14
Oct, 2020

10 Weirdest But Greenest Inventions of All Time

The misuse of technologies has generated innumerable challenges for the sustainability and conservation of the environment. Paradoxically, the current industrial and commercial development has put the balance of the Earth at risk. That’s one of the problems that worry all parents. Possibly on more than one occasion, you have wondered what kind of future awaits the children in your family environment. Is that so?

The environmental challenges that we face are not minor and must be taken seriously. That is why quick and effective solutions are urgently needed. Thousands of scientists worldwide are working on inventing new materials and objects to allow consumers to choose an ecological and sustainable alternative.

If they can become famous, several of these inventions would represent a breakthrough in preserving our environment! It will only be necessary to overcome some obstacles such as people’s consumption habits, affordable prices, and, most importantly, safe in their use, manipulation, and results.

#1. Cigarettes With Seeds

Given the number of people who smoke globally, it occurred to someone that cigarette residues could stop being a nuisance (ash and smoke pollute and cigarette butts take about 15 years to degrade) and become something productive. Thus arose the idea of ​​cigarettes with seeds, which are equipped with biodegradable filters; After its decomposition, wildflowers will sprout from its remains that will help purify the air—an excellent way to give the bad habit of smoking an ecological twist.

#2. Energy-Saving Lamps

Light bulbs are one of the most effective creations that strive for sustainability in all aspects of the invention. Not only are they made with less polluting materials than their incandescent predecessors, but they also save up to 75% energy, last 10-12 times longer, and almost all of their components are recyclable. The next step was the LEDs that do not contain the minimum amount of mercury that the low consumption ones had and are as or more effective than these.

#3. Solar Cell Phones

As weird as it may sound, solar cell phones are a real thing. Their batteries can be charged by exposing them to the sun! Smartphones are “energy-eating” items, since being for daily use and having specific charging capacities, it is necessary to connect them regularly to chargers to keep them running. Thanks to the Fraunhofer Institute’s invention, with just 2 hours of sunning our batteries, we would have a charge for the rest of the day. The only drawback is that users tend to charge their phones at night, but it will convince them to change their habits.

#4. Newspaper Wood – From Tree to Paper to Wood

In the Netherlands, Mieke Meijer from the company Vij5 has created this new material called Kranthout (which means newspaper-wood in Dutch). Although it looks like wood, it is basically a by-product of recycling paper. Thanks to their perfect rolling and agglomeration, they have managed to make old newspapers and sawdust, chips and shavings, look (it even has veins) and are used as if they were wood, so much so that this material has great hardness, can be sanded and even paint.

#5. Photovoltaic Backpack

That’s one genuinely eco-friendly invention developed by the VoltaicSystems. It is made of a material that is the product of the recycling of various types of bottles, so it is ecological, waterproof, strong and lightweight at the same time. On the outside, it has a series of photovoltaic panels that charge internal storage batteries, to which 11 different types of connectors are attached. Not only can the camera, the camcorder, the tablets or the mobile be carried inside but we can load them as we go hiking, go to work or simply leave the backpack in the sun.

#6. From Bag to Oil

In Japan, the Blest Corporation has invented a device capable of converting plastic bags into the oil. With an approximate cost of about 9,000 euros for each machine, for every two kilos of bags (approximately) and consuming just 1 KW, it can distill one liter of oil, ideal to be used as fuel. Although the idea is to have it produced at an industrial level, if the domestic ones were to be put on the market, they would be the best solution for several of the pollution sources.

#7. Coffee Ink

3D printers are a true marvel that seemed like science fiction until a couple of years ago, but they have not solved everything. Billions of documents need to be printed every minute worldwide, and inks and toners are toxic and polluting. An ingenious designer from Korea came up with recycling coffee waste and turning it into ink, with the consequent ecological savings that this represents.

#8. Bamboo Computers

Plastic is a dangerous component (due to the long times it requires its complete destruction), but it is necessary for now. In contrast, bamboo is a very fast-growing tree that can be used to make thin, biodegradable sheets that could replace plastic. In fact, in China, there are already recyclable laptops, PCs, and Tablets, made with this material.

#9. Recyclable USB memory

All the components of this ecological, sustainable, useful, and supportive product are recycled and recyclable; its storage capacity reaches 8 Gb. For each sold, its creators contribute a percentage, which is allocated to the planting of trees in different parts of the world.

