Training for Book Authors
|
|
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
|
|
Please Support Our Advertisers
|
|
|
|
|
An Easy Start to Going Green
Copyright (c) 2009-2023 Janet Davis
By and large, humans are a good-natured species. People try to help each other as they help themselves, and many are growing increasingly concerned about their impact on their environment. Humans can and have impacted their local environment, for good and for ill. Public information campaigns and class action lawsuits have raised awareness of the impact man-made pollutants can have on the environment and on human lives. And conservation projects have demonstrated that people can do wonderful things with their surroundings when given the chance. Even those who don't necessarily believe things are quite as bad as films like "An Inconvenient Truth" would suggest often find the time to drop their soda cans off at the recycling center on the way to work.
In fact, steps like that are exactly the key to going green. No one expects every person to be an Erin Brockovich, or every family to pull off an experiment like the New York family that didn't discard most of their waste but recycled literally everything except food. The key is rather that every person and every family can take small but worthwhile steps to reduce their impact on the environment; steps that fit right into their daily routine, rather than throwing it completely off kilter.
Passive Steps to Green
Not everyone has time to make an active effort in going green, and there's nothing wrong with that. No reasonable person will fault a doctor who spends seventy-five hours a week saving lives in the emergency room for squeezing every spare second he has into time with his family. For some busy people, the best way to start going green is with passive efforts, meaning those efforts that don't require constant attention or steps, but are rather set up once and continue to function over a long period of time.
For example, consider energy usage. Some of the most significant pollutants are emitted from power production plants. If the energy demand is reduced, then less pollution is emitted to meet requirements.
Here are two easy steps to reducing energy demands in a household. The first is to reduce computer monitor brightness. Nearly every monitor comes with adjustable settings, and very few people need the display turned up to full. Reducing the settings by even a quarter or a third significantly cuts down on the energy demands for the average user. Another step is to replace traditional light bulbs with compact, energy saving bulbs as they burn out. Studies suggest that energy savers use as much as a third less energy than incandescent bulbs. Neither of these steps requires an extra impact in the normal day.
The key to passive steps is that they are simple. They fit into the routine of peoples' lives with very little effort, and work toward the long-term goal. Things like using cloth napkins instead of paper ones, refilling a metal water bottle instead of throwing away a plastic one and bringing your own lunch to work in a reusable container are a few more simple ways to get started. Think about how you can add some passive green steps to your family's life.
Active Habits
Other steps require a change of thinking and may require some extra time demands on the user, but are equally worthwhile for those who can take the time to work them into their lives.
The classic example is recycling. Aluminum cans, waste paper and plastic bottles can all be recycled in most cities, whether at municipal drop-off points (common for apartment communities) or as part of residential waste pickup. Recycled materials reduce the amount of energy required to produce all-new materials, as much as ninety percent in the case of aluminum cans.
Water usage also provides opportunities for green-minded individuals. Turning the faucet off while brushing teeth can save hundreds of gallons a year - if even two gallons goes down the drain in the two minutes for a proper brush, and someone brushes twice a day, that's over two hundred gallons of water saved over a year, per person. Families can wait to run the washing machine or dishwasher until they're full, reducing the amount of water and energy required for cleanup. In the warmer months, clothes can be dried out on a clothesline, meaning the dryer isn't hogging up all the energy and light switches can be flicked off whenever a room is left empty.
The key to these more active steps is the cultivation of habits. Taking the recycling down to the local drop-off point does add time and travel to someone's schedule. Rather than trying to squeeze it in as an extra nuisance, families should make it a scheduled event in the week, just like regular trash drop off. People don't leave the water running when they brush out of malice, they just forget. Little reminders and steady changes will make the efforts second nature, until they don't seem like 'extra' steps in the least and thinking green will become a habit.
A Final Green Thought
Time is one of the most valuable commodities today. People are rushed, cell phones and computers have society in almost constant contact, and free time to rest is treasured. When trying to convince people to go green, the trick is to respect their needs for their time, and their desire to do as they wish with it. The steps mentioned above keep those needs and considerations in mind - they respect that people have demands on their time, and want to take steps that can help them without requiring extra hours out of the day. When people see that going green can become part of their life, rather than taking it over, the efforts will come naturally and even happily.
