Summer is here and there are a number of communities around the country that are asking their citizens to do whatever they are able to do in order to conserve water due to a low amount of rain. Droughts are not uncommon across the United States at least every few years and if you can, you should do what you can to conserve water not only during these times, but also year round. Here are a few tips that you can use to help you in this.

The sprinklers that you use to water your lawn should be set to be active for shorter periods of time than normal. What you want to do is allow your sprinkler to water the lawn for just a few minutes, stop for much longer, then water once again for the same period of time as earlier. You want to give the water that was sprayed on the lawn the first round a chance to penetrate into the ground before watering again. Something else you should do is turn your sprinklers off when you know it is going to rain or set the rain delay feature of your sprinkler system if it has one.

If you do not have a sprinkler system and water your lawn with a garden hose, you want to do this early in the morning. This is a good time for plants around your home to be fed and watered, since the water on the leaves later in the day during the summer will evaporate quickly and could burn the leaves.

Another good way to save water is to take a Phillips head screwdriver and try to push it down into a spot on your lawn a few inches. If it goes in easily, you do not need to water your lawn for at least a few more days. Watering your lawn correctly can save you lots of money every month.

Instead of using a water hose to clean off your patio or driveway, just use a broom.

You can also take showers instead of baths, since these will use a lot less water than a typical bath will. A 10 minute shower will not use as much water as a bathtub full of water. Plus, showers are better for you since they wash all the dirt and dead skin cells away from your body instead of allowing you to lay in them in a tub full of water.

Corporate social responsibility is defined by Wikipedia as ‘a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model… Business would embrace responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere.’ Companies, big and small alike, all over the world are looking for ways to make their contribution and give back to society. One of these is by practicing environmentally acceptable business processes.

‘The Inconvenient Truth’ opened our eyes to the irreversible trend of global warming. But it also told us that despite this unfortunate trend, we can still, collectively as a people, do something to slow down the process. If you like, this is similar to the fact that all human beings will die at some point; but we take measures to slow down the process. So how then could companies engage in making marketing collateral practice corporate social responsibility?

There are a lot of ways for businesses engaged in publishing like catalog printing or brochure printing to incorporate methods of self-regulation. One of them is through the reduction of their corporate footprint.

First reduction strategy. Publishing companies use papers for printing catalogs, flyers or brochures. Over the years, the use of papers has taken its toll on our forests. Publishing companies must find ways to reuse paper for their printing needs. They must be able to offer their clients eco-friendly paper for their catalog printing for example. Government can also pitch in by offering incentives to companies which use recycled paper.

Second reduction strategy. Publishing companies must source out their paper needs from ’sustainable forests.’ These forests are cultivated and developed to produce particular raw materials. Trees in ’sustainable forests’ are fast growing; hence, they can be quickly replenished. By patronizing these types of forests, you can be assured that the trees they cut down are now the wild centuries’ old trees in primary growth forests.

Third reduction strategy. Publishing companies must ensure that the inks they use for printing catalogs, flyers or any marketing collaterals are non-toxic. These inks are safe to use and their components breakdown into units that can be ‘digested’ by the environment. Unlike those harmful varieties which linger in the environment for a long time, the non-toxic ones are not harmful to other organisms including humans.

There are more ways to reduce a publishing company’s environmental footprint. Those that were mentioned above are just some which are directly linked to their operations. There are other indirect ways to reduce their corporate footprint such as reducing their energy consumption by harnessing solar power or reducing carbon monoxide emission by controlling the use of their fleets. These initiatives, however small they are, matter. At the end of the day, everyone, including you and me, must make our own contribution to ensure the sustainability of humanity.

Driver Training from Arval Eco driver training – not just good for the environment

Eco-driver Training provides specific on-road driver tuition to drivers improve
fuel efficiency and so reduce their carbon emissions. Using techniques that are
endorsed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) you could make fuel savings of
between 10 and 15% if these driving techniques are adopted.
Eco-driver Training is usually carried out in conjunction with our Practical Driver
Assessment programme, but training can be provided in isolation if required.

