valley fever arts

Environmental Consulting Firms- Environmental Consulting Firms Will Help Your Company Become Truly “Green” and Attain Environmental Sustainability

I know lots of persons, representing small to large companies, who proudly declare, “We are an “ecological” business!” This tag is a euphemism that means they are abiding by strict principles concerning ecological sustainability rules and norms. This “green” tag is in and it is a worthy aspiration, for sure. A lot of companies are jumping on the “band wagon”. They are employing the title as a technique to openly and implicitly promote their services and/or products. However, what does it signify to be “green”? And, how can any size business execute a strategy to comply with ecological sustainability norms to be on the way to growing into an “ecological” business?

Agenda 21 was the main production of the United Nations Conference on environment and development (the, “Earth Summit”). The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) presents norms or offers support on good management norms in encouragement of Agenda 21. The ISO 14001 offers its conditions for an Environmental Management System (EMS) that confirms global significance for all size companies wishing to function under environmentally sustainable processes. It is a globally acknowledged requirement. With the aid of environmental consulting firms, the norms can be appropriate for any business, large or small, whatever its product or service, in any industry, and whether it is a commercial venture, a public administration, or a government department.

The principle elements, stated in an EMS are explained below:

1. Environmental Policy Statement (ecological characteristics and effect of products, activities, and services, including intra-and inter-business processes),
2. Planning (ecological characteristics, legal and additional requisites, aims and measurable targets, ecological management programs),
3. Implementation and Operation (configuration and reliability, preparation, conciousness, and competence, communication, ecological management process documentation, document control, operational control, crisis vigilance and response),
4. Checking and Corrective Action (checking and measurement, non-conformance and counteractive- and protecting- action, documentation, ecological management process audit)
5. Management Review

Well, you’re probably thinking, “I’m a little overwhelmed by all of this! And, what can I do to really denote my business is “green”?” It’s completely probable in your business your Environmental Management System is only an approach for doing things that you believe are “green”, e.g., turning out lights, recycling, walking or biking to work, etc. (Don’t get me wrong! These are all important things to do.). But your process isn’t on paper and likely acknowledged only by one or some persons in management with little or no communication. Everyone has the “green essence” and every one is contributing by doing his or her personal action.

Not all organizations will wish to go through the ISO 14000 certification procedure (lots of large organizations do). Businesses that don’t wish to become certified can execute the norms to be considered as third party compliant. Environmental consulting firms can suggest several methods to execute an “ecological” business system that minimizes harmful outcomes on the environment caused by its actions in an effort to attain continual development of its ecological execution:

1. Plan – Define aims and make plans (examine your company’s situation, define your general aims and establish your temporary targets and develop plans to achieve them.
2. Do – Execute your plans (do what you defined).
3. Check – Evaluate your outcomes (evaluate/check how far your real accomplishments encounter your set aims.
4. Act – Fix and improve your plans and how you implement them (fix and understand from your errors to improve your plans in order to get best outcomes next time.

The thoughts that go into your strategy are derived from your specialized discipline type. The deepness and detail is also driven by your business’ size, but lots of the similar rules apply:

- Waste and toxics elimination that includes, but is not limited to, product making, materials, manufacturing procedures, distribution, consumer and end of life for products you utilize in your every day business actions or products that you sell to others,

- Toxics decrease and elimination (”The Ban List”),

- Decrease Greenhouse gas emanations by performing teleconferencing and web conferencing instead of traveling,

- Location and decrease of wastes,

- Buy automobile hybrids,

- Other Transport (walking, car pooling, biking, public transportation),

- Community involvement and volunteering,

- Decrease utilization of non-biodegradable products (plastics),

- Enroll and contribute with groups devoted to giving control, observing field and implementing obedience,

- Buy from ISO 14000 certified sellers and manufacturers with active plans for soil, groundwater, surfacewater, and air regulations in third world countries that are defensive of human health and the environment (to US Environmental Protection Agency norms),

- Utilize used products,

- Protect resources (e.g., water),

- Substitute ineffective equipment that consumes power,

- Help and support state and local government (towns, counties) to establish and implement ecological sustainability policy, guidelines and regulations for companies that want to run business in their areas,

- Join organizations in your specialized field that help you in executing ecological sustainability for your services and products,

- Take action following Best Management Practices (e.g., reusing).

