Category: eco

Environmental factors to consider before building a home

Environmental factors to consider before building a home

Building your own home is a great decision that gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment. It’s also a worthwhile investment as the property can appreciate and offer several options to gain income. Therefore, it’s of little surprise that statisticians forecast an increase in housing completions this year. However, before you begin the process of building your house, there are many factors you must consider. A vital factor is the environment. The environment can significantly impact your building, from its structural design to its location. Yet, it’s an aspect many ignore when planning to build. To avoid making the same mistakes, here are some environmental factors you must consider when planning your building project.

The existing ecosystem in the area

You’re excited to find the perfect location when planning to build a home. You may want a home in the country overlooking a vast field of green. Or perhaps, you want your large property close to a water body. While these sound amazing, you must consider how your building project may affect the existing ecosystem in that area. There are various ways real estate can negatively affect an area, and a common issue is land contamination. This is often due to the materials and other items used during construction. Your project may also displace wildlife indigenous to the area. In some circumstances, your interference with the ecosystem means you may be forced to coexist with dangerous animals such as bears, which is very unsafe. Therefore, seek advice from an environmental consultancy for expert help and advice concerning your location before you build. You can opt for a Greenlight ecology survey to identify the impact your building project would have on the existing ecosystem in the area.

Climate

Another environmental factor many home-owners don’t consider is climate. However, this factor is significant. The climate can affect the profitability of your project. For instance, your home would likely increase in value if you built it in a location with pleasant weather all year. This is because many potential buyers or renters would demand such properties. You also need to consider the climate to know what types of building materials you would need and the right design for your home. You should also look at how extreme weather conditions, such as heavy snowfall or rain, can get in the area. With this knowledge, you can ensure your home’s design incorporates various elements that can prevent damage. For instance, if the area tends to experience heavy rainfall frequently, you must ensure to install efficient drainage systems to avoid water damage or flooding.

Building materials and fixtures

Over the years, the issues concerning the environment have been troubling. This is why many people have taken the step of adopting more eco-friendly measures in their daily activities. Researchers have also found alternatives to otherwise harmful products to help save the planet. You can do your part, too, by taking a closer look at the materials you use in building your home. Research eco-friendly building materials and hire contractors that share in your sustainability values.

In addition to helping the planet, sustainable building materials protect your family. Your family’s risk of exposure to unseen, harmful elements such as pollutants and allergens that cause diseases are reduced drastically due to responsible building materials. You should also consider installing eco-friendly fixtures. Fitting solar panels and LED lights for energy efficiency are great examples. Also, you save money in the long-term as your energy costs become significantly lower. Lastly, a sustainable home has a higher value during resale, so this investment is worthwhile.

Air and water quality

The quality of air and water in your preferred location is a factor you must consider when building your home. If an area’s air and water quality is low, you put your family at risk. Diseases such as asthma, pulmonary insufficiency and cardiovascular diseases are caused by exposure to air pollution. If you and your family consume polluted water, you become vulnerable to contracting diseases such as cholera, hepatitis and typhoid; all of which are very unpleasant. The air and water quality of where you build your property also affect your investment. As many people become more aware of the effects of air and water quality, potential buyers thoroughly inspect properties before purchasing. Therefore, if your home doesn’t adhere to these standards, you risk losing buyers or being forced to sell at a lower price.

It’s important to consider the environmental factors when you set out to build a home. Doing this would ensure you keep you, your family and your investment safe. These four points above are an excellent place to start.

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Why employees demand a robust environmental policy and what companies can do about it

Why employees demand a robust environmental policy and what companies can do about it

A recent survey carried out by Unily found that 83% of workers thought their employers weren’t doing enough to make sure that the workplace was eco-friendly. 65% of employees said that they’d rather work for a company that had a robust environmental policy. If offices and workplaces were more sustainable they’d only cut down on their energy consumption, but also make choices that were better for the planet. If you run your own business, there are many changes that you can make within the workplace that are more green and sustainable. This will ultimately make it a better environment in which to work.

Office cleaning

Many of the cleaning products used in offices and workspaces contain chemicals and toxins that are harmful to the environment. Bleach, ammonia, air fresheners, antibacterial products and any cleaning spray with an artificial fragrance are generally toxic. Research done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 53% of air fresheners also damage your lungs if they are inhaled. Common ingredients include sodium laureth sulfate, triethanolamine and PEG compounds – all known carcinogens. If you have a large workspace, using a professional company that specialises in green cleaning is a good idea. This will minimise the impact that cleaning has on the environment. If you’re responsible for cleaning, swap harmful cleaning agents for natural alternatives. Use only recyclable paper products and reusable mops, dusters and micro-fibre cloths for cleaning.

