Filed under: Earth | Tags: earth's rotation, planet earth, the environment, weather
Meteorologists and observers have established some classifications for certain aspects of the changing weather we experience. At present the list includes three significant types of air circulation that are based on the heat of the sun. One of these categories is the Hadley cell, so named because scientist George Hadley was instrumental in isolating and classifying them. This term is applied to air circulation in or very near the tropical regions of the Earth.
Simply stated, a Hadley cell occurs when tropical air (23.5 degrees north and south of the equator) is heated by the sun and begins to rise. This warm air mass spreads, encounters a barrier often called the tropopause, and sinks back to the ground. Generally, the falling air mass touches the Earth at about 30 degrees of latitude, north and south of the equator. As it sinks to the ground, the moving air mass displaces air at the surface. The air mass that moves out flows toward the equator, completing a cycle that can cause weather changes over a large region of the globe. When the same type of circulation occurs at latitudes farther north (30 to 60 degrees) they are known as Ferrel cells. Similar movement of air masses at the poles are called polar Hadley cells.
One of the interesting features of cells such as these is that they do not move in straight lines, north and south. Because the Earth is a planet rotating around the sun and rotating on its axis at the same time, moving air masses experience the Coriolis effect. This is not limited to air movement, however. All free-moving objects and fluids have a “right turn” motion north of the equator and a “left turn” motion south of the equator. Gustave-Gaspard de Coriolis is credited with first identifying this trait nearly 200 years ago.
What does this mean for air movement? The Coriolis effect deflects an air mass, creating what some have called a cyclonic flow. This circular movement applies to air around areas of low pressure, causing large air masses to turn clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. But that’s not all. When the air is flowing around a high pressure system, the circular movement is just the opposite! Without the rotation of the earth, air masses would move quickly in a straight line, rapidly equalizing pressure.
There is one place on Earth where the Coriolis effect does not impact air movement – the equator. Because of this cyclones are not part of the regular experience in life at the equator. Conversely, the Coriolis effect is strongest at the Earth’s poles.
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Filed under: Business Practices | Tags: eco-friendly, hotels, planet earth, the environment
Being a green eco-friendly hotel can help you save the environment, your guests and can even save money.
Kingman, AZ (PRWEB) October 11, 2005 — You may conserve at home but how do you follow that philosophy on the road when it is out of your control? Or is it? Staying at a eco-friendly hotel, also known as green lodging, is one way enforce your own viewpoint.
Hotels around the world are massive consumers of water and producers of waste. It is up to the hotel to set their own policies and practices about how they deal with the environment. Of course you change the sheets after having houseguests, but do you change your sheets every day on your own bed? Many hotels, even ones that aren’t a eco-friendly hotel otherwise, give you the option of re-using your bedding while at your hotel for a few nights. It is usually done by positioning a card left in the room or leaving towels and linens in a particular manner. Or you may just throw the towels on the floor if you want them washed every time they are used. We’ve all felt those abrasive sandpaper-like towels in some chains so perhaps this would actually help them stay a towel longer as well.
A hotel may use fluorescent light bulbs, which do not waste most of their energy producing heat like incandescent bulbs do. This change is the most significant big money saver on the utility bill. Fluorescent bulbs also rarely need to be replaced, saving the eco-friendly hotel on maintenance in addition to electricity. A eco-friendly hotel policy may conserve water and reduce carbon dioxide gas emissions.
Many common cleaning products can hazardous to both consumers and the environment, so a eco-friendly hotel may use eco-friendly products similar to consumer lines by Seventh Generation (http://www.seventhgeneration.com) or Ecover (http://www.ecover.com).
“Most guests do not know or pay close attention to what is happening behind closed doors of the back rooms, but they may feel better about staying at a place that is concerned for their welfare and the environment,” says Adam Longfellow of AllStays.com, a worldwide hotel lodging directory with a focus on green lodging (http://www.allstays.com/green-hotels/green-hotels.htm). “It may be just the owners or staff that feel strongly about these issues, but more and more guests are paying attention to this whenever possible. The hard part is finding the properties that have implemented good practices. We’ve made it a priority to help with that information.”