The objective of any EMS, directing to ecological sustainability, and the goal of environmental consulting firms, is to decrease our carbon trail on the world. I hope I have been successful in increasing your attentiveness, awareness and integrity about what “green” means. Today it’s time for action! In the future after your business builds and executes an EMS program you can be proud to represent that your business is “green”.

www.VernonEnvironmental.com – Environmental Consulting Firms

environmentalconsultingfirms
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/environmental-consulting-firms-700137.html

Having a blooming garden and keeping it well replenished is no longer a distant dream. For continuing garden supply materials, tools and equipments, convenience is the keyword. Today, the Internet has various options wherein you can choose your plant, figure out the right way of planting and pruning shrubs, order the appropriate fertilizers and have everything delivered to your doorstep. Just at the click of your mouse.

Log on to any of these websites, and shop for your garden supply from the comfort of your home.

www.bloomingbulb.com – This site is a good source for quality flower bulbs, rose gardening and other garden supply equipments. You can seek updated information by opting for their newsletters and chats. Testimonials add an authenticity to the site as well.

If you would like to order your garden supply equipment from www.brecks.com, there is a clearance sale available for exclusive members at the moment. A catalog company and an online supplier of premium bulbs, perennials and trees, Brecks provides you with the facility of ordering via traditional mail. The site also offers you the privilege of consulting their expert panel.

Log on to www.charleysgreenhouse.com for garden supply equipment and climate monitors. You can choose from their collection of greenhouse, greenhouse supplies and other items for your garden.

www.deerbusters.com is an interesting site for garden supply that focuses on wildlife control, fences, deer repellents, insect repellents and tips on controlling birds and dogs. This website also has a section for kids. If you choose to order above $50 dollars, you get free shipping and a free return service.

Another garden supply website that may be helpful is www.directgardening.com. One of the most visited sites, DirectGardening has all regular sections on plant care and interesting ones like tip of the week and the gardeners handbook.

www.dutchgardens.com offers you garden supply straight from the Netherlands. You have the privilege of ordering fresh bulbs and plants from Holland. They have a customer service section that can attend your queries. You also have the choice of going through plant finders and shopping related articles. So what is stopping you? Go ahead and plant beautiful tulips at your home in USA and experience a bit of Holland!

If you would like to opt for environment friendly products for garden supply, log on to www.gardensalive.com. They promote organic products in soil care, lawn care, plant care, pest control and weed control. You have the option of signing up for their newsletter or joining the garden solutions club. Their products are supposed to be alternatives to harsh chemicals.

A one-stop shop for your garden supply, www.gurneys.com supplies vegetable seeds and plants, fruit trees, flowering bulbs along with the regular gardening materials. You can check out their Todays Deals section for current updates.

www.krupps.com provides you the regular garden supply materials along with interesting gifting ideas. Besides, this Michigan based company also sells landscaping items like trellis, stepping stones, wishing wells and more.

You may also log on to www.landscapeUSA.com for your regular garden supply. They have an interesting garden library and cater to the needs of both the full-time landscaper and novice gardener.

Options are abundant for those interested in garden supply. Log on to any of the following for more information – www.gemplers.com , www.mastergardening.com, www.michiganbulb.com and more.

So what are you waiting for? Just visit a site, choose your options and order garden supply equipments from the convenience of your home.

Peter Finch
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/keep-your-garden-growing-with-efficient-garden-supply-100230.html

Greenhouses come in a wide variety of different styles and types. Each is suited to a special need or want and degree of seriousness for greenhouse gardening. For the beginning greenhouse gardener there are smaller versions available that come in the form of portable greenhouses, a hobby greenhouse, or mini greenhouses. There is also the option to build your greenhouse from scratch with a foundation.