#10. Greenerator – Green Generator

Although this invention is still in its “infancy,” if it can be produced on a large scale, it would be a domestic solution for consumption, saving a lot of money and pollution. The idea is that the Greenerator generates the energy necessary to operate all the elements that require it (lights, refrigerator, TV, PC, washing machine, etc.) using only the sun and wind as a source. Its creator, Jonathan Globerson, estimates that if his invention works as he believes, it should only be consumed from external sources, 6% of what is needed per household today.

12
Oct, 2020

The 6 Greenest Cities in the World

With a mass of people, a lot of fumes, and piles of rubbish, big cities are not precisely known for their positive contribution to environmental protection. However, many cities also contribute well to ecological protection compared to the large polluters. Here are 6 of the greenest cities of the world:

1) Freiburg, Germany

Perhaps not for every city globally, but certainly for Freiburg: this city is entirely car-free. The city has been creating a more sustainable environment since 1970, and this process is bearing fruit. Waste disposal in Freiburg has been reduced by 90,000 tonnes in just 12 years. The German city has set several targets: in 2007, it was agreed that CO2 emissions must be reduced by 40% by 2030, and in 2014 the target will be increased to 50%. The city now wants 100% renewable energy.

2) Reykjavik, Iceland

The Icelandic city is determined to live entirely without fossil fuels by 2050. That will probably be the case. Geothermal heat, also known as geothermal energy, already supplies power to all buildings in the city. Around 0.01% of electricity in Iceland is produced from fossil fuels. According to The Huffington Post, Reykjavik takes the dough for green life, being the first city to live almost entirely on green energy.

3) Oslo, Norway

Last year the Oslo Government announced that it wants to ban all cars in the city within four years, and with this plan, it intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Eighty percent of Oslo’s heating system is based on renewable energy, and the city’s objective is to increase this percentage to 100 percent. Besides, the Norwegian town has a system that converts household waste into recyclable energy. Norway wants to be fully CO2-neutral by 2030, the chances of success are reasonable, given the successful adaptations of recent times.

4) Curitiba, Brazil

Curitiba is an excellent example of how a large, growing city can be and remain sustainable. Although Curitiba has almost two million inhabitants, the government works hard to create green areas such as parks and gardens. Besides, public transport in the Brazilian city is called a real revolution in transportation: buses run the same system like the metro, with fixed prices, lanes, and buses departing several times an hour. Around 72% of the city’s inhabitants use buses instead of their transport, which means much less air pollution. More than 1.5 million trees have recently been planted in the town, and more than 50 percent of paper, metal, glass, and plastic are recycled. The government stimulates this by rewarding residents who give away waste with vegetables or bus tickets.

 

5) Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen wants to be entirely CO2-neutral by 2025, with its dedicated inhabitants, clean water, and plenty of greenery, which certainly seems feasible. The city has an offshore wind farm along the coast and began building a new metro system in 2000, which improves public transport. In addition, Copenhagen is known for making bicycles available free of charge to the city’s residents, so only 25% of Copenhagen’s households have a car.

6) Vienna, Austria

Vienna is an example of being the greenest city in the world. Moreover, it ranks first in the ranking of the “greenest” metropolises. Vienna is a leader in the following disciplines:

  • Parks and local recreational areas at every turn – half of the city is green.
  • Public transport in Vienna will take you everywhere. This is why every second inhabitant of Vienna uses it.
  • The recycling and composting programs are top-notch: 30% of the city’s energy needs come from renewable sources.
  • Sorting waste can also be stylish: In Vienna, energy is also an art.
  • Local agricultural markets provide the city with the best groceries.

What are your thoughts about these cities? Share it with us in the comments below!

Eco-Friendly Halloween Decorations

Who says Halloween can’t be green? Well, whoever said it never knew how to celebrate a green Halloween! I dare to say that a green Halloween is much better than an orange Halloween. Yes, I said it! There are many ways to celebrate Halloween while thinking about the environment. Like every holiday, Halloween will soon be upon us with all its colors, candy, and children looking for tricks and treats. We all know how much garbage this scary holiday can have on the earth with all its non-degradable plastic costumes and decorations, as well as all the candy that rots teeth and contains all kinds of chemicals. So what should an eco-family do on Halloween? Here are five tips to make your Halloween much more eco-friendly.