Going to green lodging doesn’t have to be more costly. It will most likely save the eco-friendly hotel big money every year. They could save up to 40 percent on energy bills with another 20 percent savings on waste and water bills. And from a consumer standpoint, there are eco-friendly hotels in all price ranges. From a small bed and breakfast to a large luxury hotel, you can find something to make you sleep easier at night.
Almost every aspect of lodging can be improved upon for both guests and the environment. Most of which can save money as well and that is a ingredient in the foundation of any world change. Hotels can go green from the ground up if they are built more efficiently from the start. From orientation of the building to the sun to the use of environmentally friendly and locally sourced building materials. Instead of watering a plain lawn, water fruits and vegetables that can be given to guests. Or use natural landscaping that doesn’t require extra watering at all. A better use of technology and insulation can mean for lower bills and a more quiet guest environment. Hotels can use low or no-VOC (Volatile Organic Chemicals) paints for a more healthy interior. Providing recycle bins for guests to use makes for a more visible statement. Buying “energy star” (http://www.energystar.gov) appliances whenever possible is good for all and saves on utility bills. Use solar water heaters and pumps for pools. Providing maps, information on public transportation and things within walking distance encourages less consumption of fuel. Skylights can save on energy and provide for more pleasant public areas. Use Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights whenever possible, such as exit signage and night lights. They use almost no electricity and last thousands of hours.
If this can become more of a trend, everyone will benefit. Look for a green hotel next time you travel. You may or may not find one where you need to sleep but it’s worth a moment to check first. Ask about environmental policies and show appreciation to the staff when you see green policies in implementation.
What’s the next step? Perhaps a major car rental company can start renting hybrid cars on a large scale basis.
AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from bed & breakfasts to yoga retreats and luxury hotels, from primitive campgrounds to motels, haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information from around the world.
Research, Browse, and book online to stay anywhere on Earth. http://www.allstays.com
AllStays.com
8824 Ironwood Drive
Kingman, AZ 86401
Phone (928) 727-1312
Filed under: Business Practices | Tags: environment, planet earth, trade show displays, trade show exhibits
There are plenty of reasons to consider environmental factors when planning for your next exhibit. If your industry is not traditionally linked with environmental movements, having a “green exhibit” is a great way to stand out from the crowd. Add to that the fact that you’re doing your part to make the world a better place, and you’ll feel less guilty for blowing your competition out of the water. Here are ten tips for going green at your next exhibit.
Building a booth? Use eco-friendly materials. If you’re building a custom booth this year, you have several options for greener materials. First, try to avoid wood. The earth’s forests are nearly 80% depleted, and that’s bad news for our atmosphere. Trees breathe in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen-so they may be our first line of defense against global warming. Leave a few trees standing by choosing another material to build your booth.
One more eco-friendly choice is recycled metal. While this may not seem like the most biodegradable choice, it’s much better than using non-recycled metals. For example, the process of recycling aluminum takes about 95% less energy than it does to create new aluminum from ore. Recycling steel uses about 60% less energy than making it from scratch.
Another option is wood/plastic composite. This building material is made up of sawdust from lumber and furniture companies mixed with fragments of plastic trash, such as soda bottles and garbage bags. There are many different brands, and the wood comes in colors ranging from deep ambers to espresso browns-as beautiful as natural wood, without the environmental price tag.
Consider your paints. Oil and latex-based paints are toxic to the environment-they contain poisonous chemicals that can’t be removed at a treatment plant. Leftover paint is often poured down the drain, and it gets into oceans and waterways. It also leaches from painted items in landfills, further damaging the environment. Even worse, VOC’s-volatile organic chemicals, such as cyanide-in paint evaporate at room temperature, contributing to global warming while coating your booth.
