Planning for your next vacation? Consider booking a room at an eco-friendly hotel. There are numerous things to think about ranging from organic linens to environmental certification. The truth is that being organic means a lot more than recycling and eating organically.

LEED certification

This certification is the gold standard for hotels, restaurants and other buildings. It stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The certificate is meant to tell whether a facility fulfills rigorous sustainability standards regarding material and water usage and energy efficiency. There are some other seals as well that you could be thinking about.

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Linen reuse

One of the simplest things that the hotels and motels can do is not to change the sheets on a daily basis. If you are looking at the offers of a given hotel, you should check whether it has a towel and sheet re-use program.

In the majority of the cases they have a system where you can signal whether you would like to have your sheets and towels changed or not. Just consider that such a simple thing can save a lot of energy and water.

Recycling

It is important to know whether the hotel that you are planning to stay at has a recycling program. Usually the hotels recycle paper and plastic, but some of them also recycle gray water. This is the water used in the kitchen and laundry room. It can be recycled to water the grounds. Otherwise it would be discarded as waste.

Non-toxic cleaners

One of the things that a hotel could do to become an eco-friendly one is to opt for non-toxic cleaners. The customers shouldn’t be shy about asking about such things. If the hotel uses cleaners of this kind most probably they have some information about it on their website and they will be more than happy to tell you about it.

Restaurant

This is the place you should check out if you want to learn more about the sustainability of the hotel. If they use local and organic produce or if they have a rooftop garden, if they recycle frying oil or if they have any other kind of eco-friendly projects they will surely advertise it. If this is the case most probably the hotel has the same practices.

These are some of the guidelines that you should consider when choosing your next vacation destination.

The countries of the Gulf Operation Council may start using solar energy for the desalination of water. The plants used until now, required a lot of energy and they weren’t very efficient. The old systems will last for only about 30 years, so the people of this region have to think about an efficient replacement.

(photo credit: www.thenational.ae)

A step into the future

According to the officials, the money saved by these countries while using solar energy should be invested in switching from the old desalinization equipments to solar powered ones. At the moment in the United Arab Emirates desalination works by thermal and reverse osmosis. These require a lot of energy produced with the help of oil.

The oil used is not exactly the most sustainable energy source and so the Gulf nations may consider that they will encounter a problem pretty soon if they don’t make the transition. In case the plants will start to use sunlight, the solar power will be used to drive the pumps. During this solar powered process, the marine water will have to go through membranes that will remove the salt from it.

Huge impact on the financial scale

According to the official information, the methods used today are very expensive and they aren’t as efficient as they should be. Although the current plants are less expensive to build, the cost of water production is very high.

The plants in the UAE are the third behind the ones from the U. S. and Saudi Arabia. If the country wants to maintain its position, a transition towards the new technology becomes mandatory. People say that even Qatar is making efforts to use solar power and the UAE should do the same.

Desalinization plants and perspective

In the last 5 years the number of new plants used in Abu Dhabi has increased. Although we are referring to 22 new plants, you should know that these are only small-scale ones.

The country has expressed the intention to build 8 other, larger plants that would offer 11,000 cubic meters of water on a yearly basis. At the moment UAE is producing a larger water quantity but at a significant higher costs. The perspective of price reduction for water supply production becomes this way a very good reason for this country to make the transition to solar energy.

Just as in any other case the beginning is difficult and it will cost a lot to build the new plants. Nonetheless there will be a lot of money saved starting with the moment when the plants will initiate the production of desalinated water at lower price.

As a result the desalinization plants will become more cost efficient and in the same time the water production will become greener due to the use of sustainable solar energy.

Some recent scientific discoveries started to promote the metamorphose of cities into sunlight reflectors to fight global warming.

From theory to actual result

If people would start replacing the surface regular rooftops and roads with lighter materials, they could make a change in the level of carbon-monoxide emissions. Still, the idea was received with skepticism from the other scientists.

(photo credit: www.mnn.com)

Evaluating the impact

According to the researches, the decrease of these emissions could be equal to the sum of car emission generated by the standard city traffic. This is because the light colored materials reflect the sunlight. The darker materials absorb the sunrays and turn them into heat.

About 60% of the urban surfaces are represented by rooftops and pavements. These trap the energy of the sun so they can become heat islands. Thus the cities and towns become the so-called hotspots. Such heat islands need more energy for air conditioning and are responsible for generating the infamous city smog.

Costs vs. result

The scientists researching the matter also added that the costs of the changes aren’t as high as others may think. This is because the pavements and rooftops need to be changed anyway from time to time.

This means that when they need to be changed, people would simply switch them for another material.

It is true, that some of the materials could get more expensive. Still the savings that people would make are greater than the price difference.

