Technology Vs Tradition In Water Filtration Methods

Who would have ever believed that a time would come when there were no longer enough fresh, clean water resources to hydrate the Earth's population? And who would have thought that it would happen so soon? We are now faced with seriously-dwindling freshwater sources, and those we have contain a multitude of substances that can cause sickness and death. Horror stories of the dangerous levels of arsenic, chromium, selenium, and cadmium which are found in our lakes, rivers, and groundwater should be enough to shake society to its very core. After all, pollutants such as these can cause damage to your nervous system, liver, and kidneys as well as more deadly illnesses, such as cancer.
For generations we here in the United States have counted on our municipal water systems to clean the water that flows into our homes to the standards set forth by our government. Modern science, however, is determining that the regulations don't go quite far enough when it comes to public safety. In addition, water treatment plants are another of those parts of our infrastructure that are deteriorating due to lack of proper funding. And yet, we all need water in order to stay healthy and survive. We can't help wondering what we're going to do to as we look at the bleak future this picture is painting.
The answer, of course, lies in the hands of consumers like you. If you can't trust what others are doing, you can trust yourself to find a remedy for your problem. A large variety of water purifying equipment is available that has been scaled down for home use. These devices come in numerous sizes, applications, and types of filtration to meet the needs of everyone. Some of the filters are better than others, so you will probably need to do some research online prior to choosing a model for your home. Even so, you will find these units to be expensive to buy and operate, difficult to maintain, and made of materials that are not eco-friendly which means they may not be the best option in the long run.
Some scientists are touting the benefits of using cacti to purify water. If you think back to high school history classes, you may remember that cactus have been used for water purification in desert regions as far back as the 19th century. These experts claim that a cactus like the prickly pear or the moringa can provide a natural method for cleansing the water you use in your household. Once again, this is an idea that would need more research before you made a decision about trying it.

Convert Waste Paper Into Free Fuel With a Paper Log Maker

As utility bills continue to rise, more and more people are looking for an alternative way of heating their homes which offers significant savings to their heating costs. A Paper Log Maker enables you to recycle your waste paper, junk mail, envelopes and even leaves into free fuel, which in turn should save you money on your heating bills whilst also helping to conserve woodland and reduce landfill. Paper logs can burn as well as wood for up to two hours at a controlled rate in a fire grate or wood-burning stove.
DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has estimated that each person in the United Kingdom sends around 300kg of household waste to landfill each year, of that under 40% is going on to be recycled. Much of the waste ending up on the landfill sites is used newspapers, cereal boxes, junk mail and envelopes that people simply can't be bothered to sort into the correct recycling bin for collection. This could all be converted into free heating using the paper log maker, and it will also contribute thus reducing landfill and helping to lower your usual heating costs. Estimates show that each household could create around five hundred paper logs just from the waste we send to landfill each year.
There are several different types of log maker. The most popular is the wet fill model. The all metal construction has two levers and a removable well. Using the paper log maker is a simple process. Wet the newspapers, junk mail, envelopes etc. by placing them into a large bowl, bucket or drum full of water. Once they start to break down, lift them out and squeeze to get rid of any excess water. Then place the soggy paper into the paper log maker's well. Once full, press the handles to squeeze out any excess moisture and create the brick shape log. Remove the log and place somewhere to dry. Stack the logs in a criss-cross fashion to enable plenty of air to circulate around them. Once they have completely dried they can be used on an established open fire or in a fuel burner.
The 'dry' fill paper log maker is shaped like a bicycle pump. Pull out the plunger, shred the waste paper and push into the tube. Once full replace the plunger and press to form a small tube shaped log. These logs don't burn for as long as the larger, wet making version, but can last up to thirty minutes on an established fire.
It's a good idea to continue to use the newspaper log maker through the summer months when you are not using your fire, as this will ensure you have a good stock of dry paper logs available once the colder weather returns. A garage, shed or other outbuilding makes an ideal storage area.

