One of the easiest ways to save on lighting is to use lights that save energy.

Most homes use regular light bulbs and spotlights that are halogen. The option for using less energy would be to replace these lights with either LEDs or compact fluorescents.

Compact fluorescents are typically thought of as “energy-saving” light bulbs and are available practically anywhere. You can purchase compact fluorescent bulbs that have the exact brightness as a typical light bulb and save several dollars annually, which adds up significantly during the lifetime of a bulb. 

LEDs are better than using halogen lights. Even though they cost more than compact fluorescent bulbs they end up saving us more throughout the years.

​Accent lights for outdoor use can be solar powered and floodlights for the garden can be energy saving as well. 

​Many people tend to leave the light on if they plan on returning to an area or a room in the near future. However, it can save energy by turning off lights whenever you do not require them. 

Finding ways to reduce your lighting cost not only cuts back on the money you spend on your home but the energy you save as well.

#greenliving #sustainableliving #saveonenergycost #saveenergy #ledlights #halogenbulb #floodlight #solarpoweredlight #accentlight #outdoorlight #lightbulb #reduceenergycost #tipsforgreenliving

Today is World Environment Day... when we look at the deforestation statistics, it is just plain appalling!!

It seems 4500 acres of forests are cleared every hour by forest fires, bull dozers, machetes etc. as per the information provided by www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-deforestation-facts.php  The total world forest loss till date is 7.3 million hectares per year.

I hope, today we all can make a stand that we will support nature- in our own little or big way.

​By embracing Green Living, we are not only choosing better health and lifestyle for ourselves, we also ensure that we are living in-sync with nature.

What better way to honor and celebrate the world environment day... Happy World Environment Day everyone!!

​#worldenvironmentday2020 #worldenvironmentday #savingourplanet #sustainability #greenliving #sustainablelifestyle #stopdeforestation #plantmoretrees #honornature #celebratenature

Birds singing to celebrate the joy of lower pollution levels and a cleaner air quality in our towns and cities…

Typically, the pollution in our towns and cities, tends to drive away all the birds. But with the recent slowing down of daily commute and other pollution-reducing factors, we find that nature is coming back into balance.

Several environmental groups have already indicated how pollution levels and air quality in most places have drastically improved and it seems like the local birds are enjoying this ability to able to breathe freely- and singing their joy about it!

Today, I woke up to the birds singing and somewhere they seemed to remind me to take the time and reflect on how I would proceed with my daily life and lifestyle habits and things start getting back to ‘normal’. What steps would I take to ensure that I do my part to reduce carbon emissions and my environmental footprint.

Yes, it is true- as an individual, my choice will not create global impact. But, in a way- it will. After all, what we call our community, our city, our country is ultimately many ‘individuals’.

If more people make this decision to modify their daily habits to be in-sync with nature and in accordance with a sustainable way of living, it will help to maintain the reduce pollution levels that we now have.

As always, it is our choice… this is our earth… let us make it a decision to live a more Greener life!!

​#greenliving #airpollution #saveourlungs

Yes, it is true that we need resources to develop our self, our business and also our nation. But- at what cost?? 

Every farmer knows that they cannot harvest a good crop, unless they have first tended to soil and made sure that a bountiful crop will grow. We need to take not only a more responsible approach to how we extract and utilize the resources we obtain from earth, but we also need to focus on how we can make it stretch the max.

We think of stretching our dollars for maximum buying power. It is high time we take that approach with our natural resources!! It seems as of today; we have consumed more of earth’s natural resources than it will be able to replenish- i.e. our rate of consumption far exceeds earth’s rate of regeneration for the year. 

Check out this article: As of today, humans have used more resources than Planet Earth can regenerate in a year

Many a times we read interesting articles or watch an impactful video and say to our self- “How terrible!! But since I am not a policy maker or a corporate CEO, there is not much I can do…” Looking after our planet is everyone’s responsibility and there are always small things that each one of us can do to help towards the bigger “saving the planet” program.

For starters, make it a point to save water. Just one simple step- can you switch off the water while you are brushing your teeth or while you shampoo your hair. It may seem like a simple step, but such simple steps go a long way to make meaningful change in our society, in our policies and in our environment at large.

