A green job refers to a workplace that helps to restore or preserve the quality of the environment. These jobs are just perfect for the people who would like to feel like they make a difference in the world and who opt for living an environment friendly life.

1. Farmer

At the moment the average age of the American farmers is of 55. Sustainable agriculture is a very important field at the moment, and there is need for more urban gardeners, CSA coordinators and farmers market, not to mention artisanal cheese makers.

2. Forester

Forestry in the modern meaning of the word is a combination of conservation, international project finance and development. According to official information, at the moment there are about 1.6 billion people who earn their living from the forest, and this is a field that is responsible for the carbon emissions.

3. Solar power installer

Nowadays there are about 770,000 jobs in the field of installing and making solar power systems. The good thing about this workplace is that it comes with a relatively high wage of 15-35 dollars per hour in case the person in question also has some construction skills.

4. Energy efficiency builder

About 48% of the greenhouse gas emissions and power use is due to the buildings. There are 43,000 accredited professionals to green the buildings. This is a work field that requires engineers, architects, retrofitters and workforce offering a job to lot of people.

5. Wind tube fabricator

When it comes to alternative energy, the majority of the people are thinking about wind. This field created about 300,000 workplaces all over the world. Since the turbines are made of metal, this field offers a workplace for autoworkers and some other manufacturers.

6. Conservation biologist

At the moment it is very important to maintain the integrity of the ecosystems and so a lot of opportunities are created regarding teaching, field work and research for the departments of the government, private companies and nonprofit organizations.

7. Entrepreneur and green MBA

The majority of green jobs are offered by the fields of legal, consulting and research. These fields have offered 400,000 workplaces. In this field there is a wide range of activities that can be performed. In case you are looking for a green job, these are some options you might want to consider. Before you decide upon a job you should consider the knowledge and expertise that you have in some field.

There are more and more people talking about world hunger, and this is a matter that the specialists have to address. It looks like they have managed to come up with an idea to feed the ever growing population in the form of a special building that would produce food.

This building became Polyculture Tower and it makes farming possible, along with the other related activities even in urban settings. With the help of this special building it will be possible to meet the needs of food of people and the best thing about it is that all this happens in an environmental friendly way without having any carbon emissions.

(photo credit: www.ecofriend.com)

We can be sure that a building that has so many advantages and does so good will be quickly adopted by the population. It has been created by an architect from Savannah, called Connor Nicholas. The design of the building is a more special one since there are almost no straight lines in the design. Even more we could say that the building looks like a twisted oversized bottle.

We have to admit that the design is truly remarkable. The entire structure is supported by a log column found in the center that can be found in the entire structure. The angularity of the building is given by the criss-cross structures.

The end result is quite tall and it also comes with several geopods. The main source of inspiration for the building has been the idea of polycultures that is a common agricultural practice. This means that different kinds of products are grown in the same place. The system makes it possible to control the living area of the products, and thus makes the process environmentally friendly.

This building could become an important part of the urban areas of a coal-free world. The best thing about the building is that it can be run on renewable energy.

This revolutionary concept of the solutions for food production isn’t the only one that the architect came up with since he showed a clear interest in this field of architecture. His main focus is on the urban areas, in making them more functional and less damaging for the surrounding areas.

There are some other concepts as well that people should give a thought, such as the ‘Urban Sponge’ or the ‘Tea House Pavilon’ that basically all have the same environmental concept.

Toxic wastes are also known as hazardous wastes and these are dangerous in case of humans and animals, since they can lead to death. The worst thing about them is that they can spread to their surrounding areas and they can contaminate the soil, rivers, air and so on.

(photo credit: http://www.ecofriend.com)

Activated carbon cloth

This is something that the scientists came up with 30 years ago. This is an inexpensive way to deal with cleansing and management of toxic elements. There are various kinds of clothing that could be made of this material, and at the beginning it has been created for soldiers in order to protect them against chemical attacks. Nonetheless there are some other uses of this material as well, such as filtering toxins and drugs from drinking water, or the filtering of the air or cleaning the toxic spills.

Cleaning gel

It is a well-known fact that the tsunami that hit Japan this year resulted in a lot of toxic waste. The biggest threat has been represented by the nuclear plants that have been hit by the tsunami and thus there were some toxic substances that were leaking from these plants. In order to make sure that such spills will never occur again in the future, a new gel has been created that got the name of DeconGel.