What exactly is a greenhouse? A greenhouse is a structure that creates a protected environment for plants to grow in, thus extending the productive lives of plants. lubbock marketing Greenhouse gardening is a fun and functional way to garden all year around. You can pick tomatoes in the winter. Grow herbs and vegetables and start seedlings and cuttings. Some of the reasons to start a greenhouse:

Carrying over garden plants to be used as Greenhouse plants next season
Getting an early start for tender plants started from seed
Increasing the possibilities of a greater variety and continuous supply
Easier culture of small vegetables for winter use
To propagate and experiment with various plants as a hobby
Develop new varieties of plants

As with most projects, begin your greenhouse gardening with a plan. You want to consider the type of greenhouse you want (a cold house or a heated greenhouse) and the construction and type of foundation that is required. What type of equipment you will need, covering for your greenhouse, and what type of watering, humidity control, heating, and air circulation systems that will be best suited for your needs.

A cold house is the most uncomplicated of greenhouses. This type of greenhouse is not equipped with any artificial means of heat therefore the growing season is shortened when the outside temperature drops below freezing. Frost sensitive plants will not grow between late fall and the middle of spring unless you provide heat, which of course would not then be a cold house. bar tricks revealed A cold house does lengthen the growing season from that of gardening outdoors by trapping the heat from the sun throughout the day. In addition, it provides a cosy respite for you to enjoy your gardening away from the elements of wind and rain; it also protects plants from these same elements too.

Monitoring the temperature of your greenhouse is very important. If the temperature inside your greenhouse becomes too hot, your plants will wilt and die. On the other hand, lower temperatures can decrease the vigour and growth of your plants. Try to develop a daily schedule that maintains the best possible temperature. It does not take much to destroy all the work you put into your greenhouse; one hour of intense heat is all it takes. It is better to leave your greenhouse open, and have it a bit cool, than to have your plants die from the heat. For the first few days, check the temperature of your greenhouse several times. If you necessary, open the doors more and/or provide more vents to maintain desired temperature control. During the late afternoon or early evening, when the temperature has cooled, close up your greenhouse. This is a great time to water your plants and flats if they require it.

If you begin greenhouse gardening with a cold house, once you install a heater you will then be able to enjoy a true greenhouse. When you do this, you will transform your love of gardening into a year-round hobby. To grow greenhouse plants throughout the winter the minimum temperature is 45 degrees.

Unlike gardening outside where the rain waters the plants, it does not rain inside a greenhouse. Watering greenhouse plants is not simply taking a hose and saturating the soil. Within the soil, there are small open-air pores that roots depend on for providing them with nutritious gases. When you water your plants, these small pores fill up with water; which then causes suffocation for the plants roots. When the roots suffocate, the plants wither and it is very common for most gardeners when they see this to water the plants further thus causing further suffocation. Remember the watering needs inside a greenhouse are different because the environment is enclosed a majority of the time and a fair amount of moisture becomes trapped lessening the amount of water required. A good rule for watering is to check the soil and if it is dry then add water.

Paul P. Duxbury
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/an-introduction-to-greenhouse-gardening-86428.html

The 2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival, United Kingdom’s most popular international motor sport event will be the stage of the much awaited public debut of the Caparo T1 sports car. Now on its 15th consecutive year, the 2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival is packed with action and excitement as the world’s most stunning racing machines and famous drivers gather at the park land grounds of Goodwood House starting in June 22 to 24.

The Caparo T1 is poised to become the center of attraction at the 2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed as the sports car participate in the 1.16-mile hill climb, which is the most popular segment of the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed. Moreover, the Caparo T1’s lightweight body structure and capabilities will be presented in the new motor sport event at Festival of Speed called the Goodwood technology pavilion.

Ben Scott-Geddes, Operations Director of Caparo Vehicle Technologies said:

“The Caparo T1 not only looks and performs like a Formula One car but it also helps us to demonstrate new and advanced technology to carmakers and automotive component suppliers. The same approach to aerodynamics, choice of materials and efficient design, which has allowed us to develop the T1, can be applied to create safe, affordable, fuel-efficient and lightweight family cars.”

“The new engine now delivers both the performance and reliability we’re looking for in the T1, the two key factors vital to our customers when running this type of car.” he added.

