For this reason, people are making more and more effort to avoid needlessly wasting power by making sure to turn off any appliances that they aren’t using. However, many people aren’t aware that, often, when we think we’ve shut off the power to a machine, we’ve simply put it on ‘stand by’ mode.

For example, when it comes to your computer or your TV, just because the screen is blank, that doesn’t mean it’s ‘off’, so to speak. Usually there will be a red light glowing softly somewhere under the screen. This indicates that, rather than turning it off fully, you’ve merely put it into ‘stand by’.

“What’s the big deal?” you may ask, after all, it’s only a small insignificant light. How much power can that waste? Whilst it may appear to be a small triviality, while appliances are left on standby and still have power running through them, most will be draining the grid of 60% of the power they would use when in full use. This figure is closer to 100% for older models of some products.

For this reason, over the course of the year, unless you unplug it after each use, an infrequently used appliance such as your microwave will actually use more power when it is doing no more than lighting its digital display than it will do when heating food for you!

Some estimates suggest that about 10% of the average household’s energy bills come from appliances left unused in standby mode. Reducing the impact of these energy vampires will benefit not only the environment, but will also save you a bundle on your electricity bills.

For this reason it’s vital to actually go and unplug any electronics you are not using. Even outlets that don’t have an on switch are capable of wasting power. For instance chargers for devices such as phones and mp3 players continue to waste energy even when the device has finished charging.

One good solution to make sure you can completely shut off many appliances at once is to invest in a multi-plug adaptor with its own power switch. You can then plug various appliances into it and, by tuning that off, you can, in a single stroke, make sure that no power is reaching any of the potential power vampires you have connected to it.

Steve Waller is an environmentalist and writer. You can read more of his work on his blog, GreenSteve

In order to create a healthy and safe for consumers in winter indoor environment, indoor environmental pollution control guidance centers nationwide continue to organize national indoor environmental control units and pollution control activities carried out in winter.

China Indoor Environment Monitoring Board National Indoor Environmental Governance Song Guangsheng, director of the guidance note: consumers to pay attention in winter to reduce environmental pollution has increased by four characteristics:

First indoor environment categories of pollutants increased chemical pollution in the indoor environment is not only the decoration and furniture caused by formaldehyde in the indoor environment pollution, pollution and volatile organic compounds benzene contamination, but also coal stove for heating and Water heater Bath caused by carbon monoxide pollution, carbon dioxide caused by poor indoor air pollution, indoor environment with air drying and heating caused by particulate matter pollution.

As the winter increase in respiratory diseases are caused by the indoor environment such as bacteria and viruses biological contamination. As the winter indoor ventilation to reduce indoor radon radioactive contamination will increase.

Second, decoration and furniture in the release of hazardous substances will increase. As the northern winter, the temperature suitable for indoor heating, geothermal heating in particular is popular, newly renovated house if using geothermal heating, using a composite flooring or solid wood flooring home, indoor environment, hazardous substances will be significantly increased;

Third, air pollution caused by increased heating. Some offices and no heating in the south of the home heating widely used in the winter Central air conditioning And home air conditioning heating, air conditioning in the appropriate temperature and humidity, making the central air conditioning in domestic air conditioner filter pollutants and bacteria-line mold pathogens to multiply, and with the air conditioning cycle, sent to every corner of the room, indoor environmental problems caused by an increase;

Fourth, increased vehicle pollution problems. Serious use in a closed car air conditioning heating caused by carbon monoxide poisoning deaths, the average winter the family car, public transport, air-conditioned subway car and because of poor ventilation, car, adding that, to increase the environmental pollution problems caused by car ; In winter to reduce environmental problems, the two are:

First people a great chance to reduce outdoor activities, especially the elderly and children, to escape the cold, often long stay at home and rarely went out for outdoor activities;

Second indoor ventilation time significantly reduced, for indoor heat, tend to ignore the indoor ventilation, indoor environment significantly reduced the opportunity for ventilation; normal breathing 16 times per minute to 18 times, in exhaled gases, carbon dioxide, 4%, with the air itself contains a certain amount of carbon dioxide, if the total content of indoor carbon dioxide 5%, were choking may occur.

