Big Buks

Surfing is a sport that has ancient roots and was always close to nature. When the native Polynesian races needed to cut a kona tree for the purpose of making an olo board, a ceremony was organised as to ask for forgiveness for this act. Surfers are usually quite involved and active with environmental issues but the surf industry that moves more than 7.2 billions dollar a year has a strong carbon print. Nowadays surf boards are made from modern components, all issued from the petrochemical industry. Most of these products have a strong environmental impact from the foam blanks, to the fibreglass, the resin and even wax. To this point, surf industry has not found a way to produce a 100%[..]

"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." I completely threw that out the window the other day. I lapsed into talking about someone in a not-so-positive way. I proceeded to point out this person's faults and weaknesses, what I thought they were doing wrong, how exasperating it was to try to get through to them and show them the light. A few days later I was meditating, and my behavior during this conversation popped into my head as an example of a concept that my higher self has been schooling me on, and that is psychic ecology. I know that sounds very woo woo, but really it's quite simple. Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms and their[..]

In a separate article, titled "Is Your Child Learning For School Or For Life?", I explain why I believe every parent needs to emphasize for his/her child, the acquisition of knowledge/skills that will enhance the child's ability to succeed in the real world, OVER mere academic ability. The traditional educational institutions of old (which were mainly geared towards feeding industries with employees), had teachers concentrate on "moulding" learners to meet employers' requirements. Teaching methods were generally rigid and rote learning was emphasized - with dire consequences for learners who did not have the "stomach" for it. One notable example which proved the inefficacy of that[..]

When you bought your swimming pool, you knew the summer fun involved additional costs. First in line is the cost of the pool. Next there is maintenance and pool chemicals. Then you received your summer electric bills. You cannot eliminate the electric costs of running your pool, but you can minimize them. Swimming pool pumps consume a lot of electricity, second only to home air conditioning. Is your swimming pool pump sized correctly? The larger the pump the greater your maintenance costs will be. Most private residential pools require .75 horsepower pumps or less. Consider the following chart. Hours .5 HP .75 HP 1 HP 1.5 HP 2 HP 4 70 105 133 184 239 6 105 157 200 276 358 8 140 209 267[..]

The air quality of a home or workplace can have significant effects and can directly relate to the health and comfort of the inhabitants, whether it is positive or negative. The quality of the air inside enclosed spaces where people work and live has become an ever worsening dilemma in places where proper ventilation is not used. Proper ventilation systems can lower levels of harmful contaminants through filtration and circulation and is a key part of making sure you are not causing problems for you loved ones or employees. Some common pollutants include mold, carbon dioxide, asbestos, carbon monoxide, and some forms of organic compounds. If not properly monitored and maintained, areas[..]

Digital Camera rechargeable batteries take a tremendous beating. Due to the nature of digital cameras, they require a good amount of voltage and also need the battery to maintain a good charge for long periods of inactivity. Many of the current digital cameras have a flash and can take short movies. Both of these features are great but can drain a battery twice as quick as normal photo shooting. Most people are familiar with the basic rechargeable battery but the key to finding a good one for your digital camera is to look at what material the battery is made out of, how quickly it will charge, and how long the charge will last both in using and sitting on the shelf or in the digital[..]

A garden waterfall fountain can really bring a garden to life.  Plus the sound of falling water has a very serene and calming effect.  When considering various options, you will want to look for a garden waterfall fountain made from high quality materials, with a realistic finish and texture.  You may also want to consider a potential theme when selecting a particular style, finish and texture. Installing a Garden Waterfall Fountain Most garden waterfall fountains are completely self contained with a water reservoir, require no plumbing and are easy to install.  They do, however, typically require access to an electrical outlet.  An internal pump recycles the water within the garden[..]

When you first hear about a company who specializes in paper shredding, you may not think twice about it. But when you hear that the fastest growing crime in America is identity theft, you might reconsider the invitation to utilize a paper shredding company. For the ultimate protection of your business and employees, utilizing a professional mass paper shredding company is one of the best ways to manage risk for your business as a whole. Paper shredding in Raleigh offers a way to clean out your office space by ridding the clutters of paperwork sitting around in filing cabinets, on desk tops, in drawers, and in trash bins. With minimal costs and straightforward pricing, there is no job[..]