Originally designed by the former members of McLaren F1 team, the Caparo T1 features an ultra lightweight body architecture and design cues similar to Formula 1 race cars. The aerodynamic parts like adjustable front twin element wing, adjustable rear single element wing, fowler flaps, and low drag body design fits perfectly for the sports car’s racing characteristics. The T1 also comes with a brand new and powerful all-aluminum V8 engine located on the mid-rear with radiator grilles similar to the vertical 7-slot Jeep grille, but with more slots compared to the latter. The engine has a 3.5 liters capacity and produces about 200 hp per liter, but Caparo said the T1 could produce about 1000 bhp with the engine.

According to Richard Butler, Chief Executive of Caparo Vehicle Products:

“This new engine allows us many exciting options for the future, both for the car and the company. It will further help us to implement the vehicle lightweight design philosophies necessary to reduce greenhouse gasses being sought by high volume carmakers.”

“Given the high engine output, increased power-to-weight ratio, advanced hybrid chassis design and ultra-efficient aerodynamics the T1 offers exceptional value for such an exclusive world class vehicle … and quite extraordinary standards in performance, handling and safety.” says Sean Butcher, Commercial Director at Caparo Vehicle Technologies.

With the V8 engine, the Caparo T1 offers a stunning performance. It can accelerate the T1 from zero to 60 mph in a mere 2.5 seconds with a top speed of over 200 mph.

The hand-built Caparo T1 2-seater sports car is priced at approximately 180,000 British pounds (about $351,324 USD) and will arrive in dealers starting this May 2007.

Lisa Ziegler
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/caparo-t1-headed-for-2007-goodwood-festival-of-speed-121061.html

When you go to auto shows, you do not use dashboard to mean the vehicle’s instrument panel. This is because you might be misleading other people. Dropping layman’s terms is easy but you will get plus points if you speak the designer’s tongue.

Each profession has its lingo. And for one to be better understood he must know the common terms or at least a few of the most colorful words used by experts. In the automotive world, metal and words unite. And auto brand’s vocabulary is known as the colorful realm of design language.

The beltline separates the greenhouse, or glassed-in upper body, from the part that widens down from the window sills. Michael Castiglione, the principal exterior designer at DaimlerChrysler’s Pacifica studio in Carlsbad, Calif., said that equally important is the A-line. The A-line is the length of the vehicle’s body from headlight to taillight. The vehicle may also have a crease created in the sheet metal of the sides called the character line.

Styling cues are also used to prompt recognition of a particular model to other product lines of the same brand. The cues include the curve of the roofline, the distinct design of the grille, as well as the shapes and lines of the vehicle.

The angle of the windshield called rake could convey different meaning. It is said to be fast when it extremely tilts. The rocker panel which is the body section below the base of the door is treated with a varying degree of turn-under. Chris Chapman of BMW’s Designworks studio in Newbury Park, Calif., defines it as the shape of the panel as it curves inward at the lower edge.

Stance tells you whether the auto sits on the wheels with superb energy or not. Robert Boniface, the director of advanced design for General Motors, recently worked on the Chevrolet Volt and the Camaro show cars. He said that “stance has to do with the relative visual stability or instability of a particular design.”

According to Bryan Thompson, the designer at the Nissan Design America studio in La Jolla, Calif., another essential relationship is that one found between the glass and the body. “A vehicle whose body is relatively thick compared to the amount of glass is called chunky. The proportion between wheel and body sizes is important in lending a vehicle its visual personality,” he said.

Thompson added, “Wheel-to-body is the relationship of the wheel-tire plane to the sheet metal wheel opening. Wheels that are flush to the body are desirable. Wheels that are well inboard of the sheet metal plane are buried. Vehicles with buried wheels are called overbodied. At its extreme, an overbodied car has the look of a parade float, with the body visually overpowering the wheels.”

Peter Davis, the director of interior design at General Motors, said the space between wheel and surrounding fender or wheel well suggests the jounce of the car. The intervening space between tire and wheel well is sometimes called the dead cat hole. He described the British-sounding mucketts as “complicated rubber moldings that hide nasty window-door frame areas or direct water drips to appropriate places.” “In Italy,” he added, “what we call the plenum, the area at the base of the windshield where the wipers sit and run off is directed is called the vasca di pesce, or fish bowl.”

Another term to define the personality of the car is its axle-to-dash ratio, the proportion between the front wheel and the cowl or the base of the windshield. There is also what is dubbed the roller skate effect. It happens when the tires and wheels are too small for the body.

