You might be tempted if you find a green house at the right price but could you also make an environmentally unfriendly one better? There are some relatively easy ways to turn any home into something which is far less damaging to the planet.

Make the Garden Greener

Maybe you are looking at a property for sale and it is nice but you feel put off by the fact that the outdoors area is paved over or filled with gravel. With a bit of time to work on the garden you could add in some grass and plants and trees. An added bonus you get with this approach is that of seeing the garden progress over the years. If you really want to do your bit for the environment then you could try to encourage some local wildlife to join you in there in the evenings.

Add Solar Panels

Adding solar panels to a property is an expensive business but it is undoubtedly a tremendous way of cutting down on your energy bills and making the property greener. If the property you are thinking of buying doesn’t use solar energy then this is an option you should seriously consider, as you are likely to be thankful in the future that you added the panels. Don’t forget that even if you don’t use all of the energy you produce you can sell the excess to the grid and recover even more of your initial outlay that way.

Change the Windows

One of the first things you should do when you consider buying a new home is to look at its windows. If they are modern double glazing windows then you are looking at a house with some decent green credentials in this respect. However, if it has old and not very impressive looking windows then you should look to see this reflected in the purchase price. You can then use the saving you make on the price you pay to get top quality windows fitted from a reliable firm.

You will find details on window models at www.Anglianhome.co.uk. Your new windows will play a huge part in ensuring that the property is far more environmentally friendly than before. The right windows in the property will make sure that you don’t pay to heat up the air inside in the house just to see it escape all too easily. By making this change you will feel a lot happier about calling it a green home.

Source: www.anglianhome.co.uk

From simple insulation tips to office paper policies, we’ve prepared four excellent ways to save resources while improving your business’s balance sheet. If you need to cut electricity usage and cut expenses, make sure you give them all a try.

1.Reuse scrap paper for office notes

Despite the popularity of digital to-do lists, one of the most effective ways to work more efficiently is to write your top tasks down. Instead of pulling out a fresh piece of white paper, use scrap paper to jot down your daily to-do list.

Reusing scrap paper – or better yet, having a stack of note-sized papers ready – is a great way to reduce usage of expensive printer paper. Reduce your carbon footprint and your monthly paper bill, all the while keeping convenient day-to-day notes.

2.Encourage your employees to carpool or usage public transportation

Do you work in a remote office park? Instead of taking your own car, organize a car pool for your company. Smart carpooling is a great way to cut down on petrol usage while reducing commuting costs for your employees.

Even a once-weekly carpool is enough to reduce your employees’ commuting costs, particularly if your office is located outside a major city. If you’re located in a major city where public transport is great – say, Central London – encourage employees to travel by train by paying for their monthly bulk travel pass.

3.Unplug electrical equipment when it’s not in use

An unused computer, an on-but-never-full fridge, and a remote LCD display are all an expensive ticket to electrical frustration. When you’re not using your electrical equipment, unplug it, and ask your employees to do the same.

You might be surprised to learn how much energy an unused PC can draw from the socket. Instead of hoping that your inactive devices won’t increase your electricity bill, plug them out and be certain that you won’t overpay for energy.

4.Let your employees telecommute

Over the last decade, an increasing number of businesses have encouraged many of their employees to work from home. Considering the benefits, both environmental and financial, it’s hard to disagree with their logic.

From decreased petrol usage to reduced office energy costs, telecommuting is one of the best ways to reduce your operational energy costs. If your employees are able to work from home without compromising their work, encourage them to do so.

This article was written by Mather and Stuart, the UK’s top eco-friendly generator hire company.

Greater access

It’s no secret that renewable energy will be needed more in the coming years, especially with insecurity over fossil fuels and nuclear power, but will prices falling slightly lower than usual be enough to tempt people into getting green energy for their premises? The report from CleanEdge suggested that it could.

Usually, anyone with a keen interest in installing PV solar panels or any other form of green energy generator would either have to save up and wait for a considerable period of time before being able to pay for it or look for help from a bank. Fortunately, access to green energy has been partially widened by government initiatives including the Green Deal.

Is state help enough?

In an attempt to try and show their green credentials, the current coalition government have created the Green Deal, a programme designed to boost use of green technology by businesses and households. It hasn’t quite taken off as first hoped, but that and other possible incentives for people to buy solar panels are there.