Janet Davis and her husband are health and nutrition entrepreneurs and founders of Mark And Janet, a website with uncompromising, premium products for your health conscious family. For more on going green -- Visit us at http://www.MarkandJanet.com/ or check out our blog at http://www.MarkandJanetBlog.com/
|
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Home and Garden Articles || Related Categories: Family Articles and Self Improvement Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Janet Davis
Five Factors in Managing Diabetes Naturally
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2010-01-26 |
Word Count: 868 |
Page Views: 3890
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 1.75
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses,
affecting millions of people worldwide and their diet has a
great deal to say about how the condition will continue to
affect them. Proper diet can help prevent the onset of Type
2 diabetes, but even in patients who have been diagnosed
with either condition, a healthy diet can reduce the side
effects and secondary illnesses that tend to crop up. Here
are five factors to consider when managing diabetes.
The Dress Code - Five Steps to a Greener Wardrobe
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2010-01-21 |
Word Count: 882 |
Page Views: 4748
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 1.33
We care about our planet, and want to leave it as good as we
found it for our children and for everyone. The wonderful
thing about this is that there are countless ways to live
green. Consider the budding green and organic clothing
movement. Clothes are often made from plant materials like
cotton, and these can be grown under organic conditions just
like food products. With that in mind, here are five ways
you can start dressing green.
Four Nutrients For Healthy Eyes
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2010-01-19 |
Word Count: 857 |
Page Views: 4248
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 2.50
Sight is incredibly important and, just like any other
function of the body, is largely dependent upon proper
nutrition. However, it also may be a part of our nutrition
that we don't actively think about supporting. Here, we
discuss four key nutrients that can help bolster eye health.
Eating Healthy While Saving Money
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2010-01-14 |
Word Count: 730 |
Page Views: 4184
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 1.75
Today, when everyone wants to watch their budget, cost
cutting is the name of the game and our diets frequently
suffer as a result. However, there are a number of ways to
save money and still eat reasonably healthy foods, rather
than sacrificing one for the other.
Natural Skin Care for Acne
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2010-01-12 |
Word Count: 722 |
Page Views: 3949
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 2.00
Acne affects nearly everyone at some point in his or her
life. It can be painful to endure, and even leave scars if
severe enough. While there are many remedies available for
over the counter or prescription purchase, some products are
laden with chemicals and acids that may have adverse
effects. Fortunately, there are effective natural
alternatives to these harsh chemical treatments.
Your Healthy Life: Dietary Fiber
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2010-01-07 |
Word Count: 826 |
Page Views: 3853
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
When people talk about dietary fiber, they immediately think
of older people taking large fiber tablets, but proper fiber
intake can benefit everyone at every age. Fiber intake can
help ease digestion and can also lower cholesterol, which is
a leading cause of heart disease, making it a highly
effective, multi-purpose treatment for healthy living.
Natural Skin Care Tips for Men
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2010-01-05 |
Word Count: 946 |
Page Views: 4320
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 1.67
In light of all that skin does for the body, the case for
proper skin care seems to be a strong one, but frequently
skin is the one organ people seem to think they can let take
a beating. Men in particular seem prone to developing
roughed up skin, but there are fortunately many ways that
men can take better care of this incredibly important organ.
Shopping Online to Save Time and Money
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2009-12-31 |
Word Count: 880 |
Page Views: 4585
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 1.50
There is a certain convenience in shopping from the comfort
of one's own home, a convenience that has been met in the
past through mail-order catalogs, shopping television
channels, and home-delivered grocery services. With the
advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web, this trend
has reached its culmination and most elegant expression yet.
Staying Warm While Staying Green
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2009-12-17 |
Word Count: 807 |
Page Views: 4003
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 2.00
Everyone wants to stay warm, but a green-minded person wants
to do so while keeping the impact on the environment to a
minimum. Fortunately, there are both active and passive
steps to green ways of keeping a home warm during the winter
months.
Organic Products - What Does It Mean To Be Organic
Written by: Janet Davis |
Distributed: 2009-10-29 |
Word Count: 969 |
Page Views: 4614
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 2.50
Organic food is that which is farmed using organic farming
methods. This means excluding food additives and genetically
modified ingredients and avoiding the use of inorganic
farming techniques such as chemical pesticides or crop
irradiation.