Water consumption

Many offices and workplaces have large water bottle coolers for staff to use. Once they’ve been used, the majority of the plastic bottles will end up in landfill – plastic takes 450 years to biodegrade, and in the meantime the Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) seeps into the soil and the water, ultimately ending up in rivers and oceans. An easy alternative is good old fashioned tap water. You could also invest in a filter jug for staff to use, so that the water tastes better. The filters need replacing every 6 months, but this creates far less waste than using water coolers.

A paperless office

For the vast majority of communication between staff, clients and customers, there’s no need for paper. In your workplace environmental policy, set targets for reducing the amount of paper and set up limitations for office supplies, printing, packaging and marketing materials. Delegate someone in the workplace to be a “paperless champion”, helping to motivate others. Within the workplace, make full use of emails, digital signature software and PDFs to share information and communications. You can also move to digital financial statements with all your clients and suppliers. Where you do absolutely have to use paper, make sure that recycling is promoted.

Making the workplace a more sustainable and eco-friendly place is everyone’s responsibility. Limiting the use of paper and plastic and using green cleaning supplies can help to protect the environment for the future.

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Being more eco-friendly in your day to day life

Being more eco-friendly in your day to day life

We all want to do what we can for the good of the planet. In recent years, science has advanced and we’re growing increasingly aware of just how detrimental our actions are proving to the planet. The human race is engaging in all sorts of activities that are accelerating climate change, draining fossil fuels, destroying animals’ habitats, wiping out rainforests, polluting the oceans and other waterways and causing all sorts of other havoc.

We’re fast approaching a point that scientists are warning us we’ll pass a point of no return and cause unfixable damage to the environment and ecosystems that provide us with a home. It’s not all too surprising that many of us are starting to feel anxious or a sense of dread around the world situation, especially as we’re seeing the direct impacts of climate change – particularly in poorer countries.

The good news is that there are things you can do as an individual to make a difference in this area. Here are a few changes you can implement in your day to day life that will contribute to you being more eco-friendly and reduce your footprint on the planet.

Reduce plastic use

We use plastic on a daily basis. Our food is wrapped in it, our toiletries are packaged in it, we use plastic bags to carry purchases and dispose of waste – the list goes on. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Plastic is massively detrimental to the environment and there are so many alternatives out there. Invest in eco-friendly alternatives wherever possible, whether that’s a bamboo toothbrush, a multi-use cotton tote bag or reusable food covers.

Go green with your energy

We use a lot of energy; of course, you can reduce your consumption which is always useful. But it’s inevitable that you’ll need to use some amount of energy in your daily life. Make sure to use green sources of energy wherever possible. There are a few ways to go about doing this. Firstly, and perhaps most easy, you can switch to a green energy supplier.

There are plenty out there and it doesn’t take that much time or effort to switch. Simply use a price comparison site and find the best deal for you. Another option is to generate your own energy. This will require a little more time and financial investment, but it will provide you with a completely green source of energy that could also cost you less over time. The most popular option is solar panels. A solar panel company will be able to suggest the best options for you, where they’ll be best placed and can complete installation.

Go vegan or vegetarian

Did you know that one of the biggest changes you can make for the environment is cutting animal products out of your diet? Animal agriculture is one of the leading contributors to environmental damage. Studies have found that vegan diets tend to have a much lower carbon, water and ecological footprint than a diet that includes meat, fish and other animal-derived products.

In fact, removing meat and dairy products from your diet can reduce your carbon footprint from food by a massive 73 per cent! This is due to cutting out the energy used to farm animals and transport them, as well as eliminating the sheer amount of methane produced by livestock. On top of this, you’ll contribute to the reduction in deforestation. When you eat meat and fish, land is used not only to farm the animals themselves, but to grow the food for them to consume.

Instead, we could just grow the plants and eat them directly ourselves. The removal of animal agriculture could reduce farmland use by 75 per cent, freeing up an area equivalent to the size of the USA, China, Australia and the EU combined. Of course, changing your diet is a major lifestyle shift. You don’t have to cut everything out at once – or you don’t have to cut everything out altogether.

Find an option that works for you. This might be meat-free Mondays, Veganuary, the occasional vegan meal, pescatarianism, vegetarianism, only cutting out eggs or diary or full-blown veganism.

Campaign and protest

Of course, the vast majority of pollution and environmental damage worldwide is caused not by individuals, but by major corporations. These companies create astounding amounts of waste, with some brands contributing heavily to landfill and other brands creating environmental disasters, such as oil spills.

