Natural Environment Blog

The benefits of choosing eco-friendly furniture and upholstery are two-fold. You can be kind to the environment, and kind to yourself. Refusing to use animal-derived materials saves land, water and food, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions and hazardous chemical-use

Choosing animal derived materials for furniture may seem natural, but this may not be the case, since these materials are known to emit toxic emissions which pollute the air, the water and the soil. Often the raising of livestock for wool, down or leather can be cruel.

Leather

Considered very luxurious by many, leather is made from animal skins, and is ecologically harmful. Raising livestock for whatever purpose, meat or leather productive, requires considerable amounts of feed, land, water and fuels. The excrement produced on farms also infects the waterways.

Even the process used to tan leather is noxious and polluting, with some of the oils and dyes used being cyanide-based. The tanning of leather produces a range of different pollutants including chromium, sulphides and acids.

Wool

You can be forgiven for thinking that wool is an environmentally-friendly upholstery material, especially since the sheep from which the wool comes are not killed, merely shorn. Many people (including the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have a problem with how wool-producing livestock are treated. They argue that even if they’re not subjected to pesticide-ridden habitats they could end up being mutilated by their owners.

Animal rights protesters have made a particular example of the Australian Merino sheep, who have been bred to have wrinkly skin which results in increased wool yields. Sometimes flies lay eggs in the folds of the sheep’s skin which can result in fatal maggot infestations, so farmers restrain the sheep without pain killers, cutting out chunks of flesh to discourage flies laying eggs.

Another environmental disadvantage of wool is the amount of gas that sheep and other wool-giving animals emit into the atmosphere through burping and farting. Sheep flatulence represents ninety-percent of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, so you shouldn’t doubt that this is a major contributing factor towards climate change.

Down and feathers

Down is a popular filler material for cushioned furniture, and is made from an insulating layer of feathers which can be found underneath the outer feathers of ducks and geese.

Down and feathers are collected from commercial meat processing plants, which means that it is impossible to know if they were raised organically.

Some campaigners have warned that often geese and ducks are plucked while alive. Down and feathers have also been blamed for allergic reactions, although this is more likely to be due to the dust and dirty which can accumulate in bedding over a long time.

Cover finishes

Cover fabrics, such as cotton is often bleached or dyed, and releases carcinogenic dioxins into the environment. Permanent-press and stain- and water-repellent finishes can emit gas formaldehyde into the environment. Cotton covers can also have detrimental environmental effects, as cotton uses a lot of water and is treated with more pesticides than any other crop in the world. Cotton is resistant to dyes and bleaches, so half of these chemicals end up as waste in rivers and in the soil.

Adam Cairn writes on behalf of Gecco Interiors, who supply a range of eco furniture and green products.

Research conducted by Norwich Union insurance (recently rebranded ‘Aviva’) indicates that over the past 25 years, asthma has increased six times in children and three to four times in adults.

Diet and pollution is thought to be the cause of asthma, and it might be alarming to realise that sometimes seemingly innocuous items like paint can actually be dangerous pollutants.

The Impact of Paint on our Health

Exposure to paint fumes can lead asthmatics to suffer effects from wheeziness to asthma attacks, but it’s not just asthmatics that can be affected by paint fumes.

Studies have shown that the volatile organic compound levels inside newly-painted buildings are a thousand times higher than outside. The World Health Organisation released a report stating that painters have a twenty percent higher risk of cancer and forty percent for lung cancer.

Even normal, long term exposure to paint can have a detrimental effect on ones health, Danish specialists have discovered a neurological condition which they have dubbed ‘painter’s dementia’. Paint fumes can be particularly bad for health when combined with other problems such as skin problems, allergic reactions or headaches.

Paint is something which is hard to avoid for anyone who enjoys electricity, lights and shelter, so what can we do?

The Solution

Fortunately, the demand for eco paint is starting to gain momentum, and the possibility of protecting your family against the potential health risks of conventional solvent paints. Eco-friendly paints are made from natural ingredients, containing the bare minimum of synthetic constituents, and often none at all. Environmentally-friendly paint can be composed of all sorts of different substances including by-products. These natural ingredient paints do not emit damaging fumes into your home, and some are completely bio-degradable.

Be kind to the planet, your family, and your home

Green paint is just as easy to work with as conventional paint you would find in any DIY store, and they also come in the same range of colours. There’s no reason why committing yourself to environmentally friendly interior design should you mean you are forced to compromise on the style and quality you desire.