Many experts believe that a habit of taking at least 50 milligrams of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) everyday is one of the most important pillars of effective anti aging programs. Naturally produced and found in the body, ALA is a potent antioxidant that recycles and, in the process makes better-known antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin C serviceable again. By sparing or recycling both vitamin C and E, ALA essentially ensures that the body has enough protection to guard itself from oxidative stress, which may cause life-threatening diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Alpha Lipoic and Anti Aging Consuming up to 100 milligrams of alpha lipoic acid,[..]

All cells in the body need water, oxygen, glucose and glutathione. The levels of glutathione in our cells could be predictive of how long we will live. For exhaustion and chronic fatigue sufferers reading this, the information that follows is vital to you! What is glutathione? It is a tri-peptide, or a small protein composed of the amino acids cysteine, glycine and glutamate. Glutathione is made in every cell of the body and it must be made by the 3 amino acids, cysteine, glycine and glutamate. Your body is either replicating healthy cells and delaying the aging process or it is replicating unhealthy cells and speeding up the aging process. Every cell makes and recycles[..]

The sink is the most important fixture in any kitchen or bathroom. Nowadays, it is very difficult to imagine a kitchen or a bathroom without a sink. It is the duty and the responsibility of the homeowner to take great care in choosing the sink that best suites his kitchen or bathroom. Earlier, the kitchen and bathroom sinks came in one size, shape and color. But with the changing times a lot of varieties of sinks flooded in the market and people had a wide range of sinks made from various materials to choose from. But one type of kitchen sink that has existed for a long time and still is one of the most popular choices among people from all over the world, for a luxury kitchen is the[..]

If you are considering a new sink within your kitchen or bathroom, a copper sink may be the way for you to go. Many people are choosing copper sinks over other traditional styles such as porcelain. The reason the popularity of copper sinks has grown so drastically is because not only does it have a simplistic beauty unmatched by any other style, it is also extremely functional within the kitchen. The great thing about copper sinks is that they are virtually maintenance free, if it needs cleaned water and soap will do the trick. Chemical cleaners are a thing of the past when it comes to copper sinks, they do not require harsh cleaning and with care its beauty will last a lifetime. Another[..]

First of all, you should be aware that there are several types of copper used in manufacturing copper sinks. There is annealed copper, which is generally recycled copper. Annealed copper is very soft and can be easily dented or bent. The second type of copper is cold rolled copper. Cold rolled copper is not manufactured from recycling wire and old copper pipes. It is made with virgin copper and is many times harder than annealed copper. This is the preferred type of copper if you are considering a kitchen sink. It is not quite as important if you are looking at a small lavatory sink. Secondly, you should look at warranties. Read the fine print carefully. Some manufacturers offer a one[..]

The know how for converting cars to electric is over 150 years old but it is only in the last few years it has received the attention it deserves. With the threat of global warming reducing your carbon output is increasingly popular. Your car is a perfect place to start. Pollution is a growing hassle in most places. It is a worldwide challenge to lessen smog and emissions and find some solutions. Large cars with large engines are the problem As advances happen the technology improves and often gets smaller. This worries some people who do not like change and think it will not work. Do not bury your head in the sand and take these suggestions into account. Electric powered cars produce[..]

There's no doubt that you have noticed the large chunks of rubber which is familiar among us as tire debris or road alligators. The prevailing perception is that this tire debris is resulted because of the retreaded tires failing. Actually, this is not so but it's a long-standing misconception. The actual culprit indeed is the inappropriate tire maintenance, especially the failure in order to maintain the recommended air pressure in tires, is stated Harvey Brodsky who is the managing director of the TRIB (Tire Retread Information Bureau), a non-profit member-supported industry association which is dedicated to the tire recycling via repairing and retreating, and in order to promoting the[..]

Around 1948 or 1949 my father lived on a quite large council estate in west London. He was was still at primary school, of course. A couple of mates and he would get an old pram chassis, and go door to door in the blocks of flats, asking for old newspapers and other waste paper. Once the pram was loaded they would push it around a mile or so to a yard where they could sell the paper for a penny a pound, just slightly more than a new penny a kilo today. The yard would, of course, sell the waste paper on for recycling into packaging; cardboard boxes and the like. This was not long after World War 2, and everything salvageable was salvaged and reused one way or another, and paper was still[..]

