SOLAR POWERING THE WORLD

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has forecast that global demand for energy will grow by a massive 54% over the next 20 years.The long-term energy forecast from the EIA predicts that by 2025, world electricity demand will be almost double what it is now. 
The bulk of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas.When these are burnt, their energy is released but at the same time, carbon dioxide is also released into the air.These traditional energy resources won’t last forever and are not renewable and burning them leads to emissions which harm the environment, therefore there is a growing need to develop renewable energy sources such as wind, water, solar and geothermal.   
The energy from the sun that gets to the earth’s surface is six thousand times more than is used on earth.  Solar energy has been used by humans to meet some of their energy needs since ancient times, but with growing global concern over environmental issues, it is becoming increasingly prevalent.
Solar power is now a viable alternative to the traditional fossil fuel energy sources such as oil, coal and gas and is mainly used for heating and generating electricity.  
In state-of-the-art city skyscrapers and sports stadia to ordinary homes in the heart of suburbia, solar energy provides a clean and cost-effective solution.The giant new 55 000 seater stadium in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung is the first stadium in the world to use solar energy technology to generate power.The enormous nineteen-hectare structure was built for the 2009 World Games, and will produce enough power for its 3 300 lights and two huge television screens from nearly nine thousand solar panels on the stadium roof.  
That is solar power on a massive level.  For ordinary households however, solar power is a real alternative to conventional sources and can meet domestic energy needs cost-effectively and with very little maintenance.
Solar energy experts, Perth based Solar My World, say that by installing photovoltaic or solar panels on a domestic property, homeowners will ultimately save on electricity, add value to the house and contribute to creating a greener Australia.For Perth property owners, there are two solar power options available – grid connect and off-grid solar power.
A grid connect system is usually installed in areas that are more built-up and will supply solar power to a household through an inverter.  If the system provides more energy than the property requires, the surplus can be diverted and ‘sold’ to the electricity grid.The other type is a standalone system which uses a battery bank for energy storage.This system is more common in remote outlying areas where people have no or restricted access to traditional power sources.  
A benefit of a solar power system is its versatility as it can be expanded to meet changing needs and can be designed for both AC or DC applications.
Energy accounts for the largest single contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions and there is growing awareness and urgency for humans to preserve the environment by looking for their own ways of reducing CO2 emissions.By generating power from the solar panels on the roof, the stadium in Kahosiung mentioned earlier will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 660 tons annually.  By making a simple decision to install solar power in our domestic locations, we could all have the energy to save the world.

How Much Can I really Save Using Solar Power?

If you are considering installing a solar energy system to your home, you may be wondering if the savings will outweigh the costs. Of course, there is the initial expense to buy the solar panels and get them installed. But you will also decrease your expenses in several ways, from the immediate reduction in energy costs, to saving against the increasing cost of fuel, as well as raising the value of your home.

It’s Fast Become A Trend That Building and Installing Solar Panels Can Be Done as A DIY Project

As so many factors go into installing a solar electricity system, each house has to be considered on a case by case basis. Your roof’s pitch and facing direction must be considered, as well as the location buildings and trees that could prevent sunlight from reaching the panels. And a accurate evaluation is key in ensuring each system will work at peak efficiency. You can obtain accurate pricing for your particular site from professional installers for your materials and installation.

Whether or not you see an immediate cost reduction depends on your local electric company’s use of net metering. Net metering refers to a policy for solar panel owners in which certain power companies will buy back the customers’ surplus electricity. If your company participates in this program, your power bills can be substantially reduced. Some customers actually have a zero balance each month as their solar panel system generates enough electricity for their own use as well as extra to return the grid. But even if your power company does not allow net metering, your electric bills will still be reduced. During the day when the sun is shining on your solar panels, your appliances will be working off your own solar energy instead of electricity from the utility company.

