Green Leaf

The main purpose of business is to make money and so the last thing you want to do is encounter financial problems. Unfortunately, these are par of the course, especially… The post 4 Tips to Avoid Financial Problems in Business appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/3j2L3LT https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The Earth911 Reader collects and comments on useful news about science, business, sustainability, and recycling to save you time and keep you informed. This week, we focus on sciientific and political developments. IN SCIENCE Polar and Greenland Ice Melting 60% Faster Than In the 1990s Earth’s ice sheets have lost 28 trillion tons of ice mass since the 1990s and may continue accelerating as warmer oceans undercut glaciers along coasts, The Washington Post reports . A new study published in the journal Copernicus says that between 1994 and 2017, the Arctic lost 7.6 trillion tons of ice, Antarctic ice shelves on the coast decreased by 6.6 trillion tons, mountain glaciers shed 6.1 trillion tons, Greenland’s main ice sheet declined by 3.8 trillion tons, and the Antarctic ice sheet gave up 2.5 trillion tons – 58% of the loss was in the Northern Hemisphere. The most worrying statistic is that annual ice loss rates jumped by 60% over the era studied. Scientific American points out t...

You’re pregnant. Congratulations! This exciting time will require a lot of preparation. There’s about to be a new addition to your family, and you need to get ready. While you have lots to think about, you don’t have to abandon your sustainability goals. With a bit of forethought, you can have an eco-friendly pregnancy. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track. 1. Picking Maternity Clothes It’s unavoidable that your growing body will need a new wardrobe over the next nine months. However, shopping inevitably creates waste. This point becomes even truer when you purchase from fast fashion brands with poor labor and waste practices. How do you find maternity clothes that are sustainable and look great? The best solution for eco-friendly maternity wear is to thrift. Since maternity clothes are only worn for a short time, you can find plenty of nearly-new items secondhand. Check out local thrift stores or reach out to other moms you know. This will save you money and reduce the...

This week’s Earth911 Inspiration comes from poet Ben Ditmars, who wrote, “Like a tree, I have stood my ground, not fallen.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click to get a larger image. You Might Also Like… Tips for an Eco-Friendly Pregnancy Jan 29, 2021 Earth911 Inspiration: Like a Tree Jan 29, 2021 Earth911 Podcast: David Wolff, Creator of the Mini Reef Jan 29, 2021 The post Earth911 Inspiration: Like a Tree appeared first on Earth 911 . from Earth 911 https://ift.tt/3ae5npt https://ift.tt/3iXarCA

More algae blooms and red tides are affecting the grassy coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. David Wolff, founder of Ocean Habitats Inc. , recognized the need for natural solutions in the 1990s, when he built the first Mini Reef, a structure that can be placed under docks in coastal waterways and canals that supports plant and ocean life. But the world wasn’t ready for the idea and money ran out by 1998. Wolff pursued other businesses, which he recently sold before returning to his Mini Reef project out of concern for the Gulf Coast. Now, more than 4,000 Mini Reefs are installed in the region, filled with mussels, barnacles, and oysters that clean the water. Wolff explains the different sizes and placement options for the Mini Reef, which is available in several sizes to fit together like Lego blocks under a dock. Once populated by plants, crabs, shrimp, and other life, a small reef can filter about 30,000 gallons of water a day. Homeowners have purchased most of the installed Mini Ree...

More algae blooms and red tides are affecting the grassy coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. David Wolff, founder of Ocean Habitats Inc. , recognized the need for natural solutions in the 1990s, when he built the first Mini Reef, a structure that can be placed under docks in coastal waterways and canals that supports plant and ocean life. But the world wasn’t ready for the idea and money ran out by 1998. Wolff pursued other businesses, which he recently sold before returning to his Mini Reef project out of concern for the Gulf Coast. Now, more than 4,000 Mini Reefs are installed in the region, filled with mussels, barnacles, and oysters that clean the water. Wolff explains the different sizes and placement options for the Mini Reef, which is available in several sizes to fit together like Lego blocks under a dock. Once populated by plants, crabs, shrimp, and other life, a small reef can filter about 30,000 gallons of water a day. Homeowners have purchased most of the installed Mini Ree...

