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A Movement Toward Environmental Conscientiousness |
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| Publisher: |
David Tupica |
| Date: |
2008-03-12 |
| Word count : |
550 |
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While Americans are focusing more than ever on the environment, big corporations are looking to draw these like minded people with policies and programs that are considered environmentally responsive. While some of these policies and programs are unquestionably just for show, other corporations are taking big steps in providing better services and products from a global warming point of view. The industry of environmental responsibility is going to have a force on this country in the next decade. Here we will review how some industries and companies are responding to the science. One of the first foremost retailers to take great advancements forward in environmentally aware business practices is none other Wal-Mart. The company has made headlines in latest years through determined efforts to reduce toxicity levels in their products, moving away from plastic packaging which can take a toll on the environment, and an increasing their focus on the sale of superior quality, fluorescent light bulbs. While Wal-Mart is taking plenty of scrutiny for its business practices in the past, relatively few are coming out against this trend toward environmental awareness. Perhaps, it is because they are going beyond the call of duty when creating a layer of simplicity to their efforts. Of course, only time will tell if Wal-Mart remains steadfast to this new movement, but in the meantime they are taking great strides in becoming an international leader in the effort to clean up the Earth. While many are still wondering what happened to the electric cars that seemed like such an foreseeable step in the last decade, the automobile industry is slowly implementing a shift toward alternative fuel sources. This includes the new wave of hybrid cars on the street, as well as hard work being made to develop increased fuel economy in fossil fuel combustion engines. There is also talk and study going in the direction of hydrogen fuel cells in the future, although some members of the investigative community are unconvinced. These actions come as gas prices in America are attaining record highs and there is an amplified demand to find ways of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. The movement to other methods of fuel not only satisfies this group but reduces the carbon footprint left by each car driver in the United States. When speaking of carbon, the biggest overall development in the American business scene is a progression toward carbon neutrality. Of course this means offering services, products and packaging that leave the environment no worse off than it was before. As with anything, of course, analysts wonder how much of this theoretical carbon neutrality is simply hype, and how much is actually an effort to move in a new direction. The American consumer, as a whole, can sorrowfully not be expected to tell the difference. It remains to be seen how much of our current trend toward green businesses and individual practices is here for the long term and how much is simply a passing trend. Unquestionably, people and government have been moving in a trend in the direction of recycling for some time, but much of this new concern has come from fiery media attacks, such as Al Gore’s recent documentary. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to watch and see how many businesses jump on the environmental movement.
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Related Article:A Movement Toward Environmental Conscientiousness |
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Dennis Ramm |
2008-03-07 |
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Title: Environmental Movement: How it Affects Property Developments in Thailand
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Environmental Movement: How it Affects Property Developments in Thailand
The debate over the existence of global warming seems to be over. Now it is a question of what governments across the globe can do to reduce our environmental impact and bring our planet back from the brink. It is no great revelation to discover that property developments across the board have contributed significantly to the degradation of our natural ecosystem. In our need to cater to continuing demand for new properties, large tracts of forests have been removed over the years to make way for property developments.
Government Initiatives
In light of green awareness throughout the world, the Thai government is trying to balance this need for economic growth with environmental preservation. Ever since 1992, the National Environmental Quality Act has introduced the use of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for large property developments. Condominiums with more than 79 units and housing estates utilizing more than 100 rai of land or with more than 500 units require an EIA. This regulation has been met with some mixed success in the past, however, recently the government has taken a tougher stance on this issue and developers have been forced to comply or risk not being in compliance.
Buyers Beware
In fact, the Secretary General of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) recently made a statement that there have been several cases of unscrupulous condominium developers submitting plans with 79 units or under so they would not have to apply for an EIA. They would later divide these units into smaller portions and sell them off separately. The Secretary General has warned that such units, if discovered, will not be transferable at the Land Office as it has circumvented ONEP directives. This means that if you have bought one of these units before it was discovered, you may be prevented from selling it off at a later date. It is important, therefore, to check that the condominium unit you wish to purchase is in compliance with any ONEP rules before purchasing. This should now be a part of your standard due diligence checks on the property.
