My Green Mission

One of the main concerns of any person is the quality of the water that enters his or her body. This is probably the most justified concern anyone can have, because without water we would die. At the same time, water is the main carrier for many bacteria and viruses that can lead to diseases, because of the high degree of pollution that takes place around the world.

In this direction there have been many developments that purify the water we drink. Filters are the best known product of this sort that is available on the market today. They can be found in most homes today, to cleanse the water there, but what if you were to go out on a trip or store some water or other beverages for various other purposes?

The most popular storage object used today is the bottle. Bottles are used to store every liquid, be it water, juice, alcohol or who knows what else. Since the surrounding environment has become a great problem for us, some manufacturers have developed eco-friendly water bottles.

Aquasana is a leader on the water filtration market. This company has won numerous awards for their activities in this direction and it is now rated number one in America. Apart from their filtration options, this company is now offering a choice for eco-friendly water bottles, a new development that will surely keep your water stored in the refrigerator without the worry of unwanted microorganisms.

Switzerland is well known for the high quality of the products they deliver. SIGG, a Swiss company, has combined their craftsmanship and quality with contemporary and innovative style to bring us a wide selection of eco-friendly water bottles.

Klean Kanteen is a company that has made an impression on the market of eco-friendly water bottles, targeting more active users. There is a wide selection of these types of bottles that can be used by bikers or hikers alike, manufactured from stainless steel with a surface that keeps the unwanted microorganisms out.

Other storage options for home use are the eco-friendly water jugs. While bottles are good for transportation of the liquids inside them, jugs are designed to be kept in a refrigerator, with little worry of spilling or of any unwanted presence.

A renowned company that produces eco-friendly water jugs is Frigoverre. This company produces lots of sturdy designs that flirt with the new and innovative styles of today. You are bound to find the model that suits you best in their collection, no matter how pretentious you are.

Even though you might think that a bottle can store liquids better than a jug, do not be fooled. Eco-friendly water jugs from Frigoverre will keep any odor or bacteria out due to the tight fitting lids. And if you are worried about the washing process, they are dish-washer safe.

If you do not know where to find eco-friendly water jugs from Frigoverre, the best place to start would be the Internet. Instead of starting an endless search that can provide great prices on their products, you should take the time to visit the website www.thewaterkey.com.

By: Ken Wilson

About the Author:

Eco friendly property in Spain.

“Go Green” – “ECO friendly” – “save the planet” – “Global Warming”. All words we are very familiar with unless you have lived on the moon for the past 5 years or so. Now everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and offering green products and services. But how green are they and is it just a token gesture to be popular? We have been researching the possibilities of building eco friendly and economical green villas in Spain after I inadvertently made the mistake of asking my wife how she would like her new house built. “Eco friendly” she replied.

Those two words began a journey of thousands of miles across Europe and countless hours researching the web to find out how “eco friendly” I could build her dream home. Initially I found that an eco friendly home was just a cave house…I didn’t fancy living in or building a cave house, or they had thicker lagging on pipes or they offered solar water heaters…BIG DEAL, I expected that as standard, in fact it is law in Spain now to have alternative water heating supply, one company even classed a home as eco friendly because the heating had a thermostat.

Two years later and after securing the sole rights to build with a German quality ICF system we are beginning our first two new eco friendly villas in Spain for clients and have several scheduled to begin next year. The interest has been amazing; unfortunately this means my wife’s dream home has been put on hold for a while but our business and our attitude to all things green is being transformed. We are offering geothermal heating systems, solar power, grey water systems, water saving systems inside and outside the home, wind turbines, appliance advice, lighting systems I never knew existed and even water less toilets (the jury is still out on that one with me) all this to make our eco friendly villas in Spain as economically friendly as we can. The fantastic thing about the Eco friendly build systems is the speed and insulating values they offer. A traditional styled villa of a 100m2 villa can be erected within 10 days! Saving weeks of labour charges thus bringing the cost of these new eco friendly properties on par or even cheaper than traditional block and beam villas. The insulation values are amazing and they even have fantastic sound insulation (great if you have noisy teenagers like me).