Making A Yurt Rafter Ring

One of the most basic components, yet one of the most crucial structural elements of any yurt is the rafter ring. This device holds each rafter in place, ensures geometrical and structural integrity of the building, allows for installation of the essential dome vent and must be installed so as to apply uniform weight and pressure to each rafter at the same time that each rafter equally holds it in place. There are a number of pieces that make up this assembly, whether it is designed and constructed in-house or custom ordered.
The ring, in some instances, is built from one piece of wood. However, this is quite a costly venture, relative to the total cost of the yurt. Other wooden rings use a layered approach, sandwiching a layer of OSB between pieces of dimensional lumber, or the reverse. Other rings are constructed from metal, or metal and wood combinations, while a few are built of polymers. Since most yurt-dwellers have a core of self-sufficiency, I recommend constructing the ring completely from dimensional lumber, in layers.
For this piece of your modern Mongolian yurt, you will need fourteen eight-foot lengths of one by six spruce, fir or pine planks. As well, one quart of carpenters glue and one hundred eighty two-inch construction screws complete your parts inventory. For tools, you will need a variable speed drill, ½ inch drill bit, screwdriver bit, jig saw with blades and a small paint brush.
Begin by cutting all of the eight-foot lengths of planking into four-foot lengths. Lay them side by side, using nine pieces on the first layer to form a near-square. Due to the actual width of a six inch plank (5.5 inches) he total width should be 49.5 inches - slightly wider than the length. At this point, this is not important. Next, tie these boards together temporarily, using one of the four-foot lengths screwed across the centre point of the nine boards. Apply a liberal coat of carpenters glue to the surface.
For the next layer, lay the second set of nine boards perpendicular to the first layer, with the leading edge flush with one side of the 49.5 inch width. This will leave 1.5 inches of the first layer exposed. Later, that surplus will be removed. Put one screw at each end of the nine boards of the second layer. Since there is no lateral security using single sets of screws, you now are able to square the assembly, using a standard two foot square. Holding the setup in place, set one screw every six inches, alternating from one side of each board to the other. The screws will protrude beyond the bottom side of the first layer at this time.
Flip the two layers over, applying a layer of carpenters glue to the underside of the first layer. Lay the third layer of boards perpendicular to this first layer, and attach exactly as you did with the second layer. Allow the assembly to dry, then use a saw to remove the 1.5 inches of excess width on the second layer.
Use two strings from alternate corners of the square, so that the two strings cross over precisely in the centre of the box. Secure a nail here, then tie a string that is exactly the length of the distance between the centre and any side to the nail. Be sure that the string or twine is not stretchy. If necessary, use a thin piece of wire. Hold a pencil at the very end of the string, and arc it around the outside of the square, drawing a perfect circle. Now, shorten the string by eight inches, and draw a second circle.
Using your jig saw, cut the exterior run of the first circle. Drill a hole at any point of the inner circle, then use your jigsaw o cut out the centre piece. You have constructed your basic rafter ring. However, for added reinforcement, you may want to screw a band of medium thickness aluminum ring around the circumference of the ring. Alternatively, a ring of 3/16 inch plywood may be glued and screwed to the outer edge.

Why Would You Need A Portable Water Filter?

Years have shown you that you can get by without a portable water filter, so why should you put out the cash for one now? Not that you drink a whole lot of water in the first place, because you'd much rather have a soda or another cup of coffee, but in a pinch you can always buy bottled water. So what's the big deal about people buying straws and drink cups that have filters in them? Is this really a necessity of 21st century life?
To start with, no matter how young you are, you need to start thinking about your health. When you're hanging out with friends, the Cokes and beers probably flow freely. However, beverages other than water aren't providing your body with the hydration it needs to stay healthy. Without enough water in your system, your kidneys can shut down, and waste products remain in your system far longer than they should. Only water will do an adequate job of sustaining your healthy body and mind, which is a good argument for carrying water with you at all times.
Bottled water is proving to be no bargain. People spend a fortune on bottled products that don't contain water that's any better than what they can get from their own taps. In fact, many of the bottling plants actually pump local tap water into their bottles, and municipal water is far from perfect. If you're looking of water that's of a consistently-high quality, you're better off using a portable water filter and creating your own.
It's no secret that our freshwater resources are in short supply and seriously polluted with substances that can cause sickness and death. The big outcry against acid rain back in the latter half of the 20th century arose about the time that people realized that a multitude of chemicals evaporate into the air where they combine with water vapor and fall again as rain which flows into our lakes, rivers, and groundwater. In addition, scientists have determined that quantities of metals work their way from the soil into the water as well. Government standards go part way towards cleaning up the water, but there is no longer money enough to update municipal water treatment facilities.
You can't even trust the water that you find in the mountains or other places where you might hike, cycle, or camp. Gone are the days of the sparkling mountain springs, and you need to prepare yourself for the realities of now. Having a portable water filter that you can take with you on these excursions can help to keep you both safe and healthy.

