If you're thinking about not using these unnecessarily harsh products, you could use an equivalent but more environmentally friendly cleaner. There are green options out there that will do a great job cleaning while being gentler on the environment. Here are some ideas to consider:

Simple Green. Simple Green is an excellent industrial strength cleaner that happens to carry the Green Seal certification for environmental responsibility. The Green Seal guarantees that a product meets strict standards of environmental stewardship in the way it’s manufactured and used. It also indicates a product that is easily biodegradable. Simple Green is versatile, extremely effective and will clean the toughest jobs. It’s quite concentrated in its original form, so you may want to dilute it in water. This has the positive benefit of allowing you to control its strength when cleaning more delicate objects. Use it to clean your bathroom, kitchen, car, or just about anything else--while being confident you're not harming the environment.

Baking Soda. Baking soda has well-known cleaning, scrubbing, and deodorizing properties. It's also known to be Earth friendly. It has a large number of uses, including many you may not have thought about. In addition to its popular use for removing unpleasant odors from the refrigerator, it can be sprinkled on carpets and rugs to deodorize them. You can sprinkle it on a sponge and wipe your counters without scratching them. You can dilute it in water and wash your vegetables. It's a wonderfully versatile product.

Tea Tree Oil. If you’re attacking mold, there are several natural ways to get rid of it. One of the best is tea tree oil, which works great against fungus and bacteria. Mix a teaspoon of it with two cups of water, spray it on the affected area and allow to dry. The scent is strong upon use, but it will dissipate in a day or two.

Going green often requires sacrifice, but not when it comes to cleaning. You should not have to endure harsh chemicals while cleaning your home. You can get the job done right with a green cleaner without putting your family’s health at risk or harming the environment.

Interestingly the Caribbean contains just over 20% of the world’s coral reef and there is a huge amount of damage being done to it. In Honduras where pineapple, banana and sugar cane plantains are so wide spread, fertilizer is being used in heavy amounts. The nutrients in this fertilizer kill coral and fish in the sea. Fertilizer and erosion are the two biggest culprits for damage to the coral reef in this area and they are both caused by farming, tree felling and building of new properties. But the main thing we don’t really realise is that fish are massively important to the coral reefs. The fish act like the corals personal grooming kit, they remove bacteria from the coral keeping it clean and healthy, they also eat the surrounding seaweed making sure oxygen levels stay up in the sea.

Apparently fish have dropped in population rates by around 70-95%, a massive fall. Over-fishing isn’t only destroying our food source; it is damaging the coral reef as well.

Another problem is an obvious one, Global Warming. This is the big one, rises in global warming have created acids in the sea and reduced the amount of Aragonite. This is a carbonate mineral that coral requires to stay alive and even begin growth. In 40 years the acid levels in the sea will reach such high levels, the coral wont be able to survive the conditions.

However there are few things that we can do to try and help. There are ventures to help the coral that we can take part in and have a good time while we do it. If you do go on luxury holidays or Caribbean holidays you could have the option to go and volunteer for a coral clean up operation, where you can help clean coral underwater or on the shore. This would have to be some of the best volunteer work you could, diving with the fish and doing your bit.

Also if you go fishing around coral, try not to drop anchor, you will tear the coral apart and damage anything living around it

So if your thinking about going abroad or maybe somewhere tropical, maybe some of you want to have weddings abroad, it might be a good idea to get there as soon as you can. If you want you could chip in with the divers and help the coral survive, you never know how much longer it will be around.

As of now, a large number of private investors as well as the government take pride and support in investing for the utilization of wind energy as an alternative energy source. These are huge windmills with two but more often three blades which harness the power of the wind to generate electricity for many communities. We have used windmills for a number of centuries but it is only recently that they have been converted to produce electricity on an industrial scale. Modern wind turbines are simply are more advanced variations on the old theme. Just like any other methods, using the wind energy has its own issue such as having to worry what to utilize if ever the days are calm and still. Unsurprisingly, you cannot fully depend on wind energy during these times and this is where the electric company comes into action of powering your home or office.

Hydroelectric energy is available as a source of alternative energy, and it can generate a substantial amount of power. To generate electrical energy, turbines are turned by the downhill motion of water which its flow in response to gravity and that’s something essential that hydroelectric energy uses. As water is everywhere it has not generally been a problem finding locations where it can be employed. Having said that, building huge dams is very costly, time consuming and there are other challenges which usually make the whole process costly at the initial stage. To utilise this power, the dams that are built are large structures otherwise they will not be able to a) retain the water and b) have adequate water to run the turbines efficiently. Conservationists are starting to be worried about operating a dam as it not only requires a lot of labour building it to store and control water’s potential and kinetic energy but it can also be risky and complex. If you are not in the need to supply the electrical needs of a city or an area with huge population, then building a dam for it is not that necessary. There are small run-of-river hydroelectric converters which are excellent for supplying neighbourhoods or an individual office or residence.