There are a number of ways you can object against these issues. You can attend protests in person when major issues arise – such as oil spills – pushing for sanctions against the companies that are causing the damage. There is also a host of other, more ongoing protests. Look into environmental groups in your local area and see what actions they’re taking for change. You can support them in this in a variety of ways.

Donate to environmental charities

There are a huge number of environmental charities out there to whom you can donate. Their work focuses on wide range of areas depending on the charity and their individual objectives. Your donations can help them achieve their goals. Perhaps the most well known eco charity is Greenpeace. They aim to raise awareness globally of environmental issues, as well as staging major protests against the worst perpetrators of environmental damage. You could also donate to charities such the Red Cross, who help victims of environmental disaster and climate change, or the WWF who work to help animals suffering from habitat destruction and climate change.

Volunteer

Of course, if you don’t have the money to donate, you could always volunteer for eco-friendly charities. Your time can be just as valuable as money. Most will offer ways to help and support them. Contact local groups and see what you could do to help them.

These are just a few ways you can help the environment and lead a more eco-friendly existence. Hopefully, some will match your lifestyle and can be implemented easily. Give some a try and see how you get on; the planet will thank you for it!

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Let’s check out a few facts about solar panels

Let’s check out a few facts about solar panels

Currently, many home-owners worldwide are finding that solar panels are beneficial as a renewable energy resource. The sun provides free, natural light. These panels convert this light into electricity giving considerable savings in energy and expenses in an environmentally-friendly package.

With the installation of quality options like Solar3D panels, a home-owner has minimal maintenance or upkeep.

A simple clean a couple of times each year maintains the integrity while keeping the system positioned according to optimum daytime light conditions will ensure peak performance. Let’s check out some other facts about solar panels.

Solar panel fitter on a roof

Facts you might not know about solar panels

Before you decide to have a solar system installed, it’s important to do all the research to ensure it’s the right energy resource choice for you and your household.

While virtually maintenance-free, a home-owner needs to take steps above and beyond using solar panels to become more conservative with their power usage.

The greater your efficiency, the more energy you’ll actually have to spend with the potential to sell some back to the utility companies. That puts you in a very enviable position. Let’s check out a few bits of information you might now know on solar panels.

●     You can own or lease the equipment

While the equipment can prove a reasonable upfront investment, you don’t need to purchase solar panels. You have the option for leasing if you choose with pros and cons for either situation.

Again, as a home-owner, it’s essential to research both opportunities to see the varied benefits for each scenario. Purchasing can range from as little as $10,000 to as significant as $50,000. Still, leasing, of course, will be considerably less.

Saying that, you’ll most likely need to employ a multiple-year contract, so the price can prove to be comparable in the long run. One question if you purchase is, can you take the product with you if you leave the house.

●     What’s the condition of your property?

The panelling will be installed on the roof of your property. That means the structure needs to be stable and secure. If it’s old, unstable or in sub-par condition, you will need to consider repairs or updating prior to afixing the panels.

Working with poor roofs or roofs made of specific materials can greatly increase the price point for installing the solar system by as much as 25%. That means you’ll need to get quotes before jumping into the process.

●     Intermittent service is a consideration

The resource boasts saving energy and expense in utility costs, but it’s essential to understand you need to learn to conserve above and beyond the solar panels. In doing so, you can save energy that you can use on days with minimal sunlight.

Weather conditions, like days when it’s cloudy or raining, can mean intermittent service. Powering the house might be challenging. You might need to rely on the utility company at night or in the winter unless you’re exceptional with conserving to have a surplus to use in these circumstances. Click to learn if you’re getting the most from your system.

●     Environmentally-friendly resource

While the renewable resource saves energy and utility costs, the option is also beneficial for reducing your carbon footprint. The pollution level associated with solar energy is slight, with that aspect deriving from transporting and manufacturing as opposed to the actual usage.

An investment in solar panels as a source of energy is a commitment to preserving the planet with an eco-friendly solution to powering a home or business.

Again, the more ways you find to conserve in the household, the more you can become independent in your energy use from the commercial grid because you’ll create a surplus of energy.

Some of this you can eventually sell back to the national grid if you don’t need it all in a 24-hour period. Find guidance on solar energy for your household at https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2020/04/10/tips-for-adding-solar-to-your-home.html.

Grid of solar panels

Final thought

Solar energy is an affordable, renewable energy resource that many people are turning to in an effort to get off the commercial grid.

In order to become independent of that grid, you need to go above and beyond the panels to find ways to conserve your energy. It might not be an easy process, but it’s not impossible to do.

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