The company that produces it says that at the beginning it comes in the form of a liquid, and it can be added to any kind of contaminated surface. Then the liquid turns into a gel that traps the radioactive particles and other dangerous substances like chromium, beryllium, PCBs or mercury. It is quite easy to remove the gel and then people just have to discard of them.

Worms

It has been found that the regular earthworms can process and digest the toxic substances that come with toxic metals. These can often be found in the surroundings of old industrial plants. We could say that the worms are actually digestive systems that can move around and we have a lot to benefit from the fact that they can transform the organic matters into nutrients in the form of enriched soil.

According to the latest studies, these worms can be used in order to get rid of metals and other toxic materials. The researchers managed to produce worm soil also known as vermicompost that is able to absorb waste water that has been compromised.

Are you aware how big is the carbon footprint of a Christmas shopping spree? The studies show that it is quite considerable especially because we tend to buy a lot of stuff and spend the cash on things that will increase the landfills.

Although the majority of the people think that the Christmas holidays need to be expensive, there are many ways to decrease the expenses that you are supposed to have. All you have to do is to think a bit outside the box.

Christmas cards

In case you don’t really have a budget for Christmas cards this year, you could wait for the sales that the stores have in December. Keep in mind that the longer you wait the bigger savings you are going to make.

Another alternative is to send the cards through the internet. These usually don’t cost anything.

Wrapping paper

If you don’t have money for wrapping paper, you could be using the pretty pages of magazines. In the same time, you could be using newspaper as well. Another thing that you could do is to use the artwork of children that they created on plain paper.

In case you thought about this the last year and saved some wrapping paper, you could use that paper this year. If you are going to wrap smaller gifts, nobody will notice the folded lines.

One of the most inexpensive options you have is to use tissue paper. This could be decorated with Christmas trees and other motifs, and you could write on it ‘Merry Christmas’ and add some glitter if you have some at hand.

Gift tags

You don’t have to be thinking about expensive gift tags, because pieces of postcards work just as well or you could be using wrapping paper folded in two.

Decorations

Having decorations around your house isn’t a must. In case you want to, you should be looking for the sales that stores have around the holiday or even after. This way you can save a lot of money. In the majority of the cases children do some artwork at school around the holidays, and in case you save them for a few years, you can fill the house with pretty little paper decorations which are both green and unexpensive.

For sure you must have heard about the garlands that are made of popcorn. For this, all you need is to pop some and add them to a string. You could also be using the elements of nature, such as acorns and pinecones. In order to make your home nicer, you could also add some pine scented oil. The organic one is quite inexpensive, especially if you buy it at local shops.

There are a lot of inexpensive things that you could use; and keep in mind the less money you spend the greener will your Christmas be.

We have all heard about the theory that it is better to get artificial Christmas tree because this way there is no need to chop down the real trees. Still at this point things change again and scientists say that it is better to have an actual tree because the carbon footprint is 10 times smaller than in the case of an artificial tree.

How much does it cost us?

If you opt for an artificial tree of about 6 ft., it is just as damaging as if you toasted 5,222 slices of bread or you drove 120 miles in a car of average size. On the other hand, if you opt for the real trees, it is equivalent to toasting 418 slices and driving a bit less than ten miles.

Why get the artificial trees?

It is said that the advice to do away with the artificial trees comes from the company called Carbon Trust that belongs to the government. The company comes up with ideas that would make it possible for people to cut back the carbon emissions.

Christmas time

According to official information, the carbon footprint of the consumers increases by 6% during the winter holidays. This is because of all the gifts that they buy, the car trips that they have to visit their family and friends, and the extra food that they buy that ends up going to waste.

The main idea behind the artificial trees has been for the consumers to be able to reuse the same tree year after year. There are some people who really took this advice because up to now about 300,000 trees have been sold in only one store.

Although these trees are reusable, you need to use the same tree for ten years to make it better than the real trees. It is said that in case the artificial tree gets to the landfill, it will produce emissions equivalent to 40 kg of carbon dioxide while a real tree has emissions equivalent to just 3.5 kg of carbon dioxide.

Naturally there are some other ways as well for you to get rid of your tree. As an example, you could chip it and shatter it around the garden or burn it. It looks like everything is better than the fake trees. At this point the choice is yours.

Since Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays of the year, it is just natural that people would like to make the best of it, and sometimes they end up doing more harm than good… to the planet. Although you want only the best, you can achieve it in the green way too.

Going local and seasonal

Since the local markets are much evolved in all parts of the country, there is no reason for you not to keep the money in your local economy. There are some fruits and vegetables that are known to have a lot of pesticide residue and in case of these products you should buy the organic counterparts. Choose farm grown fruits and veggies and try keeping close to the tradition so you will make sure you get quality supplies for your Thanksgiving table.

Potluck

The best thing about this solution is that you can have the same amount of food on the table, but it won’t cost as much as the traditional dinners. In case you collect a certain amount of money from everybody will make the other people involved as well, and people will have something to discuss at the table.

Leftovers

In case of the big dinners it is common to have a lot of leftovers, and you should make some plans for these as well. Most probably after a while you will be sick of turkey sandwich, and this is why it might be a good idea to look for alternative recipes involving turkey, like turkey soup. It would be a pity to throw away the food.

Cleaning

In case you are the host, for sure you will have a lot of dishes to clean after the guests are gone. To be efficient you should make sure that you load the dishwasher. This method is a lot more efficient than washing all the dishes by hand. Nonetheless before you put the dishes in the dishwasher, scrape the food off them, so that you won’t have to waste water on pre-rinsing.

You shouldn’t have complicated cycles with the dishwasher, and don’t use the drying function either; let air do that for you so that you can make more economies regarding energy.

There is a lot you could do to be green in this busy period of the year. You just have to keep in mind not to let anything go to waste.

Although a lot of people think otherwise, the holidays are the season when people could do the most to have a green living and to reduce the carbon footprint. Nonetheless you might not know about some of the options that you have.

Travelling

Thanksgiving is the period when the majority of people go to visit their family. Nonetheless it may be a better idea to stay at home, because there are traffic jams, and you can also be sure that the airports are packed as well. However in case you must go somewhere, one of the options you have to consider is taking the train. It is a lot better for the environment than going by car or by plane.

Go simple

You could be one of those people that would like to amaze the guests with exotic dishes with products from all over the world, but usually this isn’t necessary. People are happy to have the traditional dishes, and this way you can do a favor to the local economy.

Another advantage if you don’t make 6 courses and 14 different dishes is that you will consume a lot less electricity.

Local consumption

If you opt for the traditional dishes, the majority of the ingredients that you need can be grown in approximately 100 miles from your home. There are a lot of goodies that you can find on the markets in this time of year, such as squash, potatoes, greens, pumpkins, yams and also evergreen herbs, such as sage and rosemary. Think about visiting the local farms to find the turkey that you need for dinner.

Vegan food

You may have been thinking about trying the vegan dishes, and this might be the best time to actually try them. You could be surprised about the number of different dishes that you could make, so it is possible that you won’t even notice that the turkey is missing.

Organic beverages

In case you are going to have guests from other parts of the country, you could have beverages from wineries and breweries that are local to show off the specialties of the region. In case there aren’t any, opt for the organic brews that you can find in just any supermarket.

You may see that there are a lot of options to make sure that you will have a green Thanksgiving and you can be sure that nature will be grateful.

Although when people refer to addiction they usually think of some kind of substance, in our days more and more people are talking about Internet addiction. According to the specialists we should have a day off in every case, such as an alcohol free day, or a day or period when we don’t watch any kinds of screens, to be able to recharge our batteries.

Such a tech detox doesn’t mean that you have to live without electricity or running water (even though this is exactly what you do if you go on a camping trip). Sometimes it is enough to leave your phone at home. Although at first you may feel strange, later you will have a feeling of freedom, knowing that nobody can bother you. In case you have kids you could take them to the playground, and leave everything home, or have some fun with your friends without being bothered by anyone else.

In some cases tech detox means that you have to give up television or gaming. Instead you could take a newspaper and go sit in the sun. It is a well-known fact that the sunshine is very important for the mental well-being of humans.

You might not believe it but such small gifts of nature help you in living green and change the outlook of life that people have.

In other cases you may have a different kind of addiction: social media. If you want to get away from it all you should do is not log in to Twitter or Facebook, not read or mails and stop blogging for a short while.

Spending too much time online could change your personality, making you bitter and cynical.

Sometimes you feel the need to stay up to date with everything that is going on in the world and you feel like you don’t have the luxury to take a day off. You should go for a walk, to get some fresh air and to clear your head. The news will still be there when you get back.

Nonetheless you shouldn’t have the impression that people consider technology and internet something bad. From time to time you just need to get away from it all.

Also consider that if you turn off your computer, phone and television, you save electricity and so you might say that you are doing a green thing. See? It’s not that difficult to make a stand and provide change for the world.

The majority of us are familiar with a certain lifestyle and its associated creature comforts. So familiar, in fact, that many people strive to experience something entirely different when they go on holiday. Farm cottage holidays in the UK may offer precisely the change that some people need. Available throughout the UK from specialists such as Sykes Cottages, breaks of this type can provide guests with a real taste of green living.

There are plenty of locations in the UK in which to enjoy a farm cottage holiday, one of the most popular being Cornwall. Enjoying a relatively mild climate, the south-western tip of England is renowned for its warm sunshine, golden beaches and surf-enthused inhabitants. However, the area is also replete with farms, cottages and rolling countryside.

Farm cottages can be found in abundant supply in Helston, Mabe, Falmouth and Tintagel, each of which happen to feature some of the most delightful landscapes in Cornwall.

Mabe is a particularly beautiful place, with nearby access to sandy beaches, hidden coves and extensive farmland. Slightly further afield, in Devon, guests can stay at some of the many farm house cottages in Dunkeswell, Bideford, Launceston and Lyme Regis.

Farm cottage holiday destinations in the UK are by no means restricted to the extremities of the South West. Other superb locations include: Leigh, Malmesbury and Upper Seagry in Wiltshire; Ravenglass and Brampton in Cumbria; Beaminster, Shaftesbury and Charminster in Dorset; Wymondham and Thetford in Norfolk; Newborough, Cemaes Bay and Malltraeth in Anglesey, North Wales; Levisham and Lealholm on the North York Moors; and Settle, Nidderdale and Harmby in the Yorkshire Dales.

The plentiful supply of farm cottage destinations in the UK provides some indication as to the popularity of green holiday adventures at the moment. Those who wish to escape urban living for a time often head to the countryside. Farm owners go to considerable lengths to ensure that guests staying on their land can sample the rural way of life. Many have converted outbuildings or have renovated derelict cottages and strive to adapt day to day operations in accommodating the specific needs of tourists.

The majority of farm cottage holidays in the UK are self-catering. However, it is possible to find breakfast and board on many working farms. The level of participation required of guests varies considerably from one farm cottage to the next. Whereas some farm cottages merely provide guests with a taste of the great outdoors and life on the farm, others actively encourage holidaymakers to perform important jobs.

It could be, for example, that guests have to venture into the chicken pens to acquire their morning eggs! Not only is this the shortest and greenest of supply chains but it will create memories that will last a lifetime.

Farm cottage holidays in the UK are ideally suited to families and couples, but anyone is welcome. When choosing such a holiday, it is important to consider the cottage’s location in the context of exploring the wider area. While life on the farm is likely to prove busy for most, some guests will want to get out and about to complete their adventures. As such, it may be best to stay on farms situated near the coastline, areas of outstanding natural beauty or perhaps close to bustling market towns.

Although during fall the leaves are changing their colors, there are some ways through which you could ensure that your fall will still stay green.

The food

At the moment there are numerous different kinds of foods and vegetables that you can find on the local markets, including beets, peppers, watermelon, arugula, raspberries, cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, apples and other kinds of goodies that fall has to offer. You can enjoy them fresh or make stews of them for the chilly fall days.

Composting

It is common for people to be using the food waste as compost, but you could do the same in case of leaves, twigs, grass, plant trimmings and other organic waste. The compost bins are easy set up and to manage and by spring you will have rich soil.

Pay a visit to a farm

There are numerous apple farms all over the country that are worth to be visited during the fall. Also you could be thinking about visiting farms producing beets, pumpkins, raspberries, squash, gourds and other plants. These little trips are great for family fun, hanging out with friends or even a first date.

Back to school

Fall is the perfect time to learn a bit about being green, so you could take a class at a co-op. There are numerous topics to choose from, including holistic nutrition, urban chicken farming, vegetarian cooking, eco updates for the house and many more.

Planting

In case you would like to make sure that you will have blooming plants in the spring, you should consider perennials. Those gardens that come with native plants help reducing the constant water run-off into the lakes, streams and rivers.

Recycle

You don’t have to buy brand new clothes every time the weather changes. You could opt for recycled clothes as well. A major part of the pollution comes from producing clothing. In order to be greener, you could find numerous great stores offering used clothing for affordable prices. On the other hand you could also give away the clothing that you aren’t planning on using anymore.

Cycling

Fall is said to be the perfect moment for having bike rides. It isn’t as hot as during the summer, but we can’t complain regarding the cold either. This is just the perfect time to get some exercise and to check out the beauty of nature, leaving the car that could contribute to pollution at home.