Liquid Batteries Doubling As Stability Control for Weight and Balance, and Ballast

If you look at a hybrid car, or a fully electric automobile, then you will note that they have quite a few Batteries. Those batteries have liquid inside, and that liquid does move around. Yes, often they have membranes, baffles, or even a webbing which also doubles as a component of the battery to help it charge faster, or hold the charge longer. However, as long as they have liquid inside, we might be able to turn that challenge into an opportunity. Okay so, let's talk about all this for second if we might.
There was a brilliant article on Physorg (dot) com recently titled; "Liquid batteries could level the load," posted on February 14, 2012 by David L. Chandler. Interestingly enough, the title of that article reminded me of an old engineering concept that I had long ago about a UAV or unmanned vehicle which would eat itself as it flew, as the wing spar would be wrapped in fuel and as it used up the fuel the wing would decrease its camber, and not needing that extra weight after climb-out it would increase its speed. Anyway you get the point.
Now then, taking this article title in Physorg (dot) com and dismissing what the article was really about, which was distributing the level of electric output - and then considering my engineering design, think about liquid batteries and how they might assist in the stability of aircraft, vessels, motorcycles, cars, rail, submarines, or other transportation devices when it really matters. What if the batteries were not box shaped, but layered on top of each other?
What if some of these batteries were redesigned either in long tubes, or very flat, going the length of the vehicle, or the length of the fuselage in an airplane? What if the batteries were quite large and went across the width of a large ship or vessel? What if they were used as stability control for submarine? There's actually no reason we can't do it, although it would take a little bit more engineering, and a little bit extra innovation.
Perhaps it's time to send the batteries back to the drawing board, and incorporate all those new battery technologies, which happened to use liquid, and figure out what we can do here? Even if we cannot modify the batteries in the way in which I suggest, perhaps they might be on some sort of a roller system where a very simple computer program working with a gyro can place them in the proper position as needed to serve as the ballast for stability control, or even steering? Please consider all this and think on it.

Solar Panels

In general, solar energy can be described as the energy that is received from the sunlight and converted by a mechanical source for home use. It's cheaper and reliable for operations since the sun is readily available. On the other hand, solar panels are the mechanically built materials whose main purpose is to convert solar energy to electrical energy. They are built from an element called silicon. It is the core duty of the silicon element to covert the solar energy to electricity. The solar power can either be directly or indirectly gotten from the sunlight. When it's cloudy the intensity of the solar power delivered perfectly, the photovoltaic solar materials deliver sun rays into electricity and the solar thermal receiver changes the solar power into heat solvents, such as oil and water. This type of power is used in, iPod chargers, charge batteries water heaters, cell phone chargers and spacecrafts.
How do solar panels work? They practically work on the photovoltaic invention. Its name is derived from the technology used, which is also known as PV, which is made from silicon element. They are basically semiconductors made from sand built into large computer chips. When sun rays falls on the PV materials, the PN junction in it with its metal conductor helps produce electricity. At this juncture, the PN junction is the positive and negative charges that assist to produce electric current. Solar energy is available in different systems, grid connection, inverters and power storage. In a different system, the PV takes up large space up the roof to produce more energy. It can also be built on land space and produce up to 5-9 Megawatts per hour. They can also be useful in street lighting.
How are solar panels made? They are basically made from three-dimensional points; the crystalline silicon production, the crystalline silicon panels and the amorphous silicon panels. This stand of the solar-energy production is what is used in the present. In the crystalline silicon production, for example, when the silicon element is melted and cut it is named the poly crystalline silicon. In its other mode when it is built and cut, it becomes mono-crystalline silicon. In both cases, they are about; a hundred percentage pure silicon. In the second case of the crystalline silicon panels, they are normally broken into pieces and then sliced, finally being polished with doping materials. This changes the state of electric charge inside them to cells. The amorphous silicon panels are made from silicon alloys combined with multilayer cells for energy production. This combination explains how the solar power is made.
What are latest technologies of solar panels? The newest technology of solar energy has emerged in a wide range of things. This starts with the green power alternatives which is common for home use. The other aspect of it is the Power cooling and heating systems in homes. The high-technology appliance and periodic lighting at home is the other good examples of solar-energy development. New personal computers development for smart homes is also left out of the latest ideas of the solar power.

