Author Archives: Poppy Salting

6 Ways You Can Save Water In The Bathroom

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Water is life, and it is also a finite resource. Every day, more and more demands are put on the world’s limited water supply. Is there anything individuals can do to conserve precious water and keep it clean? Luckily, personal water conservation is entirely possible and extremely effective. In this article, we will explore six smart ways you can begin conserving water just in your bathroom. Read on to learn more.

1. Stop flushing gallons of water away!

Old fashioned toilets (10 years old or more) use as much as four gallons of water per flush. New, water saving models use a little less than one-and-a-half gallons per flush. It’s easy to see that replacing your old toilet with a new one is a smart choice that can reduce your water bill, increase the value of your home and save precious water. This single, simple step can save over 16000 gallons of water annually.

2. Don’t let gallons of water drip down the drain.

If you have a leaky faucet, fix it or replace it. A faucet that leaks a drop per second can waste well over 2000 gallons of water annually, so it’s well worth it to replace a washer and stop that drip! Replacing the entire faucet can be an even better idea. Upgrading your faucets is a great way to make your bathroom more attractive, and new fixtures add value to your home.

3. Save water when you shower.

Of course, it’s wise to take short showers so that you are not just pouring gallons and gallons of drinkable water right down the drain, but you don’t have to switch to a 90 second “Navy shower” to do it. Invest in a new, water saving shower head to save water and get a more enjoyable shower. According to https://waassett.net.au/ by changing your shower head, you can reduce your water use by 40% or more. Modern shower heads offer a wide selection of spray experiences ranging from gentle rain to deep massage. Some models even offer fun and practical options such as a digital speaker, music programming and/or a timer to keep your shower on schedule and save even more water.

4. Don’t bathe: shower instead.

With a low-flow shower head, you will use about twenty gallons of water in a ten minute shower. When you take a tub bath, you will use between 30 and 42 gallons of water.

5. Install a Japanese soaking tub.

If you simply must soak from time-to-time, consider adding a small soaking tub to your bathroom. These tubs use about half the amount of water a traditional western tub does. This type of tub is intended for relaxing more than for bathing. You would typically use it to take a relaxing soak after your quick shower.

6. It only takes a cup of water (or less) to brush your teeth.

Don’t leave the water running while you brush your teeth. If you leave the water running while you brush, you are wasting about two hundred gallons of water every month. Instead, just run the water to dampen your toothbrush and fill a cup. Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with the water in the cup.

We only have so much water on our one-and-only planet, yet there are more and more people in the world each and every day. If we are going to be able to sustain life on earth, conserving water is one of the most important things we can do. Follow the tips presented here to upgrade your home and improve your habits and save water in the bathroom.

The Relationship Between Climate Change and Skin Cancer

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Over the years the world has witnessed a gradual change in weather patterns a condition that has been identified as climate change. Though climate change can occur through natural processes such as tectonic movements, volcanic activities among other natural causes, the main trigger has been human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

These processes have led to massive production of carbon dioxide (CO2) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), greenhouse gases responsible for global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer (a shield in the stratosphere which absorbs harmful UV rays from the sun). As a result of ozone depletion, these harmful UV rays are reaching the earth’s surface causing a profound harm to the human health- skin cancer is at the top of the list.
Skin Cancer and Ultraviolet Radiation.

According to My Skin Centre studies have shown that exposure to ultraviolet radiation is a risk factor for three different kinds of skin cancer including, a form known as Squamous Cell Carcinoma abbreviated as SCC, Malignant Melanoma, and BCC also known as the Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Malignant melanoma is the most serious of the three types of cancers causing more than eighty percent of mortality among skin cancer patients. Research shows that this trend has been on the rise over the last two decades with all indicators pointing to increased exposure to UV rays. Fair skin, family history, dysplastic naevi syndrome are other known risk factors for melanoma. Research has shown that malignant melanoma is common in the equatorial region where UV rays are intense compared to regions further from the equator.

Basal cell carcinoma also referred to as rodent ulcers, on the other hand, arise around the areas of the body which are frequently exposed to the sun like the neck and the hands. Basal cell carcinoma is common among fair skinned people and it is known to cause a burning effect other than tanning on exposure to sunlight. These burns have a tendency of causing extensive tissue damage to the skin. Medium ultraviolet radiation wavelength is the highest risk common factor of basal cell carcinoma and recreational activities which involve exposure to direct sunlight such as sunbathing are also known risk factors among teenagers and children.

