Tag: environment

by Incredible Planet Staff

5 Ways Gardening Benefits the Environment Around You


Homes

Gardening is the gift that keeps on giving. You can’t go wrong starting a vegetable or flower garden in your yard.

Most people start gardens for a practical reason like growing food or adding beauty to their yard. But one of the major gardening benefits is its impact on the environment.

Here are 5 ways gardening helps our planet.

  1. Birds and the Bees

One of the most obvious gardening benefits is that it’s a haven for birds and bees. With bees falling in short supply, our planet risks an unstable environment.

Flower gardens give bees a place to call home. Make sure you plant a garden that’ll attract pollinating wildlife.

Helping bees means more food for everyone on our planet, too. It’s estimated that one of three pieces of food comes from the work of bees.

  1. Oxygen

With meditation as a growing trend, we all have heard the benefits of oxygen. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that photosynthesis creates this oxygen.

A garden is a smart way to improve the circulation of oxygen in your home or backyard. Take a deep breath and inhale the wonders of your little oxygen factory.

  1. Lower Carbon Footprint

Walking outside to your vegetable garden helps save you a trip to the store. This is just one of the ways it lowers your carbon footprint.

Most people don’t realize that produce travels thousands of miles to reach our table. You can cut back on the heavy demand for cross continental shipping by growing your own food.

Even buying locally helps the environment as long as it’s in a reasonable distance from your home.

  1. Reduces City Heat

In the summer, the concrete landscapes of the city are prone to overheating. This heat, no doubt, hurts the local climate resulting in record high temperatures.

This impacts global warming hurting the environment for everyone globally. A rooftop garden eases the warming process of a city.

The EPA suggests that rooftop gardens help ease temperatures by as much as 5 degrees. This is a tremendous fact for just one garden. Visit a site like Franzwitte.com to learn more about your gardening options for your rooftop.

  1. Soil Erosion

Did you know gardening benefits include preventing soil erosion? Soil erosion means losing out on crops that help minimize our CO2 intake.

Too much carbon dioxide impacts the temperatures and climates on the planet contributing to global warming. Be sure to research your plant options before getting started.

Not every plant helps reverse soil erosion.

Understanding Gardening Benefits

One thing to understand about gardening benefits is that it’s not just about your local area. Your city might decrease in temperature by a few degrees, but the planet becomes a more habitable place.

With advances in resources, our technology makes it possible to influence weather around the world. You can positively impact the environment by starting even a small garden in your area.

For more information and tips, visit our blog for updates.


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by Incredible Planet Staff

Everyday Environmentalist – 5 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Ecological Footprint


Lifestyle

There are currently 7.6 billion people in the world, each one utilizing a fraction of the planet’s limited resources every day to survive. Numerous environmental organizations have categorically established that we are consuming Earth’s resources at a much faster rate than they are replenished.

Given our voracious culture of mass consumption, it’s only a matter of time before we run out of food, water, energy, and land to sustain our needs. There is a growing need to make proactive changes to our individual lifestyles because being aware and talking about the issue is no longer sufficient. Measuring and reducing your ecological footprint is an excellent place to start. Here’s how:

Reduce Waste

Immediately switching to a waste-free life may be too overwhelming so it would be better to take on a gradual change by initially using less of it. Utilizing reusable shopping bags and carry your meals in stainless containers or cloth bags. You can also bring reusable coffee cups to your office or to your favorite local cafe. In fact, many coffee shops offer discounts to customers who bring their own tumblers. This is just a sample of the ways you can help in reducing the amount of disposable waste dumped into landfills every year.

Eat Local

Support your local farmers’ market by buying locally grown foods. Most items in supermarkets are shipped across long distances. Buying local food cuts down on fuel consumption, air pollution, and the overall ecological impact behind the transportation of goods. Because local foods usually aren’t mass produced, there is less waste generated. Many local farmers also keep their products organic and free from hormones and pesticides. This helps keep both you and the environment in better health.