MIL-PRF-680: Strong Enough for the Military and Your Company's Industrial Cleaning Needs

Those familiar with industrial degreasers know that MIL-PRF-680 is most commonly used by the military to maintain equipment, weapons, and vehicles. However, it can benefit any company that requires industrial chemicals to clean "high-value" parts and aging equipment, machinery and fleets that operate on air, land, and water.
The measure of a quality industrial degreaser is that it is both essential and efficient. While its record of accomplishment of cleaning Department of Defense parts and equipment clearly demonstrates MIL-PRF-680 has the highest cleaning capability, it also offers several additional advantages to traditional degreasers.
No Odor
This product does not have the strong odor of many traditional degreasers, which creates not just a more pleasant work environment, but also a potentially more productive one. The strong chemical smell of a traditional degreaser can overtake a workplace, becoming almost impossible to remove once it permeates objects. Prolonged exposure to these traditional products can make employees dizzy or even sick.
No Water
As a water-free industrial degreaser, MIL-PRF-680 can help lengthen the lifespan of critical machine parts. Degreasers that contain water can seep into equipment, causing it to rust from the inside out. Additionally, degreasers that contain water do not stick well to the surface of the part being cleaned; causing a runoff that wastes the degreaser and causes slippery work floors.
No Residue
It evaporates fully, unlike traditional degreasers that leave a residue. Industrial degreasers that leave residues actually attract dirt to machine parts, thereby increasing the number of intervals between one cleaning and the next. A non-residue product like MIL-PRF-680 serves a two-fold purpose of keeping parts clean while saving the company money by using less of the product at a time.
No Hazardous Ingredients
The high toxicity and numerous Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) of traditional degreasers make them dangerous to workers and the environment. Along with workers' health potentially being harmed by those cleaners, companies can find themselves in a tough spot when the Environmental Protection Agency bans the use of a highly toxic degreaser. Using an environmentally friendly degreaser like MIL-PRF-680 will help companies stay ahead of changes made to EPA regulations.
In short, it is not just the military that needs industrial strength products that reduce hazardous waste and minimize worker exposure to toxic substances. All companies desire industrial cleaning products that are safe, and can still achieve demanding performance requirements. This is a safer alternative to the once commonly used cleaner PD-680.
MIL-PRF-680is effective in a variety of work environments, ranging from the mildly dirty to extremely dirty (grease, oils, epoxies, resins, coating, dirt, dust, fingerprints, etc.), where industrial chemicals are needed to clean parts and equipment. Countless businesses are in need of such a solvent that can clean almost anything, no matter the condition.

Personal Water Filtration Diminishes the Need For Plastic Bottle Waste

Even the most avid bottled water drinker should admit that disposable plastic bottles are a menace to our society. Everywhere you go you see empty bottles that people have just tossed away carelessly instead of disposed of properly. Many bottles are thrown into our water resources, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans where they are killing aquatic life and dirtying up otherwise beautiful areas. Even if the bottles are tossed into the trash, they then add to the problem of plastic build-up in our landfills, a problem that won't decompose for decades. Obviously modern technology has come up with more eco-friendly options such as personal use water filters.
Not only do these reusable bottles eliminate the problem of excessive plastic waste, but they also filter the water you put in them removing chemicals, metals, bacteria, and protozoa. This makes the water much safer for consumption, unlike bottled water which is often nothing but unfiltered tap water from the area where the beverage is bottled. There are a number of high-quality filtered bottles available. Some great bottles are described below:
Brita has long been a household name in water filtration. Millions of people have purchased a Brita filtered pitcher or an attachment for their water faucet in order to ensure that the water their family is drinking or cooking with is safe and healthy. Brita now also produces a filtered water bottle for personal use. Per company advertising, this filter removes chlorine, metals, bad tastes, foul odors, and many other contaminants. It can filter up to 100 gallons of water, and the bottle contains no BPA. BPA is short for Bisphenol A which is a key component in many epoxy resins and polycarbonates. Although this substance is said to be safe, many people prefer not to chance using products that contain it.
You can get up to 150 uses from a Hydros filtered bottle. Think of that! It means that you'll get clean water for three months using the same bottle instead of stacking up 150 empty plastic bottles. This bottle reduces harmful amounts of chlorine, particulates, and chloramines from the H2O, plus it is naturally anti-microbial meaning that it will help stop bacteria from building up. It tests of ANSI/NSF standards.
A Smart Planet Eco filtered bottle offers improved taste, decreased odors, and a reduction in chlorine, heavy metals, and other types of contaminants. This device is good for as much as 100 gallons of purified water. It is also BPA free; however, it is not NSF certified.