There are so many terms in the auto industry realm. And it is an edge on your part to know them all. The next time you purchase EBC greenstuff or other auto parts, you will not be surprised to hear those terms.

Anthony Fontanelle
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/learn-to-speak-auto-designers-lingo-128921.html

Given the big and revolutionary advances made by science in poor soil cultivation studies, there’s no wonder that hydroponics vegetable greenhouses are no longer a mere experiment. The vegetables that are usually grown in greenhouses are cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce. However, normal agricultural laws apply to simple cases; yet what should be done in the case of regions or even entire countries where soil is not proper for vegetable cultivation? The option to make agriculture and produce fresh fruits and vegetables independent of soil condition seemed a beautiful and very remote dream a few decades ago. Now it is a scientific success and a dream come true.

Basic guidelines for hydroponics vegetable greenhouses

Growing vegetables the hydroponic way may not seem very easy when you’re a newbie in the field. Most business owners who have come to develop hydroponics vegetable greenhouses have all started from the first level, using soilless plant growing on a very small scale. The basics of the system lie in the use of reservoirs filled with nutrient solutions properly oxygenated, where plants grow naturally.

Instead of using soil as the environment to supply for the quantity of minerals necessary for normal development, your vegetables will actually process nourishing substances directly from the water in the tanks. If you look over step-by-step home made hydroponic systems you’ll get a better understanding of the way the process works.

Hydroponics vegetable greenhouses may sometimes be the only solution for people in areas with poor soil to actually eat fresh vegetables. The other more expensive solution to their problem would be the importing of products from other places. However, mention should be made that a soilless greenhouse is not a valid business idea in an area that has good cultivation soil.

No alternative greenhouse can actually compete with mother nature in providing the best crops. Hydroponics vegetable greenhouses are one hundred percent profitable in harsh climate conditions. Otherwise they’re just one whimsical investment.

Special conditions

Among the special items necessary for a hydroponics vegetable greenhouse we should definitely mention the special lighting devices in case you can’t profit from natural sun light. For instance those parts in the countries beyond the polar circles, where nights last for six months a year, will need artificial lighting for sure.

Even when you choose the lamps for your revolutionary greenhouse, it would be best to ask the advice of an expert, particularly since some vegetables require more light than others. Changes may also appear in terms of light quality as well. All in all, hydroponics vegetable greenhouses are ambitious, yet highly rewarding projects that require professional commitment and considerable financial investment.

Ann Marier
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/the-basics-of-a-hydroponics-vegetable-greenhouse-135627.html

When it comes to greenhouses for the homeowner, there is just an endless supply of choices available to you. There are more choices of greenhouses for the homeowner than there is for the commercial an industrial greenhouse owner. A great thing about having so many styles is that it helps to keep the cost factor down to where home greenhouses can be quite inexpensive.

Let The Fun Begin

When you’re ready to start having some fun you can get in the car and go shopping for your new home greenhouse. Before you go there are things you should consider such as the area of the space around your home. Get a tape measure, a pencil and paper and write down the length by width by height so you have something to work with when you do find that greenhouse. Something else that is very important to know is that as much sun as possible should be available. So, watch out for trees and other tall structure that may block the sun at some point in the day.

Greenhouses For The Homeowner and Getting Started

The ideal way to get started and save a ton of walking is to have a seat at your computer and do a search for greenhouses for the homeowner enclosed like this; “greenhouses for the homeowner”. This works on Google to narrow down your search so you won’t have millions of pages with information you don’t really want. You’ll find a huge variety of greenhouse type websites on the net so this is a good place to get ideas for what you may want. Actually you could make your greenhouse purchase over the internet too… talk about convenient.

Another fool proof way to shop for the greenhouse is to take a drawing with the measurements to your local nursery or building supply store. The staffs at these stores are normally very helpful and knowledgeable. There is a wealth of information available to make the job easier, you just need to ask.

Is This a Hobby For You?

Having a greenhouse for a homeowner is probably one of the most satisfying hobbies you could have. Just think of the results from your planting; being able to feed your family with truly healthy fresh vegetables and who knows, maybe even set up a fruit and vegetable stand. It’s always gratifying to know that something you nurtured with your own hands people will actually buy from you. That’s something to be proud of.