Serve organic treats
Treats are the most important part of the night, aren’t they? Kids love all kinds of candy for their night, so instead of the usual old chocolate, why not serve them organic, over-the-counter chocolate – it tastes like regular store chocolate, without all the chemicals and preservatives. Choose candies made with natural juices, cane sugar and natural colors so that the kids get quality treats. If you don’t want to hand out candy, make your own toys to hand out, or useful items such as pencils or even soy crayons.

Costumes that go up in line and then give away
We all know that these cheap costumes in the store are made of non-biodegradable materials, made with dangerous chemicals that are harmful to children. Instead of buying, there is a lot of material in your own home that can be remade into great children’s costumes. For example, old pillowcases can be turned into superhero capes, and recycled cardboard can be cut into all sorts of shapes. And don’t hesitate to go to your local thrift store for costume ideas, or to get extra material for all your ideas.

Use natural and/or recycled decorations
Like the costumes, Halloween decorations are made of non-recyclable materials that can be harmful in the long run, so the rule is not to buy them at all! Natural products such as corn husks, straw bales, squash and, yes, even pumpkins are great decorations, and can be added to the compost heap as soon as the holidays are over. Keep an eye out for reusable decorations made from recycled materials that can have a long life and can reduce waste in general.

Follow the trick-or-treating route
Walking your children around the neighborhood to please them is not only good for you, it’s also good for the environment. Instead of driving your car, take a greener attitude and walk your kids around the neighbourhood. You may also get to know your neighbors better. Your children will be able to see other people’s costumes and this will help them bond with your children.

Install solar lights in and around your home.
What better time than in the fall to permanently install these solar lamps that light the way to your home. This will let the kids know that there are treats to be found, and you’ll save a lot of money in the long run. Installing solar lights on the front of your house is also a good idea to save even more money.

Paper products
Whether it’s Halloween decorations or party supplies, paper is the best choice. It’s affordable and most importantly, recyclable. There are many choices of garlands, banners, tablecloths and window decorations; all are good choices for an environmentally friendly Halloween party. For fun, use Halloween-themed paper cups, plates and napkins for your party. They’re easy to clean, just throw them in the recycling garbage can and you’re done! Don’t forget aluminum cans, plastic utensils and bottles, which can all be recycled.

For your own trick or treat
If you have children who are planning to pick up Halloween treats, give them a Halloween-themed gift or treat bag to use to collect their candy instead of the traditional plastic pumpkin. The pumpkin is usually discarded after a while anyway. A Halloween-themed gift bag makes a perfect “one-time” candy holder that can then be easily discarded and recycled.

 

 

8
Oct, 2020

Sustainable Fashion – How to Look Fabulous While Green

When talking about sustainability, the majority of us focus on things like renewable energy sources, going vegan, travelling less or by less polluting methods. But how many of us stop to think whether the clothes we wear are sustainable?

It’s no secret that fashion is a multi-billion industry that produces a vast amount of waste. Have a look through your closet. How many of the outfits that are hanging in there have you worn more than twice in the last fortnight? How many outfits have you bought in the last month that you won’t wear more than a handful of times before either relegating it to the back of the closet or to the donation pile, if not outright to the bin? Then look at your shoe rack and do the same thing.

If we consider sustainability to rest on a balance of the 3P’s (People, Planet, Profit), how does the current ‘Fast Fashion’ trend measure up, and what can we do to improve our habits. After all, humans are vain creatures that want to look good too.

Let’s start with the first P, People

We all know that the manufacturing industry relies on people. And we also know that many factories cut corners to be able to meet high targets and cut costs. These cost cutting measures are usually at the workers’ detriment, such as unregulated health, safety and wage standards. We’ve all heard the horror stories, and as consumers, we need to feel compelled to do something about it.

The only way consumers can make a real impact is by voting with our wallets. Make it a point to always check if your product comes from a company with a history of running sweatshops in third-world countries. As much as possible, avoid this brands and opt for companies with a reputation for fair trade. At least that way, you’re sending a message that sustainable practices matter to you.