Reduce Energy Consumption

Unplug idle devices like televisions, printers, chargers, and microwaves that use standby electricity even when they’re not in use.  To control these “energy vampires”, use a power strip or install a common switch that turns off remote outlets with just one flip. Choose energy-efficient appliances such as LED bulbs and low-flow shower heads. Lower your thermostat in the winter and regulate your air conditioning use in the summer. Better yet, invest in programmable thermostats that automatically track and follow your heating and cooling habits. Dry your clothes naturally, if possible, as tumble dryers are exceptionally energy-intensive.

Ditch the Car

Air pollution is one of the leading causes of early deaths worldwide. In the U.S., more than 50% of air pollution can be attributed to vehicles. To lessen your impact, switch to a greener mode of transportation whenever possible. Take the bus or train to reduce the number of individual cars on the road and keep your city’s air cleaner. Try walking or riding a bicycle when taking short trips. If you need a car, invest in those that are small, light, and energy-efficient such as micro electric cars which have recently gained popularity among city dwellers.

Buy Sustainably Produced Products

Check for eco-labels when buying products. For personal care, choose organic products or use natural homemade remedies as alternatives to chemical-laden cosmetics. Use handkerchiefs instead of tissue paper. Always opt for products that have less packaging. Being an informed and selective consumer can create a significant impact on the growing ecological crisis. By choosing environment-friendly products, you are in your own way encouraging more companies to make the big switch.  

Addressing all the world’s environmental problems requires collective action. It’s high time we internalize that fact that such global effort starts with ourselves. The most significant change stems from the smallest gestures.

by Incredible Planet Staff

How Mining Is Changing To Become Friendlier To Our Planet


Technology

Mining is one of the oldest industries in the world, and with increasing pressure from governments to make processes more environmentally friendly, a broad range of mining companies are having to adapt and change how they operate. Whether extracting solid materials or mining for minerals, the demand for mining is continuing to remain steady, but the environmental impacts of this particular industry has been significant. According to the Geological Society of America in a study in 2012, approximately 0.3% of global land is impacted by mining, and environmental impacts can include soil erosion, disruption of watershed and overall environmental pollution. As a result, the mining industry is needing to implement brand new processes in order to ensure that it becomes friendlier to the planet. Here, we’re taking a closer look at how the industry is changing.

Equipment Upgrades

This is a key area in which many mining companies are adapting. Mining equipment can be expensive due to its exceptional resilience, and the requirements for its durability. As a result, many mining companies will keep the same equipment for a long period of time, but this can cause a lot of pollution. As a result, regulations have been put in place in order to ensure that mining companies upgrade their equipment to machinery that is far more environmentally friendly, from the likes of their main drill components all the way through to a VSI impact crusher. This equipment can help to reduce the amount of pollution that is being produced by the equipment itself, while also benefitting the company by improving overall efficiencies and reducing costs.

Scrap Mining & Recycling

A growing trend in the mining industry is where companies are capitalising on the materials that they are producing, therefore helping to reduce the amount of waste. Companies are beginning to steer production much more closely towards durable goods, or those which can be easily reused or recycled. One of these trends is known as scrap mining, which actually stems from the recognition of the environmental impact that mining can have. The Canary Institute of Canada even suggests that a number of environmental groups are looking for a 90% decrease in the amount of waste being produced. A number of case studies have also shown that both corporations and private mines are able to build new infrastructure from reusable materials sourced from a mine site – such as sourcing aluminium rather than bauxite ore in order to build new construction.

Green Mining Research & Development

With increasing regulatory pressures, a number of large corporations are having to invest in research and development in order to ensure that their practices remain as sustainable as possible in order to be friendly to the environment overall. However, governments and separate agencies will need to gather funds in order to invest in this appropriately, if the research and development is to be implemented on a large scale. While this is happening in some countries, others are far more resistant to the changes.

There are a broad number of ways that the mining industry is changing in order to become more environmentally friendly, but as a whole, the industry has a lot of improvements to make in order to remain fully sustainable.

by Incredible Planet Staff

8 Useful Cost Saving Ideas for Small Businesses


Business

Managing a small business can be a tricky thing. One of the challenges that these enterprises face is minimizing the expenses of the operations. This is so that the business can have savings that it could use later on for expansion or other emergencies. These are some tips that will help your small business to do cost saving:

  1. Offer “Telecommuting Days” For Employees

With the advances in telecommunications and computer infrastructure, telecommuting is easier than ever for employees. This opens an opportunity for small businesses to cut costs. There will lower electricity and water usage, decreased travel costs and lesser need for a big office for the business.