Build A Yurt Rafter Ring, Version Two

There are several designs of yurt rafter rings, each serving a particular purpose, and working best in specific environments. Snow load, wind and even humidity play a role in determining the most appropriate design. For the majority of yurt applications, the laminated design that I described in a previous article is the most effective. However, the design described in his article is suitable for smaller yurts (less than 32 feet diameter) and in low humidity locations. While it will withstand moderate snow loads, it is less structurally stable than the laminated version.
When designing a yurt roof, the same considerations that are factored into stressors on conventional housing roof rafter chords come into play. That is, you need to consider the tensions (both lateral and gravitational) on the angled chords. Truss chords endure two primary stress forces: the tendency of the bottom of the chord to push walls outward and the pull of gravity that causes slump in the riser chord. Use of collar ties works to ameliorate the gravitational warping, but, simultaneously, actually increases the stress on the top plate-to-chord heel point of contact. Fortunately, yurt roofs are so light that collar ties and webs usually are not needed.
In my prototype solid-wall yurt, I employ several redundant reinforcements for the chords. A series of mending plates, hurricane ties, aircraft cable and unique angled top plates create a structure that resists very significant outward stress. These concepts will be presented in future articles.
The rafter ring design in this article consists of two layers of ½ or 5/8 inch oriented strand board (or plywood, if OSB is unavailable) and a collage of two-by-four blocks. Other materials needed include a pound and a half of 3 ½ construction or deck screws, a pound of 1 ¾ inch construction screws, enough 3 ¼ inch framing nails to allow for four nails per block, and a quart of carpenters glue or three tubes of construction adhesive.
Begin by cutting a four by eight sheet of OSB into four-by-four pieces. Scribe a circle four feet in diameter in the first piece, and a circle three inches smaller in the second. These will form the upper and lower layers of the "sandwich" ring.
Cut as many four to six inch lengths of 2 by 4 as you will have truss chords. Lay out the pieces around the perimeter of the larger OSB circle, equidistant apart, with the pieces pointing toward the exact centre of the ring. Mark the location of each piece. Apply a layer of carpenter's glue to each piece, and re-secure them in the spots as marked. Once they have dried sufficiently, turn the assembly over and secure the pieces using two 1 ¾ inch screws per block.
Measure the distance between each block at the inner edge. Cut pieces of 2 by four that will fit accurately between each 4-6 inch piece. Do not worry too much about angling the cut edges precisely, as these pieces simply act as stabilizers for the main blocks. Apply glue to the long edges of these blocks, slide them into place between each 4-6 inch block and secure them using 3 ¼ inch screws, toenail angled into place. Use one nail per longer block to nail the spacers into place.
Turn the assembly over again, apply glue to the exposed edge of all of the blocks, and attach the second ring, with its centre aligning exactly with the centre of the larger ring. Use two screws per block, as in the prior side of the sandwich. Turn the assembly over once again, and screw in two screws per spacer block.
This rafter ring is much lighter than the laminated version described in prior articles, and is much easier to raise into place. With the smaller ring on the lower side of this sandwich design, the truss chords, once cut on the proper angle, will slide into the notches quite easily and will hold themselves in place as each truss in installed. However, the drawback to this design is the tendency for the OSB to expand and weaken if it gets wet, or for the screws to pull through if they are set too deep in the OSB.