Planet

It’s a sad fact that over 40% of the clothes in our closets don’t get worn on a regular basis. After being confined to the back of the closet for the longest time, most of these get discarded to landfills across the globe, which leads to an increase in toxins being released into the atmosphere.

When considering a fashion sustainability initiative that will have a positive impact on the planet, it is important to discuss two major points. Firstly, the materials used. There are a greater number of designers that are taking the laudable step to turn to eco-friendly materials like hemp, organic cotton and recycled polyester, which we, as consumers, should privilege over more traditional materials.

The second point is disposal. As previously mentioned, the vast majority of us wear an outfit a couple of times before getting rid of it. If we are unwilling to change these habits, then we need to take care to not throw clothes away to be disposed in landfills. Instead, why not donate them, or send them off for recycling. There are plenty of online applications that can help with this, as well as the traditional means like your local consignment/thrift store.

Profit

As with all businesses, fashion retailers want to turn a profit. Since sustainable initiatives are seen to cut into their bottom line, many clothes manufacturers and retailers are reluctant to support these initiatives. It is our duty as consumers to convince these manufacturers of the benefits of sustainable fashion.

One of the ways to do this is to support ethical fashion choices. Demand minimal packaging with your purchases. Encourage them to be transparent about their business practices and pricing models. For retailers, opt for social media marketing over the traditional billboard and newspaper media. Use recycled material for packaging. Recycle unused inventory rather than discarding it.

Hopefully this article can help spark a conversation that can lead to a change in fashion habits. Join the conversation in the comments below and let us know your views.

8
Oct, 2020

How to Celebrate an Ecological Halloween?

It seems incredible, but another year has passed, and we are once again at the gates of the most horrifying party of the year: Halloween. Candy, decorations, costumes, and greeting cards, all of which produce large amounts of waste, cannot be missing every Halloween. We have some eco-friendly tips to make this Halloween a little more planet and wallet-friendly.

Decorating with autumn fruits and dried leaves is a typical way of celebrating the start of the season, but it is also true that it has become a classic, and therefore bears no date on the calendar. Let’s seize this opportunity to craft lasting decorations that can come in handy and brighten up spaces throughout the year. As such, we’ll save time, money, and reduce waste, a threefold advantage that becomes a practical and advantageous ecological gesture. However, Halloween decorations have an incredibly intense and specific tone, which makes it challenging to achieve.

Let’s check out a few simple but smart and planet-friendly tips on how to make the most of the raw materials, namely the typical pumpkins and other accessories (scraps of fabric, old brooms, recycled candles, etc.) that create an elegant environment with a nice touch that is really spooky and terrifying…

 

 

Less Is More

12 DIY Eco-Friendly Halloween Decor for Your Apartment | ApartmentGuide.com

 

When it comes to ecology, reducing is winning. The famous three R’s (reduce, reuse, and recycle) make this clear. By the way, the same maxim can also be applied to the decoration. A happy coincidence that will help us work less and showcase our projects more.

If we think about it, it is probably useless to buy typical Halloween merchandise to fill the house, interior, and garden with objects that give us chills. It’s terrifying for the planet that we are going into consumerism when great alternatives are much more environmentally friendly. The benefits are worth it. On the one hand, we will only focus on one or more alternatives, so the result will be better because we will devote all our attention and more time. On the other hand, the ecology will be a chapter that will be passed with flying colors, mainly if we also use pumpkins that are well emptied and left to dry to make them last longer.

 

 

Taking Advantage of All This

DIY Duck Tape Jack O'Lantern Candy Dispenser Tutorial

 

With the leftovers and the remaining pulp, it will be easy to make delicious dishes from its simple cooking, with a delightful taste if the pumpkin is not very sweet. Otherwise, let’s accompany it with a garnish or decoration that softens it, such as honey, nut cream, a little sugar, a sweetener such as Stevia, fructose … Pumpkin soup is also a delicious dish or puree, and we can even make a julienne type soup, with chunks that can be pieces of vegetables such as potato, onion, carrot, and, of course, the same pumpkin pulp chopped into small cubes.

 

 

Halloween Decoration

20 Halloween Food Ideas That Will Impress You - YouTube

Cooking can be a very, very good and rich idea. Not only because the possibilities of being creative are enormous, but also because the simplest recipes, such as muffins, cakes, or biscuits, can be used as the basis for decorating them in true Halloween style.