The Benefits of Eco-driver Training

This training can benefit both your company and drivers by:

• Helping you meet your ‘duty of care’ obligations
By assessing the driving standards of your drivers and so gauging the risk to your business

• Reduce your fuel costs
Through a series of improved driving techniques

• Reduce accident rates and vehicle repairs
Safer driving techniques are explained

• Reduce fleet operating costs
More efficient driving reduces wear and tear on vehicles so lowersmaintenance costs

• Identify drivers who need additional driver training
and then work out individual driver development plans

For further information please contact your Account Manager

Ten tips for safer, greener, stress-free driving

1. Check your revs
Change up between 2000 – 2500 rpm.

2. Anticipate road conditions and drive smoothly
Avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel, tyre wear
and reduces accident rates.

3. Use air conditioning sparingly
It significantly increases fuel consumption.

4. Drive away immediately when starting from cold
Idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear.

5. Remove roof rack when not in use
They increase drag significantly.

6. Avoid short journeys
A cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can
take five miles to become effective.

7. Stick to speed limits and make your fuel go further
Driving at 85 mph rather than 70 mph uses 25% more fuel.

8. Plan your journeys
To avoid congestion, road works and getting lost.

9. Check your tyre pressure regularly
Under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by
up to 3%.

10. If you’re stuck in a jam, switch off
Cutting the engine will save fuel and stop emissions.

Every vehicle purchasing decision will have an effect on the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for the lifetime of that vehicle. To help with vehicle choice ‘green’ labelling has been introduced, similar to the energy efficiency rating we are used to seeing on electrical appliances.

Lower CO2 vehicles usually cost less, over their lifetime
Not only will emissions be lower, fuel consumption and therefore cost will also be reduced as well as company car tax. In addition, from April 2008, cars emitting less than 120g/km of CO2 qualify for a 10% rate of BIK. They will also enjoy a 100% discount on the London congestion charge from October 27th 2008. Changes to capital allowances for business cars are due to take effect from April 2009. They will favour cars that emit 160g/km or less of CO2. This should make it more tax efficient to own or lease cleaner vehicles. More low-emission cars and light vans are coming onto the market in response to such incentives. Hybrids or electric cars are not the only way to achieve very low levels of CO2, nearly all the least polluting cars on sale in the UK have conventional petrol or diesel engines.

Petrol V Diesel
Petrol and diesel engines have different effects on the environment. Every litre of diesel fuel,
when burned, produces about 2.6kg of carbon dioxide. Petrol produces about 2.3kg of carbon
dioxide per litre. If drivers spend more time driving on motorways or on long distance trips, they should consider a diesel engine for fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. Petrol may be a better choice if vehicles will spend more time in town, where air quality is a greater consideration.
As more high-efficiency petrol cars come on to the market, it is important to base acquisition decisions on whole life costs, not just fuel type.

Initiate a low emission vehicle policy
Approaches to reducing CO2 emissions through vehicle policy will differ according to company
culture and the nature of existing employment contracts. Policies can be designed to limit maximum emissions, mainly through choice lists. Drivers can also be encouraged or incentivised
to make greener choices.

Here’s a checklist of carbon-friendly maintenance and vehicle awareness
practices:

Service your engine – A well-maintained engine can minimise CO2 emissions, so follow your
manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing. Information regarding service intervals can be
found in your vehicle manual.

Keep your tyres at the right pressure – Correctly inflated tyres are safer and last longer, an
under inflated tyre can increase CO2 by as much as 3%. An under or over inflated tyre will wear
more quickly and is also more susceptible to failing. The best time to check your tyre pressure is
when it’s cool outside or in the morning after your car has not been driven. Faulty wheel
alignment will also slow down the rolling resistance of your car increasing CO2 emissions and
wearing tyres out more quickly.

Use the correct oil – Always use the appropriate grade of motor oil, as the manufacturer’s
recommended lubricant can prevent unnecessary CO2 emissions. Higher quality oils can also help
your engine operate more efficiently. However, take care not to over-fill the oil.

Keep an eye on your fuel consumption – The more aware you are of the amount of fuel you use,
the more you can do to try to reduce your CO2. If you notice your fuel efficiency is decreasing it
could indicate a problem with your vehicle.

