In most modern homes, lighting accounts for 10-15% of the electricity bill; an expense we might not often consider when shopping for light bulbs. All too frequently, the temptation is to opt for a cheaper light bulb rather than investing in an energy saving recommended light bulb – and investing really is an apt term in this situation. The cheap, traditional light bulbs are nothing but a quick fix; they will need replacing up to 12 times in the time an energy saving recommended light bulb will continue lighting your home. Once you are aware of this surprising piece of information, the price of the old fashioned light bulb in comparison to energy savers suddenly shoots up, and if you take into consideration the fact that for each traditional light bulb you replace with an energy saving recommended bulb you can reduce your bill by approximately £7 per year, the sensible option becomes clear.

Not only are the energy saving bulbs more efficient, they’re also hardier; although, like the traditional bulbs, energy efficient bulbs can break if handled carelessly, they are actually harder to break than their old-fashioned counterparts. This is due to the fact that they are often coated with plastic as a protective measure, and added to that their smaller diameter results in higher stress limits; consequently breakage rates are said to be less than 1%.

It’s not just your pockets that will benefit if you swap to energy saving recommended light bulb – the planet will also gain. Most of the UK’s energy comes from fossil fuels; this produces carbon dioxide emissions and contributes to climate change. By taking simple steps to reduce the energy we use, we will cut our carbon dioxide emissions and do our bit to help protect the environment.

So next time you’re shopping for new lighting, why not check for the energy saving recommended logo? You’ll be saving the environment whilst saving your pennies. The energy saving recommended logo was developed in order to help you spot the most energy efficient products; products that cost less to run simply because they use less energy to do the same job than more inefficient products. The light bulbs, for example, save energy (and money) because they are much more efficient at changing electricity into light.

You’ll be able to spot the energy saving recommended logo on a range of lighting products and fittings. You can also find the logo on household appliances, as well as heating, glazing and insulation products. It means the goods are amongst the most energy efficient you can buy as they have met strict criteria.

According to statistics, Australia is ninth in the world with the amount of greenhouse gas emissions they put into the air. In the year 2000, it was estimated that Australia was responsible for putting as much as 25.9 tons of carbon emissions into the air. The fact that Australia was ranked as ninth in the list of who produces the most emissions that are put into the air per year is not very good. This is a fairly clear indication that something must be done about the emissions being put into the air by Australia and this needs to be done now.

What can Australia do to reduce their emissions? There is plenty that an individual can do. An individual can do some simple things around their home that could help in saving electricity and the bonus with doing this is that it can save the individual money as well. Keeping the home maintained, purchasing highly efficient electronics, turning things off when they are not in use and using alternative transportation are all simple ways that an individual can help reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses they normally contribute to the atmosphere. Businesses can also do a lot by encouraging alternative transportation and car pooling, as well as keeping the building well maintained and having machinery turned off when not in use are all things that can greatly help in reducing greenhouse emissions; however, getting the government to give incentives for becoming more green and enforcing it can go even farther. By writing to the government, voting on parties that are in favor of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, getting thousands to sign petitions to show support for the reduction of emissions as well as educating others about the need for the reduction of these emissions can all go a long way in bringing the change that is necessary.

Especially with government support, incentives and enforcement can push the country to start becoming more progressive and change to using renewable forms of energy that will aid in stopping the emissions from being put into the air.

Another effective strategy to reduce carbon emissions is to purchase carbon offsets. Carbon Offsetting is an efficient and easy way to reduce your carbon footprint.

There is much that can be done if just one person puts their mind to it, but it is amazing what many people can do if they work together. If enough emphasis is put onto the problem with emissions and the government is pressured enough to realize that this is an important concern for their people, changes can be made.

Planet Earth has a complex climate system. Scientists are still trying to fully understand how this “system” works. However, there is now a global consensus on one specific issue: the Earth is warming up. Man-made gasses in the atmosphere, coupled with dynamic man made changes to the natural environment are the main contributory factors.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), a gas that naturally occurs, is a significant cause of global warming. Ice cores show carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have remained between 180 and 300 parts per million for the past half a million years. However, in recent years, CO2 levels have risen sharply to at least 380 parts per million. Historically, natural emissions have been balanced by natural absorptions. For example: when plants photosynthesize. However, the recent increase shows more CO2 is entering the atmosphere than is being absorbed and human activity is one of the main causes of this change.

The overall result is that the temperature of the planet is increasing. Climate change is underway and it is affecting every part of the planet. In South Africa we have seen milder winters and warmer and wetter summers. These changes not only affect the human population, but also wildlife, with many species facing potential extinction. Some parts of the planet will be affected more than others. In particular Africa is thought to be at serious risk. Climate change may well lead to social and political problems as migration increases, together with water and food shortages in specific regions.