Main issues to face

On the other hand there are some scientists who believe that even though the rooftops would be painted in white, it would only have a localized effect. This means that, although the effects could be seen in the urban areas, the changes wouldn’t have any effects in the remote areas, so the impact would be low on a global scale.

Human factor

Another problem of this vision is that people would need to be really proactive to make it happen on a large scale. In the majority of the cases the houses and buildings are built by the owners themselves and the right to ownership is a big factor in this case.

How could scientists make them adopt the idea?

Usually the choice regarding the materials for the roof is determined by availability and affordability. The scientists also added that the rooftops represent only 0.05% of the total surface of the earth. This means that the project couldn’t have a significant impact.

The bottom line

The total costs of the project would be of about $300 billion per year. Because of this it may be one of the most expensive and least effective projects of them all. Still it is something that could work in the future.

We can all benefit from a coffee in the morning, right? If you are one of the people having coffee regularly, there are some things you could do in order to turn this habit into a green one that will help you enjoy your beverage and help the environment in the same time.

1. Reusable filters

There are many different kinds of reusable filters to choose form, including the organic ones, the ones made of stainless steel and those pleated with gold. Whichever you choose you can reduce the carbon footprint and the waste of the coffee machine. There are some machines that come with permanent filters, which are the best to choose.

2. Coffee

Not all coffee beans are the same. It is best to go for the organic coffee beans that are shade-grown and fair-traded.

Organic coffee is the one that has been grown according to the standards without the use of fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. Fair trade refers to the coffee that has been purchased from the producer at a higher price than the standard one.

3. Coffee mug

Plastic and paper cups should be switched with your own coffee mug, no matter whether you use it at home or at the office. The majority of the coffee machines allow you to use cups of this kind. If you are faced with a machine that uses paper cups, you should suggest changing it for another model.

4. Energy consumption

Some of the machines turn off automatically once the coffee is ready, while others make it possible to put them on a timer. Usually the small coffee machines use less energy than the larger espresso machines and they need less energy to brew and grind the coffee. This means that getting a smaller one is a better choice.

5. Chemicals and cleaning

The simple and small coffee machines can be cleaned with vinegar. The more sophisticated coffee machines usually come with their own cleaning solutions that usually are filled with different kinds of chemicals. This is something to consider before buying a coffee machine.

6. Reuse the coffee waste

The majority of people throw away the used coffee grounds, but there are many different ways to reuse it around the house. For instance, you could use them as fertilizer in the garden and all you have to do is to mix it with soil. Also it acts as repellant against snails and ants.

Many manufacturers are thinking about coming up with hybrid cars to make sure that in the future the roads will be filled with cars that don’t have gas emissions. The use of the electric vehicles is supported by the economic situation and also by the concern for the environment.

Naturally the infrastructure that is needed for such a change isn’t completely ready but since more and more cars of this kind are hitting the roads, this is a problem that ought to be solved sooner. Until we will be all able to use electric cars, the best thing we can do is to own a hybrid car.

(photo credit: www.autoexpress.co.uk)

Recently, Lexus has come up with a hybrid downsize SUV that is meant to help Toyota as well. The main point is to bring down models like Audi Q3, BMW X3 and Range Rover Evoque. It looks like in the future there will be an SUV of this kind released by Toyota as well that will increase the company’s market share.

The truth is that there are still a lot of secrets regarding the new model, there is one thing that is certain: it is going to be a hybrid model. Naturally this is no wonder if we take into consideration the models that the new model will try to compete with.

There is no other information available yet. We don’t know what kind of design it will have or how powerful it will be. Still there are some rumors regarding the price range, of about $48,000 in the United Kingdom.

You may think that the manufacturer is quite brave to introduce a car of this kind, but others could say that it is about time. At the moment there are quite few hybrid models, and the manufacturers who create new cars of this kind will be able to rule the market in the future.

The SUVs of Lexus had a lot of success and they have become very popular. Maybe this is why it took so long for the company to come up with a downsize SUV which is something different that they have been dealing with until now. Still we can expect the product to be successful because of the current trends. According to specialists, these are the cars of the future that all of us will own.

A lot of people may wonder why the government would invest that much money in the development and deployment of lightweight materials.

The main point is that this way the vehicles would need less fuel so the dependence of the U.S. on foreign oil would be reduced. At the same time, the drivers would be able to save money and the carbon emissions would also be reduced.

According to official information, with the help of such new materials the manufacturers could make the vehicles more fuel efficient, and so the companies could stay on the top of the global auto industry. If the vehicles are made of stronger and lighter materials, their performance can improve and people can make economies.

(photo credit: www.ecofriend.com)

In the past, the vehicles were made of cast iron and steel. These could be replaced by high-strength steel, aluminum, magnesium and polymer composites.