Telecommuting is also beneficial for employees. This means they no longer have to wake up too early to go to the office every day. They will also spend less time commuting and traveling, which they can devote instead to other personal pursuits.

However, telecommuting is not yet too known by many. It has a large cost-cutting and productivity-improving potential that only a few companies have realized. The fact that telecommuting employees in the United States rose from 103 percent from 2005 to 2014 means that telecommuting is the future.

  1. Consider Buying Used Equipment

No one expects the business to buy everything brand new. If you could not afford it, consider buying those that have already been used. This is usually what most small companies do for storage equipment, vehicles, office furniture and even personal technology. Just make sure that you are eagle-eyed about any possible defect before you buy the item.

  1. Go Green

Being environmentally-friendly is not just your civic responsibility. It also gives you the chance to cut back on some costs. This is especially true for electricity matters. Electronic gadgets and other electrical devices that have been certified to be energy-efficient can save you as much as three-quarters of your power costs.

Other ways your company can go green is to limit the use of paper and using environmentally-friendly materials and supplies in the office.

  1. Adopt A Debit Card Payroll System
credit card 1583534 640
credit card 1583534 640

While there are still instances when checks are still needed, a debit card payment system is the best option right now for salaries. Not only is it efficient, it also lessens the burden on the administrative team. It also lessens the need to print checks as everything can be done electronically. Plus, this payroll system also has a decreased risk of fraud.

  1. Check Your Healthcare Offerings

If you want your small business to have savings, you need to make sensible changes to the healthcare arrangement. Healthcare is important, of course, as employees would want their company to take care of that. This is why canceling coverage should never be an option. One thing the business can do is to get tax-advantaged health savings account for their employees. This gets the control of the healthcare options on the employee’s court.

  1. Delegate Some Tasks To Micro-Contractors

Micro-contracting is perfect for employers who have small tasks that need to be done but do not want to hire a full-time employee for it. You can just hire a freelancer who will go on a micro-contracting arrangement with you. Once hired, you can delegate the tasks easily to them online.

  1. Come Up With An Energy Saving Plan

The monthly electric costs may seem small but for a new enterprise, it can already represent a large chunk of the spending of the business. This is why the company should implement an energy saving plan that will cut down electricity costs without adversely affecting the operations and productivity.

There are many ways that this can be done. You can start with the heating and air conditioning facilities in your office. Since you need to make sure customers, clients and employees are comfortable in the office, you cannot completely let go of your HVAC unit. One solution is to use a programmable or smart thermostat for the indoor climate control needs of the space.

You also need to think about how to maximize the insulation in the office. For example, double-pane windows and light-blocking curtains and blinds are effective in limiting the heat that enters the building through the window.

Also, do not forget to unplug appliances, equipment, and machinery if they are not used.

  1. Adopt Flexible Packaging

If your business is in some kind of manufacturing business especially food manufacturing, adopting flexible packaging can be a great way to save big from product packaging. Due to its lightweight and low cost of packaging materials, flexible packaging is much more affordable than other packaging options available to companies. Additionally, stand up pouch printing allows companies to do their branding and advertising much more effectively.  Short run flexible packaging is good for storage and transportation as well, making cost of both these activities low as well. If you do not want to invest big money installing all the machinery and equipment of adopting flexible packaging, outsourcing the company packaging to a professional flexible packaging provider can be a good idea.

by Incredible Planet Staff

5 things you can do to help develop your child’s environmental conscience


People

Ensuring you do everything you can to live an environmentally sustainable life is a wonderful thing. However, if you have kids, it’s also important to inspire them to have a sense of responsibility for the environment. After all, they themselves are going to have to look after this planet one day! There’s a tonne of information out there to educate the younger generation about carbon footprints, greenhouse gases and climate change. However, making sure your kids grow into environmentally conscious adults with eco-friendly habits is a whole other story. Getting them to adopt these new behaviours doesn’t have to be a strenuous task, in fact it can be quite a straight forward – dare I say – enjoyable experience.