Finally, suppose we don’t want to give ourselves the time to make terrifying decorations. In this case, we simply reserve the typical lamp created from a carved pumpkin for the days leading up to Halloween and enjoy the autumn decoration. Whole pumpkins and other autumn fruits adapt, dry leaves and branches to create a suggestive atmosphere.

If we make it tastefully, it will serve us throughout the season, and just add details such as candles or the pumpkin carved on All Saints’ Day to give it special meaning. Let’s not forget that darkness is the best Halloween accessory and that it is free. Darkness is also very cheap, for the pocket and the planet, let’s play with it, not with our dear Mother Earth!

 

7
Oct, 2020

What Is Sustainable in Meal Prepping?

You’ve probably heard about the term “meal prepping” a lot. While it is a millennial food trend all over the internet these days, this is not a new concept and has been around for several decades. Meal prep (short for preparation) is a strategic method initially used in the cooking industry and was first created to increase restaurant kitchens’ productivity. In this era, meal prep is considered an appealing and beneficial form of consumption in self-improvement, economy, and health.

But what is exactly meal prepping? It consists of making different food preparations (also with leftovers) at one time, so they are ready when you need to have breakfast, lunches, or dinners. You can easily grab them for work or have them at home and can quickly heat the meals in the microwave.

While this technique is known as a clean-eating and money-saving tip, you can also save the planet with it! Yes, you’ve read right! Let’s see together how we can be sustainable with meal prepping.

No More Leftovers

The act of eliminating leftovers is probably the major part of meal prepping that is Eco-friendly. Many people do not realize the number of portions that go to waste. In fact, one-third of the food produced worldwide is wasted, which makes approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food. Generally, in numerous homes, if there are leftovers from the previous night, this food would end up in the garbage.

One might think that the food will be biodegradable, so there’s nothing to worry about. However, many landfills are low in oxygen, and organic materials need this gas to decompose properly. Otherwise, while decaying, they will produce methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Hence, there will be no more leftovers with meal prepping as you’ll cook the right amount of food for a specific number of days.

  • Create New Meals

    Another way to avoid sending leftovers to landfills is to give them a new purpose or create other meals. For instance, if some veggies are left, use them for cooking a vegetable stock and trying other recipes with it.

  • Use Scraps

    When peeling vegetables, many are those you throw away the skin. Yet, you can use the skin of veggies like potatoes and carrots to create savory chips.

Food Tracking

To succeed at meal prepping, you have to start meal planning that will allow you to know exactly what to buy when you go to the grocery store. While this will stop you from spending money unnecessarily on food that will probably go to waste, you’ll also keep track of every food you bought. Your vegetables and fruits will not stay in the fridge until they rot or become too mushy to eat, hence reducing your waste level.

Glass Over Plastic

While every environmentalist recommends that you reduce your plastic consumption to become more sustainable, this task may seem daunting at first. However, meal prepping can be of great help here! You can stop purchasing plastic containers that will be thrown away after one use. Instead, you can invest in glass for food storage solutions, which are better choices for sustainability.

Less Fast Food

Takeout and fast food do very little in terms of sustainability and in fact, encourage more waste. In 2013, Statistic Brain stated that fast food restaurants generate about 32 billion pounds of food waste in America alone. Therefore, when you prepare your meals before, you have everything ready when you don’t feel like cooking. While you would usually be tempted to eat outside on these days, you can be more sustainable with meal prepping and just heat your home cooked food.

While meal prepping is a great way to start your sustainable lifestyle, it also comes with various benefits. Did you recently give meal prep a try? Let us know in the comments below how you’ve found it so far.

5
Oct, 2020

What Are the Cleanest Sources of Energy?

With the environmental impact and sustainability of our current energy consumption becoming more of a focal point, more and more countries are taking steps to invest heavily in cleaner and more readily available means to power our lives.

Questions are constantly being asked and alternatives to fossil fuel are constantly being developed and refined. Out of all the options we have, which renewable energy source is the most sustainable and environmentally responsible? In this article, we’ll go through some of the energy sources that are dominating the conversation in an attempt to answer that question. Starting with…

Solar Energy

One of, if not the most recognized sources of renewable energy, solar energy provides usable with negligible environmental impact. Most photovoltaic systems date back to the mid-1970s, which is when the search for an alternative to fossil fuels actually began.