Feed-in tariffs are another incentive available for people to generate their own solar power. Feed-in tariffs are part of the Government’s Clean Energy Cash Back scheme, in which those who install solar PV can receive payments for low carbon electricity produced. There is also payment for any surplus energy fed into the grid.

The future for solar power

With the cost of solar power falling to roughly $2.50 per watt, this suggests that awareness of solar technology is set to continue growing. For the consumer, this is terrific news, but there is a hint of uncertainty about what this trend could mean for companies who produce panels as well as other forms of green technology.

A number of people believe that the falling cost of solar power and panels could actually help those companies. As it becomes cheaper, more homes and businesses could feel inclined to buy solar panels  to help generate a proportion of the electricity they need, which for those businesses and the wider world is surely a good thing.

Katy Jones, of renewable specialists Dulas Ltd, said of the news, “It’s true that the installed price of solar PV has reduced in recent months and the feed-in tariff still makes solar PV a financially viable option.

1. EcoUrban

EcoUrban is a brand that uses environment friendly cabinets in affordable wood veneer and stainless steel. The materials are sourced domestically and free from formaldehyde-based substrates and glues.

2. Green Home Design Center

Green Home Design Center is a great place to source sustainable products for your kitchen cabinets. The store has designers accredited by LEED and can help the buyers in making the right choice. They also undertake turn key projects.

3. C&M Wilkins

C&M Wilkins distributes Fieldstone certified cabinets. It is an approved KCMA environmental stewardship member and meets all their requirements with respect to quality, resource management and process management.

4. el Furniture

el is a flagship store of designer Jill Salisbury who designs kitchen cabinets using certified woods and veneer. The cabinets also use renewable sources of wood and energy for crafting their ware.

5. Reclaim

The store uses only domestic resources for making customized cabinets without any toxic additives. Only formaldehyde-free plywood is used and all finishes are done in low-VOC paints and varnishes. Reclaim is the right choice for all environmental conscious home makers.

6. Green Home Center

The Green Home Center sells contemporary kitchen cabinets using renewable resources such as bamboo, natural dyes and the like.

7. Eco Home Improvement

Eco Home Improvement believes that going green is not just good for the planet but is also a stylish way of doing it. The brand comes with its varied lines of cabinet selections based on the style used.

8. Second Use

As the name suggests Second Use is a salvage shop which sells refurbished used furniture and kitchen cabinets. The collection is amazing and worth giving a try.

9. Modern 50

The store Modern 50 is an online store which sells used kitchen cabinets many of which are vintage pieces. Their photo catalog has the best of the collection for you to choose from.

10. Green Depot

Located along the length and breadth of the country, the Green Depot sells formaldehyde-free low VOC finish cabinets for kitchens. The cabinetry is made from sustainable sources.

Climate change has been a long running problem, worrying world leaders and the population alike about where the planet is heading. This has been one big reason why the going green phenomenon took off in the first place. Preserving our natural resources, ensuring a bright future for our children and reducing pollution are three big players in the reasoning.

In fact, we all do a little bit more than we ever did but it’s about taking this to another level with some effort and thought. If we clean up our act then our water, air and energy becomes cleaner and this helps everything that lives on this planet. Take a look at these five simple apps that can kick you off.

• Light Bulb Finder – One big energy saver that people are trying to implement across the board is energy saving bulbs. This free app for Android and iPhone means that you can make the switch from conventional bulbs to energy saving equivalents easily. From light quality to fit to style you can shop knowing that you are purchasing exactly what you need.
• Energy Saver – Do your bit for the environment and save money at the same time, what could be better? This app is priced at £2.99 and helps to “profile – analyze – save” on your water, gas and electricity expenses. With features that are easy to use and customise, there is plenty to get your teeth into before the benefits start to roll in through your shrewd consumption and elimination of waste.
• Green Genie – Already named as the number one green app in some quarters and with USA Today saying “a good place to start: The Green Genie app” it’s obvious why it gets so much love. It comes from the idea that each change you make adds up for both you and the environment over time. Currently a free offering, this is a comprehensive guide to better living. Sustainable living. With features like essential reading, a glossary and strategies it really needs to be part of your green push.
• Good Guide – Ever wondered the performance of your food and household product in terms of social, environmental and health? Whether you have or not, it’s time to make your purchases more accountable. This free, quick and easy app gets information and ratings as you do your shopping. Not only this but customised recommendations come as standard. Some reviews say it needs more UK products, but this should come in time.
• Find Recycling – One buzzword for saving the planet is recycling. You can get a lot of money for your unwanted possessions. Whether you want to sell your old htc desire or your old entertainment collection you can. But, if you’re just looking for a place to recycle glass bottle, batteries or TVs then this app is there to help you do just that in the United Kingdom.