All of Author's Articles on this site: Janet Davis Articles
Most Recent "Home And Garden" Articles
Choosing Outdoor Playground Equipment for Your Back Yard
Written by: Giana Briggs |
Distributed: 2011-03-22 |
Word Count: 473 |
Page Views: 6567
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 0.50
Perhaps you've reached a point where you think it's time
for your children to learn to love the outdoors. And what
better way to do that then have an outdoor play set right in
your very own back yard.
Tips for Choosing the Best Building Materials for an Outdoor Play Set
Written by: Giana Briggs |
Distributed: 2011-03-15 |
Word Count: 422 |
Page Views: 6732
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.00
Children these days spend most of their time attached to a
computer or video game. Very few children are ever seen on
the playgrounds anymore. And it's becoming worse with every
new device that comes out. But as parents, we can break this
trend with outdoor toys the kids look forward to using.
Building the Perfect Backyard Playground for Your Kids
Written by: Giana Briggs |
Distributed: 2011-03-10 |
Word Count: 466 |
Page Views: 6906
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.20
Every child loves to play at the playground, and nothing is
better than having your very own playground in the backyard.
It's as exciting to a child as Christmas morning. How do we
as parents pick out the perfect outdoor play set for them?
Setting the Stage for More Rooftop Farms
Written by: Mohamed Hage |
Distributed: 2010-11-17 |
Word Count: 855 |
Page Views: 6058
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 1.00
Mohamed Hage, founder of the world's first urban commercial
rooftop farm discusses the benefits and difficulties of
putting farms on rooftops.
How To Choose The Right Rug For A Room
Written by: Alycia Hartzell |
Distributed: 2010-10-26 |
Word Count: 441 |
Page Views: 5535
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 0.25
Choosing the right area rug for a room goes beyond simply
selecting a rug that you like. Existing factors within the
room will determine the rug you should select.
Solar Power for Homes - What You Need to Know
Written by: M.S. Rochell |
Distributed: 2010-08-12 |
Word Count: 553 |
Page Views: 5437
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 1.50
Some surprising new developments in solar power for homes
may make using solar energy in your daily life more possible
than you may think!
Solar Lamp Post Lights Reduce Energy Costs!
Written by: M.S. Rochell |
Distributed: 2010-08-10 |
Word Count: 466 |
Page Views: 8942
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 0.33
Using solar lamp post lights is a simple and affordable way
to help the environment, beautify your home and save money
on energy costs.
How Does Solar Energy Work?
Written by: M.S. Rochell |
Distributed: 2010-08-05 |
Word Count: 741 |
Page Views: 4993
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 2.00
Learn about solar power, how it works, and why this abundant
renewable energy source is becoming more accessible to more
people.
Why a Home Solar Panel Will Save You Money and How You Can Get One for Free
Written by: M.S. Rochell |
Distributed: 2010-08-03 |
Word Count: 739 |
Page Views: 5713
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 1.50
What is a home solar panel and how can it save you money?
Solar energy panels are a new eco-friendly option for
homeowners who want to heat and cool their home efficiently
using the sun’s rays. There are a number of ways you can
install solar panels affordably or even for free!
The Top 5 Reasons to Insulate Your Home This Summer
Written by: Erin Shaughnessy |
Distributed: 2010-07-27 |
Word Count: 429 |
Page Views: 5769
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 0.00
For homeowners who have been considering adding home
insulation - this summer is the time to do it.
Most Viewed "Home And Garden" Articles
How To Clean A Wool Rug
Written by: Alycia Hartzell |
Distributed: 2009-08-04 |
Word Count: 417 |
Page Views: 25646
| Votes: 30 |
Rating: 2.30
Surprisingly enough, cleaning a wool rug is a lot easier
than most people think. By following these simple steps you
will be able to clean your wool rug and save the money you
would normally spend to have it professionally cleaned.