​Also, repairing leaky taps helps to not only save water (an important natural resource) but also can save you lots of money and to help further, enhance the energies in your home from a Feng Shui or Vaastu perspective.

You may want to check out: Fix Leaky Taps for Money Luck. Something to think about as we start a new week…

#climatecrisis #replenishearth #saveourplanet #greenearth​   #savewater   #waterharvesting   #fixleakytaps

Whenever we open any new box of factory packing of electronics, shoes, handbags and so many other items- it is common to find little packets of silica gel! They are included so that they can absorb any moisture inside the packaging and thus preserve the quality of the product. Silica is a desiccant and it helps by absorbing and holding water vapor.

These packets clearly say- “Throw Away…DO NOT EAT” and of course silica is not an edible material. So, how can we find helpful ways to reuse these little packets??

Hopefully this video will give you some quick and easy ways to reuse and repurpose these Silica desiccant packets…

Watch: Why you should never throw these little packets away

​#reuse #repurpose #silica #gel #desiccant #productfreshness

We all are very much aware of the horrors of climate change. Extreme temperatures right now across the northern hemisphere along with extremes of floods and hurricanes surely point towards a very imbalanced weather and climate patterns.

… and it is because of this that many people are turning towards green energy from the Sun and Wind, in hopes that these will not pollute our environment with chemicals and toxic gases! In this article some questions are being raised around the wind turbines. Do these cause bird deaths? Are there long term environmental and ecosystem repercussions that we are overlooking at the present time?

​Here is an article which raises some questions on real-effectiveness of current wind turbine technology.

​Take a read- Putin: Is he right about wind turbines and bird deaths?

Something to surely think about. If we can identify all the challenges to green sustainable energy, then that allows us to ensure that the methods and technology we put in place are truly being beneficial without creating another disaster!!

#windturbine #greenenergy #sustainability #renewableenergy

​#PestControl #BedBugs #HouseholdPest #NaturalInsecticide #FreshandNatural #GetRidofBugs

#GreenLiving #CarbonFootPrint #CleanFoods #OrganicFood #CleanLiving

Here is a short video which shows how we can make very small changes in our lifestyle to live a more greener life. A life which is not only sustainable but also more in-sync with nature...

What is Green Living?
It is simply a way of life that means we make conscious decisions based on the role we have on this planet and how to appreciate and nurture it. While it may seem like it is a new ideal to become a “green” member of society, it is simply that more people are becoming aware that there is currently only one place, this Earth, that is suitable for us to live and it is important that we take care of it. 

Why is Green Living important?
The reason it is so important to practice green living is because we all require the same fundamentals in order to survive: clean water, air, food and environment. Understanding green living means being aware of our resources (whether they are renewable or non-renewable), sustainability, recycling, food varieties and usable energy. In order to have resources we have to be able to conserve them, such as water, land and forests, as well as oil and natural gas. 

Small steps towards a smaller "Carbon Footprint"...
​
There are plenty of ways that you can leave less of a “carbon footprint” or have less negative impact on the planet. 

• Recycling and re-using plastic bags from grocery stores is a great start. If possible, use cloth bags which are reusable and can decompose.
• We can also limit or lessen our use of water by being more conscious about our usage. 
• Turn off or unplug appliances when not in use- this saves electricity.
• Recycle and reuse products as much as possible.
• Recycle your trash. 
• Try to car-pool as much as you can.
• Be conscious of your food-choices- some production techniques take a toll on the environment. Support environmentally conscious companies.

#GreenLiving #SustainableLifestyle #EarthHour #Gaia #CleanFoods #CarbonFootPrint

​It can be shocking to think that the food we see before us in grocery stores or markets has been altered in order to look that way. A number of produce that we see as fresh produce has actually been treated with various chemicals, coloring and other procedures in order to maintain its look and appeal. These treatments are detrimental to our health and can cause a variety of health issues including kidney failure, liver and stomach problems. 

