Are Pressure Washers Good or Bad for the Environment?

a-beginners-guide-on-how-to-use-a-pressure-washerThere are a lot of reasons for pressure washing. You can easily clean up surfaces if you use a power shower. You can also ensure that the area you wish to be cleaned up will be easily cleaned. Pressure washers are also used to prepare a sidewalk or a wall for painting. The only problem is that if you are concerned about the effects of these washers to the environment, you could be turned off by the idea of using the power shower.

To begin with, you think that it harms the environment and it uses too much power. The truth is that in using a power washer, you can clean up a larger surface in less than half a time it would take for a regular washer. It means that you can save more time and energy. You also waste less water. Compared with a washing hose, you will save a lot more money for utility bills if you are to use power washers.

Power washers also don’t use chemicals. You might think that it is really effective in cleaning up surfaces because it uses tons of chemicals. The truth is it does not. You don’t even need to use detergents and cleaning chemicals in using a power washer since the washer itself is good enough. If you wish to use detergents though, there are those that don’t have chemicals in them, but are still effective in cleaning.

In short, there is nothing to worry in using power washers. They are perfect for cleaning. They are totally safe and they are designed to last for a long time.

Buy online now

You might be a bit confused though on which pressure washer to buy considering the options available. As you search for the options online, it becomes even more complicated. You just need to check the options now and compare them. Find out which of them is perfect for you in terms of your personal needs and the price. Once you have found the best power washer, you are assured that you can use it for a very long time.

Also read: Smoking Your Meat – Is it Harmful for Your Health?

Forget Electric Cars. Electric Scooters Also Help in Saving the Environment

forget-electric-cars-electric-scooters-also-help-in-saving-the-environmentSince concerns about the environmental hazards of emissions produced by motorized vehicles are at its height, it is time that you take a serious look about driving in an eco-friendly manner. Another way of making a significant contribution is by considering an electric scooter as your means of covering distances.

A Whole New Trend

People ride electric scooters as a primary transport option to help Mother Nature recuperate. Although ideal, it undeniably proposes some limitations, especially for people with low stamina, PWDs, and similar cases. As an alternative, electric scooters were introduced to the market. They present cost-efficient, environment-friendly solutions that the green movement gladly approves of, along with electric cars.

The Beauty of Ecological Riding

Electric scooters are not only valuable in saving the environment. By all means, they are also much cheaper in the long run. After making the initial investment that would cover the cost of your unit, maintenance costs are almost non-existent. Not to mention that such hybrid vehicles are considerably cheaper than buying a second-hand car, depending on where you sourced them from.

When you are driving an electric scooter instead of a full pledged, conventional car, you will not only save up from pumping gas but also from not needing an insurance coverage for it. Most states also do not require you to obtain a license in order to drive it. These obviously translate to huge savings upfront.

In terms of maintenance, electric scooters require very little. You only need to keep the wheels lubricated, the tires inflated, the battery recharged, and you are good to go. The amount of distance that a fully charged electric scooter can cover depends on its battery quality. When you are in the market for your own unit, that is one particular detail that you must take note of. Battery life widely varies based on the make and model so you must be very careful taking your pick.

Most of all, electric scooters are more enjoyable to drive and ride than bicycles. They are also easy to store and very convenient to bring along indoors, given of course, that you obtain a foldable, compact model.

Also see: Global Warming Crisis Waiting To Explode

Smoking Your Meat – Is it Harmful for Your Health?


Smoking meat keeps it tender and flavourful. Smoked meat is a favourite and a staple in many get-togethers. It is safe to eat smoked meats but like most things, it should be consumed in moderation. Frequent consumption of smoked meat poses health risks, although some believe that it is the smoking process that contribute to the risk rather than the meat itself. Consider these factors to help you decide whether you want to eat smoked meats.