This way the manufacturers would be able to add new safety features, equipment for emissions control and integrated electronic systems; and all this wouldn’t affect the weight of the vehicle.

In the same time, it would be possible to reduce the fuel consumption. For instance if the weight of a vehicle decreases by 10%, the fuel economy could increase by 6%-8%.

These funds will be administered by the Energy Department and this sum will be divided among three major areas of research.

These areas cover the development of modeling tools that could create carbon fiber with a higher performance and finding of high strength and low weight alloys to produce the engines of vehicles.

Carbon fiber

The most important thing about the carbon fiber composites is that they could decrease the weight of a vehicle by 50% compared to the vehicles that we are using today.

The projects in this field have, as their main purpose, to create new tools to work with carbon fiber that would make the material more cost effective and increase the performance of the material.

Advanced steels

If the manufactures use this material, the weight of the vehicles could decrease by 25%. Just as in the previous case, the main purpose of the projects is to develop new tools to optimize the cost effectiveness and performance of the advanced tools.

Alloy development

It is important to have strong alloys when building the heavy-duty engines. This is becoming more and more important since the engines need to have higher performances.

Window treatments are often one of the best ways to accent or complete the design of a room, and trying to find the perfect ones is rarely an easy task. However, besides increasing aesthetic, the right window coverings and treatments can greatly increase the energy efficiency of your windows, and you don’t have to sacrifice a nice look either.

When shopping for great window coverings and treatments, simply keep the following about each in mind so that you can purchase those that will be well worth the money spent:

Awnings

In the summer, awnings can greatly reduce the amount of solar heat coming in to your home – nearly 65 percent on southern windows and 77 percent on westerns windows. While older styled awnings were often deemed unattractive because of their metal which quickly faded in color and had to be replaced regularly, they are now made of more attractive synthetic fabrics.

Regardless of which type of awning you decide to purchase for your windows, make sure that they have grommets, or eyelets, which will allow for proper ventilation, so heat doesn’t get trapped in the awning. Also try to choose a hood styled awning as these are the most effective at blocking direct sunlight.

Interior Blinds

During the winter, interior blinds aren’t always very effective. Because of their numerous openings, they are quick to let out heat and cold air in. However, in the winter, interior blinds are highly effective, as they can reduce incoming heat by up to 45 percent. So if you want effective interior blinds, make sure to get those with minimal openings with thicker and more highly reflective slats.

Draperies

Don’t be afraid to rotate your draperies to better accommodate your weather. During the winter, you will want to put up heavier draperies and keep them closed at night to reduce heat loss by 10 percent. You will again, want to open these windows on a bright and sunny winter day to draw in as much heat as possible.

During the summer however, you will want to keep your drapes closed during the day and keep them in the medium colored family preferably with white backings. This should help reduce heat gain by 33 percent. Regardless of the season, you will also want to place a cornice box over your drapes and seal the sides with a quick strip of velcro to further control heat gain and loss by 25 percent.

While hunting for that perfect window treatment or covering can seem like an endless hunt after numerous trips to the home design or renovation store, finding ones that are both aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient can benefit a room in more ways than one. Not only will they make a room pleasing to your eye and comfortable for your guests, but great window treatments can also help you save on those utility bills which seem to be getting higher with each passing year.

Many people are looking to revamp their homes in order to be more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. There are many ways to do this: Duro Last roofing, replacing your bulbs with CFLs, programming your thermostats, etc. One of the most frequent hindrances to people not upgrading their home appliances is simply not knowing who the most reliable green suppliers are.

Indeed, these days green manufacturers are on the rise and some of them put up the pretense of being aggressively environmental without walking the walk. Here are a few manufacturers you can rely on to supply your home with sustainable, environmentally eco-upholstery:

Knoll Textiles

With the creation of Abacus, this furniture manufacturer has jumped to the top of eco-textile industry, offering consumers furniture panels that have the consistency of virgin wool but fabric that is completely recycled polyester taken from production scraps.

As a member of the Clinton Global Initiative Energy and Climate Change Working Group, Knoll Textiles is proving its mettle in the green industry, having invested a considerable amount of money into green manufacturing and sustainable harvesting.

Rohner Textil

This Swiss manufacturer has created a biodegradable fabric called Climatex, which is Cradle to Cradle Gold certified (meaning it complies with a holistic, efficient, and eco-friendly approach to resource allocation) and made almost entirely from a renewable plant known as Ramie. Rohner Textil has another textile called Climatex LifeguardFR, which is chemical-free and made of wool and renewable beech wood.

Kvadrat

Kvadrat is a Danish company that produces environmentally friendly luxury textiles. Hallingdal, made from wool and viscose, is just one of the many products they produce under strict regulatory oversight which ensures ecological sustainability. They also produce biodegradable fabrics, such as Flora, Kosmos, and Helix.