Take A Look At The Report To Making Your Own Solar Panel

There is also a good chance that solar electric systems will become valuable assets to houses in the near future. As energy costs keep rising, awareness of the benefit of alternate power systems is rising. If you have a record of cost reduction that you can demonstrate to a potential buyer, it can be a powerful incentive for them to choose your house over one whose energy costs are higher. And your solar power system can be a real hedge against inflation if the cost of fuel continues to increase as it’s forecast to do. A solar electric system also means that your home won’t be troubled by brownouts and power outages that can occur due to bad weather or simply due to grid overload.

Did You Know That A Do It Yourself Solar Panel System Exists To Save You More On Costs?

Save our future generation with wide use of solar lights

The range of solar lights has grown to the stage when you can create your touch of style. When designing the landscape for your garden and home, it is important to choose the right style for yourself. Below are the different types of styles:

Style 1: Fun and Creative

Fun and Creative Style is usually created by brilliant striking colours such as orange and easily to carry around without plugging into soil or tied to another object. One great item that fits this style is Solar Pot of various patterns on them such as bubbles and flowers. Simply place them on a table or any other flat platform like a normal flower pots and let sunlight shines on them. You can add few stalk of floral item in the centre of the pot to further beautify. At night, it glows in the dark, perfect for a candlelight dinner, without polluting the air and table with wax like real candles.

Style 2: Nature Blending

If you are a nature-lover, you will love nature blending style. The main body of the solar lights are made of stone or synthetic plastic flowers/insects (like butterflies). No matter for outdoor or indoor, image of the stone plays an important role in bringing our mind back to the nature and fills the surrounding with a sense of tranquility. Solar Flower/Insect LED String Light also have the same effect as stone. Best place for them is on the patio, wall or fence. Add a small water fountain using Solar water pump to bring the natural water flowing sound to your garden and home. I love to have all these to complete my “Nature Blending” home.

Style 3: Poised and Shiny

Poised and shiny style really raises the level of your market value and projects an impression of a high profile apartment. With the perfectly polished stainless steel body and sometimes curvy body, it is no wonder it made people view your landscape with envy. If you want your office or home looked poised, plant them along the walkway that has bright sunlight to impress your visitor.

Style 4: Enchanting

Bring back the memory of an enchanted gardens or labyrinth from fantasy stories and movie into your own gardens with enchanting style. Place some enchanted creatures like dwarf using Solar Garden Gnomes and angels using Fairy Solar Lights around your gardens to instill a sense of mystic. Other wonders that you can use to enchant is Lighthouse Solar Lights and Rome Solar Lights, both stands tall between 1 – 2 metres. These creates a sense of “off the beaten track” type of feeling.

Decide on your style for different corner of your house and garden. Each of the design can give a unique impression. Do your own review by looking for designs on the web or newspaper. You may also like to write in to me for more advice some finding the right style to suit your landscape and personality.

Paul Low is the founder for BrilliantSolarLights.com, an Online Solar Lighting Store specialized in wide range of solar lights with design from contemporary to exotic style. He is also a partner for Earth Day Network, actively support the global green movement. You are welcome to visit his blog to view interesting writeup on latest trend in solar lights or send your query on Solar Lights to his email at paul.low1@gmail.com.

Deforestation And Climate Change

Rain forests are one of the last great frontiers of discovery.  It is estimated that millions of species are still yet to be found and classified making this one of the most enigmatic entities in the world, yet the sad fact remains that this object of beauty is fast diminishing and may not be around for future generations.  We are losing thousands of acres per day due to deforestation to pave the way for so called “growth” and “industrialization” and with this brings consequences such as climate change, devastated natural habitats that support entire ecosystems, desertification and to our own detriment, losing the very key to our own salvation.

The potential cure to every illness could be locked within the very rainforests that we destroy, taking with it its secrets.  What’s tragic is that we are losing natures biological treasures just as we are beginning to grasp their inherent value.

We are dependent upon the rainforest’s of the world for our survival.  They provide the infrastructure of the natural world and are the building blocks that land based life builds itself upon.