Greenhouse gardening can absolutely be considered as being one of the most fun and enjoyable hobbies out there, and so if you are looking for a hobby that you can not only have fun with but create beautiful results with as well, then you are definitely going to want to consider getting a greenhouse and starting your own garden inside of it. You are sure to love it.

Christopher Jay
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/greenhouses-for-the-homeowner-so-many-choices-are-available-133579.html

In order to create the ideal growing situations for all kinds of plants as well as vegetables you should be building greenhouses. If you are planning or thinking about building greenhouses you will need to know some basics as well as what style will suit your needs best. You’ll need to think about how much you wish to spend, what type would be best after coming to a conclusion as to what the purpose of the new greenhouse will be.

The foundation for building greenhouses can either be built from pressure treated wood or even on a steel base. Many hobbyists prefer to build directly on the ground and cover the frame with polyelthylene. If you wish to get a head start on the growing season by starting with seedlings the plastic covered greenhouse is definitlely the way to go. Normally the frame is constructed of aluminum tubing but wood could be used as well but usually on a more temporary basis. This kind of construction is well suited for the poly panels which will also allow enough lighting through for the plants and also increase the heat value for those cooler days and nights.

Just follow the basics of building greenhouses and they will require very little attention over the years. It is a good idea to install some controls that work automatically to help you out on the daily chores, unless you have plenty of time to spare, then you could save on the extra expense. These automatice controls can be installed when building greenhouses to enable you to provide proper lighting, precise humidity levels, fresh ventialtion and even temperature.

Deciding On The Greenhouse Location

All the care you will take into building greenhouses will also have to be taken into account for their location too. Obviously we will need plenty of sun so a southern exposure would be the best choice. Trees are a known enemy to our fragile greenhouses due to falling branches anxious to pierce our outer skin. If you can attach your greenhouse to another structure such as a barn or your home heat will gather from your home to the greenhouse. Due to the constuction materials used when building greenhouses it is also advisable to guard it against the winds as much as possible.

On a sunny day even in the winter the heat build up can raise the temperature to dangerous levels for your plants in the greenhouse. Proper ventialtion is extremely important when building greenhouses. As the daily weather changes ventilation will allow for free flowing air to regulate the inside temperature and promote healthy plants.

Christopher Jay
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/what-are-the-basics-of-building-greenhouses-134733.html

An attractive garden is a dream which requires proper planning and careful nurturing. To create a beautiful landscape around your dream home you need basic garden plans to begin with. These garden plans are generally provided by a professional garden planner or landscape designer.

The garden plans can be of many types. You can plan for more than just beautifying your garden, your Garden plans can also be made to decide the theme of the garden. Some of the popular garden plans are:
* Garden for full sun
* Garden for shade
* Corner of grasses
* Corner of shrubs
* Corner of perennials
* Island bed
* Privacy garden
* Butterfly garden
* Fragrant garden
* Vegetable garden
* Bird-friendly garden
* Clay soil garden

Garden plans give an aesthetic dimension to the garden along with its basic theme. Color schemes, quality and variety of plants, height of the plants, border, flooring etc are done to give the garden its uniqueness. The color scheme of the garden is created blending the different colored and textured plants. The plants are also selected according to their height which creates the contour of the garden and the skyline of the garden. Garden plans also include the kind of plants to be used according to the theme chosen. For example a fragrant garden will contain flower plants or the bird-friendly gardens will have the high trees for the birds to reside. The butterfly garden may have the plants that caterpillars feed on.

It is very important that the garden plans are both beautiful and emotionally restorative. A garden can provide a visual, perfumed, sound and tactile, sensory experience. The garden design needs to compliment the home and connect the interiors with the external environment, making the most of the available usable areas. Master planners know that the selection of plants is of equal importance along with their strategic placement on the landscape. Garden plans also include the planning of the garden gates, arbors, gazebo as well as garden furniture.