Redesigning Trash Receptacles With Interior Canister for Robotic Recycling Garbage Collectors

No, I am not obsessed with human garbage or trash, although I am amazed how much humans produce and then throwaway. I am happy to report that a tremendous amount of our waste is now recycled, and I believe that to be a good thing, but I would also warn that the amount that our societies recycle is not anywhere near what most people believe it to be. I think we can do better. Indeed, I'd like to talk to you about all this for a moment.
You see, the separation of various recyclable products makes it very tough to ensure that plastics, paper, aluminum, and other materials are separated out correctly. In many cities folks throw everything which is recyclable into the recycle bin for pickup. Then it gets all mixed in a garbage truck, and then it is dumped off, where humans, generally paid a very low wage go through all the trash to separate it out. That is completely inefficient, and I'm sure you would agree.
Yes, it does provide jobs, and some cities hire criminal labor, and it's nice to see that those folks are paying back society by helping us with this process, but that doesn't make it any more efficient. Now then, in the future I suppose we will have robotic garbage trucks, and the recycling truck which comes along will also be robotic.
I am also certain that robots will pick through the trash and separate out anything which is in the wrong pile. We already have devices which can immediately tell the type of polymer chain in a given plastic bottle, in fact, I had the pleasure of conversing with the inventor of that device by e-mail last year.
Still, the better way to do it would be to have a trashcan, which had divisions inside of it, perhaps it could be divisions shaped as pizza slices. A robotic garbage truck would then pick up a trashcan, aligning with a gate going into the trashcan where each of the pieces lined up. Then a vacuum motor would suck all the material from each into the trash truck, and into specific compartments.
Another way might be to have each trashcan with tubes inside made of lightweight, very strong carbon composite, using a similar process. The trash truck would be subdivided, with various types of materials, and there would be no need to separate anything, and a robot could merely make sure that everything was in the proper pile, and this would speed up the process tenfold.
By doing it this way, it would prevent us from forgoing the recycling process due to being backed up with too much material, which happens quite a bit, and at least one of three problems which prevents us from recycling all we can. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Paper Waste Management Through Paper Recycling

Paper waste constitutes almost one-third of the solid waste generated across the globe. Before, paper waste was either disposed in landfills, taking up a lot of space, or was incinerated. The combustion of paper through incineration releases carbon dioxide, disturbing the natural atmospheric balance. The enhanced greenhouse effect is responsible for global warming and climate change, making landfill disposal and incineration unsuitable and harmful options for paper waste management.
Paper recycling is a "green" solution for the management of paper waste. Recycling paper is a process that converts waste paper into reusable paper and other products.
The practice of recycling paper consists of the following stages:
Collection - Paper waste, such as newspapers, printer paper, and cardboard and product boxes, is collected by placing recycle bins in public places, schools, offices and households. The collection process is carried by municipal organizations and private companies that specialize in the recycling of waste.
Sorting - After it's collected, paper waste is sorted into different piles depending on the quality and type of paper. The piles are then compressed to form bales and these bales are used to produce recycled paper.
Shredding - During the production of recycled wafer-thin, waste paper is cut into small bits. These bits are further broken down into fibres.
Re-pulping - The fibres are then mixed with water to form pulp. This pulp may contain various unwanted components such as dirt, old ink, and weak fibres
De-inking - The pulp is washed, segregated, sieved and rotated. As a result, dirt, old ink and weak fibres get separated from the pulp in the form of sludge that is later discarded. The clean pulp is utilized to produce recycled paper and other products such as egg crates, fruit trays, paper cardboard, insulation and false ceilings.
Papers Recycling is an environmentally friendly process that, for one thing, helps limit deforestation practices. Many plant and animal species become extinct when their natural habitat is destroyed because of deforestation. When trees are cut down, it also disturbs the balance of the gases in the atmosphere. One ton of recycled paper can save up to 17 trees from being cut down. In terms of energy-saving, the production of recycled requires 40 to 60% less energy than paper manufactured from virgin pulp; each ton of recycled paper saves approximately 225 kilowatt hours of energy. Furthermore, every ton of recycled paper saves 60,000 litres of water - a great benefit since the production of fresh paper uses large amounts of water.
These are just some of the many ways recycling paper can benefit the planet and contribute to a sustainable environment for future generations.