  • Smoking cooks meat very slowly, using a covered grill or a smoker. Smoking can preserve meats, allowing them to be stored at room temperature. Cold smoking cooks the meat using lower temperature and the process could take several days. Cold smoking is not advisable for fish, as some parasites in fish cannot be destroyed without exposing them to high temperatures.
  • High level of sodium used in preparing the meat is one of the factors that make eating smoked meat risky. High sodium intake can lead to heart disease and high blood pressure. Meat naturally contains sodium. Meat rubs, where salt is the main ingredient increases the amount of salt in the food to be smoked. The average daily intake of sodium should be below 2.300 mg. According to research report of the Harvard Family Health Guide, the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes increases when smoked meats are consumed versus eating fresh red meat.
  • Meat is a good source of minerals like iron and is protein-rich as well. Beef and pork contain more fat that lean meats such as fish, chicken breast, turkey, venison or buffalo. There are fish species that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which is good for cardiovascular health and the nervous system. Consuming smoked meats in moderation should not pose much of a health risk. Moreover, smoking allows fat to drip off the meat, which greatly reduces its fat content.
  • Generally, according to researchers, smoking meats lead to the production of carcinogens. An increase in carcinogen content is attributed to overheated smoker or griller. It is said that smoking meats at home produces more carcinogens compared to those prepared industrially. This could be attributed to the specific temperature controls maintained by manufacturers. Illness and chemical contamination when using makeshift smokers increase the health risk when smoking meats. The of overheating is greatly lessened if you are using a quality smoker because according to Masterbuilt Smoker reviews, these types have an auto-shutdown mechanism that activates when there is too much heat inside the smoker.
  • Smoking meat produces many by-products that are toxic. Wood smoke produces toxic substances like benzopyrenes. Nitrates and nitrites that are by-products of curing agents, are carcinogenic. Grilling or smoking meat over an open flame at high temperatures lead to the formation of heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
  • Eating smoked meat increases the risk of developing pancreatic, prostate and colorectal cancers. It also increases the risk of developing stomach infections from bacterial contamination like E.coli, causing stomach pain and diarrhoea and Listeria monocytogenes. The latter triggers stomach pains, headache and fever.

Recognise the fact that smoking meat can expose you to many health risks. However, it does not mean that you have to avoid eating smoked meat at all. Do it occasionally and if you smoke meat at home, ensure that you follow proper meat preparation. Thaw and marinate your meat inside the refrigerator. Maintain smoking temperature between 225 and 300 °F (107.2 and 148.9 °C).

Also read: Climate Change And Their Detrimental Effects On Biodiversity

Climate Change And Their Detrimental Effects On Biodiversity

climateClimatic conditions play a very important role in maintaining the ecosystems. Rapid change in climate brings about drastic effects on the ecosystem. If the climate changes are gradual, organisms can slowly adapt and evolve. But sudden change collapses the ecosystem.
From a human point of view, rapid change in climate and loss of biodiversity is dangerous, as it affects food chain, which ultimately affects humans.

Global Biodiversity Outlook of UN summarized few concerns about the impact of climate change on the ecosystem. The major concern was the loss of ice at the Arctic sea, which is due to global warming. Ocean acidification due to carbon emission is also an important environmental concern. Some organisms like insects and pests might benefit from increased temperature but even for them, sudden change of climate gives no time to adapt, resulting in their extinction.

jjphoto_globe_collage (1)Effect of climate changes in Arctic
High latitudes and poles have shown the highest rate of increased temperature, which has resulted in a reduction of ice in Arctic. The lesser the ice, the more rapidly it melts. There is a risk of losing entire biome in Arctic. As a result, all the organism that live there is at risk.

Climate change and Ocean change
Ocean is the region which takes up most of the warmth from the atmosphere. This results in damage to numerous ecosystems. 93.4% of global warming goes into the oceans. This means that the ocean is heating up much faster than land. The rapid increase of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere has resulted in an oceanic condition which hasn’t been seen for millions of years. This could result in irreversible ecological damage, which would result in habitat loss, death and extinction.

Ocean acidification
Acidification of ocean is caused when excessive carbon dioxide is dissolved in the ocean. This disrupts the animals that produce calcium carbonate to make shells, as the acidification dissolves calcium carbonate. It has been observed that the water is 30%more acidic than it was before industries were built. Coral reefs are also at huge threat because of acidification and increased temperatures. If the reefs go extinct, it will create a chain reaction which would result in the extinction of most of the major ecosystems.