When we first introduced this system to an architect he looked blankly at the proposal and smiled that smile you see in Spain when you know they think you are mad and after experiencing this manic suppressed grin over a lengthy period of time with a lot of old – maybe not old but my age – ok old Architects! We finally came across a young enthusiastic architect who believed and embraced the system as we did. We drew up a set of plans and submitted them to the local town hall and put the project forward to the bank for a valuation. The town hall was thrilled with the idea and the bank valued the project over 40% higher than we charged the client! Now this could have a lot to do with the fact that we are inexpensive builders but the manager did tell us they are valuing homes with eco friendly factors higher than traditional homes.

We are not jumping on the bandwagon … we’re driving it!

All the information can be found on our web site.http://www.1st2spain.com

By: K.Towers

About the Author:

As a community we need to join together and live eco-friendly lives, so that generations to come can enjoy our earth’s bounty. We teach our children the basic rules of life but need to be reminded to live by them as well. Therefore, just as a mother nurtures her children in the values of life, I would like to propose that we all re-learn and actively live by one of these core teachings. Share.

When your daughter pulls a Barbie Doll out of the hands of her friend you reprimand her. “Stop it girls! You can both play together.” Likewise, no one person owns this earth and we should all be able to use its resources. As gas prices rise and crude oil supplies are being depleted we need to ask ourselves. Are we sharing?

 

The Unites States accounts for 4 percent of the Earth’s population. Yet we produce 25 percent of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning. This is attributed to: Our roughly 250 million registered cars on the roads, our constant need of new, cheap products, and our high usage/waste of electricity. But luckily there are ways to reduce our carbon foot print if we are willing to work together and make small sacrifices.

 

The best way to share our earth resources is to reduce our dependency on them. Dare yourself to live a day without electricity. Our lifestyles are all different but try spending one day without the television, computer and phone. The sun is our best source of light, so turn the switches down and go outside. And while you’re out there, hang your clothing up on a line to dry. Even a small day to day change yields a huge difference in the long run.

 

It can be as simple as a switch from plastic bags to organic re usable bags, or a decision to shop locally. Independent businesses generate strength and stability in communities by giving back 80 percent of the profit they make. Is that 10% discounted product from China really better than the more expensive American made product? Though both products look similar, an organic American made tee shirt will last longer than a cheap factory produced shirt. By knowing your store owners personally you can trust in their products and support their growth with a purchase. The longer a product lasts, the less you will have to buy more-and the less you’ll contribute to big business’s large carbon foot print. This community bonding is the perfect way to share in our earths resources.

 

One reasonable way to reduce the amount of gas used and the amount of fumes released is to car pool. Use a recycled calendar to make a driving schedule with a co-worker, classmate, or friend. When you car pool you save money and reduce your carbon output. The sun is always willing to share its rays with us. So we should start sharing all of earth’s resources with one another.

 

Businesses today are taking steps towards eco-friendliness by reducing their negative impact on the world. Some efforts include changing from coal burning fuel to solar energy by implementing solar panels in factories. But not all efforts must be so drastic. Personal electricity use in the office, such as computers, lights and air conditioning can be monitored and adjusted for optimal use. Recycled materials can be used to produce products that will last longer. And the theme of eco-friendliness can be spread with the use of smart advertising and personalized promotional products. Several promotional products often purchased by businesses now have eco-friendly alternatives. Companies can purchase eco-friendly promotional products such as personalized organic cotton tote bags for an upcoming convention or trade shows. Businesses can distribute promotional travel tumblers to reduce waste from paper coffee cups. Recycled flyers and water bottles can be given out as take home gifts at the annual company picnic. These are just a few simple examples of environmentally friendly promotional products that are available. Businesses must take the initiative and make others aware of eco-friendliness. By turning over to eco-friendly policies, businesses encourage us to change, so that everyone on this earth can share in its resources.

 

By: Jenn Jimenez

About the Author: