The Dawg Blog

Reusable Bags Or Plastic Bags - The Choice is Yours
By Sam D’costa
One environmental alarm to the World…

The Americans throw almost 100 billion plastic bags every year, and only 1 to 3 percent is recycled.

The disadvantages of plastic bags

Plastic bags are not biodegradable. They clog waterways, spoil the landscape, and end up in landfills where they may take 1,000 years or more to break down into ever smaller particles that continue to pollute the soil and water.

Plastic bags pose a serious problem to the animal kingdom. Birds and marine creatures often mistake plastic bags for food. We lose thousands of marine animals as they die after swallowing or choking on discarded plastic bags. Also, production of plastic bags requires millions of gallons of petroleum that could be used for transportation.

The problem with plastic bags doesn’t begin when they become waste. Damage is also caused during their production. The bags are made from petroleum derivatives, which come from oil, a non-renewable fossil fuel. Their production causes air pollution from factories, along with all the other problems associated with the use of oil.

But you can switch to couple of things to help your environment:

1. Recycle your plastic bags: If you do end up using plastic bags now and then, be sure to recycle them. Many grocery stores now collect plastic bags for recycling.

2. Switch to reusable shopping/grocery bags: These reusable bags are made from renewable materials conserve resources by replacing paper and plastic bags. Reusable bags are convenient and come in a variety of sizes, styles and materials. When you are not using these bags, you can roll or fold them as they are small enough to fit easily into your pocket.
Nowadays, many stores, including grocery stores and book stores are selling reusable bags at the check out as an alternative to plastic bags. You can also find some “green” websites and stores that sell environment friendly reusable grocery bags.

Reusable bags are a growing trend, and rightly so. It is estimated that over 500 billion plastic bags are used by consumers worldwide each year and these plastic bags take thousands of years to decompose. As the plastic decomposes in landfills, it releases toxic particles which are absorbed into the ground and are carried into streams and rivers, poisoning fish and plants. The toxins also soak into agricultural land where they enter our food chain.

Reusable bags made from environmentally friendly resources such as cotton or other natural fibers can help reduce the impact of plastic on our environment. Choose your reusable grocery bags and let others know that you are doing your bit to help the environment.

Is the Cost of Going Green Worth It?
By Stephanie Foster
Many people have an image of going green as expensive. Hybrid cars cost more than regular cars. Solar panels are expensive.

Thank goodness there are more ways than that to go green!

One of the most important steps you can take to go green is to simply consume less. Go shopping less. Reuse and repurpose things as they get older. It can’t be expensive if you aren’t spending money on it, except maybe in time.

Some steps may cost a little more at first, such as making the switch from paper napkins and paper towels to cloth varieties of the same things. On the other hand, these can last for years, so you can save quite a bit in the long run. And that’s what you should ideally be thinking about.

Going green in the things you need to buy can save money too, or at least not cost extra. When it comes to cleaning products, for example, there are more and more green products coming out all the time, and many have similar prices to conventional products.

And for those who don’t mind a very small bit of extra time, products such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice can work wonders around the house. They’re also quite affordable and often do as well as conventional products. Sometimes you’ll need to put a little extra elbow grease into your scrubbing, but you can still get the job done.

Either of these solutions can keep toxins out of your home. That means that you may feel better, especially if you or anyone in your family has allergies.

Buying organic food is probably one of the most expensive things that you would do on a regular basis. I won’t argue that organic food is more expensive than conventionally grown., but you can offset this somewhat by growing your own. There’s a cost to getting started with a garden, but there are benefits beyond the fresh produce. You get exercise. You get to teach your children about where food comes from. It can be a lot of fun combined with frustration. There are few things as wonderful as fresh picked produce. The stuff in the grocery stores just cannot compete.

Reusable shopping bags are quite popular now. These don’t have to cost a fortune if you don’t mind having a store logo on them. Many sell them for just a dollar each. Sure it’s something you wouldn’t have had to buy otherwise, paper and plastic grocery bags being free, but you’re not spending much and cutting waste way down.