Get their hands dirty

A sure-fire way to get your kids to respect and want to protect the environment is to get them outside! If you take them to the park, lake or beach as often as you can, a natural appreciation should grow from there. Gardening with your kids and growing food for the dinner table is also a great way to get them interested in both the environment and healthy eating, and it takes care of your child’s natural instinct to get their hands dirty!

Teach them daily water saving tricks

The things we do around the house every day to save water can be easily taught to your kids. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or scrubbing your hands can become a general rule of thumb in your house for all family members, including the little ones. Putting a shower bucket and shower timer in the bathroom will add another level of water-efficiency, with these visual cues becoming a part of your child’s everyday life. Provide small incentives for saving water. Perhaps using the shower bucket to water the household plants or wash the dog could earn your child some extra TV time?

Let the outside in

A smart way to strengthen your child’s environmentally sustainable house-hold habits is to let outside influences support the behaviours. There’s amazing resources out there, like entertaining children’s books with eco-friendly messaging. You can find a great list of some of the best at Greener Ideal.  You can also further engage your kids with other resources and provide visual learning tools, like this activity sheet from hipages.

Make recycling a normal part of life

As your child reaches their later primary school years and you’re teaching them how to take out the rubbish, ensure that you’ve included recycling as an essential part of the chore. Teach your kids which items can be recycled and how, and make sure that they do it properly the first few times. From there, the behaviour should become a habit! In the same vein, make sure you avoid single-use plastics in the house. Replace all those little plastic bags for school lunches with Tupperware and take reusable bags with you when you go grocery shopping. If your child sees you making these efforts, it will instil a sense of commitment to being more environmentally sustainable.

Implement ‘powering down’ as part of the bedtime routine

Habits are best formed in conjunction with other habits. To link some eco-friendly behaviours with daily household actions, you can teach your kids to switch off all the lights and power points in the house before they go to bed. Make this ‘powering down’ tradition a staple nightly ritual in your home, and make sure everyone in the family is assigned one or two rooms as their sole responsibility to ‘switch off.’ You could make a fun game or competition out of it, with the first person back to the dining table after having switched off their rooms, getting an extra 10 minutes before lights out the next night!

by Incredible Planet Staff

5 Interesting Ways To Reduce Environmental Impact At Work And Home


Business

Most of us can come up with interesting ways to reduce the environmental impact of our lives at home. There are quite a few methods that people already know about – while we will talk about a couple new ones. But it is at the office where most people are stumped. How do you continue remaining productive while ensuring that you are not unnecessarily harming the environment?

  1. Assess Water Usage

Installing a water meter at the office is a good way to get a reading of how much water is being used by the entire floor. Automatic taps that shut off after a set number of seconds can help a lot. Using water-saver shower heads, energy-efficient toilets and new plumbing can also help a lot. While your employees are not going to use the toilet fewer times, the amount of water that is used during each visit to the bathroom is drastically reduced with these measures.

  1. Custom Shopping Bags

It is incredible how many plastic bags we can accumulate from a single shopping trip. Whether it is for groceries at home or office supplies, it only takes a few trips to get a massive collection of plastic bags. Avoid plastic waste by purchasing quality custom shopping bags through a site like Custom Earth Promos. These bags are made with “green” materials and are reusable.

Not only are the bags great for the environment, but they are also a lot of fun to use! They look fun, classy and you will surely get asked about them when you are next at the office supply store or a grocery store.

  1. Paperless Office

Going paperless is an incredible way to reduce waste in an office environment. Think about how many papers are just lying around in cabinets, unused. Now think about the papers that are thrown out or shredded each day. Most companies run on the internet these days. Going paperless with invoices and important documents will help the planet in a big way.

  1. Recycle

Recycling is something that you can do at home and at the office. It is all about being aware about the products that you can recycle. Bottles, cans, paper and other items are all recyclable. Have separate containers in the office where employees can easily distinguish between regular trash and recycling. Remind them about recycling periodically so they develop this great habit.

