Green Planet Ethics

Native Plants Why We Should Garden With Them

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:54:38 +0000

Native Plants Why We Should Garden With Them

Native plants, why we should garden with them, and when we think of the typical garden, it often conjures up images of perfectly groomed and trimmed plants and flowers amid a clean bed of mulch. Many gardeners choose their plants based on what “look” they want to achieve, or other desired benefits. However, that approach does not take native species into account. There are so many reasons to choose native species over mass-produced, ubiquitous landscape plants. Here are some of those reasons.

1. Pest Resistance

These plants are much more resistant to pests. Do you know someone who grows hybrid roses or tropical imports? They are probably always fighting June beetles and other pests. These plants, on the other hand, grow naturally in your area. If they grow there on their own, they have obviously learned how to survive the local pests. This resistance to pests also means less use of dangerous pesticides.

2. Heartiness

Non-native species often need “babying.” They have to be covered or sheltered if the temperature gets below a certain point, for example. Local plants, on the other hand, come from generations of survivors. They can be remarkably tenacious, needing little tending. They don’t even need much watering, except right after they are planted or transplanted. So native plants help gardeners conserve water, too.

3. Suited to the Soil

Gardeners can spend a great deal of time, money, and effort on “improving” or changing the nature of the soil. Some gardeners dig all the existing soil up and replace it with bagged soil. They make changes regarding the acidity or alkalinity of the soil, and they add compost, sand, or whatever is necessary to make the right environment for their plants. Then heavy applications of fertilizers are often necessary to sustain these foreign plants.

These plants, on the other hand, have learned to adapt to the soil and will grow and thrive on it as it is. Native gardening saves a lot of effort in this regard.

4. Fewer Chemicals

As noted above, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides (weed killers) are often necessary to maintain a non-native garden. But native plants are adapted to the soil and climate in your area, meaning they need a lot less chemical coddling. Therefore, gardening with native species of plants is less harmful to the environment.

5. Wildlife

Everything from bees to songbirds will benefit from native plantings. Songbird populations are dwindling in many areas. These plants can help provide a natural and familiar sanctuary and food source for these important creatures.

6. Surrounding Ecosystems

Potentially invasive, foreign plants can “escape” the garden and have devastating effects on the surrounding ecosystem. Imports like kudzu are taking over parts of the southern U.S., and many other invasive species are wreaking havoc. Native flora are therefore crowded out, eliminating the food source of local wildlife and disrupting the delicate balance between plants and animals. If you plant a native species and it escapes, it will only improve things and add more of a good thing.

We hope that Native Plants Why We Should Garden With Them helps you create a more natural eco-friendly yard!

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Teaching Kids about Energy

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:18:43 +0000

Your son or daughter comes home from school with questions about energy. How do you begin to explain such a vast concept? Teaching kids about energy starts with conveying that there are many forms of energy around us and even inside us. Life as we know it would not exist without energy. Energy is so important that all food packages list Calories, an old energy unit. Energy is either stored or involved with motion.

The property of an object or a system (a group of objects) which enables it to do work is called energy. You need energy to do work, or to apply a force across a distance, meaning to move something. If energy does involve moving an object, it is called kinetic energy. A ball rolling downhill has kinetic energy. Energy can also come from the position of an object or its arrangement. This type of energy is called potential energy, or stored energy. A ball that is stationary, on the slope of a hill, before it begins to roll down, has what is known as gravitational potential energy. As the ball rolls downhill, the potential energy it had is changed into kinetic energy. That is an example of the law of energy conservation; energy cannot be created or destroyed, it changes form from one type to another.

Since energy does change from one form to another, sometimes it is difficult to determine whether energy is potential or kinetic. Some energy is potential energy and kinetic energy simultaneously, such as thermal energy, or heat. Even a moving object can have both potential energy and kinetic energy at the same time. As the ball rolls downhill, its potential energy is changed into kinetic energy. As it rolls, at any specific time, the total amount of energy that the ball has does not change; the law of energy conservation holds. This type of energy is considered mechanical energy.