Solar power is one of the most widely used renewable energy sources, with countries like the UK calculating that it provides around 4% of the nation’s electricity.

Hydro Power

The second in the big-3 of renewable energy sources, hydropower produces no pollution, is flexible enough to work on both small and large scales, and can be implemented in any area that has access to waterways, which makes it ideal for almost any country.

China is currently the world’s largest hydroelectric power producer, with a total production capacity that surpasses the United States, Brazil and Canada combined.

Wind Energy

The last of the most widespread renewable energy production methods, wind power is slowing gaining more traction and could soon be used to power whole cities. The disadvantage of wind power as compared to its better-known counterparts is the fact that wind turbines cost quite a bit more to maintain, and it is only viable in areas with large amounts of strong wind activity.

Denmark is the world leader in wind-power usage, with 28% of the nation’s energy coming from this source.

Geothermal Energy

Most commonly used in Scandinavian countries, who are known for their many geysers, geothermal power plants convert heat into electricity for use in towns and cities. Unlike coal or gas plants, which burn fossil fuels to create electricity, geothermal power plants use natural heat from beneath the earth.

A clean and renewable source of energy, geothermal electricity has attracted a lot of attention in recent years from countries concerned about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy renewability.

Tidal Energy & Wave Energy

Like most other renewable energy sources, tidal power plants aim to harness the power from a natural source and convert it into electricity. In this case, we are working with the movement of tides. There are currently two different types of tidal energy in use: tidal stream and tidal range energy.

While sharing some similarities with tidal energy, wave energy is considered an emerging technology that involves capturing energy from the motion of waves and using this energy to generate electricity. However, further refinement is required for the method to gain widespread appeal, since it is still considered unpredictable and difficult to harness.

Nuclear Energy

Although nuclear energy is controversial and often associated with weapons and the disasters at Chernobyl, and more recently Fukushima, it remains one of the world’s cleanest and most affordable sources of energy. Nuclear power is one of the world’s most popular sources of energy. In France, as an example, around 75% of the country’s entire electricity is created by nuclear power stations. In the United States, nuclear power contributed around 20% of electricity. Some of the advantages of nuclear energy include low emissions and an extremely limited impact on air quality, as well as low costs. Despite nuclear energy’s benefits, it remains a controversial source of power due to issues storing nuclear waste.

So there you have it, a breakdown of some of the most common and cleanest sources of renewable energy currently in use. Can you think of any others? Share your views in the comments below.

Pros of Organic Hair Care Products

Conditioners, shampoos, curlers, straighteners, colors, hairstyles, foams, anti-frizz gels, and the list goes on and on. This is the range of hair care products that have appeared on the market and are taking the cosmetics industry by storm. However, many people are now turning to organic, environmentally friendly and animal-free hair products.

Organic products will help you keep your hair and scalp looking and feeling great. Hair is the mirror of your health. If you encounter emotional or physical problems in your life, they quickly manifest themselves in your hair; the use of natural and organic products helps your hair recover. The natural benefits of using natural and organic products are hardly debated. Studies have repeatedly proven the importance of these benefits and, as my hairdresser told me, it will improve the growth of my scalp and hair, and it does.

So here are the benefits of using organic hair products:

1. Nature provides the best care without being aggressive.

Many of the active ingredients in shampoos and conditioners on the market that promise beautiful hair are synthetic. These chemicals can give you silky hair, but intensive use of these products can and will damage your hair over time. Natural hair care products are wonderfully safe and effective to use on your hair. Organic shampoos, conditioners, balms and other hair care products contain plant-based ingredients that allow you to care for your hair without fear of irritation and allergies. These products are gentle and hypoallergenic, so they can be used by everyone, even those with sensitive skin and scalp.

2. Organic hair care products are effective!

Numerous studies on organic and all-natural hair care products indicate that the active ingredients of plants are very useful in caring for your hair. Organic ingredients contain natural active ingredients, vitamins and minerals that would be good for your hair. Coconut oil, for example, is rich in fatty acids, vitamin E and minerals. The use of a hair product based on coconut oil will therefore certainly increase the strength and vitality of your hair. Many organic hair products contain aloe vera, shea butter and other plant extracts. These ingredients have different effects and benefits, so you can choose which product to use for your specific hair problem.