The Amazonian rainforest helps to regulate normal temperatures.  We can see in part the effects of global warming on weather systems with the recent spell of natural disasters.  Just a brief century ago, natural rainforests covered around 14% of the earth’s surface which insulated and protected the earth’s climate against such extreme weather conditions, now that this has diminished to just 6%, in less than 50 years time there will be no more natural rainforest land to speak of leaving us at the mercy of the weather conditions that we all played a role in creating.

Our pristine natural forests are the lungs of the world, around one fifth of the entire earths oxygen comes from the Amazon rainforest which also absorbs and stores harmful carbon dioxide greenhouse gases.

The cure to every disease can potentially be found in the rainforest.  Out of 3,000 drugs that are shown to react against cancer, more than 70% of these are derived from plants that can be found only in the Amazonian rainforest.

The rainforest is host to entire ecosystems that depend upon it for their survival, to destroy it would be impossible to replace the natural biodiversity housed within it.

Industries fail to see the bigger picture and are opting for quicker ways to make money by clearing precious rainforest in exchange for growing palm oil crops.

Here are just a few effects of deforestation:

Climate change:

Through deforestation due to the world’s demand for wood, not only are we significantly changing the face of our planet but we are artificially accelerating the process of climate change.

Deforestation and climate change are not independent of one another, in fact they are both closely linked.

The tropical rainforests of the world act as a natural air conditioner cooling climate temperatures.  Not only do they remove and store carbon dioxide but they also have extensive cloud cover which deflects sunlight back into space preventing it from being absorbed onto the earth’s surface.  This can only come specifically from tropical rainforest which means to our own detriment and survival we need to protect and encourage re-growth of what we already have.  Cutting and burning of rainforest results in the introduction of even more greenhouse gases from its natural stores which further contributes to climate change.

http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/deforestation/take-action

http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/deforestation/overview/forest-loss-climate-change

The reduction of natural rainforest is also linked with the increase of mosquito carrying pathogens so we can continue to see the up rise of disease with the less volume of forest.

Loss of natural habitat and ecosystems:

We are losing hundreds of irreplaceable plant and animal species each day, no doubt there are thousands of species already extinct before they’ve ever had a chance to be discovered.  Through excessive logging and human influence we are upsetting the natural balance between plant and animal.  By changing the face of the forest you lose natural biodiversity that took evolution millions of years to form and which can never be artificially replaced through restoration incentives making conservation all the more important.

Displacement of indigenous people:

For thousands of years Indigenous people have long co-existed with their natural rainforests and have successfully survived by having the attitude to take only what they need.  Sadly, however these indigenous people of Borneo, South America are being further marginalized by government and industry, all in the name of “progress”.

Although by birthright they are the rightful heirs to their land, they have the least rights when it comes to the juggernaut of agribusiness and development and are being constantly pushed further to the outskirts of society, losing more ground of their natural forest as it is stripped to make way for palm and soy oil crops.

It is estimated that there were more than 10 million native Indians in the Brazilian rainforest 500 years ago, now that number has dwindled to less than 200,000 and along with their dying population they themselves, like their forests are becoming an endangered species.  With their loss of numbers goes their cultural identity and wealth of knowledge accumulated throughout the generations.  Every time a medicine man dies it is the equivalent of losing a library of information.

What we can do?:

The rainforests have far more value if we can preserve, protect and continue to learn from them rather than to tragically lose them to logging.  Wouldn’t you rather that they were preserved to help fight the life threatening diseases of humanity than to make your wooden floor boards from?

We need to shift the focus of industry from industrialization to preservation and put in place incentives where preservation could give equal to or higher returns than with development.

Have a voice – speak out for those who can’t speak for themselves.  Greater awareness and education of the importance of our forests and  their sustainability, it’s impossible to up heave whole hectares of pristine, natural forest and expect to replant them and retain their biodiversity.

We cannot expect to get back what we take, so we need to preserve what we have.  Designate plantation land and keep that specifically for the purpose of forestry.