  1. Energy Efficient Fixtures

Light bulbs, LED monitors and other appliances can provide energy savings even with regular use. Motion-sensor activated lights are another option. If no one is in the room, they will immediately turn off. It does not even need to take someone in the office remembering to shut them off before they head out.

Making changes to the way we behave in the office is not easy. But a few adjustments can ensure your business runs as it is now – while using less resources! It is a great feeling when you know that you are reducing your environmental impact at home and work.

by Incredible Planet Staff

Make your Green Home Dream come true


Homes

Big Ways To Go Green At Home And Live A More Sustainable Life

As we face a growing concern over global warming and the need to limit our energy usage, many families are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. From the obvious to the innovative, there are literally hundreds of ways to go green and make your home more sustainable over the long term. If you’re having trouble knowing where to start, here are a few recommendations that you might not have considered.

Ditch the Post Office

Let’s face it. The holidays are the only times we really need to depend on old snail mail. In today’s digital age, nearly all of your bills can be received paperless. While most utility and financial organizations will let you know of the option, ask the billing department in cases where you’re unsure. Some businesses will even offer you a discount for switching to paper-free billing.

Additionally, get your name taken off as many mailing lists as possible. First, the junk mail is just a waste of paper and, if you’re honest, you don’t even look through most of it. Secondly, there’s probably not anything you receive that you can’t find online. Look at the most recent shopping flyer you received. It probably has the company’s website listed someplace. Just save the site address in your bookmarks and put an end to the waste of paper.

Watch Out for VOC in Your Purchases

VOC stands for volatile organic compounds and these are the substances that give off that chemical odor from new carpets, furniture, paint, and building materials. The odor is caused by the evaporation of the chemicals used in the manufacturing process. While some people like the smell and refer to it as a “new” smell, it can actually be damaging to the eyes, respiratory system, and central nervous system. VOC products contribute to indoor air pollution, making it 5-10% higher than outdoor air pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency has tested products containing VOC chemicals and found that they can make air pollution content as much as 100 times greater than outdoor air pollution. When shopping for these types of products, watch for labels that guarantee the product is VOC free. They may be a little more expensive, but they won’t put your health at risk.

It’s Time to Replace Your Incandescent Light Bulbs

In most households, lighting comprises 12% of the home’s energy consumption, so looking for ways to reduce this expense is an important factor in going green. Incandescent light bulbs should be replaced with LED and CFL bulbs, which can save as much as 75% on your energy usage. In addition to using less energy, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and light emitting diode (LED) bulbs last longer. They will typically outlast incandescent bulbs by 10 to 25 years.

Use Organic Cotton Bedding and Linen

Therapists often speak about quality sleep which is essential for healthy living. Standard linen used in your bedding hampers this by triggering allergic reactions such as itchy eyes, headaches and fatigue. Swapping your conventional sheets for organic linen is one of the quickest ways to reduce your exposure to toxins. Choosing organic bedding is a right way to incorporate a greater environmental awareness into your everyday life.

Invest in a Composting Bin

A large portion of the trash produced in homes comes from food scraps and leftovers. The simplest way to get rid of these unwanted scraps is to throw them in the trash. However, that means they’ll take up valuable landfill space, where they will serve no purpose. Instead, invest in a composting bin, so you can turn those food scraps into fertilizer. A typical composting bin runs between $100 and $600. It may be worthwhile to invest in a higher end model with a removable bottom hatch for removing the fertilizer and a secure top lid to prevent pests from creating a problem.

Collect Rainwater

Water is our most valuable resource and we’re only now beginning to realize that our supply of freshwater is limited and diminishing. To save on water consumption, collect the rainwater that falls on your roof and in your yard. Otherwise, much of that water will end up flowing into the street, collect contaminants, travel through the sewer system and end up released into the area’s natural bodies of water. Set up barrels to collect the rainwater that falls on your roof. This may involve hiring someone to clip and alter your gutters, so they can be redirected to the barrels. The savings on water will pay for that expense. Rainwater can be used for gardening and watering houseplants.

