How exciting! People in 2848 cities and towns in 83 countries will all be turning off the electricity for one hour today. Will you be one of them?
At 8:30pm, all lights are off. It’s Earth Hour. Computers are off, television is off, video games are off.
So what will you do for that hour? I know that many folks are lost without the computer or the TV.
Here are 10 things you can do in the dark while the electricity is off:
1. Read a good book or a favorite magazine by candlelight
2. Pull out the monopoly board or a deck of cards and have family game night by candlelight
3. Enjoy a romantic evening
4. Tell ghost stories
5. Play the ‘ask any question’ game with your kids. Take turns asking questions. It’s great fun, and can be an opportunity to open up family discussions.
6. Take the telescope out of the closet, and check out the night sky. Many people in your town or city will also be turning out the lights, so viewing the night sky may be much more spectacular.
7. Take time to enjoy the downtime. Meditate, relax, take a nap.
8. Take some time to think about and talk about a vacation that you might take. Where will you go? What will you see?
9. Set up a tent in your living room or in your backyard.
10. Take an evening walk in your neighborhood, and enjoy looking at all the dark houses with people in it who are also observing Earth Hour.
Enjoy your evening!
The earth’s deterioration from the usage of fossil fuels warrants the need for businesses to convert their vehicle fleets to a greener fuel source. Some businesses have taken the conversion head on and transitioned from fossil fuel vehicles to hybrids or electric powered fleets. Other businesses have made investments to convert current vehicle fleets to run on alternative fuel sources as opposed to fossil fuel.
It is more apparent that the style of a vehicle is of lesser concern to business owners nowadays than the concern of the rising cost of fuel, emission penalties, and financial strains placed on businesses. If you’re a business owner, buying greener vehicles for your business has become more important than ever.
There are more benefits from electing to invest in buying a greener vehicle for business use. The advantages are not only to the environment but to your business’ financial and reputable status.
Should you choose the hybrid vehicle fleet option, you’re in for some great savings when you convert your business fleet to a greener hybrid fleet. Hybrid cars are duel powered fueled with both a combustible and electric motor. The purpose for the duel power system is to increase fuel optimization higher than the current gas or diesel powered vehicles.
But if Electric vehicles seem like a better more economical choice in fleet vehicles there are some difference in electric vehicles verses hybrid. While hybrid vehicles are powered by both electrical and combustible fuels, the electric vehicles run solely on electrical charging and are limited by your rate and distance not to mention you have to make sure your destination has charging units.
Other than the inconvenience of watching speed and distance, the electric and hybrid vehicle offers green conversion endorsements which are excellent for your business and reduces greenhouse gasses from destroying our environment by 25 %.
If your company’s financial status is not equipped to completely change your fleet vehicles to hybrid or electric, electing the option to convert your current fleet cars to use alternative fueling methods from the conventional gas or diesel fuel; may be the best option for your business.
Even with the enticing decline in gasoline or diesel prices by 2010-2011 the obligation for fossil and diesel fuels will quickly transition to more economical and environmentally safe renewable fuel sources. Yet with the provocative decline in gas and diesel fuel cost; it still doesn’t alleviate fluctuating economical hardships endured by small business.
The cost of fuel along with the demands to buy greener vehicles for business fleets has created a drastic decline in standard petrol vehicles sales because of the high risk associated with a fleet dependent upon gasoline or diesel. Not to mention these high risk vehicle will have little to any worth, unhealthy emissions and fueling networks and high cost of maintenance.
While the responsibility to conversion does not solely lie on businesses or consumer to buy greener cars, the advancements in manufacturing technology also carry out an important role to produce fuel efficient, low emission vehicles. Now businesses don’t have to sacrifice style and luxury or settle for smaller engines to uphold the greener vehicle fleets since some manufactures have already begun producing low emission vehicles like BMW. This is ideal for businesses who work on their image and reputable style represented by luxury vehicle which depicts prosperity and attracts influential clientele and staff.
While several fueling and green fleet option are readily available to business, alternative methods to either buy a greener vehicles or convert your current fleet to alternative fuels sources depends upon which option best suites the company’s needs and the environment.
The total amount of money saved by using Energy Star compliant appliances in the US is more than eleven billion dollars. One of the areas in a home which uses a lot of power is the kitchen. The kitchen’s energy consumption in homes usually takes up from ten percent to seventy percent of the total power consumed. It is therefore essential that you start any power conservation effort in the kitchen.
Here are some guidelines which you can take note of to make your kitchen a green, eco-friendly environment.
• Unplug Appliances When Not In Use
A lot or maybe all kinds of appliances still consume some electric power when plugged in an outlet even if they are turned off. These appliances when set on standby sucks power, known to some as the vampire load. Although each appliance might only consume very little power during its standby mode, collectively, as a whole, it can add up to a considerable sum.
• Make Use of Natural Light
The sun can provide so much light for free so it is best to make use of it as much as we can. You can let in as much light as possible during the daytime through windows and openings so that there will be no need for you to turn on the electric lights which consumes power. You could even remodel your kitchen and add skylights. Not only does it save energy, it looks good as well.
• Make Use of Organic Cleansers
Natural cleansers such vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice are still the best there is in cleaning. Aside from these substances to be cheap and readily available, they are also not harmful unlike other cleaners which are made up of strong chemicals.
• Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
These compact fluorescent bulbs or CFLs actually produce more light than the conventional light bulbs and consumes far less electric power, a great way to save up on electric bills.
• Use Newer Refrigerators
Refrigerators made before the year 2000 had a different system and consumes a lot more energy than the newer models. It would be wise to actually replace your old units.
• Use Your Dishwasher Efficiently
Try to avoid using your dishwasher with just a few dishes in it. By using it with a full load, you save up on electricity, water and dishwashing soap.
• Proper Kitchen Storage Management
Storage of food whether the ones to be eaten or those which are already waste should be properly managed. Aside from having a clean kitchen by doing this, you could also save money on buying food and also segregate the various waste components such as packing, containers, the actual food so as the organic and non-organic materials be separated.
