Creating a Green Earth

Whenever an average American goes to a foreign country such as those in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Asia and China, they marvel at the small toilet-like apparatus standing right next to the traditional toilet bowl seat.

Conversely, when foreign visitors come to the United States, they eagerly look for a bidet seat and not finding one, find themselves at a loss of words as to why they virtually do not exist in the United States.

A quick analysis of the toilet’s positive and negative features are first in order.

Toilet Paper and Water Consumption

While toilets did not make their public debut until 1890, they fast caught on in this country. Unfortunately, an insatiable consumption of paper and water ensued and continues to this day.

Moreover, now adding to the issue of energy conservation is a politically-charged debate going on even in the halls of Congress concerning this matter. It goes like this: “just how much water should a normal, family-sized toilet be allowed to flush away?

In general, the production process in the making of a single roll of sanitary paper easily consumes about 37 gallons of water. Furthermore, average Americans use an approximate amount of 57 sheets of sanitary paper a day. This, dear ones, translates into approximately 36.5 billion rolls annually.

Although the use of recycled toilet paper is now being vigorously promoted by green interests, for many people, supplies of such paper is unappealing due to its perceived harsh, scratching texture.

Then, there is the problematic issue of personal hygiene as toilet paper does not truly take away all residual body odor or bacteria. Generally, people resort to taking a daily shower or two in order to eliminate lingering odors throughout the day.

The Bidet

Essentially, a Bidet is a smaller-sized toilet that emits water spurts to the lower regions of the body. Bidets were never meant to replace the toilet; however, having a bidet right next to the toilet simply enhances the cleansing process in a more efficient and convenient manner. A bar of soap and a hand or washcloth are the instruments of choice for scrubbing and simply rinsing off. They can’t be beaten for a quick, easy refreshing during the day!

While any adverse environmental impact of using a bidet is minimal, to say the least, a bidet’s savings can be readily seen in considerable savings of paper during one year. True, this savings depends largely on the size of the family and bidet model; however, it is simply a matter of time until their use catches on with American consumers.

The holidays are fast approaching and the big three that come during the last few months of the year are often days that we all become guilty of waste. We are bombarded with messages to consume heartily, whether it’s bags overflowing with snack size bombs of sugar and fat, or elaborate feasts designed to impress friends and relatives with our abundant lifestyles. Then there are the gifts we are encouraged to buy for the well-being of the economy, that break our bank accounts and often end up unused, sitting in closets and drawers, or cluttering our homes. But it doesn’t need to be this way. Even during the holidays there are things that can be done to act in ways that renew a commitment to an eco-friendly lifestyle, allow us to be role models for our children, and even save money.

At Halloween, give out coins instead of candy. Kids, like everyone else on the planet, love money, and you won’t be adding to their sugar overdose. Make costumes by reusing things around the house; the best costumes are often homemade. Decorate with pumpkins and bales of hay instead of store bought plastic items, then roast the pumpkin seeds and make pumpkin bread.

For Thanksgiving shopping, gather all your reusable bags. Compost all vegetable leavings and leftovers. Also, use your real china instead of paper products. Not only will your table be more elegant, but spending time in the kitchen washing dishes and chatting with relatives is a good thing.

For a green Christmas, consider buying a live tree that you can plant in your backyard after the holidays. Buy fewer gifts, and avoid the ones that require batteries. To decorate, put up LED lanterns instead of incandescent and save 80 percent on energy costs. Then, get creative when wrapping and decorating gifts by using painted or stamped grocery bags, old Christmas cards, recycled ribbon and bows, and sprigs of evergreen from your yard.

A green holiday season can be achieved simply by giving some thought to how an activity may affect the health and well-being of our families, and our earth. Making a few eco-friendly choices can only add to the peace and joy of the season.

When it comes to fashion, there are so many different styles, outfits we can create and many different places we can go to get our clothing. Now, if you’re looking to save on the costs of a new wardrobe and go about getting your clothes by having little impact on the environment, here are a few ways you can do so:

Staying in Style While Minimizing your Environmental Impact:

Consider hand me downs: If you have older brothers or sister or even older cousins or friends, consider wearing their clothes that no longer fit. There may be a good chance that they will be the style you like and the same fit. Though hand me downs aren’t as exciting as getting new clothes off the rack, they’re much cheaper (if not free) and much better for the environment.

Think thrifty: Conservative people are usually thrifty people and people that are good at making what they have now last longer. If you’re looking to get fashionable clothes and help save the environment, consider going to garage sales or even thrift stores. Though a lot of people are against thrift stores and they have a bad reputation, it’s important to avoid judging until we’ve seen for ourselves what they have to offer. You may be surprised that they have name brand clothes, expensive items and fashionable clothes for a major discount. Thrift stores are great because they allow people to reuse other people’s items they can no longer get use of.