New Rule for Property Developments
Further to this, in December 2007, ONEP issued a new regulation which will now apply to all new property developments. This rule requires developers to plant a tree that is at least 5 meters in height and diameter for every air-conditioning unit between 12,000 to 24,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) depending on the ability of different trees in absorbing the carbon dioxide emission from the air. A guideline as to the type of tree suitable for this purpose is available from ONEP. This is designed to off-set the carbon emissions caused by air-conditioning units in a localized area.
The real estate industry calculates that such measures would increase the cost of property development by 2 to 6% as developers will need to acquire more land or reduce units to comply with this new rule. Analysts predict that these new rules will, however, not have much impact on housing estates as land is less of an issue. Condominiums, however, will face greater difficulty obtaining extra land to meet this requirement and may be forced to make changes to their project design. Nonetheless, many environmentalists believe this is a step in the right direction with property developers being forced to take urban planning into greater consideration.
Too Many Environmental Rules, Too Soon?
There are a few voices out there saying that all these environmental regulations are well intentioned but that Thailand is not ready to embrace it so readily. A few developers are saying that the rules are too strict and would only result in consumers absorbing the added costs. This may be true to some extent but Thailand has to start somewhere and beginning with property developments across the country is perhaps not a bad place to start.
Nevertheless, environmental awareness is not a new phenomenon in the country. It is in fact enshrined in the Thai Constitution. Section 79 of the Thai Constitution provides that:
The State shall promote and encourage public participation in the preservation, maintenance and balanced exploitation of natural resources and biological diversity and in the promotion, maintenance and protection of the quality of the environment in accordance with the persistent development principle as well as the control and elimination of pollution affecting public health, sanitary conditions, welfare and quality of life.
Final Word
Thailand still has some way to go in embracing environmental progress. More perhaps could be done in regards to renewable energy resources and implementing tax breaks or providing grants to help put into practice more environmentally friendly projects. However, Thailand is well on its way and taking a tougher stand on these issues would mean better quality projects being built and less substandard construction which are harmful to the environment or even dangerous to occupants. It paves the way to create a quality committed industry that would inevitably improve its reputation on the international arena and therefore leading to, possibly, more profits.
By Kert Stavorn
Kert Stavorn is a senior legal consultant for Siam Legal International. Kert's practice primarily focuses on real estate, construction and corporate matters.
http://www.siam-legal.com/realestate/thailand-property.php
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I C |
2008-03-26 |
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Title: The Modern Eco Friendly Home Movement
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For several years there has been a strong movement that grows continuously, involving the manufacturing of modern eco homes. This movement has seen many new and existing companies, mainly located in the United States, which are successfully marketing modern prefab homes to a much wider audience than before. But why would anyone buy modern prefab homes when so many preconceived prejudices make them unattractive? Simply because it is more profitable not just economically, but also environmentally. Modern prefab homes can reduce construction costs while lessening the environmental impact of construction projects. These modern eco homes are designed by professional architects, many of whom previously only worked in traditional construction, but now find themselves drawn into this more eco-friendly and flexible building. One reason these architects are turning to this construction method is the amount of control they can have over every aspect of construction. It is far easier for them to oversee every detail in a controlled environment, like a prefabricated home construction centre, than it is on a cold, wet traditional on-site building location. Another reason is that a house may look fine on paper, but as construction continues problems may arise in terms of practical design or a feature that is unappealing to the eye, it is a much simpler and cost-effective to alter the design in this situation, than it is out on a construction site. Modern prefab homes are also intended to be reproduced multiple times with slight variations, as opposed to a one-off construction on the site. Therefore, it is far more practical to make changes to a plan when the same design may be used multiple times, rather than it is when you are dealing with a single unit. Eco friendly prefab homes are beautifully adapted for modern life, and it make sense from a financial point of view, because of the lower cost of construction. Also these prefabricated houses are of superior quality because it is easier to control the quality of work in a factory than on a construction site. This modern eco homes movement was born from the needs of ordinary people for affordable housing. Typically, modern houses are too expensive to build for many people's pockets; modern prefab homes offer an affordable, quality alternative to traditional construction methods. One reason is the care and craftsmanship that is needed to build modern-style prefab homes compared with a traditional-style, on-site built house. For example, the architecture of the modern-style house often needs a backbone of steel or concrete, which costs far more than modern wooden frames. The prefabricated house is an option for ordinary people to have access to modern eco homes in an architect designed style that works in harmony with nature, rather than abusing it. For more information about Green Living please visit Modern Eco Homes dot com, which sells a wide range of eco friendly furniture and solar powered products.