Energy efficient light bulbs may also seem expensive, but you need to keep some things in mind. First, that they will save you money over time. They use less energy and last longer. Second, that in many areas you can find them free or discounted by your local power company. I’ve often found them at about $1 per bulb. It’s not a bad deal at all.

http://www.greensahm.com/ is Stephanie Foster’s blog about trying to go green as a stay at home mom. For more tips on budget environmentalism, visit.

World Variations in Green Home Building
By Al Zan
Every day, it seems like citizens and governments all over the world are becoming increasingly aware of the need to conserve. And while America is focusing more on the environment than it used to (with its newly popular green home building initiatives in particular), the U.S. is still behind the times when it comes to conservation. Europe in particular has been leading the way in green home building and especially in energy conservation for many years.

Energy Conservation in Europe

Europe is at the forefront of the green movement, including green home design… and with good reason. Because on the continent, gasoline, natural gases, and energy costs significantly more than it does in America, and it has been that way for many years. Because of this, both individual Europeans and European governments are much more energy conscious than Americans. This is seen in European culture in a lot of ways.

A big thing that separates Europe from the U.S. in energy conservation is a massive network of railroads and other forms of public transport. In addition to mass transit in essentially every major European city, the continent also boasts a well utilized long distance passenger rail service. And even though there are plenty of individually owned vehicles in European countries, most cities in Europe boast a higher percentage of mass transit users (and bicycle riders) than the United States.

European energy consciousness is also visible in the way Europeans build their homes. In Europe (especially in larger cities), they use green home building in a very practical, widespread, and simplistic way. Most people residing in a large European city live in a much smaller space than the average U.S. home. In addition, most European houses, apartments, and businesses use simple green home building ideas to keep their spaces cool in summer instead of the air conditioning so common in the U.S. These include roll down screens, patio shading, double windows, and more.Green Home Building in America

To sum it up: in Europe, the people have been conscious of the need to switch off the lights when they are not using them for decades… because they needed to save money. In the U.S., people are just getting used to not seeing energy as something that will always be inexpensive and easily available, and are slowly developing a better instinct for conservation. This changing mindset is evidenced by the increasing popularity of green home building.

The green home building concepts being used in America revolve around simple ideas, such as less square footage, improved insulation, and smarter positioning to the sun, as well as the use of alternative energy sources like solar paneling. Green home building also incorporates more complex concepts, such as the use of sustainable materials and less harmful products, to protect the environment and conserve energy in the long run. America is a little behind, but with luck will start catching up to the standard set by Europe.

For more concerning green home building, see http://www.GreenHomeGuide.org

Green Olympics - London and the Environment in 2012
by Mark Smalls
With talk of China’s high rates of pollution dominating headlines in the run up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it is important to remember that sport and the environment can go hand in hand.
In the last year, the Chinese capital has been the subject of much media scrutiny surrounding its environmental and emissions policy. In 2005, the European Space Agency declared that Beijing contained unnecessarily high levels of nitrogen dioxide, a bi-product of many industrial processes, including thermal power plants. It is poisonous to inhale, and since the revelation, the Chinese government have been accused of endangering sportsmen and spectators with the volume of air pollution that affects the capital.

For the environmentally conscious, it represents a serious concern. Historically, the designation of Olympic host has a symbolic resonance; it has been held by great cities, welcome to community spirit and accepted as representatives of an age old sporting tradition. That is not to deny that Beijing is a great city, but - for environmentalists - it has been difficult to reconcile the tradition and history of the city with a poor environmental and emissions policy.

Many spectators, then, will be watching closely. And they will also be looking to London in 2012, which will be subject to the same media scrutiny.

The Olympic Delivery Authority - the body who are in charge of developing the infrastructure for the London games - have so far acted carefully. David Higgins, the Chief Executive of the ODA, has officially stated that “Ensuring a sustainable approach to building the Games will help ensure London 2012 is remembered not only as two weeks of fantastic sporting action, but also as the greenest games to date”, championing the connection between the tradition of the event and the importance of a suitable environmental policy.