When teaching kids about energy it’s important to relay that besides the motion of objects, other types of kinetic energy include radiant energy, or light; radiant heat energy; acoustic energy, or sound; and electrical energy, or electricity through wires. Other types of potential energy include electrical energy stored in a battery, chemical energy, nuclear energy, magnetic energy, and solar energy; all stored energy in atoms or molecules. Elastic energy is potential energy within a fluid or solid that can be converted into mechanical energy.

Can there ever be a perpetual motion machine? That is, a machine that never stops moving and constantly creates its own energy as it works? Most machines noticeably heat up as they operate. This heat is from friction. The energy that goes into a machine is always greater than the amount of work it produces, because some of the initial energy changes into friction. Because friction is never completely eliminated, the energy going into a machine is always going to be larger than the machines output. A machine can never run indefinitely, so a perpetual motion machine cannot exist.

When teaching kids about energy you can explain the different types of energy. Energy is either kinetic, involving motion, or potential, stored. Energy changes form from one to another, leading to the law of energy conservation. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it transforms from one type to another type. A perpetual motion machine cannot exist, since such a device would counteract the law of energy conservation.

Energy is a fascinating and vast subject but by remembering these energy basics teaching kids about energy can be simple and fun.

Lorie Moffat has taught science for 20 years. She has a B.S. degree from Penn State in Earth Sciences and an M.S. degree from Drexel University in teaching.
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Originally posted 2010-04-26 04:55:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Green Roof What to Consider When Planning to Install a “Green” Roof

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:18:42 +0000

Green Roof What to Consider When Planning to Install One

Green Roof What to Consider When Planning to Install One, and in various times, places, and cultures, this roof was the norm. People lived in earthen homes that were sometimes dug out of hillsides or creek banks, and the native grasses and wildflowers grew naturally on top. Other homes had sod or thatched grass roofs. Modern people are discovering the merits of this kind of roofing. If you are planning to install one of these, here are some things to consider and keep in mind.

1. Types of Green Roofs

Before you begin, you need to determine what kind of this roof you want. Here are some of the various types.

* Extensive – Despite the name, extensive green roofs require less maintenance than the other two types. They are nearly self-sufficient, and require maybe an annual weeding or fertilizing. They are not as heavy as other green roofs, since they require less soil. If an extensive green roof is going to be covered with moss, a thin layer of growing medium such as rockwool is all that is necessary.

* Semi-Intensive – These roofs require more intensive maintenance – hence the name. Semi-intensive roofs require regular watering, sometimes in the form of irrigation, and regular weeding and fertilizing. They offer more variety than extensive green roofs. Shrubs, perennials, and herbs can be grown on a semi-intensive roof.

* Intensive – This high-maintenance green roofing option offers the most variety of design and flora. Garden paths, rock formations, fountains, and other elaborate additions can be a part of an intensive living roof. Large, flat-topped buildings can even have playgrounds and park-like settings as part of their eco-friendly roof.

Remember, high-maintenance is not necessarily bad. If you are the kind of person who likes to spend time in a garden – and maybe you don’t have the land to have a regular garden – then an intensive one of these roofs could be a good investment for you.

2. A Weighty Issue

Soil and sod are heavy. Before you get too far into your green roofing project, have a professional determine the strength and weight-bearing capability of your walls. This is especially important if you are installing the new roof over your existing one.

3. Choose Your Plants

Think about what kinds of plants you want on your new roof. If you want to provide a sanctuary for wildlife such as bees, hummingbirds and butterflies, then plant flowering species. If you are concerned about the surrounding eco-systems and habitats, consider native plantings for your roof.

We hope that Green Roof What to Consider When Planning to Install a “Green” Roof helps give you insight for your next roofing project!

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How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:22:29 +0000

I'm cleaning the air!

How to improve your indoor air quality, and depending on your location, indoor air can be just as polluted – if not more so – than outside air. The problem is the chemical nature of many building materials, to the point that “sick building syndrome” is a recognized disorder. Improving the air quality in your home is a good idea, even if you and your family do not have allergies or obvious symptoms of chemical exposure. Here are some tips for making sure the air in your home is clean.