3. They are environmentally friendly!

As these products are organic, their use would not harm the environment. The ingredients of these products are highly biodegradable, so you won’t pollute the environment by using them. Synthetic products contain ingredients that take care of your hair at the expense of the environment.

4. Organic products are much cheaper.

If you compare the prices of cosmetics and chemical-based products, organic products are much cheaper. Why would you pay crazy amounts of money for things that would end up damaging your body? Organic products care for and nourish your hair for a lower price, so they can give you value for your money.

All of the above reasons tell you why you should use organic products. They offer you the best possible care for your hair and are hypoallergenic, so you won’t need to use more expensive synthetics and chemicals. That’s why organic hair care products are your best chance of getting the hair of your dreams.

If you choose to use hair care products that contain only organic ingredients instead of chemicals, your hair will feel livelier and healthier. Every time you buy a product, you vote for the ingredients in that product and for that company. Leyla Kapieva, the only distributor of the T-Lab Professional collections in Miami, has access to an incredible and extensive line of organic hair care products. Each cream and treatment is specially designed to nourish, condition and strengthen your hair while reversing damage caused by the environment and harsh chemicals.

Sustainable Flooring – All About Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is making its way into our homes, thanks to a series of properties that make it unique among wooden floors: hardness, stability, sustainable growth of bamboo plantations. This material is relatively new but is widely used in other Far Eastern countries, such as China and Japan. 

 

One of the most significant advantages of bamboo, also known as steel grass, is its fantastic ability to regenerate rapidly, and its extreme strand is woven bamboo’s extreme toughness. It is also environmentally friendly since it is grass and not hardwood. The bamboo plant can regenerate in only five years. Compared to hardwood trees that can take more than 30 years to grow before being harvested, bamboo is simply one of the best floor coverings. It’s a logical choice for homeowners who want the warmth and beauty of hardwood but do not want to contribute to the destruction of the world’s tropical rainforests.

 In addition to being environmentally friendly, bamboo flooring has several other advantages over other flooring materials. Let’s check them out!

Elegant and Multifunctional

When choosing a floor, one of the most important things to consider is how it will fit into your décor. Bamboo floors are available in a wide range of colors and styles, including hand-scraped and crafted by engineers, all with the gorgeous marbling effect typical of woven bamboo floors.

Aesthetically, bamboo is a very versatile material as it comes in a multitude of shades and grains. This advantage is twofold: Whatever the furnishings and decor of your room, you are bound to find a shade of bamboo that will complement it beautifully. Secondly, since there is an extensive selection of bamboo planks, you can install them throughout your home and achieve different looks.

Nature-Friendly

Besides the purely functional advantages (hardness, temperature, aesthetics), bamboo flooring is an environmentally friendly alternative: a traditional wood forest takes 30 to 60 years to grow back. Oak is one of the most widely used woods in flooring and brings 70 years to regenerate. Bamboo regenerates much faster in human-made plantations or virgin forests and only needs 5-6 years to fully mature; compared to 70 years for oak – the most commonly used wood in soils – or 100 years for ipé wood (a tropical species). 

Easily Obtained

Before the green movement really took off, it was often challenging to find environmentally friendly building materials. But all that has changed, and bamboo is now widely available in big-box stores and on the Internet.

Self-Regulating Temperature 

Bamboo also helps to self-regulate temperature, maintaining warmth in winter and freshness in summer. Its hardness is similar to that of oak, the most widely used wood in flooring, thanks to the high density of the structure, which makes it rigid and stable. 

Types of Bamboo Floors

There are different types of bamboo floors, differing in the structure of the slats. The vertical and horizontal types result from gluing the bamboo slats together (either vertically or horizontally). This gives a different finish but a hardness similar to that of oak in both cases. As for the finishes, far from being limited to oriental or colonial-inspired settings, bamboo floors are available in multiple styles, suitable for all types of rooms. 

The boards resulting from processing the sanded and brushed bamboo strips can be left with their natural light color or undergo different heat treatments that give them a toasted or even chocolate brown color. This, combined with the slats’ placement vertically or horizontally, or pressed, results in surfaces with more or fewer knots and veins depending on the effect sought.