Read Also: Global Warming Crisis Waiting To Explode

Global Warming Crisis Waiting To Explode

climate_change4Environmental issues are burgeoning by the day with global warming being the major cause of concern. Natural disasters, changing weather patterns and indifferent warming and cooling periods have made life miserable for people. There are many types of environmental changes, and people need to be aware of these changed and how to counter them. Our livelihood is directly or indirectly affected by global warming. Every individual has to be concerned about environmental changes as it can throw up new challenges every day. Some changes can affect only a few ecosystems while the others can change the landscape, causing alarm among the inhabitants.

Earth is deep into environmental crisis. It has made us vulnerable to natural disasters. The environmental issues are increasing, and there is an urgent need to address them. Before our earth is doomed it is time to rectify the mistakes and save our planet from destruction. Some of the urgent environmental issues that need immediate attention are as below.

polar-bearGlobal warming as a result of emitting greenhouses gasses due to human actions. The temperatures rise leading to the melting of glaciers, increasing the sea level causing floods. This also leads to unusual precipitation patterns, heavy snowing, desertification and flash floods.

Water, air and soil pollution from industries, motor vehicles is a major cause of concern. Plastics, nitrates, and heavy metals cause pollution. Water pollution is a result of oil spills and acid rain. Air pollution is from industries and motor vehicles due to the combustion of fossil fuels. Soil pollution is caused due to industrial water released into the oil, killing essential nutrients available in the soil.

The steady rise in population leads to a shortage of water, food and fuel. Over using natural resources can lead to depletion of their resources quickly. Agriculture methods are intensified to produce food for the population. This leads to changes in the environment due to the vigorous usage of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides.

Climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately. It has become intense over the last two decades. It is one of the major causes of global warming leading to increased temperatures across the globe. The burning of fossil fuels emits harmful gasses causing an increase in temperature leads to melting of the glaciers in the polar region.

Read Also: How To Promote A Green Environment?

How To Promote A Green Environment?

Healthy-environment (1)Plants and tree can keep the surroundings clean and green. There are a variety of indoor and outdoor plants that can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home. Some of the plants like English ivy, peace lilies absorb harmful gasses like formaldehyde and benzene. Choose plants that are nonpoisonous especially if you have kids and pets around.

Expired medicines could be harmful to the environment. Never flush them. Old medicines have to be disposed of carefully. Do not put them in water. Some pharmacies take back old medicines and dispose of them safely. Opt for this method incase you do not know how to handle them.

going-green-is-not-only-great-for-the-environment--it-is-good_16001211_800920877_0_0_14044476_300Open fireplace waste about 85% of the gas. Direct vent gas is the best option to burn efficiently. It can save money in the long run. Moreover, when the fireplace is running, do not waste the heat.

Baths are ideal as they conserve water. Bath use less water when compared to showers. It is best to soak in the tub, incase you do not have the habit of keeping the shower short. Low flow shower can cut down on the water usage drastically. Using low flow faucets, you can save on water in the long run. New toilets use lesser water when compared to old ones. Therefore it is advised to choose the latest model to conserve water. There are low flush toilets that can save on water, but they also cut down on greenhouse gasses as the result of water purification procedure. For those who cannot afford new toilets, use a plastic bottle with the lid on in the tank. Using this option lets out less water during every flush.

Next time when you old electronics is not working, considers repairing it, instead of buying a new one. It can reduce on the landfills. Moreover, buying a new one is a lot more expensive when compared to repairing the existing one at the fraction of the cost.

Impact Of Plywood On The Environment

pic-environment02 (1)There are two kinds of environmental impacts created by plywood industries. They are the offsite and onsite impacts. When the impact is the area where the manufacturing takes place, it is called onsite impact. The impact caused associated with timber harvesting, which is used as the source in plywood industry is the offsite impact.

Onsite impacts
The plywood industries, like most of the industries, causes water, noise, soil and air pollution. Its energy consumption and transportation carry a great carbon footprint.

Water pollution
Leaching timber for tannins, leakage from chemicals and other fuels are the major reasons for water pollution. This run off can pollute both ground water by infiltration and surface water that is near the industry. The main chemicals that are used in plywood industry are urea and formaldehyde. These chemicals pollute the water which makes it unfit for consumption. Also, if the water is chlorine treated to purify it, it forms carcinogens.

bottled-water-pollution-300x300Noise pollution
Most of the plywood industries are built in rural areas which make the noises even more noticeable. The main reasons for noise are transported finished products and raw material, the noise made by peeling machine and generators.