Remake clothing: If you really want to take advantage of your resources, you should consider remaking clothing pieces with old and dated items. For example, you can create a jean purse out of an old pair of jeans, use an old blouse and turn it into a headband, or even turn a sweater into a scarf. There are so many different ways we can take boring clothes and turn them into more fashionable items while still helping the environment.

As you can see, there are a few ways to get eco fashion styles. When we want to get new clothes, they don’t have to be brand new in order for them to look good. In fact, when we buy new clothes, we’re using up more natural resources and increasing the amount of gas used to transport them. So, if you’re looking to look good, yet save the environment, consider the ideas above.

Going organic does not have to be expensive. In fact, there are many ways to save money and go completely organic at the same time. One of the easiest and best ways to save money on shopping for food is to plan a menu. Plan for about half a week’s worth of meals and include snacks and drinks. If you make a list of what you need for those meals, chances are you will find you have things on hand already and furthermore, taking a firm list to a store can curb impulse buys. Planning a menu also reduces the stress of deciding what to cook after a long day at work and reduces the temptation to eat out.

Another obvious way to save money on food is to severely limit the amount of times you eat out. In general, a dinner out for two people could buy groceries for 2-3 days of cooking and eating at home. Along the same lines, you might consider eschewing boxed foods as well. Making your own side dishes not only allows you to control what’s in them, but saves money in the long run.  Sometimes people don’t realize that they can “save” money by spending it.  Some credit card issuers offer different types of rewards and programs that give you automatic savings or that give you cash back at the end of the year.  Make sure to get credit card advice from online blogs or contact a credit card issuer professional.

A few more strategies on how to save money include buying in bulk at large warehouses such as Costco and frequenting farmer’s markets. The latter is a great way to get organic produce that is in season and therefore fresher. Often these markets will also have meat from local sources as well. You will be supporting local farmers and organic food by default. By the same token, eating in season is generally the best way to ensure that you’re getting the freshest produce and produce that is less likely to be genetically modified. In season produce is also usually cheaper than produce that is not in season.

Finally, there are a couple of other ways to save that are not necessarily as feasible for everyone. One of these is to start a garden. Even a small garden with staples such as lettuce, onions, carrots and the like is a good way to save money. For those with small spaces, a pot of tomatoes or commonly-used herbs can usually be grown indoors with some success. The other option is simply to eat less meat. Meat is more expensive than either starches or produce and in general, people eat too much of it. Buy meat when it is on sale or locally grown as mentioned previously.

A GMAT exam tests several topics such as math, writing and analytic skills. It gives graduate programs an idea of placement, so if you’re on the route to take one, it’s important to consider scheduling some GMAT test prep to assure you’re ready for the exam.

Before entering graduate school, it’s a good idea to survey all potential opportunities for a career. If you want something with an environmental focus, zoology is one field to consider.

The study of animals is a very rewarding and enjoyable industry. You could be a marine biologist and collect data about underwater ecosystems, the habits of elusive whales and other marine life. If you’d rather work with terrestrial animals, the possibilities are limitless, as data about the populations, habitats and behaviors of animals across the planet is always needed.

A big part of environmental studies is protecting threatened and endangered species. One way to do this is by spreading knowledge and awareness of environmental issues, which not only includes animals, but many other concerns such as deforestation, pollution, global warming, soil erosion and soil degradation. If global warming gets too out of hand, and everyone doesn’t do their part. There won’t be snow anymore. Imagine all the snowboard helmetsthat will sit in closets unused and collecting dust.You don’t have to be a scientist to be involved in environmental protection, but you can make a career out of teaching the issues and helping organizations make a change.

Another way to protect endangered species and unauthorized hunting and poaching, is by becoming a conservation officer. As a conservation officer you can actively regulate and enforce laws that protect animals and their habitats.

Other avenues outside of wildlife preservation include forest, water and energy preservation. Because the earth’s resources are limited, people are always working to find new sources of renewable energy and a way to make our current sources cleaner, and safer for humans, animals and and plant life alike.

Pollution is also a huge problem, so one could make a career out of working with recycled wastes, and cleaning up and maintaining landfills and the general community. Children across the globe constantly need cleaner drinking water and facilities, so helping to clean up is a huge step in saving lives and creating hope in impoverished areas.

The world needs more activists for the environment every day, because there are so many problems that need to be addressed. That is why pursuing a career in environmental protection is very admirable and it can even be quite lucrative because creating jobs to help solve real world problems is an ongoing project.

More vacationers are choosing to explore the natural wonders of the earth without minimizing their carbon footprint. One of the best ways to enjoy this type of vacation is by using a vacation rental. Here is a list of 5 eco-friendly vacation destinations that are guaranteed provide an enjoyable experience without negatively effecting the earth.

Alaskan Wilderness Eco-Rentals

The Alaskan wilderness is full of adventure. The avid outdoorsman can go fishing, hiking and river rafting. Sightseers can view whales, eagles and bears in their natural environments. Vacationers can choose to rent a chalet, a cabin, an apartment or even a cottage. With beautiful locations like Glacier Bay National Park, visitors to Alaska will enjoy the many marvels that the earth has to offer.