Reuse Containers and Supplies

The internet is filled with nifty ideas for reusing everything from old containers to unused crafting scraps. In addition to reducing waste, this can help you explore your creativity, make better use of what you have, and create some truly unique homemade gifts for your loved ones. How challenging you get us up to you, but many projects don’t require more than some glue, thread, and basic tools. The best way to be sustainable is to reduce your waste as much as possible and crafting is a great way to do that.

Upgrade Your Appliances

This includes everything from your refrigerator to your air conditioning system. As for household appliances, look for the Energy Star rating and compare energy usage for different brands of the same items. Additionally, have a professional evaluate your heating and air conditioning units to make sure they’re as efficient as possible. If it’s an older home, updating the system may provide significant savings on your monthly energy usage.

Smart Home Tech is an Invaluable Resource

Smart home technology is helping people reduce their energy usage in big ways. Many systems allow homeowners to control door locks, heating and A/C, and lights remotely from their mobile devices. This means costly energy usage can be eliminated, when no one is at home. Similarly, the devices can be programmed to turn back home, just before the first occupant is expected to return. By getting a better control on your utilities, you can manage your energy usage more efficiently, which also helps to reduce spending on your monthly budget.

These are but a few ways that you can live greener at home. While reducing energy consumption plays a big part in being more sustainable, it’s not the only way to do your part to protect the environment. If you’re looking for more things you can do, search the internet or consult your local utility companies. There are options for financing your home improvement where you can take help. They may have inexpensive changes you can make to reduce your household’s carbon footprint.

by Incredible Planet Staff

8 Facts About Eco-Friendly Mattresses


Lifestyle

Environmental pollution is one of the biggest threats to modern day life. The only solution to many such concerns regarding contamination of environment is conservation of natural resources such as preserving our forests and other valuable natural resources for the future generations. Under this critical phase, the use of organic or eco friendly materials is a highly needed. One of such materials which are produced especially to reduce contamination of environment and promotion of better human health and fitness are eco friendly mattresses or organic mattresses.

There are a lot of beneficial aspects of eco friendly mattresses such as being absolutely environmental friendly and leaving behind no contamination. In the production of organic mattresses, exclusively all natural products and natural methods are used and hence environment remains safe from contamination.

If you are making a choice of organic mattress and you are seriously concerned about environmental concerns such as emission of carbon dioxide and over use of pesticides etc, there are generally 10 points to consider which include online reviews, consultation with doctor, orthopedic friendly features of the mattresses, test drive of the mattress you are interested in purchasing, firmness of the mattress (firm mattresses are not always beneficial for back), guarantees, trial period, available options and variations, customizability, specialized stores where eco friendly mattresses are there with varieties etc. There are a lot of benefits of using eco friendly or organic mattresses, some of the key benefits of using eco friendly mattresses are mentioned below:

Environmental friendly mattresses

The components used in most of the organic mattresses are generally renewable and are exclusively free of chemical inclusions and harmful products such as chemical adhesives and retardants. We can also say that the materials used in making such mattresses are absolutely biodegradable and sustainable. The impact on environment is almost zero when biodegradable and sustainable materials are used.

Peace of mind

For people who are concerned about environment, it is always a good feeling to use products which are not causing any harm or contamination in the atmosphere. It is a simple and awesome way to go green. Another best feature about such mattresses is that they are easily broken down naturally and do not affect the surrounding environment.

Regulation of body temperature

Organic or eco friendly mattresses have tremendous ability to regulate the body temperature. The special cooling system of organic mattress wicks away the moisture of the body. This ensures better heart rate due to low moisture content next to skin. You can get cozy night rest during any season as the optimal skin temperature is created.

Chemical free formulas

The organic products are grown naturally, no chemicals like pesticides are used in the manufacturing of organic products. Since most of the people are prone to allergies and respiratory concerns due to the use of traditional mattresses, this is a safer and better option for such people. The natural fibers are used in organic mattresses which are non toxic and ideal for human health.

No off gassing

As the mattresses are free of chemicals, there is no chance of off gassing or contamination in the environment. This is much needed as most of the gases which are released while spraying pesticides contribute to green house effect and resulting in global warming.