Famous Waterfalls of the World
Written by: Elizabeth Jean |
Distributed: 2007-04-02 |
Word Count: 939 |
Page Views: 19045
| Votes: 53 |
Rating: 1.85
About 70% of the Earth's surface is permanently covered in
water. Water shapes our coastlines and carves channels through
countries and landscapes. Inevitably, water sometimes runs across
a sudden drop in the level of the land, and a waterfall is born.
7 Extraordinary Ceiling Treatments
Written by: Julie Lohmeier |
Distributed: 2006-11-28 |
Word Count: 79 |
Page Views: 17636
| Votes: 30 |
Rating: 1.77
In a recent post, I mentioned how ceilings are no longer simply
plain white. They're painted; they're designed; they're the
focal point of a room.
Decorating Tips: Best Placement for Rugs Under Furniture
Written by: AnnaRae Mills |
Distributed: 2007-03-07 |
Word Count: 681 |
Page Views: 16550
| Votes: 26 |
Rating: 2.85
Small rugs and accent rugs can usually be placed wherever they
look good or fulfill a specific purpose, but larger rugs look
best when basic guidelines for placement are followed. Since a
larger rug often serves as an anchor for a furniture grouping or
the main floor covering in a room, proper placement is essential
for several reasons, including a balanced look.
The Easy Elegance of Swags and Scarf Valances
Written by: Julie Lohmeier |
Distributed: 2006-06-15 |
Word Count: 261 |
Page Views: 14637
| Votes: 34 |
Rating: 1.68
The easiest drape to make and hang is a swag or scarf valance.
It's easy to make, looks elegant, entails less cost and fuss
than other drapery styles, and works in any room.
How to Create an Easy, No-Sew Valance in Just 15 Minutes
Written by: Julie Lohmeier |
Distributed: 2006-09-14 |
Word Count: 245 |
Page Views: 14142
| Votes: 23 |
Rating: 1.83
Here's an easy way to create a beautiful, elegant valance with
no sewing in only 15 minutes. See an example here:
Turn Your Single Family Home Into A Legal Multi Family Home
Written by: Robert Short |
Distributed: 2006-11-14 |
Word Count: 621 |
Page Views: 12078
| Votes: 24 |
Rating: 1.83
Will it really be legal? I've heard this question asked
hundreds of times, yet in my concrete cutting business, one that
is crucial in the conversion process, I have seen it done
hundreds of times. How you may ask? It's actually not any more
difficult than most major home renovations.
7 Popular Decorating Colors
Written by: Julie Lohmeier |
Distributed: 2006-07-18 |
Word Count: 520 |
Page Views: 11978
| Votes: 19 |
Rating: 2.42
Picking the right color for a room can often be the most
difficult decorating decision. The best way to find a color you
like is to look at other homes, restaurants, and good
old-fashioned paint chips. Here are some popular colors in
decorating right now.
Adding a Precast Concrete Stairway Bulkhead to Your Home
Written by: Robert Short |
Distributed: 2006-07-06 |
Word Count: 855 |
Page Views: 11699
| Votes: 22 |
Rating: 3.00
Nowadays it pays to be aware of the choices available in the
market in order to make the right decisions when it comes to
improvements in the home. And with the skyrocketing price of
construction materials and services, it makes sense to know what
options are available. Take for example the installation of
precast concrete bulkhead stairway to your home's basement.
Father of Fountain Design: Gian Bernini
Written by: Elizabeth Jean |
Distributed: 2007-04-02 |
Word Count: 876 |
Page Views: 11316
| Votes: 21 |
Rating: 2.19
For centuries, visitors to Rome have admired the architecture and
art of this great European city. Its famous outdoor water
fountains, piazzas, churches and cathedrals draw many thousands
of visitors each year, as do its countless art galleries. No less
an attraction is Vatican City, in the heart of Rome, and its
principal building, the Basilica of St. Peter.
Highest Ranked "Home And Garden" Articles
The Modern Soft Yellow Banana Evolved From The Cooking Banana As The Number One Fruit In The World
Written by: Patrick Malcolm |
Distributed: 2007-05-02 |
Word Count: 1431 |
Page Views: 8203
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 3.40
The early Spanish explorers introduced banana plants into America
from Spain as a hardcore, large cooking banana, known as a
Plantain banana. The amazing yellow fresh eating banana, that we
know today sold by supermarkets, resulted from a mutation from
the hardcore tissues of the parent plantain banana plant, that
was then growing in Jamaica.