Why Businesses Should Stay Away From Plastic Bags

Going green has become a very popular buzzword. This developing trend could be the direct result of the widespread discussion of nature-related issues like global warming, deforestation, and depletion of our natural resources. This move to go green carried out by individual and industry is commendable. If your business for example has still not made the big shift, it might be the right time to start going green.
You can always start with small steps and one of the best things you can do right off the bat is to stay away from the use of plastic bags. There are plenty of reasons why you should do it but the biggest thing is that these bags are not biodegradable. Simply put, they will continue to accumulate around us. The results of this can already be felt around us.
Plastic bags can clog waterways. For example in an urban landscape, plastic bags can block the water drainage system. During heavy rains and the occasional typhoon, this blockage could cause massive flooding. The blockage also takes up a lot of resources to ensure that the drainage system is clear year round.
Plenty of plastic bags are also dumped on landfills. Since they would take thousands of years to break down into smaller particles, they would wreak havoc on the soil and water. This source of pollution is also the cause of several health problems which would have been avoidable if the fight to stop using plastic bags started sooner.
The production of plastic bags, especially those ordered by large companies in large quantities means plastic bag manufacturers would have to consume millions of gallons of petroleum products. This is a big drain on this non-renewable source of energy. Also, the burning of fossil fuel produces greenhouse gases which contribute significantly to global warming, a global issue that should unite people around the world to start protecting the environment.
As a business owner, you can greatly help the green movement by providing recyclable and reusable shopping bags for your customers. There are plenty of choices out there which means you do not have to sacrifice your aim to build brand awareness with shifting into an eco-friendly product packaging. You should also keep in mind that by using reusable shopping bags or tote bags, you can cut down on costs because you do not have to order as much shopping bags as compared to buying disposable plastic bags.

The Benefits of Sustainable Retail Packaging

Posh and striking packaging plays a big role in the modern consumerism. Businesses are aware that buyers decide which product to buy based on the attractiveness of the item's packaging. That is why they spend a lot of resources only to come up with a remarkable design that will stand out from the crowd and attract more buyers. However, there is always a price to pay for every gain. The process of creating eye-catching packaging entails heavy cost. Though packaging is useful in creating a sound brand it is responsible for the increasing wastes in our planet every year. Some of the waste are being recycled however the greater part of it does go straight to landfill and this eventually contaminates the soil and poisons the bodies of water.
Now, as enterprises become more conscious of the packaging's impact on the environment, businesses now shift to a more environmental approach in terms of packaging. Also, they were compelled to use eco-friendly packaging because more and more consumers now prefer more eco-friendly alternative when they shop by picking for packaging that can be recycled. For this reason, it is now more possible than ever for firms to implement a "greener" approach to packaging while meeting their marketing goals. The new trend in sustainable packaging is swiftly increasing and spreading in the manufacturing and retail industry.
What is Sustainable Packaging?
Sustainable packaging is intended to cut wastage and protect important resources. There are three main essentials to this:
• Reduce the Waste - before retail packaging is designed to be bigger than really necessary. Sellers use this as a strategy to make items look larger than its actual size and also to make it appear more startling but this only causes wastage. By reducing the size of retail packaging a vast amount of paper, cardboard and plastic materials can be saved annually.
• Reuse Materials - most materials for producing goods today can only be utilized once. This also means that they go straight to wastelands once discharged. By choosing environmental friendly materials that can be reused manufacturers can help in reducing waste.
• Recycle - this contributes to the reduction of wastes that pollutes our natural resources. When we recycle resources such as paper, plastic and glass we can reduce landfill and conserve valuable materials.
Finding new technologies to create a more environmental packaging can be expensive but the benefits that we can get from it in the long run are immeasurable. By minimizing the packaging's size sellers can not only lessen wastage but they can also cut expenses on the production drastically. In addition, customers are switching now to a more environmental products and retail packaging. By going green it can be possible get ahead of the competition.