Instead of traditional paints, look for non-VOC paints made by big-name paint manufacturers such as Sherman Williams and Behr. Other eco-friendly paints are made from talcum powder, clay, and chalk.
Get green giveaways. When looking for a good giveaway item, choose with an eye toward minimizing trash. Avoid items that come in plastic packaging. Avoid plastic altogether, in fact, unless it’s recycled. Good ideas include cotton or hemp tote bags, food in recycled-paper wrapping instead of plastic, recycled plastic Frisbees, pens and other items, and ceramic mugs. Stay away from plastic bags, wood, and non-recycled materials.
Use energy-efficient lighting. Incandescent light bulbs are notoriously inefficient. They emit only 10% of the energy they use as light. The rest is given off as heat-which is why these bulbs can catch your lampshade on fire if you’re not careful. Instead, use fluorescent bulbs. These are much more energy efficient.
Use recycled paper. There are a lot of paper products involved in a typical exhibit: business cards, signs and displays, brochures and promotional materials. Why not use recycled paper? While most people think of rough, textured and off-white paper when it comes to buying recycled, there are many companies that make smooth, bright-white papers that are comparable to virgin papers.
Consider green printing. Some inks can be as toxic as paint. You can go green with your printing by choosing a green printer. Not all are created equally; their commitment to green printing can range from using energy-efficient operating procedures to printing with soy-based inks on recycled papers. Be sure to shop around when looking for eco-friendly printers.
Talk to your vendor. Some booth vendors are more eco-friendly than others. Some may operate under environmentally mindful conditions-using alternative energy and energy-efficient practices, for example-while others may have pre-fabricated booths built from eco-friendly materials. Be sure to ask your vendor for more advice on how you can create a green display for your next exhibit.
Going green doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. While you may have to buy a custom booth to go green, recycled and eco-friendly materials sometimes cost less than their non-recycled alternatives. Talk to your vendor, research your options, and take your time in designing an approach to green exhibiting that works for your company. No matter how far you go with it-from using recycled papers to building an entire booth from eco-friendly materials-you’ll be making a positive contribution.
Filed under: Consumer Products | Tags: eco-friendly laundry, environmentally friendly, planet earth, the environment
Not only are laundry detergents harmful to you and your family, but they can hurt the environment as well. Each time your washing machine spins, water and laundry detergent residue are emptied into our sewer systems. This means that the harsh chemicals and pollutants are being spilled into our oceans each year, causing even more harm to the planet we call home. Luckily, there is a solution to the problems caused by store-bought laundry detergents. Buying organic and eco-friendly detergents can keep your family safe and the environment as well.
Unlike food products and medications, laundry detergent companies are not required by law to list their ingredients or prove that they are in fact environmentally friendly. There are many brands on the market that do in fact list their ingredients, since they are not scared to show consumers what they include in their eco-friendly formula for laundry detergent. They are happy to show their integrity on their packing, so show your eco-friendly support by purchasing products that are proud to list their ingredients. This is important to look for when purchasing laundry detergent, since there’s no way of knowing what those other companies are trying to hide from you.
Labels that show what is not included in the detergents are also equally as important, such as phosphate-free or chlorine-free. Products that state they do not include harsh ingredients in their formulas are usually safe, and you should look for products that are proud to show what they leave out of their products.
Products that should be avoided are any that state they are harmful or toxic, since you really shouldn’t keep anything like that in your home. The laundry room should be a place where everyone in your family can do laundry, without having to worry about someone being burned by bleach or spilling a toxic product that the baby can get in to. Plant based and eco-friendly products will be healthy for your entire family, healthy for our environment, and completely safe in your home.
Next time you wash a load of laundry, consider the damage you could be causing to your home, your family, and our environment. You won’t have to worry about this when using safe products and you can save money when purchasing eco-friendly products as well.
Washing machine wizard provides Laundry detergent information, an online buying guide and the best washing machine reviews.