Mercury is poisonous, yet it's a critical part of most compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), the kind that environmentalists and some governments are pushing as a new way to cut energy consumption. Mercury is probably best known for its effects on the nervous system. It can also damage the kidneys and liver, and in sufficient quantities can cause death. There were an estimated 150 million CFLs sold in the United States in 2006 and, and Wal-Mart alone hopes to sell 100 million in 2007. Some scientists and environmentalists are worried that most are ending up in garbage dumps. U.S. regulators, manufacturers and environmentalists note that, because CFLs require less electricity than[..]

Most towns and cities offer recycling programs and many of us do indeed place our used products in separate bins so that they can be taken away and recycled, but what exactly makes recycling common household items such as mayonnaise jars so important? Recycling, as we know, is the process of turning used products into new products and it is done to conserve on the consumption of energy and space in landfills. Glass containers are 100 percent recyclable and they can be recycled endlessly without losing any purity or quality. Every household contains many products made of glass, ranging from jars of all sizes and colors, to mirrors, drinking glasses and windows. The energy saved by[..]

Success is not only measured by how much money we make, but also the impact we have. Don't fear that I am going to overwhelm you with some with numbers, graphs, and figures to explain you the success of recycling. Nowadays recycling is appreciated and practiced from schools to international organizations. They are digging... Oh sorry that's not digging; they are mining the garbage and are finding dollars out of it while caring the environment too. There are many recoverable metals in our nation's thrash which can be recycled and reused for 'n' number of times. There are many schools that have earned hundreds or even thousands of dollars through simple recycling. This is a survey about[..]

When buying electronics, do you ever get the urge to just wait a few more months and see what new products hit the market?  Purchasing network hardware for your company can leave many decision makers in the same bind.  This dilemma is especially true if you work for an organization that requires the most cutting-edge, secure, high speed network.  What do you do with your old network hardware when you are constantly upgrading your equipment?  New services, tied-in with large manufacturers like Cisco, enable you to squeeze value out of your old hardware and help the environment. Brands like Cisco are keeping in touch with the second-hand market place.  As more reports crop up on the[..]

People often get "sick" when they hear the word bacteria. But that is not so. All bacteria are not harmful; there are also some bacteria that are helpful to the people. In fact, you will be surprised to know that the life of the human beings would have been more difficult without the existence of such helpful bacteria. Bacteria are used for the production of food, fuel and medicines. They are also involved in the environmental cleaning and recycling process. Methane gas is a production of bacteria that is found in oxygen-free environment such as the bottom of the lakes or swamps. About 20% of the natural gas deposit of the Earth is comprised of Methane. Cheese, yogurt-Ah! These delicious[..]

India is a leading producer of rubber. It contributes to a major portion of world total rubber production. This advantage gave birth to many industries related to rubber and related by products. The major rubber based industries are tires and tubes industries, rubber gloves, rubber threads etc. India is witnessing a growth in the export of rubber and inter-related products used in various small and large scale industries. Presently, there is a trend of recycling of rubber emerging in the market. It enables the rubber and other materials to go through the recycling process and transformed into a new product. These recycled products are more durable, safe to use and eco-friendly for the[..]

Here are some bonus recycling tips that you can use around your daily schedule to help the environment and to help you save money: If you ever run across a couple of old oak wine barrels, you can give them new life by converting them into either a couple of benches, tables, stools or two upright chairs. Cut in half across the staves, and adding a cushion, you have stools that will fit easily on your patio. You could also have a glass or heavy plastic top cut for it and use it as a table. If it is the cut end that faces upward, take advantage of it and use it for storage . If you want a large barrel chair, simply cut out the front upper half of the barrel, fit it with a sturdy seat,[..]

The issue of recycling has been an important one for some years, but recently, with councils resorting to fortnightly collections in a bid to encourage recycling, this is an issue that has been receiving increased attention across the country. Councils are doing what they can to encourage recycling by providing recycle bins to households to make this task easier, and the government has pledged to increase the number of recycling bins in public areas to also encourage this activity. We can all do our bit for the environment, help to reduce landfill site waste, and help others by recycling many of the items in our home - not just rubbish but all sorts of items. And once you get the hang of[..]