Systems need to be put in place to protect and encourage growth of the remaining rainforest land that we already have.

1. We can do this by donating to help preserve our natural rainforests of the world.  We are no longer powerless as individuals, the internet has enabled the spread of information, making our world a smaller place.  You can now be put directly in touch with programs that can help on your behalf.  For instance the Donate an acre program:

http://ran.org/campaigns/protect_an_acre/about_protect_an_acre

You can also gift these to your loved ones, what an amazing gift knowing that you did something positive for your world.

2. Countries with rainforests need to see them as an asset other than for the purpose of logging and oil harvesting.  Imagine if landowners and  government were to realize the full potential of carbon emission trading, the amount of carbon offsetting natural untouched rainforest could offeris phenomenal giving more financial reason to keep them where they are.

3. Discourage buying soy and palm oil that is grown and harvested from former rainforest land.

4. Financial rewards for forest preservation for medical research.

5. By greater information and encouragement at government level and by influencing policymakers the importance of preserving these natural forests for indigeous peoples.

6. Where does that wood come from?  Buying “responsible wood” or eco timber.  Employing similar solutions as with endangered animal species by simply not perpetuating the demand cycle and avoiding purchasing endangered rain forest timber for construction, when we exercise our consumer power by not buying these types of items, industries will reduce harvesting this precious resource.

http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/take-action/live-greener/shopping/goodwood-guide/about-good-wood

What are Plant Biofuels?

Ever since the depleting of our fossil fuels toward the latter part of the 20th century never has there been such an urgency prompting us to find a replacement, and plant biofuels are shaping into a viable solution.

Plant biofuels are becoming increasingly popular as we look for alternative sources of energy.  Currently plant biofuels are used in conjunction with fossil fuels to reduce the amount of traditional gasoline used.

Although not an entirely new method of energy production, man has always used plant matter to some degree for the purpose of energy production.  Only in the last one hundred years has seen such an increase in the amount of oil consumed and due to the demand will have completely depleted its stores within the  next 50 years, given our present rate of usage.  Hence the reason why plant biofuels is making a renaissance in a big way.

Plant biofuels is fuel produced from living organisms known as biomass.  Biomass is the most plentiful resource in abundant supply in nature making it a strong candidate as a renewable energy source to replace fossil fuel with, not only is it in ready supply but it burns much cleaner than gasoline lessening the amount of greenhouse gases that come with regular fuels.

The reason why biomass is such a good resource to use is because it readily exists, is in large quantity and is renewable.  Biomass is material that comes from living organisms such as animals and plant matter for example, organic garden waste and animal manure.

Plant biofuels can be used to produce fuel, steam and heat through a series of different processes, although not entirely a clean burning fuel, however it does emit far less quantities of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide in comparison with regular fossil fuels.

The most intriguing feature of plant biofuels that has attracted the interest of scientists is its ability to burn carbon negatively.  When fossil fuels are burnt for energy there is a certain amount of carbon dioxide produced and released into the atmosphere whether it be through the burning of fuel in your gas tank or the burning of coal to power entire communities there is always carbon emissions associated with that process.  However with plant biofuels they create a carbon deficit when they burn meaning that when this fuel source is combusted to produce energy with it actually releases less carbon than was stored within the plant matter during its entire lifecycle.  This is due to the fact that plants retain the majority of carbon in their root system which keeps it safely contained underneath the soil top layer, the benefit to this is the prevention of any further carbon escaping into the atmosphere while nourishing the surrounding soil as it decomposes and is reabsorbed back into the earth.

When plant matter is burned for biofuel, rather than releasing high quantities of carbon gas, around 10% becomes a solid ash byproduct which does  not contribute to greenhouse gas.  The beauty of this is that this ash byproduct makes an effective soil fertilizer, concentrated in nutrients.

With our current energy crisis balanced with ever adapting and evolving technology, expect to see plant biofuels make an even greater presence as it eventually fades out our dependence for fossil fuels.