1. Air Purifiers

Lately, air purifiers have been competing with open windows for air quality control. Now, however, there is a compromise: window air purifiers. If you live in an area where outdoor pollution is significant, or if you suffer from hay fever or pollen allergies, this may be the answer for you. Window air purifiers fit into an open window like an exhaust fan or screen. Outside air comes through them, but it passes through a filter first, giving you the best of both worlds: fresh air from outside and clean air from a purifier.

2. Open Windows

That said, if you live in an area where the outside air is not a problem, open those windows. To get the best ventilation, open windows across from each other. This cross-ventilation effect works both within one room and between rooms.

3. Go to the Source

Educate yourself as to the possible pollutants in your home, and then take steps to remove them. For example:

* Your carpet is probably made from synthetic fibers and held in place with chemical adhesives. It is likely that your carpet is coated with some kind of chemical stain guard as well. Also, carpets are notorious harbingers of dust, animal hair and dander, and other household allergens. If possible, take up your carpet and discover the hardwood beneath, or put down natural flooring if none exists.

* Wallpaper glue can cause chemical sensitivity in some individuals. Using eco-friendly strippers or hot steam, remove the wallpaper and paint with eco-friendly paint devoid of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and synthetic pigments.

* Get rid of chemical-based cleaners which are made from substances that can cause respiratory and skin problems. Some of these toxic cleaners are potentially fatal if swallowed. Who needs these poisons around the home? Use eco-friendly cleaners that you make yourself (baking soda and white vinegar can meet most cleaning needs), or purchase green cleaners from stores.

4. Best Plants For Indoor Air Quality

The best plants for indoor air quality starts with filling your home with green, indoor plants. These are nature’s air purifiers, and can be employed in conjunction with open windows. In fact, indoor plants thrive on fresh, outside air. And when you close your windows, the plants work all the time to exchange air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, ammonia, and formaldehyde for healthy oxygen. The best plants include the English ivy, spider plant, peace lily, and various palms.

5. Clean Filters

Make sure the filters in your heating and cooling system are changed regularly. Purchase filters that are made to filter out as many chemicals and allergens as possible.

We hope that how to improve your indoor air quality helps your indoor air, now, take a deep breath and enjoy the air!

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Originally posted 2010-05-04 06:09:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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How Much Energy Does Solar Energy Produce ? – Read This Now !

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:22:28 +0000

If it happens to be that you are interested about how much energy does solar energy produce, then by all means, take a few moments to look over the following – it will surely greatly increase what you’ve learned about solar technology. What would you say if someone were to offer you a plan which provides you the simple technology for converting solar energy into abundant energy for your home at a cost you can’t afford to pass up – is that possible? Keep reading the following article.

Up until now, installing solar panels to create at least part of your electricity was seen as an undertaking that was out of the reach of most people, however, some thought of it as a long-term goal. Nowadays, people frequently perform Internet searches for how much energy does solar energy produce, which is evidence that interest in solar energy is expanding, and there are many looking for ways to get started in this exciting field.

The latest news in this field is that the time to easily ‘solarize’ your home is here and now and won’t empty the wallet of those who want to start enjoying unlimited power at no-charge (unless someone finds a way to charge for sunshine)! The technology itself is already here for many years, although it remained out of reach for the majority due to the price; so we continued to feel trapped in our relationship with the electric company, paying needless bills and counting our pennies.

Before you continue your research on how much energy does solar energy produce, I want you to know that not so long ago, a respected professional in the field of green technology wants to spread the word about a way for you to build solar panels and a device capable of converting the power of the sun into useable electricity with low-cost and easy-to-find materials and a simple method for assembling them. I realized that there happen to be a large number of people in the u.s. and globally who already enjoy the benefits of solar power, to create abundant solar power for their personal use, and in addition, actually make money by selling their extra power to the electric company. Because it’s such a snap to use, homemade energy production is going to create a much-needed revolution in how we get our energy.

Enjoy FREE and UNLIMITED solar-based electricity…forever!

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Originally posted 2010-04-24 04:53:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Healthy Halloween Treats How to Make Healthy Halloween Treats

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:22:27 +0000

Healthy Halloween Treats can put a smile on both you and the childrens faces this year!