If the doors and windows closed at home for some time to smell the smell of the room it a unique, indoor oxygen is insufficient warning, this time to quickly ventilation. Winter indoor environmental hazards: First serious is carbon monoxide poisoning, a direct result of people’s poisoning and even death.

Beijing health authorities on November 20 report of the first anniversary of Beijing region 19 from carbon monoxide poisoning, poisoning 32 people, killed two people. Second, respiratory diseases caused by increase in respiratory diseases in winter is high season, after winter, the major hospital in Beijing surge of patients, and is directly related to indoor pollution.

Third, a variety of age-induced diseases: increase temperature in the indoor and outdoor and indoor environmental pollution hazards, winter is also a variety of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease such as multiple;

Fourth, health hazards to children, because children’s physical and outdoor activities in winter and less reason to become the biggest victims of environmental pollution in winter will not only lead to children’s respiratory diseases and other diseases will seriously affect children growth and development.

Davpack Top 10 Tips To Reuse Your Packaging Materials

1. Reusing Jiffy Mailing BagsInitially, over-label and reseal with packaging tape. When the bags have been excessively written on or have a torn flap, simply place inside a paper mailing sack or lightweight polythene postal bag.

2. Reusing Cardboard Postal TubesEnsure that you save the end caps with the empty postal tubes, as this prevents the packaging from becoming damaged at the ends. Over-labelling is simple, but using a document enclosed envelope instead of a standard label can make the postal tube easier to clean up and reuse.

3. Reusing Cardboard BoxesIf you buy stock cardboard boxes instead of custom printed boxes, they?re easier for the next person to reuse. So instead of ordering specially printed boxes, use a peelable document enclosed label. When you open boxes, cut along the tape, rather than ripping the end open.

Stack full boxes well to avoid crushing at the edges and weakening the packaging strength. When the box is empty, cut along the tape at the bottom and store flat to keep it in good condition for re-use.

4. Reusing Bubble WrapWhen using bubble wrap packaging, think about the next user. Avoid excessive use of packaging tape that?ll prevent the recipient being able to snip the tape and flatten the bubble wrap. Keep bubblewrap away from dust and moisture, so it can be re-used as protective packaging. If it becomes stuck together or torn, or is an odd shape, then simply scrunch it up to provide void fill and provide packaging protection within boxes.

5. Reuse Loosefill ChipsWhile buying recycled or biodegradable loosefill chips is certainly preferable to buying polystyrene chips, it?s still better to reuse the packaging you have. Store used packaging chips in a plastic bin in a cool dark environment.

6. Reusing Plastic Shopping BagsOnce again, reuse is the best policy. If you run a shop why not accept used carrier bags and reuse them? Major chains shy away from this (they might offer a competitor?s bag), and this is an area where some independent stores take the lead. If you need to buy carrier bags, look for recycled paper carriers and carrier bags made from recycled polythene ? these are more sustainable than using virgin polythene packaging.

7. Reusing Corrugated CardboardCardboard packaging such as corrugated paper and cardboard layer pads can be easily reused as packaging protection for other items. For example, layer pads can be saved and reused and corrugated packaging can be cut down to provide layer protection within cardboard boxes.

8. Reusing Waste PaperMost waste paper can simply be passed through an office or industrial shredder to make handy paper loosefill. Use as packaging within boxes and parcels, to fill voids and provide cushioning.

9. Using Returnable PackagingWhen delivering items to a customer, consider replacing disposable packaging material with reusable packaging. Wooden Euro pallets are a good example of how packaging can be standardised and returned to the original supplier. Likewise stackable transit containers and roll cages can reduce the use of boxes and stretch film.

10. Pass On Your Packaging MaterialsIf you?ve finished with a piece of packaging in good condition, why not consider handing it on to someone who can use it again? For instance, schools are often looking for donated packaging materials, to use for art and drama projects. Meanwhile, if you?ve just moved house, you could advertise your moving boxes in the free ads or make them available for the many people who buy moving boxes online.