Eco-Innovative Concepts for Increasing Automated Truck Wash Volume

When it comes to eco-innovations in business you need a large mega-phone and you need to market and advertise or you'll end up like 10s of thousands of eco-entrepreneurs gone bankrupt while trying to chase so-called easy money, grants, guaranteed loans, and catch the wave of eco-friendly trends. Okay so, let me give you an example here, let's talk about an eco-innovative automated truck washing system.
First, your goal of course is to dominate local market share for fleet truck washing, and even though your system has a great reclaim system for environmental washing, you need to advertise and market this to your customers, and show them why this is a benefit. So, let me show you how to do this.
You see, there will always be local competitors that compete with your truck wash which are mobile, and they come onto the properties of various companies that have the fleets and clean the vehicles right there. It will be very hard for you to compete on price with these types of firms, but you will have something else going for you. Companies with fleets are often visited by storm water enforcement personnel, and they must satisfy the needs of the NPDES permits.
It also makes sense to be on a first name basis with the storm water enforcement folks in your area, and the surrounding areas. This way if a company is fined or cited for cleaning the vehicles on their property and letting the dirty waste wash water flow into a storm drain, these enforcement personnel will refer the company to you as the solution to the problem. Storm water folks don't want to put trucking firms out of business, just make sure that the run-off from the property doesn't pollute the local ground water.
It is definitely a competitive advantage when companies are concerned about the environment, or getting a big fine - that your truck wash company has a reclaim system, is totally self-contained, and the problem is no longer on their property, as you now handle all of those challenges for them. It is amazing how many companies are now violating the law by hiring mobile services that are not reclaiming the water, some of them know what they're doing, some of them don't, but nevertheless you should alert the trucking firms of the area of the reality, thus, keeping them out of trouble, and collecting that business for yourself.
Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this regardless of what business you are in, because when it comes to eco-innovations, it might be the best in the world in your industry, but you still have to sell it, advertise it, and market it to your prospective customers.

SBA Clean Tech Loans Really Concern Me - Let's Talk

As the coordinator for a think tank, we spend a lot of time looking over entrepreneurial business plans for new startups. I am always amazed at the number of business plans that I've been reading, especially in the last five years that have to do with clean technologies, green companies, and alternative energy. Still, I am quite concerned because many of these business plans simply do not have a compelling reason to risk the capital. Okay so, let's talk about this for second shall we?
If I as a retired entrepreneur, and founder of a think tank do not feel comfortable recommending these startups to angel investors and venture capitalists, for fear that it might tarnish my reputation, and realize it's not even my money involved, then why is it okay to use taxpayer guaranteed money to fund some of these same projects? If they aren't viable, they shouldn't be done. If their only chance for success has to do with tax rebates, temporary waivers from regulatory agencies, and low-cost funding from the government - then actually they are not viable at all, certainly not in the free marketplace.
In that case, may I ask why we are bothering with this? I know the answer, but I pose the question because I am a little bit tired of the political agendas, the anti-fossil fuel motive, and this new religion of global warming. This country needs reliable and low-cost energy. By having that we are giving a boost to all of our industries, meaning they can compete better globally. If we overtax our infrastructure, and take that money and funnel it to projects which are not viable, all we are doing is manipulating the free-market system in a pathetic and disgusting way (my opinion, because I'm not allowed to say that, as it isn't politically correct, which is in itself pathetic).
At some point we need a Frank discussion, and we need to talk about the truth, fairness, and reality of the free-market. We aren't doing that in our country, and I fear we are throwing more good money after bad, to what avail I ask?
There was an interesting piece recently in the Austin Business Journal titled; "SBA launches nationwide fund to invest $1.5B in small biz - -The SBA U.S. Small Business Administration Latest from The Business Journals Follow this company is launching a new national fund to make equity investments in technology companies, particularly "cleantech" firms." by Megan Kamerick, reprinted from the New Mexico Business Weekly. Anyway the article stated;
"Through the new initiative, the SBA will commit $1 billion to funds focused on investing in underserved markets or in sectors that have been defined as national priorities. These can be businesses located in, or employing residents of, low or moderate-income areas or economically distressed areas. They can also be industry sectors the Obama Administration has identified as national priorities. Right now, that includes clean energy and education."
Indeed, if the government would just get out of the way, we would solve all of our problems, the same challenges wouldn't have had in the first place. To claim that right now we have a politician who has identified our national priorities as his own pet projects, and political agenda is ridiculous. If that's his agenda, why doesn't he quit being president and go out in the real world and compete in the free markets make $1 billion, and then use his own money?
Well, the reason is he doesn't, is simple, he does not have the ability to do that, he only has the ability to read a teleprompter and tell us what to do, and then bribe us with our own money. What I don't understand is how Americans can be so smart and still not see this? And if we are giving loans to people that don't understand the concept I just explained, then they aren't smart enough to run a business anyway, and they're just going to lose money, and default on those loans, and it's going to be the taxpayer who foots the bill over and over again - can't you see this pattern? Please consider all this and think on it.