Modular design and a unique frame layout can make a simple garden gazebo. The garden gazebo is the perfect place to relax or to hold family dinners, weddings, and other special events. A gazebo in the garden plan ensures a favorite spot to unwind. Another important criterion for the garden is its gate. An attractive gate makes a warm welcome for guests. The gate combined with a proper floor or patio definitely draws one outdoors. The proper garden furniture also comes under the garden plans. The furniture is decided according to the theme of the garden. For example an arbor is inevitable for a bird-friendly garden. With a canopy one can relax in the shade of an arbor garden even during the sunniest days. A greenhouse can be created to protect the outdoor plants from damage by frost and cold weather, if you want to make your own then a good start for greenhouse plans can be found here.

William McRea
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/do-you-have-a-good-garden-plan-98707.html

In a recent interview on British TV, Chancellor Gordon Brown called on households to do more to cut greenhouse gases, in effect, by making homes better insulated and more fuel-efficient. The climate change bill ambitiously seeks to cut emissions by 60% by the year 2050. Is this viable in today’s “me” society? Or over time will we slowly turn into a “them” society? Is this compatible with capitalism? And just how easy is it to turn an existing house into a green one? Guy Alexander Bell, editor of the online magazine “Never Paint Again” suggests some things we could to make our home, and our lifestyle within it, more green…

With more “green” legislation coming into building design and construction, more and more houses and commercial buildings are being built with “green” credentials. Things such as solar panels, better insulation, timber from sustainable sources, are just a few of the latest trends in building, but what about existing and older buildings? In this article we look at various steps that the average person can take in order to make their older house a bit more environmentally friendly for future generations.

How can a hundred year old house be green, or made to be green?

Putting aside the notion of actually painting it green (Doh!) and embracing the literal sense, what can be done for old houses? If we consider VERY old house, dating back to maybe 1600, it could be argued that these houses were far more green than modern ones, or even ones built over the past 100 years, but why is that?

When a house was built 400 years ago, it was built with whatever was around (in the literal sense) at the time. So if it was being built near a quarry, it would be made of local stone. If there were reed beds or hay etc nearby, it would have a thatched roof, making use of crops that would have otherwise been burnt or thrown away. If it was near the sea, many of the timbers would be recycled from old ships or boats, and in fact many buildings in established seaside locations in and around the British isles have some surprises in their lofts when you look! Many an old ships mast was made into a staircase, and timbers were used in the roof and for lintels above doors and windows. The global transport infrastructure did not exist then. Goods were sourced locally, or at least brought by sea, river or canal, from somewhere fairly nearby.

When undertaking home improvements on a more modern house, it difficult in todays world to keep your green credentials. For example, what about all the car journeys to go and fetch the new items from the DIY shop? What about the builders turning up in their old van? For a month. (plus in some cases, the amount of methane builders’ emit! Cups of tea are very important to a builder, but not too many, and make sure no egg sandwiches and baked beans are served!)

What about the fact that the items (paint, tools, whatever you buy), have probably clocked up loads of “carbon miles” by being shipped around the world, and sometimes from countries with very poor human right records?

That’s not very green is it?

So how can you make an old house green?

Well if the interior is concentrated on first, steps could be taken such as solar powered heating and power from rooftop or garden based wind power units. Setting them up can be expensive, but the cost is falling all the time. Make enough power, and if you have a surplus, you can sell it back to the national grid, although how long it would be before the government find a way to tax that is another matter, although inevitable, it could be argued!

If we all generated our own electric like this, the need to build new power stations would diminish. You need to take a long term view on this, and it is only the most ardent “pioneers” who are doing this at present. Also why not use solar powered lights in the garden?

Interior

You could also hang curtains made from hemp and buy some new green-friendly furniture. You could buy decent second hand curtains or even furniture from a charity shop (many sell nearly new ones at bargain prices), and from an ethical point of view, you’ve donated to a worthwhile cause. Re-use, don’t throw away, even if you can afford to buy new, do you really HAVE to?

Buy “A graded” energy efficient appliances such as dishwashers, fridges etc and these will save you money too. Take baths instead of showers. During the autumn months, install cheap and effective draught excluders to cut down on heat loss. Have double glazing fitted if you don’t have it already, although wooden double glazing is better as UPVC manufacture is perhaps not as environmentally friendly as it could be. Or if you’re rich, get a “little man” to do it (!) (The butler?)

