags on the campus and have also initiated a Food Reuse project to deliver surplus food from the cafeteria at the Bangalore DC to hospitals and destitute homes.
As far as the hospitality industry is concerned, the list of initiatives taken by the hoteliers to conserve the environment is exhaustive. The Orchid, an Eco-tel hotel in Mumbai is a best example of this. From the basic architecture of the building, to water conservation, to use of rubber wood instead of real wood, to use of energy saving devices, the hotel does it all to qualify as an eco friendly hotel. They reuse biodegradable waste generated in their hotels and also deploy various techniques to conserve water.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has launched a host of products like wind electric generators, solar heating systems, solar photovoltaic systems, solar lanterns and battery powered road vehicles in a bid to conserve the environment.
Many savvy companies realized that investing in green product development would pay off, and lines of eco-friendly products can be found in many regions of the world today as a result. These products are usually made in factories which are environmentally friendly, such as facilities built from recycled materials which use solar panels for power, and they are made from components which are also good for the environment, like plant-sourced ingredients for soaps, or recycled metal for electronics. Product packaging, advertisements, and other materials may also be eco-friendly.
people who are really committed to the environment need to modify their lifestyles, reducing the amount of resources they use by living more efficiently.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Why Use Recycled Paper Bags?
(1) A plastic bag can take up anywhere from 15 to 1000 years to decompose. In a compressed landfill a paper bag can take almost as long.
(2) It takes millions of barrels of oil to produce the amount of plastic bags the India uses a year.
(3) In the India it takes millions of trees per year to produce the amount of paper bags we use in a year.
(4) By using reusable bags just by one person will save about 22,000 plastic bags.
(5) According to Wall Street Journal, only 1% of plastic bags are recycled worldwide.
(6) Fuel cost are already too high and to make plastic bags it takes petroleum products, natural gas and other non-renewable resources.
(7) The lifespan of a reusable bag is about 700 plastic bags.
(8) In the past few years over a dozen countries have banned or put a tax on disposable bags.
(9) Most recycling facilities don’t take plastic bags because they have no value to them so they end up in the dump with all the other trash.
(10) Because of ingesting of discarded plastic bags hundreds of thousands of animals die each year.
(11) Toxins are released each day by companies that produce plastic bags because it takes chemical to produce these items.
Disposable plastic are everywhere. The average Indian uses it around 6 per week. It is simple math 6 times 100 crore people in the India and you see how much waste is accumulated just with only 1 items. So next time, when you go to the store remember to use reusable paper bags.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Go Green this Diwali..........
Diwali is the day when it is said that Lord Rama returned to his kingdom Ayodhya after defeating Ravan, the king of Lanka. Indian Hindus celebrate Diwali as a festival of celebration. Candles are burnt in every home. People clean their homes and wear new clothes. Different colourful varieties of fireworks are always associated with this festival. We definitely get a lot of joy from these activities.
Unfortunately there are many questions we need to answer. Are our activities causing any harm to our environment? At what cost are we enjoying...? How much pollution are we creating? Loud crackers have always been a major source of pollution. Its impact has been more in the last few decades. Crackers and fireworks cause the cumulative effect of the sound, air pollution and to some extent water pollution. The level of pollution during Diwali is many times more. The cases of asthma attack are also seen a sudden increase during Diwali. Should we not act reasonably and prove ourselves to be better citizens? Should we not make improved use of our education? Don’t we all deserve cleaner air to breathe and a calmer environment to enjoy the beautifully lit houses? Instead of adding to the pollution, should we not enjoy the sweets and delicacies with friends and families? If our fellow beings are unhealthy will the gods be happy?
We have a suggestion “Let’s go eco friendly”. Let’s do something which will not destroy our surroundings. Everybody exchanges gifts and sweets during Diwali ....right? So why use plastic when we have recycled paper bags. Go for recycled paper products. Make a move .Start a trend. Be a leader.”If you want a change then first be the change”. Are you willing to contribute in reducing pollution this Diwali? I think given a chance everybody wants to do something good, so save the world and make that first step towards using recycled paper bags.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Five Principles of Nature conservation
Five Principles of Nature conservation
Reduce : the amount of things we use
Reuse : the things we have in different forms until we have absolutely no use for them
Recycle : items that are no longer functional.
Rethink: the choices we make when deciding to buy something and
Refuse : things that we do not need at all.
this Diwali, before you buy.... apply the above five principles and only then pay at the counter!
Reduce : the amount of things we use
Reuse : the things we have in different forms until we have absolutely no use for them
Recycle : items that are no longer functional.
Rethink: the choices we make when deciding to buy something and
Refuse : things that we do not need at all.
this Diwali, before you buy.... apply the above five principles and only then pay at the counter!
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