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Dennis Ramm |
2008-03-09 |
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Title: Environmental Movement: How it Affects Property Developments in Thailand
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Environmental Movement: How it Affects Property Developments in Thailand
The debate over the existence of global warming seems to be over. Now it is a question of what governments across the globe can do to reduce our environmental impact and bring our planet back from the brink. It is no great revelation to discover that property developments across the board have contributed significantly to the degradation of our natural ecosystem. In our need to cater to continuing demand for new properties, large tracts of forests have been removed over the years to make way for property developments.
Government Initiatives
In light of green awareness throughout the world, the Thai government is trying to balance this need for economic growth with environmental preservation. Ever since 1992, the National Environmental Quality Act has introduced the use of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for large property developments. Condominiums with more than 79 units and housing estates utilizing more than 100 rai of land or with more than 500 units require an EIA. This regulation has been met with some mixed success in the past, however, recently the government has taken a tougher stance on this issue and developers have been forced to comply or risk not being in compliance.
Buyers Beware
In fact, the Secretary General of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) recently made a statement that there have been several cases of unscrupulous condominium developers submitting plans with 79 units or under so they would not have to apply for an EIA. They would later divide these units into smaller portions and sell them off separately. The Secretary General has warned that such units, if discovered, will not be transferable at the Land Office as it has circumvented ONEP directives. This means that if you have bought one of these units before it was discovered, you may be prevented from selling it off at a later date. It is important, therefore, to check that the condominium unit you wish to purchase is in compliance with any ONEP rules before purchasing. This should now be a part of your standard due diligence checks on the property.
New Rule for Property Developments
Further to this, in December 2007, ONEP issued a new regulation which will now apply to all new property developments. This rule requires developers to plant a tree that is at least 5 meters in height and diameter for every air-conditioning unit between 12,000 to 24,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) depending on the ability of different trees in absorbing the carbon dioxide emission from the air. A guideline as to the type of tree suitable for this purpose is available from ONEP. This is designed to off-set the carbon emissions caused by air-conditioning units in a localized area.
The real estate industry calculates that such measures would increase the cost of property development by 2 to 6% as developers will need to acquire more land or reduce units to comply with this new rule. Analysts predict that these new rules will, however, not have much impact on housing estates as land is less of an issue. Condominiums, however, will face greater difficulty obtaining extra land to meet this requirement and may be forced to make changes to their project design. Nonetheless, many environmentalists believe this is a step in the right direction with property developers being forced to take urban planning into greater consideration.
Too Many Environmental Rules, Too Soon?
There are a few voices out there saying that all these environmental regulations are well intentioned but that Thailand is not ready to embrace it so readily. A few developers are saying that the rules are too strict and would only result in consumers absorbing the added costs. This may be true to some extent but Thailand has to start somewhere and beginning with property developments across the country is perhaps not a bad place to start.
Nevertheless, environmental awareness is not a new phenomenon in the country. It is in fact enshrined in the Thai Constitution. Section 79 of the Thai Constitution provides that:
The State shall promote and encourage public participation in the preservation, maintenance and balanced exploitation of natural resources and biological diversity and in the promotion, maintenance and protection of the quality of the environment in accordance with the persistent development principle as well as the control and elimination of pollution affecting public health, sanitary conditions, welfare and quality of life.
Final Word
Thailand still has some way to go in embracing environmental progress. More perhaps could be done in regards to renewable energy resources and implementing tax breaks or providing grants to help put into practice more environmentally friendly projects. However, Thailand is well on its way and taking a tougher stand on these issues would mean better quality projects being built and less substandard construction which are harmful to the environment or even dangerous to occupants. It paves the way to create a quality committed industry that would inevitably improve its reputation on the international arena and therefore leading to, possibly, more profits.