Sustainable Building Materials

Planning to build your own ‘green home’? Have you been considering using sustainable building materials? Are you confused about what makes a building material ‘sustainable’ or wonder whether it makes any difference to use them in the construction of your home?

The building industry to date has relied very heavily on using energy-intensive materials that have huge environmental costs.  It can cost quite a lot to extract, manufacture or produce a building material let alone transport and install it. Sustainable building materials on the other hand are those that have the lowest possible environmental cost, having lower production costs with less impact on the environment over their lifetime.

You can gauge how sustainable a building material is by evaluating the amount of energy it takes (and the impact on the environment) to produce it. Other factors that effect how green it is include how efficient it is in the long-term and what it costs to maintain.

It’s possible to make a material more sustainable by recycling or reusing it, reducing transportation costs, choosing alternative renewable materials instead of non-renewable ones or using resources that have low energy requirements. Using sustainable building materials helps the planet simply because every aspect, from their creation, to their maintenance and disposal has been carefully evaluated to have the minimum possible impact on the environment.

There’s a fantastic array of sustainable building materials available today for the eco-conscious home builder. Fly-ash bases bricks, baked earth, bamboo, clay, wood harvested from sustainable forests, calcium sand-stone etc. are some examples of popular sustainable building materials.

When you opt for choosing these materials you help in reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources worldwide. Authorities estimate that around 3 billion tons of raw materials are being used every year by construction activities worldwide which works out to 40 percent of total global consumption. (Roodman and Lenssen, 1995).

Aside of the impact on the environment using sustainable building materials will benefit you as a home owner in many ways. It will help you to:

* Conserve energy in the long run since you will be using energy-efficient materials in the construction of your home.

* Experience low or reduced costs related to maintenance and replacement of materials over the building’s lifetime.

* Experience low costs with remodelling or space configurations.

* Feel the benefits in terms of better health since you will be using renewable non-toxic materials.

* Be more creative with the design of your home.

So what do you need to look at to gauge how green a particular building material is? Here are a few questions to consider:

1) Are the materials recyclable, non-toxic and safe for the environment?

2) How does this material contribute to the maintenance of the home in the long run?

3) Is it possible to source this material locally? Is it easily replenished?

If you are working with building suppliers make sure that you specify your desire to use local sustainable building materials or communicate that fact clearly to your building contractor. You can also get really creative in the design of your home when you use sustainable building materials. For instance, if you live near the ocean, you could use stones and driftwood in your home’s construction to give it a totally unique touch.

Using sustainable building materials not only contributes to a healthier environment but also helps you create an earth-friendly home that’s a true haven to future generations to come.

Solar Power Electricity

Solar power is one of the most unique, but beneficial ways of producing power.  Wind and hydropower are just two simple, but very effective ways of producing electricity.  Of course, because they are renewable energy resources, they enable a constant flow of energy.

One of the issues involved in producing solar power electricity is the initial cost.  Only specialist suppliers can obtain superior materials to produce the correct equipment needed, meaning low production volumes and high upfront costs.  On a similar note, installers of solar electricity systems demand extremely high rates due to their expertise making the possibility of affording a solar power electricity system, fairly slim.

In developing countries the necessity to hold fast to conventional non-renewable energy sources is far greater.  It may save them financially in the short term but comes with its share of disadvantages for the long term such as the contribution of greenhouse gases and the depletion of the very energy resources it needs to keep the engine of industry running.  It’s not that these countries are myopic when it comes to the global vision for sustainable, renewable energy sources but rather that the financial means to support the necessary infrastructure is simply not there.

It’s sadly obvious that it will be the established countries that will be in a better position to take advantage of solar energy systems.  While it may feel like the country is paying for 20 years of electricity in advance, apart from their maintenance, once the equipment is completely paid off, the power is effectively free.