Whether you are looking to save money, help the planet or both then these apps can be a great way to start. There are plenty more to scroll through but you can begin encouragement with these five. We need to make the world a greener place again and that is up to us all as a race. Do your bit.

Adding new technology all around can have a big impact. What once seemed like an expensive — and sometimes controversial trend, is now a way of life for many businesses and it’s getting more affordable every year. If you check out some of the tools available to you at sites like Energy Earth you will be pleasantly surprised at the wide array of options and implementations.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed and sometimes good intentions can get lost in the maze of figuring out what to do first, so here are a few great ways your company can lessen its carbon footprint and start saving valuable resources now.

Responsible Printing     

From uniforms to marketing materials eco-printing has come a long way. Today you can have your products printed by companies that boast 100% zero Greenhouse Gas emissions. Recycled paper or fabrics, earth-friendly inks and clean manufacturing processes have opened ever increasing doors for today’s environmentally conscience business owner or manager.

Because more people are moving toward eco-printing the cost is decreasing making it an attainable line item to add to your check list of things to do.

Swapping to Solar Power and More

Solar power has been around a long time, and many businesses were slow to jump on-board, but some of today’s biggest companies are now using it and they are reaping the rewards for having embraced it so thoroughly. As of mid-2012, more than 2,300 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity was deployed in more than 24,000 facilities across the country.

Companies are controlling costs and improving their bottom lines using wind turbines, solar-panels, and bio-gas lessening their impact on the environment. These usage figures will only grow as more and more companies begin making the switch.

Recycling for a Greater Cause

Lots of companies recycle different operating materials, but what about every day recycling? Steeping an effort into an even greater cause can be just the ticket to get more people involved; the trick is finding a cause or goal everyone will appreciate.

Encourage staff to participate in every day recycling at the office (cans, bottles, etc). Provide a convenient place for them to accumulate it and set a company goal. Use the redemption proceeds for a quarterly company party or retreat or even as a donation to an agreed upon local charity.

The list is long of green options and there are practical applications for every business. The Internet is a great tool. Talk to other businesses and find out what they are doing. Ask for referrals and don’t be afraid to negotiate along the way. Remember, technology can bring a great many things, but things are only great if people use them. There is nothing wrong with starting small. They key is getting started.

It is generally expected that cooling appliances, such as fridge freezers, are the second highest contributor to energy bills after central heating. This makes sense, since they are the only appliance that needs to be on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

With this in mind, it’s well worth looking into the energy consumption of an appliance before deciding on a purchase. Even if your old appliance is working well, replacing your old model could turn out to be a fantastic long-term investment.

Integrated models

Investing in an integrated fridge freezer model is going to be far more energy efficient than having a separate fridge and freezer. While the integrated model is likely to use more energy than each individual appliance, it’s much better than having to power two appliances constantly. Purchasing the one appliance, rather than two, is also likely to be much cheaper.

Picking the right size

It’s important to ensure you choose the right size fridge freezer. Larger models will use more energy than small or medium sized models, which will cost more to power. In the long run, extra space that you aren’t going to need is going to be a bad investment.

Naturally, if you have a large family to feed, then you are going to need more room. Having to get an additional appliance further down the line is going to add both to your energy bills and your purchase costs. The need to keep an old appliance around, to make up for insufficient space, is also going to add substantially to energy cost.

You should put some research into the size of the appliance you are going to need. Capacities are displayed on models and measured in litres, giving you a good idea of the space offered inside.

Designs and extras

Design differences do have an impact on energy efficiency. The most efficient types of fridge freezer have the freezer positioned at the top, while those with the freezer positioned at the bottom are generally the second most efficient. Models with each of the integrated appliances positioned side by side are usually the least energy efficient available.

Extra features such as ice makers can also drive up energy usage; a model with an ice maker can use as much as 20 per cent more electricity than models that don’t have this added extra. It might not be as convenient, but making your ice cubes the old fashioned way, with an ice cube tray, will work out much more economically and ecologically friendly.