By Kert Stavorn
Kert Stavorn is a senior legal consultant for Siam Legal International. Kert's practice primarily focuses on real estate, construction and corporate matters.
http://www.siam-legal.com/realestate/thailand-property.php
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Mike Sandiford |
2008-01-18 |
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Title: The Right Avenues for Environmental Graduate Jobs
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The increased interest in environmental protection and management in the past decade has caused a glut of environmental graduates in schools throughout the world. There are plenty of jobs available for environmental graduates though it takes a bit of imagination to find the right industries. A number of environmental services firms and consultancies exist in Europe though environmental graduate jobs with these firms are highly competitive. Your interest in environmental jobs should take you to several options before you send in your applications. Legislative bodies and government agencies look for exceptional environmental graduates to provide support and advice on new legislation. These positions are limited in number but provide graduates an opportunity to influence fuel efficiency standards and waste management practices that affect millions. This path is advisable for graduates who want a career in public life including parliamentary representation and local politics. Graduates who are interested in remaining in the private sector while dealing with regulatory aspects of environmental protection can work in corporate compliance departments. These departments hire entry level professionals to review corporate documents and provide regular reports to supervisors about the company’s adherence to environmental regulations. A young professional who wants to pursue a legal career can use these experiences in law school as a way to narrow his focus. The full range of environmental graduate jobs is not limited to regulatory positions. Public and private organizations with an interest in the environment hire scientists and researchers to look at technical issues. Government agencies arrange for research services from private laboratories to study the issue of pollutant runoff into rivers. Retailers hire scientists to look at the impact of product components on human health as well as new ways to make products environmentally friendly. A number of environmental graduate jobs are available in the area of non-profit advocacy for professionals willing to take a salary hit. Environmental advocacy groups look for scientists to provide independent verification of reports by corporations about air, water and soil cleanliness. These positions are funded by donations, grants and other funds from parties interested in maintaining accountability. Many graduates who want to find work right out of school pursue work as a researcher, organizer or public advocate for the environment. The important factor for professionals who want to find the right environmental graduate jobs is to select a profession that balances personal ethics with long term professional goals. About the author:
Mike Sandiford is the Sales Manager at JustClick, who are a leading source of Graduate Jobs and Graduate Careers, also offering a Graduate Lifestyles portal with news and reviews on current affairs.
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Kert Stavorn |
2008-03-06 |
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Title: Environmental Movement: How it Affects Property Developments in Thailand
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Environmental Movement: How it Affects Property Developments in Thailand The debate over the existence of global warming seems to be over. Now it is a question of what governments across the globe can do to reduce our environmental impact and bring our planet back from the brink. It is no great revelation to discover that property developments across the board have contributed significantly to the degradation of our natural ecosystem. In our need to cater to continuing demand for new properties, large tracts of forests have been removed over the years to make way for property developments. Government Initiatives In light of green awareness throughout the world, the Thai government is trying to balance this need for economic growth with environmental preservation. Ever since 1992, the National Environmental Quality Act has introduced the use of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for large property developments. Condominiums with more than 79 units and housing estates utilizing more than 100 rai of land or with more than 500 units require an EIA. This regulation has been met with some mixed success in the past, however, recently the government has taken a tougher stance on this issue and developers have been forced to comply or risk not being in compliance. Buyers Beware In fact, the Secretary General of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) recently made a statement that there have been several cases of unscrupulous condominium developers submitting plans with 79 units or under so they would not have to apply for an EIA. They would later divide these units into smaller portions and sell them off separately. The Secretary General has warned that such units, if discovered, will not be transferable at the Land Office as it has circumvented ONEP directives. This means that if you have bought one of these units before it was discovered, you may be prevented from selling it off at a later date. It is important, therefore, to check that the condominium unit you wish to purchase is in compliance with any ONEP rules before purchasing. This should now be a part of your standard due diligence checks on the property. New Rule for Property Developments Further to this, in December 2007, ONEP issued a new regulation which will now apply to all new property developments. This rule requires developers to plant a tree that is at least 5 meters in height and diameter for every air-conditioning unit between 12,000 to 24,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) depending on the ability of different trees in absorbing the carbon dioxide emission from the air. A guideline as to the type of tree suitable for this purpose is available from ONEP. This is designed to off-set the carbon emissions caused by air-conditioning units in a localized area. The real estate