Using similar systems for home use is also becoming somewhat of a phenomenon. Since the world wide economy has collapsed, consumers are altering their buying habits by becoming increasingly aware that they get the most economical cars, motorcycles and even light bulbs.  Economical and practical are taking the front seat in the importance of today’s buying decision over aesthetics and it’s only natural that consumers would want a piece of the action as far as solar power electricity is concerned.  The positive points are easy to highlight, but what about the negatives?

It does not matter whether systems are purchased in large or small volumes, they will cost a great deal either way.  Straight away this limits the number of potential consumers, but there are still other factors that might deter people from purchasing solar power electricity systems.  For a start most systems, such as panels or wind turbines take up a great deal of space.  If the consumer has the space and doesn’t mind it as a cosmetic feature, that’s fine, but people living in flats or apartments may find it difficult to install the panels due to planning issues relating to their block.

So, solar power electricity is definitely the way forward, both on a public and a commercial scale. The long term benefits regarding cost and economics make them literally the frontrunner choice in the bid for alternative energy for the future as the use of fossil fuels to derive our current energy from, will no longer be a realistic option.

Homemade Wind Generator

Home wind generators are making a big impact in the renewable energy realm these days.

With the world rapidly changing as our current energy supply dwindles we are forced to seek out renewable alternatives.  At the forefront of this renewable energy technology is wind power for its emission free energy generation and for being one the most abundant, replenishable sources of power in the world, wind which makes a homemade wind generator a logical choice.

The American Wind Energy Association states that a typical wind turbine or homemade wind generator has the ability to reduce an average household’s bills by up to 80% and more.  This amount is variable and can depend upon the type of wind turbine as some models are more efficient at converting wind to energy than others, how much power your home consumes, the wind speed where your homemade wind generator is located, etc.

In terms of carbon footprint and environmental impact, an average sized homemade wind generator over its life cycle can offset around 200 tons of carbon emissions.

How do you know if you’re a prime candidate for wind energy?  First determine if the location you live in has favorable enough wind conditions.  You can access this data from the US Department of Energy.  In order for your homemade wind generator to produce enough energy to power your home, your location should have a minimum of 12 miles per hour wind speed.

If you wish to proceed with your homemade wind generator, enlist the help of a professional wind power evaluator and have them visit your home, they will advise you of the course of action to take when creating your homemade wind generator.

Here are some of the different types of homemade wind generator:

Just as with solar energy panels, the excess energy from your homemade wind generator can be stored as backup battery power on days when you most need it, the advantage is to sell that excess power back to the utility company for a credit essentially giving you power for free.

Other types of homemade wind generator systems do not require a storage battery, rather the homemade wind generator is hardwired directly into your homes electrical power supply.  Being linked into the main grid makes up for power shortfalls on days with little wind and so makes a convenient backup solution.

An off grid homemade wind generator is suitable for those living in remote areas with no access to the main power grid.  If you live in a rural area you have a greater chance of catching more wind given that the location is free from obstructions such as residential homes and buildings.

To create your own homemade wind generator you can either purchase a ready to assemble kit which can set you back $1,000 or more or you can find some free blueprints online and pay a visit to your local hardware store and go the DIY route, either way it’s advisable that you hire a professional electrician when it comes to wiring your homemade wind generator to your home’s power system.

Some disadvantages of homemade wind generators are not only that it can obstruct your neighbors view but also the noise it generates, in fact a study undertaken by scientists claim that the sound from homemade wind generators can cause sleep deprivation, nightmares, ringing in the ears and distress.

Weigh up your options, explore all possible avenues if you’re interested in creating your own homemade wind generator.

Green Employment

With the current status of the economy has seen a surge in the booming green jobs market making green employment a hot commodity.  The reason why there is an increasing interest in green employment is in part due to the buzz surrounding the push to go green, with this recent movement has seen growth in every industry sector from construction, travel, transport, tourism, architecture to fashion and food.  Every industry is attempting to become a little greener and with it an ever expanding green job market to cope with the demand.

Most people’s perceptions of green employment is anything to do with gardening, landscaping and horticulture, this just scratches the surface in fact green employment can be any type of job that supports sustainability and energy efficient practices.  Green jobs look more like your regular typical everyday job than anything else.

