Is It Really Time to Switch off Central Heating

Within the UK we have had a terrible winter coupled with the strain of the economic crisis. As summer approaches things may begin to look slightly better, or will they?

The reason for stating this is because of one of two reasons as they are listed below:
1) The economic crisis is still going to be around and with that comes headache and stress because more folk are going to be unemployed and struggling to survive.
2) Is the summer really going to be a good summer? As the ozone layer breaks down the UK will begin to suffer from colder winters and summers.

While many folk are getting happy that summer is coming closer because they will be able to go out more and turn on their central heating, they may be a little upset this summer as it is forecast to be a cold and wet one.

There are numerous people that look forward to not making their heating oil suppliers rich this summer, but the country has brought this on its self and nothing seems to be done about the pollution being caused.

1) Cars are now very popular and they are causing a huge amount of damage to the ozone layer.
2) Factories are still burning huge amounts chemicals and again emitting this pollution into the atmosphere.
3) Electricity that is used in our homes is constantly left on, hurting the ozone layer even more then before.

Things are getting worse and the weather is just the start of this all in a couple of years we may well see things such as tornados, hurricanes and Earthquakes be regular pop ups. So let us take a glance at this before it is too late.

For great heating oil prices

Technorati Tags: central heating, petrol, weather

Water – The Worlds Most Precious Resource

Water is one of nature’s most precious gifts and a resource we depend on for our life. Water is essential for everyone. Water is fundamental to all life forms, affecting all ecosystems and the various uses to which it is put. Demand continues to rise rapidly as the worlds population grows – water use per capita also increases. This is fast becoming a serious problem because the supply of water is finite. Only 3% of the worlds water is fresh. Refer to Enviromental technology for more information.

According to the World Health Organization, “safe drinking water is fast becoming the world’s most critical resource and a global concern as more than a billion people worldwide lack access to it”.

Here are a couple of good reasons for their concern:-

=> Unclean water is the second biggest killer of children, claiming more than two million lives annually.
=> drinking water is listed as the Number 4 health hazard in the US. Safe Drinking Water is constantly in the News – politicians would like it to appear safer than it is.

Water is indispensable for human health and well-being. A regular, adequate supply of clean drinking water is one of our essential basic human needs and often a factor in survival. Not only is clean water essential for everyday life, it is essential to economic growth and poverty reduction.

Unfortunately, Water is something we ALL take for granted.

Clean drinking water is one of the world’s most precious resources. Under US Federal law, bottled water is classified as a food product. As is the case in most western countries. Go to enviromental products for more information.

As a result of the way water has been marketed over the years, many consumers believe that, bottled water is safer and healthier than tap water. Why wouldn’t they think that when they have been shown graphic images of how the condition of the once-clean pure water is transformed by the time it travels through the delapitated pipes to our homes.

It is no wonder that in this day and age bottled water is becoming more and more popular. Sure bottled water is convenient, but it is only as safe as its source.

That same marketing has pushed the price of water – “sometimes dramatically” throughout the world to the point where it is more expensive per litre than petrol.

How much water is enough?
The “recommended” daily consumption of water is somewhere around 60-80 ounces, however alternative health care professionals will tell you should be consuming 50% of your total body weight in pounds in ounces. Regardless of the virtual water that you get from your diet. Virtual water is the amount of water that is embedded in food or other products needed for its production.

Water is the safest thing for you to drink. In many ways, water is a miracle liquid. Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual. Although it contains no nutrients, water is a vital component of our diets.

My 2 cents worth
Make no mistake water is the most important liquid in the world and having a supply of safe drinking water is everybody’s business. Visit environmental for more information.

Technorati Tags: Drinking water, Water Resources

Setting Environmental Protection Examples

It is a sad fact but the United States is the number one garbage producing nation in the world. Australia comes in at second with 18 million tons of garbage but that does not compare to what the United States is generating. Sure, more people are recycling and are worried about environmental protection but it is not enough, with just a little over 1/4 of the people actively doing their part. The number of people putting recyclables into recycling bins for pick up and thus keeping them out of landfills is not enough.