Natural paint is not prohibitively expensive, in fact it is very competitive with mainstream paint products, so hopefully more people will realise that they don’t need to expose themselves and their loved ones to dangerous pollutants inside their own homes.

Thankfully science has told us that paint is contributing to our seemingly-deteriorating health, and now slowly the tables are turning as environmentally-sound paint becomes readily available on the market.

Adam Cairn writes on behalf of Gecco Interiors, who supply green paint and other eco products for a green home.

Electric cars pave the way to a greener future for the automotive industry. Here, we explain the technology that makes these cars possible and look at some of the first production models, which will shortly be coming onto the mainstream market.

More Than Meets The Eye

Although an electric car may look like your average family runabout from the outside, what lies underneath its bonnet is completely different to a typical fuel-burning engine. While a normal petrol- or diesel-engined car works on the principle of internal combustion, an electric car uses electric motors powered by battery packs. These motors are charged from a fixed electrical source such as a power point.

Electric Cars - Old Technology

Although electric-car technology has only started to become available to the masses in recent times, it is actually one of the oldest methods of propulsion. In the late 1800s, engineers began to experiment with the technology, but as it was harder and more time-consuming to develop than the combustion engine, it was pushed aside.

Within the last five years, however, electric-car technology has come back into favor, due to concerns over dwindling oil supplies and air pollution.

Indeed, major manufacturers such as GM, Nissan and Mitsubishi have invested billions into turning the electric car into a practical mass-transit solution, with the Mitsubishi iMieV, Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt being the best current examples of mainstream electric vehicles.

At the moment, the only practical option available to the eco-conscious car buyer is a hybrid like Toyota’s Prius or Honda’s Insight, but starting in 2010, the above-mentioned full-electric models will come on stream.

Variety Of Electric Cars

Mitsubishi’s iMiEV features a 64hp fully electric motor that can travel up to 100km on a full charge. This car is currently participating in a long-term trial organised jointly by the ESB and Mitsubishi to evaluate its practicality on the Irish road network.

Elsewhere, GM’s Chevrolet Volt does incorporate a petrol engine, but it is only used to charge the vehicle’s batteries if no power socket is available -– the car itself is propelled only by its electric motors.

GM Europe recently began a feasibility study that will analyse the recharging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles. Such infrastructure will need to be improved in order to eliminate the necessity for a petrol ‘back up’ as featured in the Volt.

As things stand, the Volt should appear in Europe under the Opel badge, but if GM sells Opel/Vauxhall (which seems likely) it will probably retain its Chevrolet badge.

Nissan’s LEAF electric car, meanwhile, is powered by compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate a power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW. The spacious five-door car will go on sale in Europe, the US and Asia next year.

How Eco-Friendly Are Electric Cars?

Electric cars such as these models are clean, quiet and cheap to run, but it’s important to remember where most of the electricity that charges their batteries come from – coal-burning power stations!

Until such time as manufacturers can produce practical solar-powered electric cars, we’re afraid the electric car will still leave a carbon footprint, albeit a small one.

This post was contributed by CBG.ie.

Keep up to date with all the latest developments in green motoring technology, including a look at hybrid cars like Toyota’s Prius at http://www.cbg.ie/GreenCars.aspx

Hybrids have been a hot topic in the car industry for several years now, but electric cars are coming on in leaps and bounds, too. Like hybrids, their development has been prompted by the need for an alternative to petrol - and diesel-fuelled internal-combustion engines, which contribute to air pollution, global warming and climate change.

Here, we take a look at the technology that makes electric cars work, as well as the efforts being made by both car manufacturers and national governments to get us all to drive them…

How do electric cars work?

The electric motors in modern electric cars derive power from on-board energy-storage facilities. These are usually batteries, however, alternative power sources, such as electric double-layer capacitors, are also being developed.

Thanks to regenerative braking, some of the energy used to power electric cars can be recovered and used again. Batteries need to be recharged with mains electricity, but seeing as they cannot yet store enough energy for long-distance travel, extensive recharging infrastructure will have to be put in place before the use of electric cars becomes widespread.

This is something governments will have to make happen, while the manufacturers concentrate on prolonging the life of batteries and improving their recharging speed. The power grid can produce electricity from a variety of resources, some more environmentally friendly than others, including coal, water, wind, nuclear reaction and even the sun.