Botswana

Africa has some of the most breathtaking flora and fauna on earth. If a visit to Africa is on the horizon, consider an eco-tour in Botswana. Visitors will appreciate the government of Botswana’s efforts to preserve the environment through their protection of the wildlife. The grasslands of the Kalahari Desert are full of wildlife. For people seeking to get back to nature, Botswana is the place to visit.

Belize

For people interested in the rich culture of the Mayans, a vacation rental in Belize can be close to the Mayan ruins. The cities in Belize are historical and filled with friendly. Belize is a coastal nation so there is a full range of activities for people who enjoy fun in the sun. There is an abundance of marine life off the coast of Belize. Tourists can snorkel and scuba dive to explore the wonder of the sea.

Costa Rica

To be such a small nation, Costa Rica is full of biodiversity. There is something for everyone and the various vacation rentals provide lodging in the best locations. Costa Rica is an excellent vacation spot to view exotic wildlife and tropical plants. Tourists can take a nature hike through the rainforests or spend time on the beach. Vacationers looking to explore the diversity of Central America should visit Costa Rica.

Ecuador

Ecuador is home to the Galapagos Islands. Because over 90% of the islands are protected, visitors get to see the plants and animals studied by Charles Darwin. There are many eco-friendly activities that include hiking, snorkeling and boat tours. The vacation rentals on the Galapagos Islands feature amazing views of the ocean and have all the comforts of home.

Eco-tourism is becoming increasingly popular. It is a way for vacationer’s to explore the world without damaging it. These 5 eco-friendly vacation destinations provide amazing locations to enjoy a vacation.

Eco friendly weddings have become increasingly popular as consumers are becoming aware of environmental issues. An important factor that many people planning a wedding are not aware of is the fact that an eco friendly wedding can lower the cost of the wedding. The money saved can then be used for a memorable Tahiti honeymoon, that the newlyweds might not have been able to afford with the expense of a more traditional wedding.

One of the major expenses of a wedding is the venue which can be lowered considerably if the couple holds the wedding outdoors. The easiest solution for a beautiful and memorable outdoor wedding would be to utilize the local geography. If you live close to the ocean, a wedding and reception held at the beach can lower the wedding costs because it can be a less formal affair plus transitions into a Tahiti honeymoon well. Another option is to utilize the local botanical gardens which can provide a stunning wedding especially if held during the time of the year when the majority of the flowers are in bloom.

A hillside or mountain wedding that is properly planned can provide memories that last a lifetime. Ranches are often overlooked for environmentally friendly weddings which can use horses or carriages for the bride and groom that will provide fantastic photo opportunities. Outdoor receptions lend themselves to easier meals that can really cut the cost of the reception and can be environmentally friendly if finger foods are served, eliminating the need for plates and utensils. Cloth napkins can replace paper and recyclable drink containers can replace paper cups.

Use flowers that are in season, along with species that are not prone to pests requiring no pesticides when grown. An option that is being used more frequently is to substitute cut flowers with potted plants that can be sent home with guests or even planted at the newlyweds home after their Tahiti honeymoon for lasting memories.

Invitations can now be sent using social media which will save trees by eliminating lots of printed material that usually ends up in the trash. Having guests throw bird seed at the newlyweds is another great eco friendly replacement for rice. Seed packages make great favors for guests.

With proper planning you can have a wedding that makes you proud plus save enough for a Tahiti honeymoon that will make memories that last a lifetime.

There are many environmental conservation agencies available to provide services and protection to our environment, but this is a list of some of the best environmental conservation agencies you could find.

The Sierra Club. The Sierra Club is an environmental conservation agency that has been around since the 1800′s, and as of today’s date, it’s membership boasts about an average of 1.3 million members. The Sierra Club is a very powerful force in helping the environment both with grassroots efforts, and by lobbying the politicians who are developing plans to further ruin our precious environment. The Sierra Club is one of the most respected institutes of environmental conservation, and this is a group of people who take the job of protecting the environment very seriously.

Another environmental conservation agency that is fairly well known is The National Audubon Society. This is another organization that has been around since the 1800′s, and there main focus is on birds and their eco systems, and the biological diversity this provides for the human race as a whole. Their main focus is to protect birds and to make sure that species of birds we see now will be around for many, many years to come.

The World Wildlife Fund is another environmental conservation agency that receives a lot of respect for their work in protecting animals, especially those animals that are endangered. This agency is a bit younger than the other two listed above, and has only been fully functioning for about 45 years. Their goal is to create a sustainable environment in which humans and animals can live in harmony with one another and reversing the degradation of our planet’s natural environment.

These are just three of the bigger environmental conservation agencies that are thriving on the belief that people and the environment must coexist in harmony in order to bring balance to an often delicate world. In order for the respect of all living thing, both human and animal, we desperately need organizations like this to keep our world the beautiful place that it is.