Oliveira Textiles

This company creates a wide variety of eco-friendly textiles, including Anemone (made from seaweed, hemp, organic cotton, and twill), Shellgame (which is made entirely from hemp twill, or a combination of hemp and organic cotton twill), and its flagship Ocean Collection, which made from sustainable, renewable hemp and organic cotton.

O Ecotextiles

Known for their Hardy Organic Hemp, which is made entirely of long fiber hemp sourced by independent, sustainable farmers in Romania, O Textiles has an extremely good rating from the U.S. Green Building Council and has won awards for its devotion to green fabric.

Luna Textiles

Luna Textiles has based many of its materials on the MBDC Cradle to Cradle criteria and won industry accolades for creating the first polyester produced completely in accordance with 100% green manufacturing. Mezzanine, which was produced in conjunction with Victor Innovatex, is also made of Eco Intelligent polyester.

These aren’t the only companies making progressive strides in the green manufacturing industry, but they do represent an evolution in how commercial entities view their responsibilities to the environment and to eco-conscious consumers across the world. Any company or person who is in need of fabrics and textiles for upholstery or other construction projects, should look into the products outlined above. Hopefully, more companies in different industries will follow suit in the coming years.

Although it is simply great to have a shower in the morning to feel refreshed, we have to admit that we waste a lot of water with this activity and this is why the specialists are trying to come up with new concepts that offer the same refreshing feeling with the use of less water.

(photo by www.ecofriend.com)

1. Eco shower

The most interesting thing about this shower is that it is able to heat the water on its own without any electricity. For this, a water-powered turbine is located in the showerhead.

There are pressure blocks in the base to pump the water. The flow of water is also regulated by the weight of the user.

2. Smart shower

This shower is special because besides working as a shower, it also serves as a basin during the day. As a shower, it uses aerated technology and so it uses only 1/6th of the water used by traditional showers.

Also, it can store half of the heating energy. Maybe the best thing is that it has a dual purpose, thus saving space.

3. Solar beach shower

You may know that at one point things could get quite sticky at the beach, and so you really need a shower. This is what this new concept offers you, plus a lot of privacy.

Just as the name suggests, the shower uses the power of the sun and so it becomes a green product. Besides all these, it is also portable. Because it is lightweight, it can be used by campers and hikers too.

4. Eco drop shower

Although you think that a shower must be comfortable, the main point of this shower is to make you uncomfortable as time goes by so that you don’t spend too much time showering.

This is achieved through creating gradually increasing spiky undulations. You may think that this is stupid, but it could seem appealing to the parents whose kids spend too much time under the shower.

5. DA/Spa shower

You can get a shower and hydro massage with the help of this product with only about 20 liters of water. This is achieved by recycling the water with the help of electricity.

Naturally there is also a purification system that maintains and regulates the pressure and temperature of the water. Although the shower does save water, it wastes electricity.

Did you ever think that it is possible to have batteries made of organic substances? Well, it is. Just think about how much better it would be if your smartphone was a lot thinner and lighter and you didn’t need to charge it for weeks or even months.

This is what the organic batteries have to offer. No wonder these are the hottest thing of the field at the moment. NEC is known to be a leading company regarding organic batteries that has been offering batteries of this kind since 2001.

Their latest invention is a battery that is only 0.3 mm thick that for sure has a place among the eco-friendly batteries of the future. The best thing about these batteries is that they have a higher energy density than the traditional batteries, they have no heavy metals and they are extremely thin.

Being so thin, they are half the thickness of the traditional batteries. The company was able to reduce the size with the help of the technology which allows forming negative electrodes on the circuit boards. At the moment there are only some prototypes, but their abilities are amazing.

These batteries can make 360 flash firings, 35 location transmissions and they ensure 2000 hours of screen time with only one charge. The tests show that the batteries keep 75% of their capacity even after they have been recharged 500 times. The lithium batteries used in cell phones have about the same capacity.

Another huge advantage of the organic batteries is that they need only 30 seconds to recharge, so people wouldn’t have to keep their phones in the charger for hours. Because of its thickness, the battery could be incorporated in items that have a limited thickness, such as credit cards, e-paper or smart cards. Just as you may have thought, they also make it possible for the electronics manufacturers to come up with thinner gadgets.

If everything goes according to plan and the manufacturers start using the new batteries, people will have a lot less weight to carry around. Imagine your laptop being a lot lighter because of the batteries, not to mention the mobile phones, cameras and so on. It looks like mankind has a really bright future because of the batteries.

You can see that there is a lot that such a small item as a battery could do for our everyday activities.

(photo credit: www.geek.com)