When artesian waters just below the earth’s crust are heated, a naturally-occurring energy in the structure of geothermal energy can be produced which is more often than not the most underrated form of alternative energy that gains less of the gratitude and pride. Heat from the earth's core gets taken up by the water. A number of different ways are used to harness this ‘free’ power which is drawn up into power plants. The aim of drawing up the hot water is for the gathering of the steam. The Geysers, approximately 100 miles north of San Francisco, is probably the best-known of all geothermal power fields – it’s an example of a dry stream plant.

Here are the five best reasons why Biodiesel should be used in your car immediately.

Reason One – Biodiesel contains less water than diesel fuel.

All fuel is incorporated with water at some point. However, the real volume of water that ends up in the fuel you put in your car can vary. As a rule there is less water incorporated with Biodiesel, This means that you will not experience these difficulties when using it.

Reason two-Biodiesel is cost effective.

Homemade Biodiesel is a good alternative making it very low cost but even if you are buying it at the pump, it is cheaper than typical diesel.

Your auto will run better with Biodiesel and this means that service and maintenance will cost less.

Reason Three – Biodiesel improves your vehicle

Biodiesel will lubricate your engine and produce less deposits when it burns.. This is why it causes less wear and tear on your engine. As time goes by you will need to spend less money on maintenance.

Reason Four – Biodiesel sources will not run out

Having a renewable fuel source is something that is imperative. Most people are unaware that our fuel sources are dwindling Many people simply do not recognize that the current fuel sources are being used upand eventually will be gone for good.

Once these resources are used up they cannot be brought back.

Renewable energy sources, like Biodiesel, will never run out. The natural ingredients that make up Biodiesel can be used many times over

Reason Five -Biodiesel does not create as many environmental problems.

One of the worst offenders for high pollution levels is car exhaust. With so many automobiles on the road that is not a surprise. Regular fuel is dirty and gives off many pollutants. Biodeisel does not taint the air because it burns clean. When Biodiesel or a blend of Biodiesel is used there is less pollution.

That is good for the ecosystem, animals and humans who are breathing in the polluted air. It is beneficial to reduce any quantity.

During this economic crisis and continued global warming, the need for sustainable development has become a today issue instead of a tomorrow issue. Both private and government entities (including the EPA) have come up with programs and products that promote “green” production and consumption. These environment-friendly practices are now being used in numerous firms and industries.

But what about our homes? Are our homes as "anti global waming" as they should be? Continued efforts to sustain the environment should first and foremost be undertaken under our own roof. These can be done with the use of products that consume less energy and other resources. Over time, the use of these products can result not only in savings but also in the reduction of waste and materials harmful to our homes and the environment.

Here’s a quick list of 10 items I’ve discovered that can make a world of a difference.

1. Heat-energy recovery system

· Sensible Heat Energy Recovery System (SHERS) uses heat generated from an air-conditioner or refrigerator to heat water. Payback period is anywhere from six months to two years

2.The Eco Bio Block

· Made of volcanic stones and beneficial bacteria, is used to purify water in home aquariums, water tanks and big bodies of water such as ponds, lakes and marshes. When deposited in aquariums around 20 gallons or less, there is no need to filter, clean or change water for a period of 1-3 years.

3. Biowash ball

· Washing clothes without using a detergent may seem strange. Introducing the Anabess biowash ball, it’s made of natural ceramics & alters the chemical composition of the water so it can wash clothes more effectively without liquid detergent. It should last over 3 years. Think of the savings in gas from running to the store for more detergent.

4. Air-con with inverter technology

· The Panasonic Envio series of air-conditioners makes use of an “inverter technology” that changes compressor operation speed to match a changing room temperature and adjust power output accordingly, which leads to reduced energy consumption of up to 50 percent, while product only costs about 14% more than the average AC. The payback period may be expected in about seven months..

5.Low Flow faucets

· Moen has heeded the call for water conservation by coming up with WaterSense-certified bathroom faucets. With the help of new aerator technology these Moen faucets use 30% less water than other models but still feel just as powerful on your hands.

6. Compact fluorescent lamp

· Much has been said about the efficiency of compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs. They have a life expectancy that is 5x longer than incandescent lamps and consume 80% less energy with the same level of lumens. Companies such as Purely Products even carry CFLs that double as ionizers for the room, eliminating the need for an unsightly ionizer on the floor.