”Recent increases in average temperature indicate that more CO2 is entering the atmosphere than is being absorbed. Scientists now agree that these increases are almost wholly because of human activity”.

Scientists agree that not all climate change is avoidable. However, behavior changes made now may affect the rate of change. Most of the extra carbon dioxide has been released into the atmosphere by the developed world, with the United States of America alone responsible for an estimated quarter of emissions since the 18th century. Future emissions will also be generated by large developing countries like China and India.

Reducing CO2 emissions, developing worldwide low carbon technologies, usable by all nations, not just the richest, on a global scale and agreeing a framework for future development are all part of the solution. However, the solution can start at an individual level and involve everyone. Until recently most people in the western world have taken the supply of energy, water and food for granted, but there is a growing realization, not least due to the recent significant increases in fuel prices, that these are precious commodities we must preserve.

An electricity monitor is a device which helps you to understand the cost of electricity, not just in financial terms but also in the way our electrical usage has an impact on the environment. An electricity monitor, provides up to the second information on the amount of electricity you are using in terms of both power and cost. This means you can see in real time the benefits of turning off electrical devices at home.

Whether it’s turning off at the plug rather than just using standby, or simply turning off a light, an electricity monitor shows you the cash impact of changing your habits and behaviors which could amount to savings of hundreds of rands per year. Combine the possible financial savings with the reduced impact using less electricity has on the environment, then installing electricity monitors makes both financial and ethical sense.

Did you know…

* Lights and appliances account for 23% of a household’s electricity consumption.
* 72% of a household’s electricity is used for space and water heating.
* A boiler is more efficient if kept at a constant 56°C.

Have you ever considered creating your own renewable energy? With rising energy prices, concerns about energy supplies and the environment there are many people who would love to be able to unplug from the grid. Most of these people never do anything to start generating their own energy and they also don’t realize how easy it is to do. They just continue to spend $1000’s per year without a clue that there is a better way.

With the ever increasing costs of living, there is no better time than right now to stop throwing money out the window and start generating your own electricity. However, you need an open mind and willingness to listen, because there are large economic interests that keep most people dependent on energy.

Many people are discouraged by the initial cost of setting up a renewable energy system. But what they don’t realize is it doesn’t have to be that expensive if you set them up yourself. You can create a solar system for less than $200 or a wind system for less than $100.

Imagine if you never had to pay an energy bill again. Knowing that your energy was coming from a clean reliable source. When the power goes out for everyone else you will still not be affected. And if you have a system with a large enough capacity you can even sell your excess electricity to the power company. Not only will you never have to pay them for your energy but now they will be paying you.

For full details and instructions visit my website at create your own energy.

http://freeworldmarketing.com/alternative/energy/home-made-energy.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Creating-Renewable-Energy-Yourself-is-Easier-Than-You-Might-Think&id=1857821

As global warming finally seeps into the public consciousness, carbon offsets are fast becoming the next hot new thing (no pun intended). People love them because they let you buy your way out of your carbon impacts. Write a check and erase your guilt. And I’ve always been a little troubled by this and by the whole idea of carbon offsets themselves.

For one thing, you can’t always trust all the offset providers that are suddenly popping up all over the place. Some are likely to be scams. Others offer no real measurements of the carbon they prevent. Others are just taking your money for projects that would have happened anyway. There need to be some standards on both sides of the equation, i.e. how much carbon the consumer actually needs to offset for each activity they engage in and how much carbon each provided offset actually offsets. Apparently, Britain is going to create and apply some of these standards soon. We probably need something like that to happen in the U.S.

A lot of questions remain about carbon offsets but meanwhile the world seems to be rushing to embrace them. I worry that people will think they can use offsets to simply buy their way out of the problem rather than actually solve it. You know, we can purchase all the carbon offsets in the world, but if in doing so we think that gives us carte blanche to continue to spill our own individual carbon loads into the atmosphere, the atmosphere is still going to contain that carbon. Tree-planting offsets may absorb some of that carbon eventually (those trees will take time to mature to full carbon absorption capacity ).

Building renewable energy generation may help, but with overall energy demand continually rising, they may not offset the impacts of traditional energy supplies so much as they merely supplement those supplies with cleaner sources of power.

I guess I hope we come to see carbon offsets as a stop-gap solution and not as a permanent answer that licenses us to keep on keeping on albeit without any guilt or responsibility for our own behaviors. It really feels to me like they’re a temporary strategy to reduce some of our impacts and help finance a bigger, more impactful renewable energy infrastructure, a voluntary carbon tax of sorts, rather than a solution. The only real answer to climate change that I see is to make changes in how we use energy so that we use less of it at all times, regardless of whether or not we’re offsetting, and to develop and widely disseminate those technologies that permit us to make these changes without the kinds of sacrifices that turn people off by recalling a Paleolithic lifestyle.