Your plans could also include bizarre sounding ideas like chairs and sofas made from recycled bottles and cushions with recycled stuffing, deck chairs made of old milk cartons, and chairs made with removable, washable and replaceable covers. Do you really need to buy brand new furniture?

Also try and find a local workshop or skilled tradesman who could make the furniture locally, preferably from re-used wood. From experience this is harder to find depending on where you live.

If doing an extension or major refurbishment, you could also install wood floors made from reclaimed pallets; you could install long life low emission fluorescent bulbs, and install skylights roof windows or larger windows around the house to minimize daytime lighting needs. And throughout the house why not use non-toxic, water-based paints?

Very importantly, make sure your loft is well insulated. Many local councils in the UK run a “warm homes” scheme for people on low incomes. This was in fact a little known piece of government legislation that enabled this and is covered in full under the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000. Take advantage of these. Most heat loss contrary to what “smarmy” double glazing salesmen tell you, is through the roof, not the windows!

Exterior

The exterior of the house also needs attention. Use water catchment systems like water “butts” to harvest water for watering plants etc. Make sure all your windows are in good condition and are clean to let in the most light. Make sure there are no areas where damp can get into the house. Damp can not only make your house feel colder, it can also very badly affect your health (buy to let landlords take note please).

Make sure the walls are in good condition and get them repainted regularly. One option would be to choose a professional specialist company to apply a long life exterior wallcoating. This specialist high performance paint is installed with either a spray or a roller, depending on the material used.

Not only can it cut down on spending money year after year repainting, it can also stop damp and make the inside of the house warmer due to not only cutting out wind chill, but also insulating properties too. Most of these coatings are far thicker than paint and they don’t need to be redone ever year, so that’s about 10 coats of paint at the same time, saving money and the environment in the long term, especially as many are made with natural dyes and resins in small to mid size manufacturing facilities instead of huge multinational factories belching out smoke and chemicals. The best site to find out more info about insulating exterior coatings for houses is the world renowned www.neverpaintagain.co.uk

The other benefit is that the work is done ONCE every 25 years instead of every year, thus less materials used in time, less van and lorry journeys, and less pollution. (and less money)

Do more research about how to make your house greener, get involved. There are plenty of great websites out there that can offer some valuable help and advise to start going green, and staying green, but its anyone’s guess as to whether the whole world will take note, but its worth a go.

Green lifestyle

There are other smaller things you can do to make your household use less energy and be more green. Consider a hybrid (electric) car. A combination of an electric motor and a normal one. Few cars have them (probably due to pressure from huge oil companies to buy more fuel), but one day these will probably be the norm. If the public transport system in the Uk wasn’t so awful, you could consider taking a bus or train (where they still exist), although if renovating a house, that’s going to be pretty hard, but tell that to the government!

Don’t leave your TV, stereo etc on standby. If you’re not using it, switch it off. Cup of tea? Don’t fill the kettle up for one cup, you’re throwing money away. Off on a plane? With cheap flights it’s tempting but think what you are doing to the planet. Why not holiday in the UK instead. (no, don’t laugh!)

Can we move to a society where we can all “carbon offset” anything we do that uses energy? Carbon offsetting is whereby if you chop down 10 trees to build a house made of wood, then you replant 10 trees (or even more) to “offset” what you’ve done. A very brave vision indeed, although if society will change for the better, only time will tell. With summer around the corner, traditionally the busiest time in the UK for home improvement, just stop and think for a minute about what you’re doing!

Unless you’re mega rich, do you REALLY need that outside spa? Do you REALLY need to buy brand new chain store furniture? And why put a finish outside that you have to repaint every 2 years or so? Whats the point? Evidence from various sources, and from my own analysis, suggest that the housing market in the UK maybe up for a sharp drop in 2008.

As being “green” and environmentally sound is becoming far more popular as people become aware of what they are doing to the planet, a “green” house, or at least a house that is energy efficient, coupled with one that is in good repair and visually appealing, will be easier to sell, and cheaper to maintain in the long term and will provide instant street cred, with the advantage of helping to save our planet.

So what’s stopping you becoming green now?

Author
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/greener-houses-can-offset-greenhouse-gases-116454.html