Let’s go electric

As society at large becomes more aware of the environmental problems associated with traditional cars, the eco-friendly alternatives have started to attract both the public’s interest and, more importantly, major financial investment. Nissan has announced plans to introduce an affordable electric car in Japan and the US in 2010, which makes it the first major manufacturer to set a definite launch date for a mass-produced electric vehicle.

It looks like this time around Nissan will get the jump on its Japanese rivals, Honda and Toyota, who were first to the market with hybrid vehicles. Nissan says its electric car should be introduced globally in 2012, and other major carmakers will no doubt follow suit before long.

Elsewhere, the British government has launched the world’s largest ‘real life’ electric-car trial. The £25 million scheme was announced in June and it will enable citizens to take part in long-term trials of electric vehicles, ranging from small city cars to sports cars and vans.

The project is being undertaken in cooperation with car manufacturers, power companies, regional and local governments and academic institutions.

In Norway, the finance minister has recently announced a plan to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars beginning in 2015. It is not yet certain if the proposal will be put into practice, however this announcement encouraged politicians (both elsewhere in Scandinavia and further afield) to start a serious debate on the future of the automotive industry.

The Japanese government has launched a campaign to promote the use of electric cars in the country’s eight biggest cities, and is going to offer tax breaks and subsidies to those willing to buy one. This is unsurprising when you consider that Japanese manufacturers are at the forefront of electric-car development.

Starting from July 2010, electric-car subsidies will also be offered to the citizens of the Canadian province of Ontario.

Back in Europe, the French government is currently working on several projects that will lead to the electrification of not only cars, but also scooters and buses.

Pretty soon, we expect almost every major country will have some sort of electric-car incentive programme up and running.

This post was contributed by CBG.ie. Visit us to find more motoring advice, news and reviews as well as a comprehensive list of new and used cars for sale.

When assessing cars we usually consider if they are economical to run, but we should also consider how economical our own driving habits are. Indeed, by following the fuel economy tips below, you’ll be able to save on fuel and save the planet without having to change our used car to a brand new hybrid :

1. Keep a steady average speed – avoid travelling at over 100km/h (65mph). When driving at higher speeds, your car uses most of the energy produced to combat the air resistance. As a result, your car’s fuel consumption is most effective at the speed of 50-90km/h (30-50mph), so it’s best to avoid over-accelerating wherever possible.
2. Use the highest possible gear – most cars’ engines are more effective at lower revs, so make sure you change up as you accelerate to keep the revs down around 1,500 - 2,500rpm.
3. Clean your car’s air filter regularly – driving your vehicle with a dirty filter can reduce its economy by 10 percent, as this restricts the air from reaching the engine.
4. Make your car lose some weight – Every extra 25kg makes your car consume 1 percent more fuel, so remove all the unnecessary items you’re carrying around, such as a roof box or bicycle rack, if you’re not going to use them in the near future.
5. Predict the situation down the road – when you see red lights or traffic ahead, do not accelerate. Speeding unnecessarily and then braking rapidly burns more fuel than if you drove at a steady pace.
6. Do not leave the engine idling – even when idling, an engine consumes fuel. So, if you’re stationary for more than 10 seconds, it’s more economical to stop the engine and then restart it when required.
7. Close the windows – if driving at more than 50km/h (30mph) open windows increase the air resistance, which will be reflected in more frequent visits to the petrol station.
8. Pump up your tyres – correct air pressure is essential for economical driving. What’s more, it’s easy to monitor and control your tyre pressure, as most petrol stations have a gauge and pump that drivers can use free of charge.
9. Avoid overusing the air-conditioning – use your air-conditioning only when it’s necessary, as it can increase the fuel consumption by up to 10 percent.
10. Ask yourself one simple question before each journey – ‘do I really need to go by car?’ For short hops, consider using a bike or walking from time to time, thereby cutting your fuel consumption and your carbon footprint.

This post was contributed by CBG.ie. Visit us to find more motoring advice, news and reviews as well as a comprehensive list of new and used cars for sale.

Hybrid cars are often thought of as a new concept, a breakthrough, a rarity. However, when we look deeper into their history, it turns out that hybrids are not as recent an innovation as we might think. In fact, hybrid-engined cars are older than any of us, as their history dates back to the beginning of the 20th century…

How it all started…

Electric cars were invented in the 1860s, several years before petrol-engined vehicles appeared in 1875, but the story of hybrid cars begins in 1902.

The first vehicle that could be called a hybrid, as it used two sources of power, was the ‘Mixte,’ designed by Ferdinand Porsche. The car had a petrol engine to run a generator, which powered electric hub motors. The newly invented vehicle was later produced by several companies such as Krieger, Lohner-Porsche and Auto-Mixte.