7.Reusable shopping bags

· The impact of just one person changing to reusable bags over a two-year period is significant. Used twice a week for two years a consumer would save 832 plastic bags from going in a landfill.

8.Biodegradable Cellulose Sandwich bags

· Typical plastic bags are derived from petroleum and take well over a lifespan to decompose. These biodegrade in 30 to 90 days in soil BUT actually keep food lasting longer, unlike plastic, they don't release gases which spoil food taste.

9.Smart Surge Protector

· Green Home introduced a smart surge protector. The power strip can 'sense' the movement of electrical current through the strip's brain. This unique option enables the Smart Strip to turn off selected equipment when it’s not in use saving you money and time!

A small electronic device inside the Smart Strip monitors the current on a single outlet. Let’s say the computer is plugged into that single outlet. When your computer is finished shutting down, the current draw from the computer drops to its idle current -- and the Smart Strip senses the current change, automatically shutting off all of the computer peripherals.

The Smart Strip Power Strip is the only surge protector in existence with energy saving electronics. The 10 outlet surge protector version has 1 Control Outlet, 3 Constant Hot Outlets, and 6 Switched Outlets.

10.Compostable Trash Bags

· These BioBags are made from GMO free starch and are 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable.

Now that you know about these products start using them daily. By changing just a few things we routinely use, we each can do our part.

Polar Bear Swimming

In the early days of coal mining the miners would take a little cage containing a canary down into the mine with them. If the canary keeled over that signaled there was too much methane and too little oxygen and it was time for humans to get out. We now have a canary and it is the polar bear. With the ocean making up about 70% of the earths surface its temperature and currents are a major factor of our climate and weather patterns. Two important current engines that come to mind are the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic and El Niño in the Pacific. If enough Greenland ice melts and creates too much fresh water then this could shut down the Gulf Stream’s flow.  Without the Gulf Stream New York and London would be very cold cities and small changes in El Niño have major influences on wind and rain for the west coast of North and South America.

With the ocean current engines so vast it’s hard to predict what does what especially when they are influenced by ocean temperature changes measured in fractions of a degree. But there are two very visible features that we can study and measure-sea level and ice. Now glacier ice around the world is important (and it is rapidly disappearing) but the primary ice that concerns ocean levels and temperature are the ice caps of Greenland and Antarctica. Since Arctic ice doesn’t come close to the quantity in the Antarctic it is here that we can see the effects of changes to the oceans much more rapidly. Ice forms much later and disappears far earlier in Arctic regions so that the ice floes that are the playground of ring seals, the primary diet of polar bears, is too far from land for too long a period. Polar bears are either starving or drowning while trying to swim out to the ice. For thousands of years the polar bears’ metabolism has adapted to the extra fat obtained from the ring seals so even if they do find food on land it doesn’t have the quantity of fat that they require. Couple this with the relocation of many native Eskimo tribes because the sea is encroaching on their villages and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduce that the sea is both warming and rising at an alarming rate in the last 20 years. Maybe we should be concerned?

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So how much have the seas raised and what are the causes? The best estimate seems to be a sea level rise of .6 inches per year in the last 60 years. And in the last 10 years it has accelerated to .8 inches per year (and this may still be an underestimate). As water warms it expands and this is known as thermal expansion. Thermal expansion is greater at higher temperatures. So a rise of 1ºC at 5ºC will cause an expansion of one part in 10,000. However, a 1ºC rise at 25ºC (typical water temperature across the tropics) would cause an expansion of three parts in 10,000. It is thought that about one-third of sea level rise in the last 100 years is due to thermal expansion.

Now prepare yourself for the next exciting chapter of global warming and sea level rise-ICE. If all the ice covering Greenland were to melt it would raise the seas by 20-24 feet. If all the ice at Antarctica would melt you’re looking at a rise in sea level of over 250 feet. While it could take 50 to 100 or even 1,000 years for this to happen there are some alarming trends taking place. In addition to Greenland’s rapidly melting southern ice, measurements show that the ice cap in northern Greenland has now started to melt faster which we now have to add into the equation. The next Joker in the Deck is meltwater. As glaciers slowly grind their way to the sea, if they are melting fast enough it appears that this meltwater can seep down through the glacier and act as lubricant. This may triple the glaciers speed into the sea. In the case of the West Antarctic ice shelf which sits on bedrock below sea level, there is concern that the sea could eventually “float” it off.

There are no easy choices but we need to start concentrating on alternative “green energy” and in particular, solar energy. Now I love planes and airports and I don’t see a substitute for jet fuel but we can at least convert land transportation to “green energy” then we could use fossil fuel exclusively for jet fuel and lubricants which would at least slow down this global warming cycle that we have put in motion.