It’s not too late to make your New Year’s resolutions — and why not help protect our future by focusing on sustainability? How can you reduce waste, pollute less, and preserve the environment? With the Biden administration projected to increase regulations and bolster the Environmental Protection Agency, 2021 will bring a renewed focus on climate change, clean energy, and net-zero emissions. Although many of these new policies and protections will relate to states, counties, and corporations, there are still many actions that individuals can take. As you consider the year ahead, you might think about activities that lead to more trash being dumped in the ocean, or more CO2 being released into the atmosphere, and try to eliminate them. But don’t worry, you don’t have to come up with your sustainability resolutions on your own. Here are 10 ways you can join in the effort and make a positive impact on the environment in 2021. 1. Go Easy on Clean Water Use The clean water crisis is we...

Most Americans want to buy sustainable products. But it isn’t easy to separate the green from the greenwashed. Even though marketing studies show that 78% of Americans believe companies should be environmentally responsible and 64% say they feel happy when buying sustainable products, a classic consumer protection study found that nearly all green marketing claims are either false or potentially misleading. People who are determined to find more sustainable products have a lot of work to do to educate themselves and shop their values . But even so, is it possible to find the real green thing? Greenwashing Greenwashing takes advantage of consumers’ limited time to convince consumers the product is more sustainable than it really is, making people feel better about their products instead of making their products better. This is illegal when they go so far as to make verifiably false environmental claims but the Federal Trade Commission, which is responsible for enforcement, has fi...

When you’re thinking about how to improve the efficiency of your home, there are two main questions you should consider: which upgrades will provide the most savings in terms of… The post How To Improve Your Homes Energy Efficiency appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/3olR1bv https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

More than 800 million people lack clean water, while water infrastructures in the developed world are in need of massive upgrades. Do you know your water issues? Test your water-based brain in this Earth911 quiz! Earth911.com Quiz #32: Not So Watery World   Water is our essence and, as the climate warms, the bane of coastal existence that can flood streets and spread poorly stored toxins. More than 800 million people lack clean water, while water infrastructures in the developed world are in need of massive upgrades. Do you know your water issues? Test your water-based brain in this quiz!   Every week, Earth911.com challenges you with quizzes that test your sustainability savvy and help you make environmentally friendly choices when you shop, use products, and dispose of unwanted items. How many people will be displaced by water scarcity 2030?   The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification estimated the number of people who will be forced to migr...

It is said that there are only two languages in the world without borders: one is smiles and the other is flowers. Flowers are slowly becoming a part of our… The post Tips for Raising Flowers the Eco-Friendly Way appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/3qZY0Zl https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

As a cosplayer with five years of experience, I’ve also tried my hand at making my own costumes and cosplay props during my time as a cosplayer, and I’ve had… The post Tips on How to Make Eco-friendly Cosplay Props at Home appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/36ejYQI https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

When you think of plastic waste, kitchen sponges might not readily spring to mind. But the brightly colored sponges and scrubbers that are popular today are made of petroleum-based plastic . Are there better alternatives? The old-fashioned sponges that Mom used to buy in the supermarket were natural cellulose, a form of wood pulp that could be composted. But today, most cellulose sponges contain chemicals that I wouldn’t want in my compost pile. The brightly colored plastic sponges and scrubbers common today are even more problematic for the environment. And with no recycling options, we just throw them away when they turn “yucky” and smelly — adding to the tons of plastic waste in the landfills. What can we do? Well, we can extend the life of the sponges we already have by letting them dry out between uses and cleaning them in the dishwasher or microwave . But are there sustainable alternatives to these throwaway plastic sponges and scrubbers in the first place? I found a few goo...

Thinking of abanding your internal combustion engine for an EV? There are more electric vehicles on the market than ever before. After almost a decade during which Tesla made almost all the EV options, you have many body styles and features to choose from. Advances in battery technology are also boosting vehicle range, and an increasingly robust charging infrastructure makes electric cars more appealing than ever. Tesla sets itself apart from other manufacturers with a robust Supercharger network . Sales are on the rise with a jump anticipated as early adopters give way to mainstream auto buyers. Experts predict that global EV sales may grow 50% or more in 2021 . Many reputable auto manufacturers are introducing electric models, giving shoppers more choices than ever. Which Electric Vehicles Are Greenest? When shopping for an EV, how can you determine which are the greenest choices among the leading cars on the market? New criteria are emerging as more models become available (see...