Adding a Precast Concrete Stairway Bulkhead to Your Home
Written by: Robert Short |
Distributed: 2006-07-06 |
Word Count: 855 |
Page Views: 11699
| Votes: 22 |
Rating: 3.00
Nowadays it pays to be aware of the choices available in the
market in order to make the right decisions when it comes to
improvements in the home. And with the skyrocketing price of
construction materials and services, it makes sense to know what
options are available. Take for example the installation of
precast concrete bulkhead stairway to your home's basement.
Scented Flowers Make A Mariah Carey Style Comeback
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF |
Distributed: 2008-01-09 |
Word Count: 370 |
Page Views: 4534
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 3.00
Singer Mariah Carey all but disappeared from the music scene only
to return a bigger star than ever in late 2005. But, in terms of
comebacks, fragrant flowers just may make an even bigger
comeback
Don't Get Burned! The Hidden Costs of Kitchen Remodeling
Written by: Aaron J. Munk |
Distributed: 2008-12-15 |
Word Count: 831 |
Page Views: 4720
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 3.00
You’ve browsed all the magazines, planned and saved and
calculated how much your kitchen remodeling ideas will cost.
You’ve gotten estimates and bids, picked a contractor and now you
are ready to get started. However, renovations are rarely without
unexpected complications and these hidden costs might have you
spending more than you thought.
Create a Home that Nurtures, Inspires and Enlivens
Written by: Barbra Sundquist |
Distributed: 2006-05-16 |
Word Count: 979 |
Page Views: 5454
| Votes: 24 |
Rating: 2.96
Quick, think of an amazing environment. A place where you feel
totally alive and inspired. Got a place in mind? Now make a
list of the attributes of that place. Is it indoors or outdoors?
Quiet or lively? What colors, smells, sounds, objects, people
are present? You've just defined what aliveness feels like for
you. Now think about your home.
How to Build a More Successful Flower Garden
Written by: Lauren Mamane |
Distributed: 2009-07-03 |
Word Count: 1046 |
Page Views: 4122
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 2.94
Flowers are the one plant that most everyone enjoys possessing,
either in the yard or in a vase on the table. The beauty of the
flower has held its place in the human heart for as long as man
has loved a woman.
Select the Right Window Coverings
Written by: Brian Wright |
Distributed: 2008-02-07 |
Word Count: 1186 |
Page Views: 6764
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 2.92
A window covering selection should be selected for both function
and style. Blinds, shutters, drapes, curtains, and shades all
have different qualities the affect the final decision. Discover
the best window treatment for your home.
Game Room Decor, Collectibles and Yesteryear Figures
Written by: Verna D James |
Distributed: 2007-08-29 |
Word Count: 615 |
Page Views: 2232
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.89
A great idea for an unusual decorating theme is game room
collectibles or yesteryear figures for your home game room, not
only, that, but have you considered decorating one of guest or
reception rooms as a game room, perhaps with a snooker or pool
table, and using it for parties and the like? You can have a
different kind of 'pool' party here!
Ornamental Grasses for Fall Landscapes
Written by: Ted Roberson |
Distributed: 2006-09-29 |
Word Count: 510 |
Page Views: 4594
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.86
Ornamental Grasses are becoming extremely popular in low
maintenance landscapes as a way to add beauty and color without a
great deal of hard work in the garden. Another great way to
implement ornamental grasses is for fall landscapes.
Will Jennifer Aniston Ever Get A Red Iris On Her Birthday?
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF |
Distributed: 2008-05-22 |
Word Count: 464 |
Page Views: 5624
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 2.86
The iris, birth flower for the month of February in which
Jennifer Aniston was born, comes in almost every color you can
imagine-white, yellow, blue, purple...but not true red. You may
see them in colors very close to red, like wine or brick red,
but you won't see one in real, stop sign red.
|
|
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
Article Statistics
|
Word Count: 953
Total Views: 4072
Article Rating: 1.33 of 5
Votes Cast: 3
More Articles By Author:
Articles On This Website
Last Distribution Date:
2009-12-15 15:00:00
Internal ID: #7142
|
|
|