Going Green and CNG

Green living can go beyond using environmental-friendly cleaners and recycling cans – it can even be extended into your weight-loss plan. If you're already keeping a green household, why not carry those same habits into your exercise schedule? Going green while you work out is easier than you think. With just a few adjustments to your current plan, you can make sure you stay eco-friendly while you lose weight. Bring Your Own Water Bottle Drinking water before meals can help you lose weight by making you feel fuller, so you eat fewer calories. Studies have also shown that when you drink more water, your metabolism increases and this helps your body burn more calories. Disposable water bottles have been proven to harm the environment. Buying a new water bottle and throwing it away each time you work out adds to the over-filled landfills, with plastics that can't be naturally broken down. Invest in a BPA-free water bottle, and refill it each time you hit the gym. Wear i

1. Insulate your home If you are living in an older abode ensure you have effective insulation in your walls, under floor-boards and in the attic. This will reduce the amount of heat that is lost, keeping your home warmer and drier -saving electricity and money in the long term. 2. Install energy efficient appliances Read the energy star rating of any device or appliance before you purchase it. Do your research and compare models, there is almost double the usage between some washing machine models! Never buy more than you need, for a professional couple there is little need for a 10kg washing machine - think practically. 3. Change your light bulbs Install CFL lightbulbs wherever you can, they use 70% less energy than a standard bulb and last 7 times as long! 4. Reduce your power bill with smart meters Smart meters are installed in many homes around New Zealand. They give you real-time information on how your energy use affects your energy costs so you can reduce

It's undeniable that we're well into a new era of eco-conscious living. More and more people throughout the world are making daily decisions, both big and small, based on a desire to help save the Earth. Our children are being taught from birth to make Earth-friendly decisions and those of us who weren't are making strides to change our ways. The higher demand by consumers for green products has translated into a marketplace where style, function and diverse selection now abound. One place where this is clearly evident is in the market for green furniture. This is a wonderful way that consumers can make a significant impact on our Earth with every purchase they make. So, what are some of the ways green furniture can help save the Earth? And are there additional benefits to buying recycled, eco-friendly furniture? First of all, harvesting trees from rain forests and non-sustainable forests leads to deforestation, which means fewer trees left to produce oxygen, provide habitats for anim

A poorly insulated home literally leaks the warmth like a sieve. It is therefore vitally important that in these times of increasingly high energy prices that action is taken to reduce the losses to a minimum. Failure to adequately insulate homes against heat loss is costing many homeowners needless amount of cash each year. Follow some of the simple measures outlined below and you will be helping to reduce your energy consumption. Garage Doors For properties that have the garage attached to the main dwelling this can be a real problem. Generally the room that is above the garage is colder than the rest of the house. This is because the cold air enters through the garage doors and penetrates up through the floor. This means that in order to heat the room to the desired temperature the central heating system must work much harder than if the garage space was adequately insulated. Manufacturers of garage doors now realize this problem and offer a wide range of doors that

Life can break down alongside an ill-working major appliance. Although humanity existed before dishwashers, they make life so much easier. But chaos can ensue when things go wrong and exploring your options can help steer decisions in the most efficient direction. When to Repurchase The option to repurchase is both terrifying and attractive as appliance shopping can be fun until the bill arrives. However, repurchasing is the best course to take if your dishwasher is fairly ancient. Older models suck a lot of  power while leaving dishes with a spotty film. Additionally, if the unit breaks down regularly or would require the skill and expense of a technician, it's often cheaper in the long run to bite the bullet and buy a new one. As a unit which uses loads of energy and water, a new energy-efficient dishwasher is an excellent point to begin “greening” your home. The long term benefits can outweigh the upfront cost in such a scenario as the impact of ”going green” can reap

There are things in every corner of your home that you can recycle. The sky’s the limit as far as imaginative recycling is concerned. Home accessories are expensive, there’s no doubt about it. We use several accessories in the bathroom such as rugs, shower curtains, trash cans, tissue holders, trays and toothbrush holders. These items do cost a lot and when they need to be replaced, the plastic factor becomes a cause for concern. Here are 10 things that you can comfortably recycle in your bathroom, both plastic and non-plastic items. 1. Bathtubs If you are replacing an old and chipped bathtub, keep it in a corner of your garden. A large bathtub will make a great compost pot. You can also think of repainting the bathtub and donating it to someone who needs it. The bathtub can become a splash pool for small children. Paint colorful cartoon characters on it, place it in the garden, plug the bottom, fill it up with water and let the kids have fun. When your kids are done, hose the water

Going green is not just a current trend, but a way of life. Even a few small changes can help to protect the planet and its resources, particularly when printing. There are a number of ways to accomplish your printing needs, both personal and business-related, which are environmentally friendly. Waterless printing is a mechanical, offset lithographic printing process that uses specially formulated inks and silicone rubber-coated printing plates instead of the “dampening system” used in conventional printing. This process has garnered the attention of the print industry because of its environmental benefit— because it does not use a fountain solution, which is largely water-based, it produces significantly fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. In fact, this process reduces VOCs by 40% (waterless.org). Not only does waterless printing reduce the number of chemicals emitted into the air, but it actually improves productivity because water

You may have never considered what goes down your storm drain, but it is something you ought to be thinking about. Storm drains generally empty directly into natural waterways and pollutants such as soap, oil, pesticides, and other hazardous chemicals can harm entire ecosystems. By exercising some caution and following these stormwater solutions, you can do your part to keep your local bodies of water clean and safe. 1. Avoid chemical fertilizers unless absolutely necessary. Have your soil tested to verify what it needs. Use organic alternative when possible. 2. When using fertilizers, follow the directions closely to make sure that excess chemicals won’t be washing down the storm drain during the next rainstorm. 3. Keep your car free from oil leaks and never dump motor oil down the drain. Collect used oil and recycle it instead. 4. Clean up after your pets and make sure that pet waste is thrown away instead of washed down the storm drain. 5. Avoid using pesticides on your lawn. Look

What exactly is Green Home Remodeling? Green home remodeling is just like regular remodeling, but your home improvements are made with the environment in mind. Green remodeling uses environmentally conscious building materials, energy efficient appliances and eco-friendly furnishings. Green remodeling also pushes for sustainability. Simply put, sustainability is about having enough resources for ourselves and future generations. The Earth is the only home we have, so it’s important that we protect its resources for everybody. All of these things make your remodeling project healthier for your family and planet. Why does it matter? Being environmentally conscious is everybody’s responsibility. Your home improvement project is an opportunity to take a step in the right direction. Depending on your project, your green remodel could reduce greenhouse gasses, save water, cut down on waste or even protect forests and wildlife. What’s the cost? Green materials and appliance

As healthy as we like to make our meals, it is inevitable to come across household grease and cooking oil in your kitchen. Where does the oil and grease come from you may ask? Well whenever you prepare items such as meat fats, butter / margarine, shortening, lard, baking goods or cooking oil you will see that the fatty liquids will begin to add up. The wrong way to dispose it If you are currently disposing these liquids down the drain, stop immediately! It is incredibly bad for your plumbing as well as the sewer system. Fat, oil and greases (FOG) waste causes build-ups and eventually creates blockages in the sewer system. Not to mention it will ruin your household plumbing, where you will end up calling the plumber a lot more often than you would like! The right way to dispose it Once you’ve finished cooking, let the oil cool down completely before you begin disposing it. Sometimes the oil used to deep-fry foods can be reused several times as long as you strain it and keep