Without a doubt you have heard the avid discussions about global warming and the consequences it has when it comes to the climate. It is true that our planet is slowly melting and that every day more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, which combined with the increased level of infrared energies lead to the rise of the global temperatures. Polar ice caps are melting and temperate climates are changing to 2-season climate patterns. The fauna and flora are suffering from all those changes and we have to ask ourselves: how can we stop our planet from a certain death? Well, there are many solutions presented by global warming activists and one of the most relevant is that of carbon credits.

Given the fact that we live in age where more and more industries are created, increasing the level of pollution worldwide, the concept of carbon credits was well received. It was meant as an initiative to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and even though at the beginning, attained a certain level of success. Today, the Internet is practically filled with companies that provide the possibility to buy carbon credits and most importantly each provider is involved in different projects. Those who are interested in carbon credits must know what are the carbon projects provided by these companies and thus be able to make a serious-minded comparison. After all, most of the companies that are interested in such services know that they contribute to the problem of global warming due to the emission of greenhouse gases (especially methane and carbon dioxide) and they need to take action, even if that means only buying carbon credits.

Companies like Carbonfund and Terapass have understood the importance of carbon credits and they have developed various carbon projects that will reduce some of the greenhouse gases suffocating the atmosphere. A carbon credit equals with the reduction of one ton of carbon dioxide and it is indeed one of the most practical measures that can be taken against global warming by individuals and companies. It also increases awareness when it comes to such problems, many companies feeling stimulated when they are given an incentive in order to decrease the level of carbon dioxide produced. The question is: where is the best carbon credit project to be found and why would I want to go to this specific provider and not to someone else? What are the rules when it comes to selecting the right provider for a carbon credit? Actually, if you want to reduce your own carbon footprint then you should know that there are no better providers than others. Still, their projects are different especially when it comes to their quality. This is why you need a service that allows not only the comparison of various carbon credit providers but also has the possibility of rating that specific provider.

We are talking about climate change and thus reducing even just a tone of carbon dioxide is extremely important. All companies and businesses out there should take part in fighting the climate change and reduce the level of greenhouse gases that affect the atmosphere. Apart from informing ourselves on the subject of global warming, we should also try and find a reliable provider for carbon credit projects using the comparison services provided by the Internet. As we cannot stop the greenhouse gases that have already been released in the atmosphere, we can take action by preventing the quantity of gases that will be released in the future. There are many carbon reducing projects out there, all meant to stimulate and help people contribute. Some examples include: wind power farms, renewable energy and also reforestation. Just make sure that you bring your own contribution – if each person does the same, we will certainly have a greener and healthier planet!

Today we are all constantly reminded of the threat of global warming. Pictures of melting ice caps and early flowering with the seasons arriving up to one month early. There’s reported difficulties for birds because the fish stocks have not arrived at their annual feeding time.

We are asked to make a contribution to offset the effect of our carbon footprint from cutting car journeys or holiday flights through tree planting or simply turning down the thermostat.

One of the simplest ways to contribute is by installing and using a laundry airer. By choosing to dry your clothes using natural air drying, you choose not to use your tumble dryer.

Tumble dryers use large amounts of electricity, production of which can consume large quantities of fossil fuels.

Tumble dryers even sensor models can not tell when individual items are dry – only the whole load so the overall cost is even higher as well as your carbon footprint.

Becoming carbon neutral in our activities should be everyone’s goal and the clothes airer is an easy way to make your daily contribution including switching off appliances and turning down your thermostat.

Airers come in many versions so that you can use them in various locations.

In the bath as a floor standing airer or above the bath as a retractable washing line giving up to 69 feet of line space. By choosing a wall mounted airer, which expands, concertina style for use and retracts fully hidden from view when not in use.

By using floor, wall and washing line airers together you could fully replace the tumble dryer. Or by utilising wall space to mount several wall mounted airers you could achieve a similar capacity.

Especially where existing heating radiators are used to heat the house you can achieve a permanent natural airer dryer system using secondary heat and no direct energy.

If every householder or flat dweller installed energy free airers just how much carbon offset we could achieve together by taking some simple steps to nurture our planet.