It is a positive statement, and one that is backed by the ‘Towards a One Planet Olympics’ initiative, which is the lynch-pin of the London games’ environmental policy, and was developed from the WWF/Bioregional’s ‘One Planet Living’, which lists ten main environmental initiatives that can be implemented throughout the world. These can be grouped into three key areas: carbon emission, sustainability, and culture and natural habitats.

The Committee for London 2012 has drawn these into five points: combating climate change, reducing waste, enhancing biodiversity, promoting inclusion, and improving healthy living. These tie in neatly with the original initiative, which targets - as some examples - ‘zero carbon’ and ‘zero waste’, sustainable transport and materials, and ‘health and happiness’.

In theory, then, the commitment is clear, and the aim is an all encompassing one; to be the first fully sustainable Olympic games. And - as the Beijing Olympics prepares to open - the London bid is already working towards that aim. The ODA announced in January of this year that it is already beating its target of recovering 90% of all demolition waste for recycling and reuse. It has also begun to create new habitats for any wildlife that might be found on Olympic sites, and is recycling complete buildings to be re-assembled away from original Olympic sites.

Certainly, 2012 is a long way away. Beijing comes first, and its environmental policy since the original bid has improved. When the London games come, it will have China as a blueprint, plus another four years of work towards sustainability. If it succeeds in its aim, it might be one of the world’s first large demonstrations of a link between tradition and a new ‘green-consciousness’. Something to look forward to.
About the Author
Chris Wright is the Olympics expert at www.EcoSwitch.com The environmental social network EcoSwitch

Homemade Water Filtration Systems - It’s Good For Pet Fish But Not For Safe Drinking Water
By Tyler Waterman
Can you build effective homemade water filtration systems? Well, that all depends on your purpose.

If you want to keep your fish tank clean there are some acceptable homemade water filtration systems, but of course you have to buy the parts, which could cost as much as buying a ready-built unit. You would still need a standard aquarium power head and a submersible water pump.

You would also have to find a place that sells activated carbon in a bag. That might be kind of hard to find. Personally, I think the fish would be safer if you just bought a professional system.

Some people have constructed homemade water filtration systems for their outdoor ponds. You would need a plastic trash can with a lid, similar in height to the depth of your pond. You would again need to purchase some type of filtering material depending on the quality of your source water.

Once again, a waterproof pump would be required and piping. If not installed correctly, you risk electrocution. Ponds require aerating, as well as filtering in order to prevent stagnations. So, professional products may be a better choice than homemade water filtration systems for your pond.

Homemade water filtration systems are definitely not the right choice for safe drinking water. The technology is simply too complex.

There is a simple little science project that you can do with your kids, maybe on a rainy summer day, but I would not let them drink the result. There are diagrams for these projects all over the internet, so I’ll leave out the details. But, it might give them an idea of how your kitchen counter filter works and you can give them this explanation.

Unlike homemade water filtration systems, our kitchen purifier has a lot of different steps inside. You know the cartridges that I replace every so often? Well, they remove things that we cannot see. We saw the dirt in that water, but not the chemicals and other things that can hurt us.

There could be bug spray, weed killer and tiny little germs that could make you sick. Homemade water filtration systems can’t get rid of those things, so
I bought this nice one and now I know that you guys are safe.

For the adults, the number of steps in a system depends on which product that you buy. Most systems include an activated carbon step that removes most of the chlorine, which is put in at the treatment facilities to disinfect and prevent algae growth in the pipes.

In the better systems, there are multi-media blocks that remove VOCs, pesticides, herbicides and industrial pollutants through a process called adsorption. The best systems will also include a micron particle filter that removes microscopic sediments, cryptosporidium and giardia cysts.

They also include and ion exchange phase that removes lead ions and replaces them with potassium, so your water is safe and has a pleasant healthy taste.

That completes today’s lesson on homemade water filtration systems. Hope you learned something.

To learn more about home water filtration systems and visit http://safeclearwater.com.

Tyler Waterman is a health enthusiast and enjoys sharing his experience and research with others on the internet. Visit his site for additional information on this important safe water topic.