Comfort level of eco friendly mattresses

Another important aspect of using eco friendly or organic mattresses is that they are comfortable as compared to traditionally used mattresses. Since the organic mattress has ability to mold to the natural contours of the body they are more comfortable and healthy as compared to memory foams. If you are looking for more comfort while sleeping and better resting material the eco friendly mattresses are best for you. since the use of these mattress ensure better molding to body contours, motion transfers are also isolated by them and consequently you will need to turn less while sleeping. This action allows better sleep and a better day ahead. Organic mattresses are cozier than traditional mattresses and help in temperature regulation as you are sleeping which keeps you cool and comfortable as you are taking rest. The eco friendly mattresses are especially designed to be more supportive to your back and ensure better alignment of your spine. Plenty of air spaces are present in between the cells of organic mattress and as a result of it, pressure is distributed evenly across the bed, this action promotes better circulation of blood during sleeping hours.

Customizable

The eco friendly mattresses are customizable in unique way. You can customize such mattresses according to your needs such as level of firmness can be adjusted and this makes the mattress more versatile. The traditional mattresses are generally not customizable and hence they lack versatility as well.

Hypoallergenic and anti-microbial

mattress 2489612 640
mattress 2489612 640

These mattresses are hypoallergenic and hence for the people with hypersensitivity the use of this mattress ensures less allergic reactions and better health. The traditional mattresses are often not suitable for the people with allergic reactions, respiratory concerns and irritation etc.

Eco friendly mattresses are anti microbial as well, they do not allow dust mites (major cause of irritation and allergy) to grow and survive. The biggest advantage is that, you don’t need to put a plastic cover on the mattress to keep away the dust mites. The use of plastic covers on the mattress is also not recommended since you can have more sweat production and the sleeping pattern is greatly disturbed. For the people suffering from various skin allergies, respiratory concerns such as asthma, the use of eco friendly mattress is a best and safest option.

Bottom Line

As we have discussed the advantages of eco friendly mattress, it is very much clear that they are environmental friendly and do not result in contamination of environment, more comfortable as compared to traditional mattress, hypoallergenic and customizable. They can help to reduce body temperature and promote better sleep. All these features make eco friendly mattress better and superior over other traditional mattresses.

by Incredible Planet Staff

Benefits of Window Tinting Your office


Business

There are many advantages that come with window tinting your office building. One of the undeniable merits is that it makes your premises look great in the eyes of your clients. It could even get you new hires and buyers! Even for your suppliers, tainted office windows have a huge impact. Below are the top benefits of installing tinted windows in your workplace.

  1. It reduces unwanted solar heat

Tinting an office is the most effective way of minimizing the excess solar heat that is transferred through the windows. Well-tinted windows can reduce indoor heat by around 78%. What a good way to cool off the sun-drenched spots in your office! You can finally control the hot areas of your working place. you can take advantage of these wonderful benefits by getting touch with Sunshine Coast Window Tinting company today!

  1. Tints block harmful UV rays

If you didn’t know, window tinting can block 99% of the UV rays, besides reducing direct sun heat. As such, it protects your valuable furnishings from the detrimental effects of UV rays. Moreover, it acts as a sunscreen for the skin, safeguarding you and your office workers against UV.

  1. It reduces heat loss

Tinting the office windows is another way of controlling the indoor temperatures. By reducing heat loss, you can save on your cooling costs. This is because a cool environment increases the efficiency of the HVAC system, leading to reduced power bills. For the same reasons, most architects, engineers, and designers recommend window films to reduce indoor heat and consequently lower the cost of cooling an office or home. Summer heat and winter cold cab get inside your office through the windows. The good news is that a window tint film would reduce such leakages, making your office energy saving. Imagine the hot sun hitting your thermostat head on half the day in every room of your office premises. That means your AC would be running more than necessary. But if you install window films, you can save thousands of dollars on your cooling bills for years.

  1. It minimizes safety environmental hazards

If you don’t want to expose your office to vandalism and intruders, consider tinting your windows. Window tints can be the safety nets you just need to keep off burglars. Most of the tint films are shutter-proof. They also prevent damage from scraping and paint. There are even high-end tints that can protect a building from a bomb blast. They may not prevent debris from flying in but will drastically reduce the extent of damage and flying glasses getting into the office. Shattered glass is hazardous during a bomb blast as well as in other natural calamities like earthquakes and storms. Special tints are designed to hold the glass together even when it breaks. As such, you have no worries about the minute shards that fly into an office. Like the safety glasses, tint films make windows less hazardous.