industry calculates that such measures would increase the cost of property development by 2 to 6% as developers will need to acquire more land or reduce units to comply with this new rule. Analysts predict that these new rules will, however, not have much impact on housing estates as land is less of an issue. Condominiums, however, will face greater difficulty obtaining extra land to meet this requirement and may be forced to make changes to their project design. Nonetheless, many environmentalists believe this is a step in the right direction with property developers being forced to take urban planning into greater consideration. Too Many Environmental Rules, Too Soon? There are a few voices out there saying that all these environmental regulations are well intentioned but that Thailand is not ready to embrace it so readily. A few developers are saying that the rules are too strict and would only result in consumers absorbing the added costs. This may be true to some extent but Thailand has to start somewhere and beginning with property developments across the country is perhaps not a bad place to start. Nevertheless, environmental awareness is not a new phenomenon in the country. It is in fact enshrined in the Thai Constitution. Section 79 of the Thai Constitution provides that: The State shall promote and encourage public participation in the preservation, maintenance and balanced exploitation of natural resources and biological diversity and in the promotion, maintenance and protection of the quality of the environment in accordance with the persistent development principle as well as the control and elimination of pollution affecting public health, sanitary conditions, welfare and quality of life. Final Word Thailand still has some way to go in embracing environmental progress. More perhaps could be done in regards to renewable energy resources and implementing tax breaks or providing grants to help put into practice more environmentally friendly projects. However, Thailand is well on its way and taking a tougher stand on these issues would mean better quality projects being built and less substandard construction which are harmful to the environment or even dangerous to occupants. It paves the way to create a quality committed industry that would inevitably improve its reputation on the international arena and therefore leading to, possibly, more profits. By Kert Stavorn Kert Stavorn is a senior legal consultant for Siam Legal International. Kert's practice primarily focuses on real estate, construction and corporate matters. Thailand Property & Real Estate Legal Services - Attorneys - Solicitors
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Mike Sandiford |
2008-01-18 |
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Title: The Right Avenues for Environmental Graduate Jobs
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The increased interest in environmental protection and management in the past decade has caused a glut of environmental graduates in schools throughout the world. There are plenty of jobs available for environmental graduates though it takes a bit of imagination to find the right industries. A number of environmental services firms and consultancies exist in Europe though environmental graduate jobs with these firms are highly competitive. Your interest in environmental jobs should take you to several options before you send in your applications.
Legislative bodies and government agencies look for exceptional environmental graduates to provide support and advice on new legislation. These positions are limited in number but provide graduates an opportunity to influence fuel efficiency standards and waste management practices that affect millions. This path is advisable for graduates who want a career in public life including parliamentary representation and local politics.
Graduates who are interested in remaining in the private sector while dealing with regulatory aspects of environmental protection can work in corporate compliance departments. These departments hire entry level professionals to review corporate documents and provide regular reports to supervisors about the company’s adherence to environmental regulations. A young professional who wants to pursue a legal career can use these experiences in law school as a way to narrow his focus.
The full range of environmental graduate jobs is not limited to regulatory positions. Public and private organizations with an interest in the environment hire scientists and researchers to look at technical issues. Government agencies arrange for research services from private laboratories to study the issue of pollutant runoff into rivers. Retailers hire scientists to look at the impact of product components on human health as well as new ways to make products environmentally friendly.
A number of environmental graduate jobs are available in the area of non-profit advocacy for professionals willing to take a salary hit. Environmental advocacy groups look for scientists to provide independent verification of reports by corporations about air, water and soil cleanliness. These positions are funded by donations, grants and other funds from parties interested in maintaining accountability. Many graduates who want to find work right out of school pursue work as a researcher, organizer or public advocate for the environment. The important factor for professionals who want to find the right environmental graduate jobs is to select a profession that balances personal ethics with long term professional goals.
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Jason Gardner |
2008-01-09 |
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Title: An Introduction to Environmental Impairment Insurance
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As recently as ten to fifteen years ago, environmental impairment insurance was a little known among the public. Earlier, only a few insurers for a small segment of the common marketplace covered the insurance. But, today it is a well known term in the corporate world. The increase in Environmental Impairment Insurance, in terms of frequency and severity, has proven that it creates a potentially big exposure that demands a closer look by the commercial insured ones. Environmental insurance has emerged into a highly specialized product marketed by almost ten major national carriers to insureds involved in almost every commercial enterprise.