* Pizza boxes (for large pizzas) are the perfect size for fitting A4 papers and they stack together easily. Blot the grease out and use them as a filing system. They’re easy to label, too. Cover them with newspaper or old wrapping paper if you don’t want the number of your local pizza joint staring you in the face. They stack much better than arch lever files.

* Ice cream containers are ideal for freezing soups and casseroles for later use, and also for freezing a surplus of stewed fruit. They also are something of a staple at many schools for holding crayons and other large groups of bits (counters, rubber bands, milk tokens, drawing pins). One-litre yoghurt pottles have the same uses.

* Thick cardboard of any type can be used to protect CD(-ROMs) in the post instead of bubble wrap. Keep a small supply on hand, but don’t hoard it – it can build up to excess if you’re not careful.

* Large clear plastic bottles. If you don’t want to re-use these as drink bottles (if you’re going out for a long time, then they take a lot more water than the little sip-top bottles), then try (a) cutting the top off just below the neck (at the “shoulders”) and using this top as a funnel for changing the oil or for children to play with in a sandpit or the bath; (b) cutting the top off at the shoulders and using the bottom as a mini-cloche for giving young plants a head start in early spring.

* Bottles with handles: cut them on the diagonal and use them as scoops for sugar, flour, etc.

* Old sheets and towels. Rip or cut them up and use them for dishcloths or anywhere you’d use a tissue (apart from as a handkerchief in public, of course – but for removing makeup, they’re great). You can also use them as cloths for domestic cleaning and polishing.

* Screw-top jars (glass or plastic). Wash them out and keep them for your own home-made jams and pickles. Or for storing things like cornflour and cocoa. Or for storing home-made natural cleaning products and bath salts.* Zip-lock bags. Does anyone throw these useful things away? Use them for smaller batches of frozen food, and for school lunches.

* Rubber gloves. Once they’ve got holes in the fingers, cut the wrist parts up for extra thick, strong rubber bands.

The big thing to remember when you are keeping things to reuse is not to be a hoarder. Only keep as much as you will actually need. If you have already got scoops for your sugar, your salt, your flour and the cat kibble, then don’t make another scoop. If your freezer is full up with frozen goods, don’t hoard any more containers for freezing. Just recycle the items instead!

There is too much pollution on this planet and it is due to emission of unwanted gases. Unwanted gases are destroying many useful resources on the Earth. Emission of unwanted gas causes health hazards for human beings. Nuclear Energy is considered to be very useful source for generating electricity and many other resources.

Nuclear energy has many positive points. Negligible requirement of fuel to run a nuclear plant is the most important aspect of using this system. We all know that oil and coal are very scarce on the Earth which is very serious threat for well-being of mankind.

Through nuclear plant, one can produce unlimited nuclear energy for generating electricity without oil and coal. Environment benefits in a very big way due to nuclear plant because no harmful emissions come out which could affect the Earth and human beings, this is major plus point of nuclear energy.

Nuke energy is considered to be better because conventional electricity generating power plants burn oil and coal which increases air pollution. Air pollution is dangerous, not only for mankind but also for the earth. As a citizen of the Earth, we have to make sure that it doesn’t get polluted in any way so that all resources available on this planet remain safe for use.

One best thing about nuke energy is that nuclear waste can be effectively recycled which means there is no adverse effect on mankind or the planet. The cost of operating a nuclear plant is very low as compared to all other forms of generating power.

Many advanced countries have successfully implemented nuclear energy and it is clearly reflected on their day-to-day living. If nuclear energy is used effectively then it can be beneficial to mankind in many ways.

There are many people on this globe who don’t have information about positive aspects of nuke energy so they only harp on its negativity but the fact is that it is the safest means of generating tons of energy for welfare of mankind. Of course, there are some drawbacks but they don’t really matter much if proper steps are taken. Worldwide, nuclear energy has become a source of welfare for mankind.

According to the piece:

“For all the support that the presidential candidates are expressing for renewable energy, alternative energies like wind and solar are facing big new challenges because of the credit freeze…

‘Everyone is in shock about what the new world is going to be,’ said V. John White, executive director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technology, a California advocacy group. ‘Surely, renewable energy projects and new technologies are at risk because of their capital intensity.’”