…and then came to a standstill

Unfortunately, at that time, petrol-engine technology prevailed. The turning point was when Henry Ford started his first assembly line – the Ford company had developed the idea between 1908 and 1915. Ford introduced many improvements to petrol engines and subsequently decided on mass production to introduce the first affordable car – the Model T.

That car is now a legend.

From then on, the technology for steam-, electric- and hybrid-powered cars was neglected. Few were trying to work on the idea, and it was only when the issues of air pollution and global warming became serious that petrol alternatives were once again brought to the center of attention.

The rising price of oil also played its role and spurred interest in different energy sources. There was a massive increase in the price of oil in the 1970s, and in those years many automotive industry players, with governments’ blessings, came back to the idea of hybrid autos.

In those years, Volkswagen launched a hybrid-engined car (the VW Taxi); Toyota began working on the concept and built its first hybrid prototype; and the American government decided to use electric vehicles produced by American Motors.

A new beginning…

The launch of the Toyota Prius to the Japanese market in 1997 was a breakthrough in hybrid-car history. It was the first mass-produced modern vehicle of that type.

Soon, other manufacturers followed suit and hybrids were launched on the European and American markets. The fastest imitators were Audi and Honda.

Starting off, buyers were cautious and in the first year only 18,000 hybrid cars were sold. Nevertheless, the manufacturers were not discouraged and due to constant improvements, the popularity of hybrid cars has grown. In fact, from 2004–2007 the demand for the Prius was higher than the supply, and waiting lists were created for those willing to buy the car.

Hybrids are back for good

To sum up, it seems that the future of hybrid cars is now secure, as the technology is getting more popular and is supported by many governments. All the major car manufacturers are constantly working on new models and improving the older ones.

It seems that, after a century of neglect, hybrid technology is now here for good and hybrid cars are becoming the norm, not a rarity owned by few.

This post was contributed by Car Buyers’ Guide. Car Buyers’ Guide is the publisher of Ireland’s leading motoring websites and magazines. CBG.ie is the only motoring website to have exclusive partnerships with the leading national newspaper websites (The Iris Times and Independent Newspapers). CBG.ie is visited by buyers over 450,000 times per month and users view over 11.5 million pages on the website per month. 

Find hybrid cars and other cars for sale at Car Buyers’ Guide.

Online colleges are gaining in popularity by the day, not just because they’re more convenient for people who want to work and study, but because they’re offering more comprehensive and accepted degrees as well.

Most of us are aware of the various advantages to studying online as opposed to going to a regular college – we save on commuting costs, we’re able to earn as we learn, and we’re allowed flexible learning schedules.

But how many of us know that an online degree helps in the fight against global warming too? If you’re asking how, read on to find out:

• By minimizing our carbon footprint: When we cut down on commuting costs, we’re also cutting down on the usage of gasoline. And the less gas we use, the lower the impact of fossil fuel on the environment. Even if you were to stay in a hostel or dormitory on campus, it’s a cheaper option to study online because you’re minimizing the use of electricity. Online colleges do not have to use electricity to power classrooms and dormitories because there are no buildings.
• By reducing the effect of construction on the environment: Since there is no need for classrooms, you’re reducing the use of materials, especially the natural ones like wood.You’re also saving the use of fossil fuels in their transportation and in the energy that would be expended to construct the buildings. When there’s no construction, you also minimize the amount of water that’s used.
• By reducing the use of paper: When you study online, your word processor replaces all your notebooks. All your essays and lessons are submitted online in the electronic form, so you don’t have to use paper. When you minimize the use of paper, you’re saving trees in the rainforest from being cut down and are thus contributing to increasing rainfall around the world.Trees play an important role in bringing us rain, holding on to the soil so that the loose earth does not cause landslides, and in providing natural canopies that shade us from the harsh heat of the summer sun. In this way, they reduce the need for air conditioners and provide natural cooling effects.

This post was contributed by Claire Webber, who writes about the best schools online.  She welcomes your feedback at Claire.Webber1223 [at] gmail.com

Hybrid cars are becoming much more affordable.

by Jack Taylor

Hybrid autos are often criticized as being expensive, but this false belief needs to change. 