Soil pollution
Organic substances that leach from timber, sawdust and bark and other chemicals pollute the soil surrounding the industry. If not properly contained, it could affect the soil quality in the surrounding communities.

Air pollution
Air pollution is caused by the emission of chemicals, particulate emission from wood sawing and hydrocarbon from generators. The key pollutants of air are formaldehyde, methanol, saw dust and hydrocarbons.

The other environmental impacts include deforestation, soil degradation, carbon footprint, and disposal. When timber is harvested for plywood manufacture, there is severe deforestation. As a result of deforestation, the top soil is lost in run off during monsoon, resulting in degradation. Carbon footprint is also high, due to the transport of products and raw materials. Plywood disposal is a huge concern as it takes 20 years to decay, and recycling does not provide any useful product. Burning releases pollutants and hence, disposal of plywood is fairly difficult.

Read Also: Climate Change And Their Detrimental Effects On Biodiversity

Street Cleaning And River Pollution Discussed

2014-09-02-nutrient-sampling-2The two major concerns of keeping the environment clean are water pollution and litter. These are harmful to humans, flora, and fauna. Clearing the litter can be expensive, and it can cause serious health hazards. One of the major concerns of litter includes cigarette butts. It is unpleasant to look at and forms a huge source of urban litter. These are difficult to break down, and these are the major source of litter. Keeping public places free from litter can promote a healthy living environment. Creating awareness on a litter free environment is essential. Unless people are aware, it is difficult to promote a clean environment.

medium_IMG_0092The public works department handles street cleaning. Contractors are appointed to clean the locality using their direct labor force. Cleaning in big cities is conducted for extended hours. It can start at 8 am and go on until 2 pm. Modern cities need to have the street cleaned all the time. Street cleaning is a labor intense task and involves high cost. Though, street cleaning is only part of the way to keep the environment clean.

The role of the council health department is to provide people with pure water, air, food and protect them from diseases. In the modern days, street cleaning is promoted using modern equipment. These mechanized equipment make cleaning easy and effective. Water is an essential commodity for cleaning. Another major concern is river pollution. The poor depend on the river water for their domestic and drinking water needs. River pollution is inevitable especially with the sewage reaching the rivers. Discharged sewage has to be treated before it reaches the river downstream to prevent river pollution.

The water has to be tested for quality in the laboratory. There will be changes seen in the chemical and physical parameters. The color, taste, odor and turbidity of the water changes depending on the pollution level in the water.

Conserving Energy To Save The Environment

glowing-energy-saving-lightbulbEnvironmental damages are due to different forms of pollution. Air pollution creates damaging effects to the environment. The industrial waste and the emissions from vehicles causes contamination to the environment. The air pollution is so intense in some regions that people find it difficult even to breathe. Corporate companies, nongovernment organizations, and government are taking initiatives to promote a cleaner and greener environment. Money and effort are going down to make the world a safe place to live.

Conserving energy is the best way to save the environment. Invest in appliances that are environment-friendly and energy efficient. The best way to conserve energy is to switch off the light when not in use. Washing clothes in the washing machine using warm and cold water can save your energy bills. Instead of electrical heater opt for solar water heater.

energy-efficency-300x300Opting for car pooling or using the cycle could save on your fuel bills. Moreover, you can cut down on the carbon emission. The leakage in the air conditioner has to be repaired quickly before it can make holes in the ozone layer. The gas, when filled, should not spill off the tank. The motor oil used has to be energy efficient.

Forget about wooden stoves or furnaces. It can give out excess smoke leading to air pollution. Instead, use cooking friendly LPG that is energy efficient and at the same time does not leave any residue. It also shortens the cooking time.

The environment we live in has to be clean. There should be an interaction between plants, micro organisms, and animals. Only these three keep ecosystem alive and healthy. With global warming, climate changes, and pollution, the world is facing a threat of natural disasters. Changes in the lifestyle can protect our planet from destruction.

The use of pesticides and chemicals can pollute the environment. Moreover, you can use organic solutions like vinegar, baking soda and lemon for cleaning purposes. Green cleaning products are readily available in the market. You can check for eco-friendly cleaning solutions and save the earth from destruction. Conventional cleaners use organic cleaning products providing best of results.