  1. It complements the office design

If your office takes a contemporary design, your designer can help you pick a window film that complements that design. A tint is a special finishing. It is not just functional but also an aesthetic element. It is a great way to enhance both the interior and exterior decors of an office. It makes your workplace look more elegant and you don’t need to break into a bank to do it.

  1. Quick installation

If you call a professional to install a window film, the disruption of your work schedule will be infinitesimal.

  1. Window tinting adds on to your comfort

If you have ever been to a restaurant near the beach with clear glasses, you will notice that no one wants to sit near the bright dead zones as they are too hot. This could happen to your office and the problem is that there might not be extra desks for the employees who are sun-drenched. What will happen to those workers? They will suffer and probably seek employment elsewhere out of resentment. Luckily, window tinting can keep off the hot sun rays and still allow sufficient light to brighten your office. You and your employees thus enjoy a cool indoor environment.

  1. Warranty plan

If you contact a professional service, your windows will be backed by a warranty. It’s, therefore, a risk-free investment.

Most people think that window tinting is only reserved for cars. What they don’t know is that the benefits of glass-tinting automotive can be passed on to an office. Designers encourage commercial tinting to help you defend the comfort and health of a workplace as well as improve energy efficiency and aesthetics.

Whether you are being bothered by snow reflections, direct sun, surrounding buildings, or nearby water, a window film is a perfect solution to help minimize the irritating glare.

by Incredible Planet Staff

How to Make Your Student Life More Ethical and Green


Lifestyle

More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of protecting the environment. With global warming, decreasing biodiversity, deforestation, water scarcity and other global issues, adopting an eco-friendlier, more sustainable lifestyle can be a significant step towards a better and greener future.

Therefore, you should consider making your student life more ethical and green as a way to contribute to the conservation of the environment. Furthermore, by turning to eco-friendly living, you may inspire your peers to follow your example.

Adopt friendlier habits

There are numerous eco-friendly habits that you can adopt to save the environment. For example, you should go to college by foot or bike instead of taking a bus or cab. You should also reduce your water consumption by turning off taps while soaping your hands or body or brushing your teeth.

Turning off the lights and installing LED bulbs can reduce your energy consumption and cut your bills. These are simple habits that you can easily adopt and that can truly help you make a contribution to the environment preservation.

Reduce your paper use

Every student is buried in paper – notes, assignments, copies, books, reminders, planners, etc. You probably like to print out your notes, highlight important parts with colourful markers and copy your friends’ notes. However, switching to the digital format can significantly reduce your paper use and help the environment.

You should consider reading books via e-readers or your laptop and taking your laptop to lectures to write down your notes. Not only will you save paper, but you’ll also be able to access your notes from any device, at any place and at any time. You can go digital even when you exchange notes with your peers.

For example, Australian students can exchange their uni papers online by accessing the Thinkswap platform. You can find a similar platform for your university and have different notes, student guides and assignments at your disposal. You can also post your notes to help out other students in need. This way, you’ll speed up your studying process, reduce your paper use and save both money and the environment.

Control waste

There are so many ways to reduce waste without breaking a sweat. Instead of going from plastic bottles and paper cups, you should buy reusable ones and simply wash them after. You should also avoid using wet wipes, paper towels, plastic razors and plastic grocery bags. When shopping for different products, go with bigger bottles and containers instead of tiny ones. In addition, you should avoid wasting food, too. If possible, freezer your leftovers or share your food with your friends.

Practice what you preach

Preaching about saving the environment while doing the opposite is quite unethical. Instead, try to be a great example to your friends by practicing what you preach in real life. Make sure to stick to your own advice before giving it to someone else. Only when you do that will you have the right to advise others. Afterwards, you can expand ecological awareness and help your friends adopt eco-friendlier lifestyles.

No matter how small and insignificant these changes may seem, they can actually help you lead a healthier and greener life that benefits the environment, too.