Healthy Halloween Treats How to Make Healthy Halloween Treats, and few holidays emphasize unhealthy treats as much as Halloween does! As Americans are getting more concerned about childhood obesity, many parents are looking for ways to celebrate this holiday without filling up on Milk Duds. Here are some ways you can make Halloween treats that look and taste good.

1. Mummy Fingers
Part of Halloween is the creepy shape and look of the treats. Using sticks of cheese, cut slits at intervals to make “joints.” Then cut “fingernails” out of green pepper, red apple, or sliced almonds and use a bit of soft cream cheese to attach them onto the tips of the cheese “fingers.” You can also make mummy fingers with carrot or celery sticks.

2. Green Dip
Add food coloring to ranch dressing or cheese dip to make a green dip for the mummy fingers.

3. Nacho Witches
The triangular or circular shape of corn chips lends them to Halloween shapes. Try making witches by spreading appropriately green guacamole on a round corn chip. Add food coloring to cream cheese to make it grey or purple, then spread this colored cream cheese on the triangular chip – the “hat.” Place the triangular chip over the top 1/3 of the circular one, using the guacamole as “glue.” Use black olives, pimentos, or other healthy bits of veggies to make the face.

4. Apple Teeth
Begin this treat by cutting red or green apples into fourths. The side with the skin will be the “lips.” Using a sharp paring knife (adults only please!), cut out a wedge from the center of the peeling side. Leave peeling on the top and bottom of the mouth shape. Now the kids can help. Insert chopped nuts – slivered almonds work well – into the top and bottom of the mouth. You can use the occasional chocolate chip to look like a gap in the teeth.

5. Spooky Bread Shapes
Using Halloween cut-outs (or free-hand), you can make slices of bread (even whole wheat bread) into just about any creepy shape. Spread ghost shapes with cream cheese, witch shapes with guacamole or ranch dressing that you’ve colored green with food coloring, and pumpkin shapes with cheese spread or hummus. Use bits of dried fruit for eyes and other decorations.

6. Cheese Cut-outs
Like bread, cheese slices can be cut or carved into shapes, too. White cheese can be ghosts and yellow cheese can be jack-o-lanterns.

We hope that How to Make Healthy Halloween Treats helps you, your children and your neighborhood children experience a healthier halloween this season!

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How To Make A Solar Panel -home Wind Power Generator.

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:15:36 +0000

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Originally posted 2010-04-24 17:23:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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What are the laws about building wind turbines (generators) in hawaii?

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:15:35 +0000

I was thinking about building a Wind turbine for my house, but couldn’t find anything about them legal wise. Is there some kind of permit I need? What’s the max height I can build?

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Originally posted 2010-04-25 23:50:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Energy Efficient House: Turn Your Home into a Low-Energy House

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:15:34 +0000

Energy Efficient House: Turn Your Home into a Low-Energy House

Energy efficient house, turn your home into a low energy house because many of us are concerned about the amount of energy you use in and around your home, either because of environmental concerns or financial concerns. Here are some tips for turning your home into a energy efficient house.

1. Do a home energy audit. Go through your home and note the type and location of insulation, the state of the weather stripping on windows and doors, lighting, and so forth. As you do your audit, keep the following tips in mind.

2. Insulate your walls. If you remove a wall switch plate and you don’t see any insulation behind it, you probably don’t have insulation in your walls. That is a key priority if you are going to have a low-energy home. You can have insulation blown into your walls behind the siding. There are eco-friendly options for blown insulation, too.

3. Insulate your attic. Your attic should have at least a foot of insulation. A lot of heat loss can occur if the insulation is not adequate. Add more as necessary, and check for leaks and cracks between the side of the house and the eaves.

4. Replace your faucets with low-flow ones, or low-flow aerators. These are available for showers, kitchen and bathroom faucets. They are very inexpensive, and can save you a bundle in water bills and energy use.

5. Keep cool with fans and shade in the summer. Rather than automatically switching to air conditioning when the outside temperature gets above 75, try running fans placed in screened windows during the night and early morning. Draw curtains and blinds to block the sun as the day gets hotter, and move the fans out of the windows (so you aren’t drawing in hot air, but conserving the cool night and morning air). If you must run the air conditioner, try to limit it to several hours in the late afternoon.