The term environment impairment can be explained as any bodily injury, property damage, interference with any environmental right or amenity protected by law, or responsibility to clean up outside of the premises of the municipality, arising out of any/all emissions, discharges, dispersal, seepages, disposals or releases of any liquids. Environmental Impairment Insurance policies help to cover all those environmental risks that come with owing or operating a facility or site. These insurance policies help defend buyers and sellers from a variety of environmental liabilities occurring in business transactions, such as those that can take place in a merger, acquisition or divestiture. The Insurance also provides environmental coverages for losses coming up from on-site or off-site pollution conditions and coverage under pollution conditions arising from transportation also. Today Environmental Impairment Insurance has appeared as a typical mainstream component of a growing number of corporate insurance portfolios.
The Environmental Impairment Insurance policies offer a number of benefits to the insured one. It provides coverages for past, present and future environmental issues. Not only this, environmental insurance also provides financial backstop against potential catastrophic events associated with daily operations. Environmental insurance provides guarantee to unknown environmental problems arising in the asset transactions. It improves the financing prospects by allowing creditor protections. However, It is a transferable asset to future investors or buyers. The Environmental Impairment Insurance policy alleviates the uncertainty of environmental liabilities and is very flexible in nature. It is an external fund that helps a company to finance environmental losses and provides protection against environmental threats. The insurance policy offers solution to regulatory and contractual requirements, lender requirements and mergers and acquisitions.
While taking the insurance policy you need the help of an environmental land consultant to discuss the pros and cons. Although, there are a number of consultants available in the market place today, but presently one of the leading ones in the UK is – Wilbourn Associates. Originated in the year 1993, Wilbourn Associates handle all types of environment related matters, whether it is about risk planning or management, or about Energy Performance Certificates. To hire the consultants, log on to their website www.environmental-surveyor.com.
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2007-04-08 |
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Title: The Environmental Movement Gaining Momentum
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It's a great time for those who have consistently fought to bring environmental concerns to the forefront in the news as well as in people's minds across the world.
Finally, the green movement, the movement to help stop dangerous greenhouse gases from destroying the ozone layer and causing disastrous global warming, is gaining a ton of momentum thanks to the persistence of activism.
The publicity this movement has received lately is astounding. First, we have Al Gore, our former Vice President, winning an Oscar (who'd a guessed it?) for a controversial yet thought provoking documentary on the iminent threat of global warming.
We all know that anything that originates in Hollywood garners boatloads of media publicity, so this alone generated awareness and support where there was a relative lack thereof before, and motivated thousands if not millions out of complacency.
Sure, there are critics of the documentary that say the iminence as stated by the former Vice President is overstated, but isn't it nonetheless a victory in the fight to reduce greenhouse gases through awareness?
In addition to the Hollywood attention, there are organizations such as TerraPass gaining recognition and wide sponsorship for their efforts in reducing emissions from vehicles by a unique marketing strategy.
TerraPass is an organization that funds research for alternative energy sources and promotes awareness about what is called your "carbon footprint", or how much you contribute to the buildup of carbon monoxide gases which destroy the earth's ozone layer and contribute to global warming.
What you can do is go to their website, Terrapass.com, type in the year make and model of your vehicle, and it will calculate your contirbution based on that information.
Your moneys are then donated to alternative, earth friendly, renewable energy projects such as windmill farms, which generate energy resources without damaging the environment.
A simple concept, and yet it has taken off and become incredibly popular - especially in states like California, which is the leader in environmental awareness and proactive politics on environmental issues.
The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is even getting into not only the promotion of green living, but he also lives by example.
Two of his Hummers are now powered by alternative, earth friendly fuels, and he has signed landmark legislature which calls for the reduction of greenhouse gases by 25% - a huge endeavor - by the year 2020.
The governor has indicated a strong stance in preventive measure against global warming, and has created a political culture of awareness on the subject by drawing public attention to his policies. This is great news for the green movement.
You almost can't go a day without reading some sort of news about global warming nowadays, so this alone shows that it is now a public concern and of public interest, otherwise the newspapers wouldn't bother writing about it.
The fact is, we all have a part in keeping our environment safe and people-friendly for thousands of years to come, and the publicity as of late has only reinforced the idea that if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
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Mike Sandiford |
2008-01-19 |
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Title: The Right Avenues for Environmental Graduate Jobs
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The increased interest in environmental protection and management in the past decade has caused a glut of environmental graduates in schools throughout the world. There are plenty of jobs available for environmental graduates though it takes a bit of imagination to find the right industries. A number of environmental services firms and consultancies exist in Europe though environmental graduate jobs with these firms are highly competitive. Your interest in environmental jobs should take you to several options before you send in your applications.