It is amazing how simple recycling can be once you know what to do. Your first step is separating your garbage waste from the recyclables. Environmental protection begins at home with you dropping the appropriate trash into its special waste bin. It is that easy. Sometimes there is money involved, as is the case with recycling aluminum cans. You take in a bag filled with cans and you get money back. How great is that?

Many schools and work places are not part of a recycling program. However, if recycling bins were supplied and appropriately labeled for glass, aluminum cans, plastic and paper, then no doubt people would join in the recycling movement and place their garbage in the appropriate containers. Have your employer send out a memo asking them to do so. Lead by example and always do your part. If others see your commitment, then they will likely follow suit.

Make sure you buy recycled goods. This helps recycling industries know that there are people out there who are concerned with the environment. Many of our day-to-day products can be purchased that contain recycled materials. You can buy notebook paper made from recycled paper goods. Many detergent and household cleaning products come in bottles made from recycled plastics. By taking this small step into consumerism you can help further the cause and still have the items you need for your home.

Environmental protection is everyone’s job. It is just a matter of getting the right information and help to more people. Each year, more and more people need to be involved in the recycling trend. If just one person convinced another person to recycle, then eventually this would snowball into thousands, perhaps millions of new recycling advocates. Before long the United States would stop producing so much landfill garbage.

Technorati Tags: aluminum cans, environmental protection, landfills, recyclables, recycled materials, recycling bins, recycling program, reuse recycle

Millions of UK’s Poorest Face Higher Heating Bills in the Name of Going Green

The world has officially gone mad. As we are grinding into the worst economic slump for a century, simple things like heating bills are going up and up.There are also significant health risks for pensioners and low income families. It is they who are in most need of heating during the colder months. But it is exactly these people who are increasingly struggling to heat their homes.

The concept of Renewable Energy has become a buzzword for energy companies and governments in the past decade. It is meant to be the solution to the problems of our world. And who would argue with the idea of saving some money and saving the planet. With this mantra on their lips, they win votes and build wind farms, supposedly for our benefit.

But there’s something fishy about the way the “green energy” issue is used, exemplified by the recent proposal by UK energy secretary Ed Milliband. The plan is called the “Renewable Heating Incentive”, and aims to construct a large number of wind farms and solar energy facilities to reduce reliance on fast depleting and environmentally unfriendly fossil fuel sources. Now you’d think that the responsibility for paying for these developments would land at the feet of global energy giants – but you’d be wrong. It is going to be the bill payer who has to pay for this! The plan aims to charge a levy to energy providers using fossil fuels. The big friendly energy company, however, is planning on paying for this cost by increasing home gas and electric costs.

Gas prices went up by 59% last year, and electricty by 26%. This meant that millions had to think twice about switching on their portable heaters. Going green has been touted as a way for people struggling to pay their bills to lower their costs. However if this idea is brought in it will harm precisely those who are struggling. Essentially what this will mean is that those with more secure and higher incomes will be the ones who can afford to switch to green energy sources for their homes. But if you can’t, and resort to using fan heaters or oil filled radiators to warm your house when the temperatures drop, you’ll be hit with higher energy bills. The same will be true even if you factor in the low interest loans scheme that is supposedly aimed at making it more affordable for people to go greener. It’s unlikely that a family that is already struggling to pay their gas and electic, not to mention interest on existing debts, will be willing to take on more debt, whetever the interest rate may be. If the introduction of university student loans have taught us anything, its that offering low interest loans only make these schemes more appealing to the middle classes.

I ask you, is that right? Surely it would be much better to force energy corporations to give up a small percentage of their enormous profits to pay for this scheme.  This money could then be used to provide green energy refubishment to those on lower incomes who are struggling to pay the bills, so that their bills can be reduced. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this.

Technorati Tags: alternative fuel, energy companies, environment, gas prices, green energy, green fuel, heating bills, recession, Renewable Energy, Solar Power, stealth tax, uk government