Energy efficiency ratings

It’s easy to tell an appliance’s energy efficiency rating. All fridges and freezers sold in Britain are required by law to carry a European Union energy label, which gives their rating by letter. Ratings range from A++ as the most efficient and cost-effective, to G, as the least efficient. Generally it’s only really older models that carry these less effective ratings.

There’s also nicotine – most people believe this is a harmless aspect of a cigarette, but actually the addictive substance increases the levels of cholesterol within the body.

According to netdoctor.co.uk, 300 people a day die thanks to smoking-related illnesses, and a good number of them are actually younger smokers. Each cigarette you smoke can shorten your life by 10 minutes.

Major diseases caused by smoking include cardiovascular disease, which comes as a result of the hardening of arteries, making blood clots likely to form. Depending on which arteries in your body are affected, you could be looking at a range of potentially fatal conditions.

There’s also cancer, and it’s not just lung cancer. Mouth cancer is caused by smoking – you’re four times more likely to contract it if you smoke.

But smoking doesn’t just hurt smokers – it hurts the environment too.

Breathing smoke

According to this article, the air pollution which is emitted by 10 cigarettes is greater than that emitted by a diesel car exhaust.

An experiment was conducted in which a 2 litre turbo diesel engine was revved up and left to run for 30 minutes in a closed garage, and then the doors were left open for four hours. Then, three filter cigarettes were lit up one after the other. Readings of pollution levels were taken every 2 minutes.

The readings revealed that in the first hour after the engine had started, combined particulate (the pollutants which make up cigarette smoke) levels were 88ug/m3. In the first hour after the cigarettes had been lit, it measured 830 ug/m3. That’s around ten times greater.

Surely one cigarette won’t hurt?

A cigarette typically emits between 7 and 23 milligrams of PM2.5 during smoking time. A PM2.5 is a particulate matter which is less than 2.5 mm across, and enter deep into the lungs to cause some serious health problems.

This is why passive smoking is such an issue. It’s something that needs to be considered by anyone looking to quit.

Taking an electronic cigarette is a much better alternative, as there are no harmful emissions that hurt the environment. Also, the batteries are rechargeable so you don’t have to worry about adding to landfill. And what are they usually made of? Recyclable material.

James Dunworth from ecigarettedirect.co.uk said:  “Research has shown that cigarette smoke causes 10 times more pollution than diesel fumes. In contrast to cigarettes, no combustion takes place in electronic cigarettes, and no smoke is produced, what is produced is vapour which is estimated to be around 99% safer than tobacco smoke.”

It’s definitely something to think about.

Isobutane is a refrigerant said to have no negative impact on global warming, or on the environment as a whole. Responding to the Green initiative implemented by government, most leading manufacturers of fridges and freezers have phased out the old HFC gasses in favour of Isobutane as a cooling agent.

British law now requires that all relevant appliances carry the European Energy Label, which states the energy efficiency of the product. As well as being far more considerate of the environment, fridges and freezers that use less energy are also more cost efficient; for consumers this is a definite win-win situation. Checking the grading of a fridge or freezer before purchasing and doing a little research into which style of refrigeration appliance uses the least amount of energy can eventually result in the appliance paying for itself.

Chest type freezers lose less cold air when opened than the upright models. Upright fridge / freezers with the freezer section on top also use less power than those with the freezer unit on the bottom. Generally, today’s Green refrigeration appliances are far better insulated than those from previous years, which means that less cold air is able to escape and the inside temperature is kept more constant; resulting in less energy usage.

Some modern refrigeration units are also fitted with alarm systems that will sound should the inside temperature drop below the level that is safe for food storage. Another option is the gas refrigerator that has a back-up electrical ability and a well ventilated room is all that is necessary for this option. Propane gas is extremely environmentally friendly and, should fuel run out, it can simply be plugged into an electrical outlet. Consumers, however, must exercise good sense when choosing a refrigeration appliance.

Large capacity fridge / freezers use more energy; overloading makes it much harder for the appliance to function efficiently. Consumers must, therefore, determine the size of fridge / freezer that will suit their needs best. Besides reading the generic energy rating labels that must now be displayed, consumers also have numerous online services available that will determine the projected wattage necessary for the running of these appliances. Doing so will reduce the cost to consumers and, more importantly, the cost to our planet.