This belief was caused by the high prices that hybrid autos had when the new technology was introduced. If you were to spend more on a hybrid auto than you’d have spent otherwise, you were unlikely to ever get your money back - even if you got rid of a gigantic, fuel-sucking SUV. This may have been true when hybrids were really expensive and the initial cost outweighed the gas savings. But it doesn’t seem to be true anymore.

Today, petrol prices are rising, used cars are getting cheaper, and the new car industry needs to lower the prices to be selling at all. Now, hybrid autos are within the same price range as other new and used cars. 

New Hybrids Cheaper Than Used Ones?

Some estimate that a new hybrid may even be cheaper than the used one. The example car for costs estimation was the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid. John O’Dell claims in his article that price drop on the car market combined with the industry’s ubiquitous cut-rate financing offers, has made it cheaper to buy new than used cars. 

The hybrid autos’ manufacturer has lowered the costs of purchasing new cars, so much so, that it was cheaper to buy a 2009 Civic than a year old used one. The research was based on many factors and took into account several reasons for price reductions, like the national interest rate deal when choosing between new and used cars. 

Used Hybrids Cheaper Than Used Non-Hybrids

Extensive research has shown that used hybrid autos have become cheaper than other cars, especially if we take into account the rise in oil prices. 

Research has shown that the 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid with 1.5L 4-cyl engine and 75HP electric motor/generator was far more fuel efficient than other used cars. The Prius’ measured fuel cost on a distance of 676 miles was 39 Euros. Other used cars didn’t even come close.

Surprisingly, driving 2008 Smart ForTwo with 1.0L 3-cyl engine cost 9.7 Euros more. The numbers do not lie. 

The 2008 Ford Focus costs around 30,000 Euros and is over 30% more expensive. A 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid can be found for not much more than 20,000 Euros. 

Higher Standards

Owning a hybrid auto is also a step towards introduction of higher technological and ecological standards in automotive engineering. 

The European Commission has already adopted an action plan to achieve a 20% substitution of diesel and gasoline fuels by alternative fuels in the road transport sector by 2020. This is one of the reasons why car manufacturers are redesigning the drive train concept towards hybrid systems. 

To respond to the needs of our environment, with an ever-rising number of cars, we will have to make the switch to hybrid autos in the immediate future, then possibly solar powered cars one day.

Hybrids Are Here To Stay

Today, hybrid autos should no longer be perceived as new technology cars. Hybrids are an integral element of everyday economic and eco lifestyle. 

Whether you’re on the market for a  new or used car, you should look at all the costs of buying a car - not just the purchase price. You’ll find that a hybrid auto makes sense for both the sake of the environment and your budget.

Find used hybrid autos at Car Buyers’ Guide.

Jack Taylor is an expert in ‘green’ automotive industry. He is particularly interested in biofuels and hybrid cars.  

In six days, the world will have a global election. There are two candidates:

1. Candidate 1: Earth
2. Candidate 2: Global Warming

Earth Hour is when you need to cast your vote. Earth Hour 2009 is being held on Saturday, March 28 at 8:30pm (your own local time).

How Do I Cast My Vote?

Voting is easy.

• To vote for Earth, turn your lights off for an hour between 8:30pm and 9:30pm
• To vote for global warming, keep your lights on

Show Your Support

If you intend to vote for Earth on Saturday, you can show your support by downloading a banner, poster, badge, and more.

Here’s a sample of some of the badges you can display on your own blog or website to show your support for Earth.

For more information on how to support Earth on Saturday, see the VoteEarth2009 website.

Last year I mentioned that this year’s Earth Hour will be the biggest to date, but it’s also turning out to be even bigger than the organizers expected. 

No less than 1,539 cities and towns in 80 countries will participate in this year’s Earth Hour 2009. 

This number, which will almost certainly grow over the next eleven days, exceeds the organizers’ target of 1,000 cities. 

With more and more cities and towns signing up every day, the event organizers say that the success of Earth Hour 2009 is limited only by the will of the global community to want a say in the future of their planet.

“Earth Hour is an opportunity for the global community to speak in one voice on the issue of climate change, while at the same time coming together in celebration of the one thing every single person on the planet has in common – the planet” said Earth Hour Executive Director, Mr Andy Ridley.

“Whether it’s joining your community in a town square to watch the city lights go dark or hosting a lights out party in your own home, I encourage everybody across the world to be a part of this historic occasion. Turn off your lights, celebrate the planet, enjoy the moment and cast your vote for Earth,” he added.

With increased involvement from populous countries such as China, it is hoped that Earth Hour 2009 will be observed by over 100 million people around the world.