You don’t have to wait for “Cap and Trade” to pass the US Congress to embrace carbon neutrality. Carbon Credits are a responsible and cost effective way to not only help produce non-oil energy projects, but reduce your corporate costs, engage your employees and gain a Green Marketing advantage over your competitors.

Reduce, Recycle and Reuse are the first part, and below I’m going to give you 5 ways to do it. But if you can’t, don’t want to, or would rather just write a check then understand Carbon Credits.

Offset Your Carbon Footprint with Carbon Credits

While Reducing, Reusing and Recycling is key in preventing climate change, offsetting your carbon emissions is the next great step in the preservation of our environment for generations to come. The Carbon Calculator Math is below, or you could use a Carbon Footprint Calculator at (www.ecoaidnow.com/Calculators.aspx

To offset your carbon emissions simply means to neutralize your part in the polluting of our environment. In technical terms, a carbon offset is a certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton (2,205 lbs) of carbon dioxide emissions.

Certified Projects are developed such as a reforestation project that reduces carbon dioxide emissions, every ton of emissions reduced will result in the creation of one certified carbon offset.   

Since carbon dioxide emissions are the principal cause of climate change, purchasing carbon offsets is key to promoting a greener environment.

When you offset your personal carbon emissions, you are doing your much-needed part in helping to put an end to global warming and climate change. In addition to making the world a better place, you just might also score a few popularity points with your friends and family.   

Here’s 4 ways to save money while reducing your carbon footprint.

(1) Recycle Toner and Ink Jet Cartridges.  These things, which always run out at the most inopportune time, cost way too much and, contrary to what the big companies than manufacture them proclaim with their “send it in recycling programs” – end up in the landfill, usually in the poorest areas of the world.  The technology and quality of recycled toner and ink jet cartridges in many cases surpasses the original equipment manufacturers…and you get to support a local business like yours when you patronize them.   And don’t forget to set your printers to “draft” mode when you’re not printing for official communications…it’ll save you money and toner/ink.

(2) Use Less and Buy Recycled Paper.  Back in the early 90’s when email was gaining popularity we all proclaimed that it was the beginning of the paperless office.  But the paper companies weren’t scared.  Paper sales went through the roof because now we had more information to print out, copy and share with each other.   Now there are a variety of document sharing services, including free ones like Google Docs, while allow immediate sharing of and collaboration of documents without having to print out 5 copies for the group to mark up.  It saves money, time and is much more efficient.

Furthermore, as the quality of recycled content paper has gone up to photo quality level and the cost has gone down to below the cost of “new” paper, it clearly makes no sense not to include the procurement of recycled printer and copier paper in your corporate sustainability plan.

(3)    Go Paperless with your invoices. PayPal and Google Checkout both have electronic invoicing capabilities for those of you who process payments via credit card, and for many companies, their PayPal and Google Checkout accounts are tied directly to their corporate checking accounts for seemless, and transaction fee free payment processing.  They both offer a variety of export formats and integrate with popular accounting packages like QuickBooks and Microsoft Accounting.  

No more 3 copy carbon based invoices, no gas guzzling postmen delivering the mail and no more licking envelopes!

(4)     Recycle Everything. Soda cans, newspapers, used equipment, furniture and materials (if you’re manufacturing things) all carry a price.  Aluminum cans trade for around $.80 a pound (32 12 ounce cans = 1 pound) – so figure you can sell them to a local recycler for a bit better than half of that.  Doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you have an office full of Red Bull crazed employees or “Diet Coke Fiends” it can actually add up relatively quickly.   

List your used equipment on Craigslist or Google for a local company that will pick up and “recycle” your used equipment – or better yet, donate it to a local charity and take the tax deduction.  Goodwill and the Salvation Army will send out a truck to pick up larger items and most likely make weekly or monthly trips through your area.

The Challenge is not so much Global Climate Change, but more of a personal one. Do we want to live in a clean world or a dirty one!  Do we want to be subject to wars over fossil fuels?  Are we, as individuals, stewards of business, operators of government, and elected officials, willing to take action to right the environmental wrongs we might create?  The global becomes personal.

Buying Carbon Offsets is one way to deploy our resources towards a better Future. The best first step is to always think about the very real consequences of your actions.  Protecting our air and water isn’t something that can be taken care of by someone else, we have to do it for ourselves.

To take an active role in neutralizing your carbon emissions today use our individual carbon calculator (www.ecoaidnow.com/Calculators.aspx).