The variety of bamboo used to make parquet floors is the so-called giant bamboo or “Moso” bamboo, which grows in tropical regions. The world’s largest reserve is in China, and up to a third of the plantations are cut down each year, equivalent to natural reforestation. The mother plant of bamboo generates new shoots every year that, in a few months, reach maturity and a length of up to 20 meters. In this way, replanting is unnecessary, as is the case with traditional woods that require the felling of trees. If we add that bamboo absorbs, on average, 30% more CO2 than trees, this product’s environmental advantages are clear.

It’s Maintenance 

Preserving a bamboo floor in good conditions does not require special care; it is enough to maintain a humidity level of between 50 and 65% in the environment, which is also ideal for people’s well-being, which is equivalent to a temperature of about 20ºC. As for the cleaning, it is recommended to dry, with a vacuum cleaner and a mop, although in case of stains, scrubbing with a little water and a neutral soap is ideal. As with other wooden floors, abrasive products are not recommended.

30
Sep, 2020

The Causes of Humidity and Its Consequences on Our Health

Summary

– Accidental causes of humidity: what are they?

– Other causes of humidity in the home

The causes of moisture are numerous and often difficult to determine.

Only a professional can make the right diagnosis to propose the appropriate treatment(s).

Accidental causes of humidity: what are they?

Accidental causes are one of the primary sources of humidity inside homes.

These accidental causes are:

– Water damage:

◦ slow leaks: sanitary facilities, bathtub, dishwasher;

◦ problems with pipes and water drain such as broken or clogged pipes, etc…;

◦ faulty construction;

◦ wear and tear: joints in the bathroom etc…

– A flood: the rupture of a roadway pipe, flooded river, etc…

The consequences of water damage can be significant: rotten parquet flooring, damaged beams, and more.

Signs that should alert you

 

Most often, a leak is not visible to the naked eye. It may take several days or weeks before you discover it. However, some signs, such as your bathroom floor not drying out, can give you a warning.

Accidental causes: what to do?

In case of a leak or a broken pipe, the first thing to do is turn off the water immediately. If you are in a building and the leak comes from another apartment, you must determine the leak’s origin as soon as possible. If your neighbor is not home, notify the janitor and the trustee.

In the event of flooding, only professionals can dry out your home and accurately diagnose the work that needs to be done afterward.

Warning: it is necessary to notify your insurance company as soon as possible, whether you are a homeowner or a tenant. Your insurance company will call in an expert to determine the cause of the damage and compensate you.

If you notice humidity problems in your home, contact a specialist. He is the only one who can accurately diagnose the cause of humidity in your home and suggest the appropriate treatment(s).

Among the leading causes of humidity in the house are:

– poor ventilation that does not allow the moisture to evacuate efficiently from your home;

– infiltration of rainwater into the walls or foundations by hydrostatic pressure;

– capillary action in the walls;

– hydrostatic pressure that leads to lateral infiltrations at the foundation level.

Consequences of humidity on health

Humidity’s health consequences leave no doubt: research in Canada and Belgium has medically demonstrated that the consequences can be infectious and toxic.

Symptoms triggered by humidity

Excessive humidity triggers chain reactions in people exposed to it:

– skin irritation that may result in more or less pronounced eczema.

– headaches, an accentuation of tiredness;

– nausea, even vomiting;

– in the respiratory tract: cough, asthma, rhinitis, shortness of breath, etc.;

– eye irritation;

– development of allergies.

Studies have shown that:

– the virulence of the impact on health is directly related to the time of exposure to the spores: spores are small, highly volatile particles that enter into the composition of a fungus;

– the height of the mold in relation to the respiratory tract also plays an important role. If the stains are at the nose’s level, the contamination and the health effects are much more direct than if the stain was behind a piece of furniture, for example.

Fight against humidity pathologies

Fighting against humidity can therefore become a real necessity. Nothing very complicated if the affected areas are not very large:

– Clean all the mold with a cloth soaked in soapy water: be careful not to get the fabric wet either.

– Wipe the surface with a clean damp cloth.

– Dry with a dry cloth.

– Ventilate the room to accelerate drying.

– Get rid of moldy or damaged objects or fabrics.

Note: It is essential to wear a dust mask, goggles, and rubber gloves to avoid exposure to mold spores during the entire operation.