6. In the winter, open curtains, shades and blinds during the day to let warming sunshine in. At night, close the blinds and curtains to keep cold air from leaking in around the edges of the windows, and warm air from leaking out.

7. Hang your laundry out to dry whenever weather permits. If you have a screened-in porch, you can hang it out all year round. This saves a lot of energy – clothes dryers use quite a bit of electricity.

8. Insulate your water heater and pipes.

9. Turn off the lights. This advice is ignored as often as it is repeated, but it’s still important. When you leave a room, get into the habit of turning off the light(s). Even if you are in a room, use the natural light whenever possible. When you do need electric lighting – such as when you have the blinds and curtains drawn against the sunlight – use lights with LED or CFL bulbs.

10. Turn off electronic devices at night, or when they are not in use.

11. Consider setting up a rain barrel or two. The water can be used to wash your hair, cars, pets, and to water plants (don’t drink it, though).

12. If you are able, invest in energy-efficient appliances. Regardless of what appliances you have, use them efficiently. Don’t hold the refrigerator door open, for example, or preheat the oven for excessive amounts of time.

We hope that Energy Efficient House: Turn Your Home into a Low-Energy House help you improve your homes energy efficiency and help both your pocket book and the environment!

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Household Toxins and Autism What Causes Autism

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:40:33 +0000

Household toxins and autism, bad combination?

Household toxins and autism what causes autism, and with the rise in autism cases has many people concerned, especially as a definite cause for the disorder is elusive. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 1 in 150 children (more boys than girls) born today will develop autism. The rise in autism since the early 1990s is epidemic in proportion, but thankfully, there are some insights as to what triggers this disorder.

Toxins in general are implicated in autism, and now environmental factors are coming under scrutiny. Specifically, household items such as cleaners are potential culprits.

In the Womb

A recent study analyzed the blood and urine of nine women across several states who were in their second trimesters of pregnancy. The study revealed 13 toxins present in the systems of these women, including Bisphenol A (BPA), perfluorinated compounds, mercury, and phthalates. What are these toxins, and where are they found?

1. BPAs are used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic and food can lining. It acts as an artificial form of estrogen in the body, and its potential to adversely affect fetal development is documented. BPAs wreak hormonal havoc in adults’ bodies as well, decreasing the production of sperm in males and causing changes in behavior.

2. Perfluorinated compounds are used to make non-stick cookware and stain-resistant products, such as you might have had sprayed on your furniture or carpet. Perfluorinated compounds are a potential carcinogen in people and cause tumors in laboratory animals. It is not too much of a stretch to consider that these compounds could affect brain development.

3. Mercury is known to affect brain development and to harm cognitive function. Every woman in the above study had mercury in her blood. Household items that contain mercury include household batteries, fluorescent lights, thermometers, paint residues, and thermostats.

4. Phthalates are implicated in reproductive problems and asthma, and interestingly, asthma and autism often occur together. Pthalates are fragrance carriers and are used in shampoos, cosmetics, and other beauty products.

Of course, exposure to these common toxins does not cease after birth. The poisoning may begin then, but it continues as the baby grows up in a household where such items are common.

Other Toxins

1. Pet shampoos have been found to be used twice as often in families with autistic children. Pet shampoos contain organophosphates or pyrethroids.

2. Antibacterial soaps contain ingredients that may affect the human immune system, and autoimmune disorders are associated with autism (the immune system turns inward and attacks the body, causing inflammation and other symptoms).

3. Pesticides have known neurological effects and are found on everything from produce to lawns.

4. Household cleaners emit vapors that are known to be toxic, to the point that some doctors warn their pregnant patients not to use them to clean the house during pregnancy. These cleaners – festooned with “Keep Out of the Reach of Children” warnings – contain carcinogens, neurotoxins, and endocrine disrupters (which means they can affect human hormones).

Perhaps if we began to take those warnings seriously and kept such products completely out of our homes, we could lower our children’s risk for developing autism.
We sincerely hope that household toxins and autism what causes autism has helped you understand this issue better.

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Originally posted 2010-04-10 12:08:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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