Legislative bodies and government agencies look for exceptional environmental graduates to provide support and advice on new legislation. These positions are limited in number but provide graduates an opportunity to influence fuel efficiency standards and waste management practices that affect millions. This path is advisable for graduates who want a career in public life including parliamentary representation and local politics.
Graduates who are interested in remaining in the private sector while dealing with regulatory aspects of environmental protection can work in corporate compliance departments. These departments hire entry level professionals to review corporate documents and provide regular reports to supervisors about the company’s adherence to environmental regulations. A young professional who wants to pursue a legal career can use these experiences in law school as a way to narrow his focus.
The full range of environmental graduate jobs is not limited to regulatory positions. Public and private organizations with an interest in the environment hire scientists and researchers to look at technical issues. Government agencies arrange for research services from private laboratories to study the issue of pollutant runoff into rivers. Retailers hire scientists to look at the impact of product components on human health as well as new ways to make products environmentally friendly.
A number of environmental graduate jobs are available in the area of non-profit advocacy for professionals willing to take a salary hit. Environmental advocacy groups look for scientists to provide independent verification of reports by corporations about air, water and soil cleanliness. These positions are funded by donations, grants and other funds from parties interested in maintaining accountability. Many graduates who want to find work right out of school pursue work as a researcher, organizer or public advocate for the environment. The important factor for professionals who want to find the right environmental graduate jobs is to select a profession that balances personal ethics with long term professional goals.
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Mitch Endick |
2007-12-03 |
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Title: Recycle your Old Watch Battery
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In this day and age of environmental consciousness, the movement to safely dispose of and recycle potentially hazardous materials has grown enormously. In spite of being very small, watch batteries can still pose a significant environmental health problem if they are not properly disposed of.
Just imagine how many watch batteries are in use today and how many will be changed out and disposed of every year. The figures are in the hundreds of millions so the issue is indeed an important one. To understand just how serious the issue of battery recycling can be we must first look at how watch batteries are made and what potentially hazardous substances they contain.
Watch batteries are often referred to as button batteries or button cells. These batteries can contain any number of different substances, including lithium, mercury, cadmium, silver and other heavy metals. The recycling of these types of batteries, which can also be found in other types electronic devices like hearing aids, has proven to be a very profitable enterprise.
The heavy metals can be recovered and reused and since silver and lithium. The process can be expensive but it is worth the effort to recover these substances. Heavy metals like those found in many types modern batteries do not diminish if they are introduced in the environment.
The very nature of these substances means that they remain in the environment and never break down organically. For example, if heavy metals are introduced into a water source, fish and other aquatic animals may ingest the substance. Since the substance concentrates in fatty tissues, humans and other carnivorous animals who consume the fish are also consuming the heavy metal, which in turn concentrates in our tissues. The body does not expel these substances very readily and they tend remain to remain in the body for years.
The more tainted food we consume the greater the concentration of heavy metals in out own bodies. When button batteries and other types of household batteries are placed into an unsealed landfill the case material eventually corrodes and the heavy metals inside leech into the surrounding soils and even down to the ground water. This contributes to environmental pollution and is very hard if not impossible to get rid of once it has leeched out.
Heavy metal contamination of living organisms can lead to a whole host of adverse health effects in many species, including humans. These adverse effects can range from birth defects to cancers and many other diseases.
Now that you’ve been sufficiently frightened by the possibilities, we can talk about how you can help keep these hazardous substances out of the environment and out of you. The most important thing is to get educated about safe disposal methods for batteries, including button cells. The best bet is to have your watch battery changed at a retailer that offered to recycle the old battery properly.
Many retailers that sell replacement watch batteries will install the new battery free of charge so do not feel like you are saving any money by replacing the old battery yourself. Many watches require special tooling to open the case that will not break waterproof seals like orings or otherwise mar the watches finish.
Many owners will try to use knife, screwdriver or similar tool to open the watch case and this practice very often results in damage to the watch. Then you are left what to do with the used battery. Taking your watch, even an inexpensive one, to a qualified retailer eliminates the possibility that you may damage your watch, but will also ensure the old battery can be properly recycled.
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