One of the common procedures to ensure our fruits and vegetables look fresh and appetizing is to treat them with artificial coloring, which is known to have traces of lead and mercury. Watermelons are one of the better-known color-dyed fruits. Sellers have been found to inject dye into the watermelon to increase its bright red hue. Other vegetables that are often altered include pumpkin, okra and beans. 

​A method of increasing growth speeds is to use a chemical concoction that has oxytocin and inject it into the produce. In order to ripen produce in time for selling, farmers or individual sellers are known to use chemicals such as calcium carbide and copper sulphate. 

Watermelon also undergoes carbide treatment in order to speed up its growth and help it grow into a more appealing shape. 

Vegetables and fruits can be given a wax treatment in order to maintain their look and prolong life on the shelf. The majority of wax used on fruits and vegetables tend to come from petroleum, which has traces of wood rosins and solvent deposits. Aside from the wax, ethanol or ethyl alcohol can be added to improve texture.

​A different wax is used when it comes to organic fruits and vegetables. These waxes come from natural resources such as lac beetles, carnauba palm trees and beeswax. 

Apples, cucumbers, eggplant, bell peppers, oranges, potatoes, limes and lemons are the most popularly waxed fruits and vegetables. 

Other coatings that can be added to fruits and vegetables also serve the same purpose by improving shelf life by reducing the speed of aging. While the list of possible coatings is a very long one, the most commonly used materials are lipids, polysaccharides, resins and proteins.

Additional essences added to the mentioned materials include antioxidants, plasticizers, texturizers and antimicrobials. 

The best way to ensure that you aren’t consuming fruits and vegetables that have been treated this way is to find an organic food source. Or at least a local food source where you can communicate with the farmers and sellers and find out their methods. 

#organicliving #sustainability #saveourearth #wholisticlifestyle #naturalliving #fruitsandveggies #GreenLiving #OrganicFoods #CleanFoods

#GreenLiving #EatHealthyMeats #OrganicFoods #organiceggs #wholisticlifestyle

 #greenliving #organicliving #FactoryFarmChicken #GreenLiving #EatWell #LiveWell

Organically grown produce is beneficial to our bodies and the environment because it encourages the use of natural farming techniques, natural products and does not leave a negative effect on the environment.

​Aside from the farming itself, organically grown produce reflects on other areas such as protecting the environment, the welfare of animals, healthier options for us consumers as well as economical and sociological affects. 

When you choose to eat organically grown produce you are encouraging the continuation of farming techniques that are beneficial to nature. Farmers who grow produce organically keep the soil fertile and have been found to increase and maintain naturally occurring resources. 

The moderation of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals used has a better impact on our air and water. Instead of using chemicals, organic farmers are encouraged to recycle and use natural methods of fertilizing and keeping pests and diseases at bay. Chemicals can contaminate our air and water through wind and rain and are linked to a number of diseases.  

Organically grown produce helps converse nature by not having a negative impact of toxic traces and by encouraging a variety of crops to naturally occur.

​This stimulates a system of ecology that is both sustainable and comprehensive. A controlled amount of weeds and pest is seen as a good thing in organic farming because it is a sign of healthy crops and is in fact beneficial to the farm as a whole because it is nature’s way of complementing produce.

Unlike large-scale farming, farms that grow organic produce tend to mimic nature as much as possible by using methods that are similar to natural occurrence. 


Since farmers refrain from using chemicals, they tend to reuse and recycle organic compounds to use as compost or fertilizers. This is beneficial to the soil and is a wonderful way to reusing waste materials. 

Organic grown produce tends to come from local resources and cuts back on pollution caused by transportation. It also means we will most likely have fresher fruits and vegetables than a commercial source. 

Aside from purchasing organically grown produce, one can also implement these techniques and start a home garden. Even if you only have one or a few vegetables or fruits, this can help reduce waste in packaging, energy on transportation and cost as well. There are many do-it-yourself options that can teach you how to grow your own produce and enjoy sustainable living.

​​#loseweight #weightloss #smartbreakfast #eatingsmart #eatinghealthy #healthysnacks #healthandwellness #healthfoods

#FairTradeFoods #FreshandNatural #FairAdvantage

#CommunityGardening #EatHealthy #GrowTogether