It’s been almost a year since that article ran, and I can tell you, small alternative energy companies – both public and private – are still finding it difficult to raise capital or to get credit lines from banks.Sure, if you’re a high-profile electric car company with big backers, like Fisker Automotive, you can get hundreds of millions of dollars in funding rather easily.

Fisker’s top investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a veteran Silicon Valley venture-capital firm of which Al Gore is a partner.Last week Fisker received a 9 million loan from the US Department of Energy.

But for every Fisker out there getting the capital they need to be successful, there are 25 companies hitting brick walls because banks have literally frozen their credit lines.In fact, I can’t tell you how many times in the past six months I’ve been approached at a conference by a small alternative energy company seeking funding.

And being a lifelong green energy advocate, it kills me to have to turn them down. By all accounts, many of these companies have great technology, savvy management and a solid business plan to bring their product to market. These companies are the future!

But the one thing they lack is money.

The last straw for me came a few months back, when I spoke to a standing room-only crowd at an alternative energy investment forum.

The excitement and attendance was triple that from two years prior. But all the excitement was dampened by an overriding concern for most of the alternative energy companies in attendance: Funding.

“Jeff, I need just a year’s worth of capital… and I can bring this product to market. Guaranteed.” That was the general theme I heard time and time again at this conference.

I really was staring at a sort of crisis situation.

The fact is, for quite a few quality alternative energy operations – venture capital had dried up… and banks had stopped lending money.

So when I returned to Baltimore I knew I had to do something about it. I wasn’t going to stop until I found the solution. After all, this was my life’s work. I spent nearly two years writing a book on it. And I wasn’t about to sit by and let great ideas and businesses wither on the vine.

You see, whether it’s energy independence from Mideast oil or the preservation of natural capital or jobs, the alternative energy sector is just too important to the security and economic stability of this country. Period. End of discussion.

And because of my position and contacts in the renewable energy space, I knew I could be the bridge between companies seeking capital and venture capitalists and angel investors seeking green companies to invest in.

It didn’t take me long to find the solution…

Introducing Harbor Energy Capital

A few weeks ago I had dinner with John and Ted Venners of Harbor Energy Capital at Kali’s Court in historic Fells Point, Baltimore.

Born and raised in the rough and tumble state of South Dakota, John and Ted have spent nearly seven decades combined dealing with energy executives, negotiating energy deals and successfully navigating the Department of Energy and the Washington, D.C. crowd.

In addition, they know how to strategically add to shareholder value, taking their own Wyoming clean coal company to a .5 billion market cap.

Now when I first sat down to dinner with them, I didn’t know exactly how we could help each other. But I soon found out.

They have a simple, but brilliant idea: Help cash-strapped alternative energy companies get funding from private investors… as well as help them get a piece of the federal government’s multi-billion dollar stimulus package set aside for green companies.

By the way, if you’re ever in Fells Point, go to Kali’s Court for dinner and get the crab cakes – giant lump crab held together with little more than a prayer. It’s all crab, all the time. Delicious.

Now, after the waitress cleared the table, John and Ted explained to me that they have assembled a team of investment bankers, Wall Street players (including Ayuda Funding, which has loaned over 0 million to various companies in the past 10 years), and federal government grant and loan experts and writers.

The entire goal of the team is to get alternative energy companies the money they need to get their products developed and to the market. In fact, with Ayuda Funding part of the team, bridge financing is immediately available for alternative energy companies.

As I listened to them, I realized they were true D.C. “insiders.” Sure, that term has its own negative connotations, but they know exactly who to talk to in order to get the job done. They know how to get that green stimulus money for alternative energy companies.

So needless to say, I knew I had to pass this along to you.

We have the opportunity today to use capitalism as a catalyst for real change. We can make the world a cleaner, safer place for future generations. And we can also create a new generation of wealth in the process.

A new way of life, and a new generation of wealth…

It’s not just some random catch phrase.

It’s a reality.