Getting through this holiday season without requesting a federal bailout may seem impossible, but there are some ways to cut excessive holiday costs down and make this holiday season one to remember instead of one to forget. Anyone that has been to the super stores this month has seen an endless amount of holiday decoration items for sale. These items seem harmless at first, but once you hit the cash registers your mouth hits the floor as you are told the total. This year approach your decorating budget with the idea of recycling. You will not only reduce your carbon foot print, but you will also save yourself a bunch of money while doing it. Here are some terrific holiday recycling[..]

If you are a person who wants to do something for the environment then you are sure to love the environment conscious shows that are shown on DISH TV. There is a wide array of channels from the pay TV provider that brings you the choicest variety of green shows. From these shows you can get an idea about living green and tread on that path. You can also learn a great deal about energy conservation recycling and other things that are necessary for making the earth a cleaner and greener planet. The channels also show you a wide array of recipes of organic foods which will help you to stay rejuvenated and young for long time. With the ever rising level of pollution affecting our plane t so[..]

If the January weather remains cold you may find that there isn't much you can actually do outside especially if the ground remains frozen. With Christmas now over you will have finished with your Christmas tree, remember this can be recycled by garden centres and you may find that councils will also provide a recycling service. Your Garden Lawns Much the same as in December it is advisable to stay off your lawn if frosty. Look to repair any damaged edges the lawn may have. If the ground isn't frozen then you may be able to lay any turf you need to. If you have any hollows, these can be filled. Cut and folding back, fill the gap with topsoil and then fold back again. You're Greenhouse[..]

When it comes to the confidential matters of your company, you can never be too safe. Every business owner should take every precaution possible to ensure all confidential materials are totally destroyed to minimize the chance of a security breach. What Will A Security Breach Do To My Company? Simply put? Nothing good. If you don't have a secure document shredding system, you're putting your company at a great risk. Confidential information in the wrong hands will cost you in more than one way. You and your clients are both at risk. As far as your company goes, what if someone gets a hold of your old bank statements? Before you know it, they've depleted your company's bank accounts, your[..]

Rehabbing and selling (Fix and Flip) houses is a very lucrative form of real estate investing. While the rewards can be great, the risks can be high if you're not careful. There are several expenses that beginner investors overlook when rehabbing that can leave the investor with little, zero, or even negative profits. Trust me, I know from experience. This article reviews the top 8 overlooked expenses when flipping houses. Be sure to carefully count all of your costs when evaluating deals and anticipating profits. #1: Interest payments on borrowed money This is not an issue for those investors with deep pockets, however the majority of investors use OPM (other people's money) for deals[..]

Most people think that if you have something to throw away, all it requires is that you put in the trash and forget about it. But, this method of disposal is disorganized and even dangerous. There are certain things, such as batteries and anything that could be considered poisonous, that require a special protocol for the correct disposal method. When it comes to your trash, it is irresponsible to assume that everything is treated equally. First, any item that can be recycled or reused should not go in the regular trash for disposal. A lot of places now offer a recycling service as part of their regular trash pickup. This is nice because if you keep the relevant bins near where you put[..]

How can we, as individuals, participate in waste management? Because some of us are so overwhelmed with Earth's problems, we feel that our contributions have no real consequence in the end. For others, social barriers can be an issue. A lady we once knew confessed that she did not want to be seen buying used items or being concerned with power use. She was worried people would see her as cheap - a scrooge - when the family was so affluent. Yet, she was very careful to be seen with recycling bins out on the curb on pick-up day, because that was thought to be the thing to do socially. Now is a good time to put an end to these negative thoughts and feelings of false pride. Waste reduction[..]

Silver is trading at $15.50 per ounce while it's distant cousin, gold, is trading at $1100. At this price, silver seems to be an incredible investment. But is it really? For more than six thousand years, silver has been regarded as real money. As a matter of fact, in many languages, the words 'silver' and 'money' are interchangeable. At one time, many coins, including the U.S. dime, quarter, and half dollar were made with a large percentage of silver. Today, they contain none. In fact, none of the world's currencies currently contain silver because the value of the silver would out-value the denomination of the coin. In 1792, hundreds of years before a global economy was ever considered,[..]