There are so many green employment opportunities to choose from and their diversity ranges from environmental law to environmental catering.

http://www.greenenergyjobsonline.com

http://www.environmentalcareer.com

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/greendreamjobs.main/?CFID=28552574&CFTOKEN=50502841

Green employment can also include any form of business practice that encourages environmentalism, for example don’t think that just because you may not possess the appropriate skills to become a “green lawyer” doesn’t mean that you’re unable to work in an industry that can do its bit for the environment, such as working more from home.  This greatly reduces the amount of carbon emissions associated with daily travel.

Avoiding vehicle travel on at least one occasion per month can reduce your emissions on average by 2,734 grams of CO2 for that journey. With one day per week, each month you can further reduce your CO2 output by up to 10,936 grams per month which totals 131,232 less grams (over one tenth of a ton) of CO2 in the air per year just from cutting back on your work travel for one day per week.  Not only does it reduce the amount of pollution but also your carbon footprint, so it’s a positive stance for the planet and for your fuel costs.

It’s been found that there is a direct correlation between internet speed and the reduction of physical traffic on our highways, this means that when we have the infrastructure to support the demands of the working world then we can do more of that work at home, meaning less travelling on our roads and less pollution associated with that travel.  The decreasing reliance upon oil to fuel our travel with and the less we are at the mercy of the fluctuating oil prices that so often financially hold us to ransom, especially when it’s almost at the point where people are going to work just to cover their gas and parking expenses.

If you’re already in the market for a job and don’t think that green employment is for you yet you still want to contribute to the environment then why not try for a job in your neighborhood?  Look for local jobs nearby and that way you can save on your fuel costs with shorter travel distances, less wear and tear on your vehicle which translates to lower maintenance costs and repairs and of course cleaner air.  Working closer to home also has the perk of not being stuck in rush hour traffic lessening your exposure to harmful emissions.

Also another form of green employment is to work from home full time.  Why not outsource your skills as a virtual assistant?, this way you can write articles, press releases, send emails, post advertisements for companies and get paid for it.   Try posting samples of your work to www.elance.com, www.guru.com or www.rentacoder.com.

We live in an evolving world where our interpretation of work is so far removed from our ancestors ideals.  They would never have believed that you could work from the comfort of your own home so when it comes to changing jobs or if you’re currently looking for one why not try your hand at green employment?

Recycling Household Items

We are constantly being told to recycle as much of our waste as we can. plastic containers and cardboard items can be recycled with relative ease as lots of people have separate bins for this stuff or can drop it off at a recycling centre in town. What we don’t generally get asked to recycle however are the larger items. Things such as cupboards, wardrobes and tables often get taken to the tip never to be seen again. Right now people are not only watching what they spend more, but also concerning themselves with the state of the planet, so here are a few tips to aid home recycling.

Wood Items. Lots of people are very quick to get rid of their old chest of draws or bookshelf without taking some time to consider if they still have some use. You would be amazed how quickly you can make a quirky coffee table by screwing a couple of kitchen units together and taking the knobs off the doors. The best bit is that the coffee table will double up as storage space as you can just open the lid and pop stuff in. You can also use wood to make lots of little things such as door stops and chopping boards and even wine racks

Glassware. You might think that you need a kiln in order to recycle glass, but you’d be wrong.Glasses can be used to pot house plants, store knick-knacks in, and even create feature walls with if you’ve got the time to make it. If you put a little thought into it first, you need never have to throw another glass away.

Furniture. This is one of the hardest things to recycle and I’m not saying that you will be able to make tableware out of your old sofa, but sometimes there is scope to get a few more years out of items you thought were at the end of their life. The garden is a great place to find a home for old household items.By removing the cushioning and coating the furniture in some protective varnish, most chairs and tables will last outdoors for years. Old curtain poles also come in very useful for attaching a clothes line to, or running cable through to the shed or garage.

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