Squamous cell carcinoma is caused by gene mutations induced by sunlight. The incidence of occurrence of this form of cancer is more common along latitudes with long hours of sun exposure such as the African continent and Australia. This is because this cancer affects almost exclusively the parts of the body which are sun-exposed.

It is important to note that most skin cancers are non-melanocytic and the most common form of them is the basal cell carcinoma and melanoma is ranked the third most common form of skin cancer among people aged between 15-39 years of age.
Other effects of climate change due to global warming such as heat waves, flooding, droughts, hotter summers, very cold winters, shifting of climatic zones among others will continue to be felt not unless measures to reduce carbon emissions such as reforestation, planting of trees where none existed and adoption of green energy are taken seriously.

Tips For Constructing an Environmentally Friendly Home

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So, you are considering venturing into environmentally friendly real estate because you know they consume less energy, are constructed with sustainable materials and present a friendly and healthy environment for the owners or occupants. In addition to this, the prices of such home in this modern age are quite affordable. Not long ago, building an eco-friendly house required a premium of 11 to 25 percent. Today, however, that is no longer the case as people now only pay three to five percent. That said, here are some of the things to consider when buying or constructing an environmentally friendly home.

Colonial brick house with beautifully landscaped front yard and mature oak trees

One of the first things you’ll want to do is consult a real estate agent who specialises in eco-friendly properties or is a designated eco-broker. Working with the right professional in this field of real estate will give you the right information and help in selecting a home that has all the green features you want. If you want to build one from the ground up, you will ideally want to consult an architect or a eco-friendly home builder in Perth

To ensure that you are looking at an environmentally friendly home, you will want to look at houses with a ‘Green’ rating. This rating system is still relatively new, and so, it might be hard to locate houses that have ratings. Even if you can’t find a property with ratings, it’s still imperative to know what features define a green home.

Look for functional windows. Low E rated windows are ideal for keeping the harmful UV rays at bay. This can also help keep your home cooler. Windows that help with natural cooling are a plus. Ceiling fans are also beneficial for cooling homes. You should also pay attention to insulation as it plays a key role in heating and cooling the home. As for the attic space, it should have proper space to pave the way for hot air elimination. The roofing materials, on the other hand, should be light coloured as dark ones tend to absorb sunlight which increases heat in the household.

You should also check out the landscaped areas of the home as it also plays a role in solar heat gain reduction. Planting beds near the house tend to minimise heat build-up. Also, check whether there’s a drip irrigation system as it’s one of the best ways to save water naturally. If the property’s location does not get much rain, you may want to keep a small lawn area that won’t require too much water.

Ensure that the windows are located in the north and south regions of the house. Positioning the windows properly can help prevent your house from being heated by the sun. As for appliances, you may want to ensure they have Energy Star Ratings. Such appliances tend to consume less energy and help lower utility bills.

Speaking of energy consumption, it is also a good idea to look for a home that has a solar system. This is one of the best ways to ensure that a home is environmentally friendly. Solar energy is renewable and clean. Utilising this type of energy will help reduce electricity consumption as well as your carbon footprint.

Environmentally friendly homes also take advantage of winds for natural cooling. As such, you may want to give attention to the home’s orientation. Windows positioned on opposite walls tend to give excellent cross ventilation.

3 ways you can reduce your landfill waste

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We throw various items in our garbage every day. At the end of the day, they get dumped in landfills. The pile of garbage is growing and if we don’t do something about it, our environment will be affected badly. Here are some of the ways you can reduce your landfill waste.

Donate used things

If you have any clothes or other items that you have used and wish not to use anymore, then donate them instead of throwing them away. There are many charity stores where you can donate them. If you have too many things to donate then you can have a sale at your garage as well.

Don’t waste food

When we have dinner or lunch, we often throw away leftovers in the bin. You should take the amount of food that you will be able to consume. Don’t waste food, else they will end up in landfills. If you have pets, you can give your leftover food to them. If you have untouched some of the food, then you can give them away to the poor people.

Don’t use plastic water bottles

You should stop using plastic water bottles. These bottles cause lots of damage to the environment as they are not fully degradable. Instead, you should start using reusable bottles like glass.

You shouldn’t buy anything for use or consumption more than you need. If you buy things extra you may need to throw them out. So, evaluate your needs first before shopping. You should focus on recycling products so that they don’t get accumulated in landfills and cause pollution.

4 ways in which climate change will affect us

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Climate change can affect the environment and the health of human beings as well. Our climate is changing due to increased level of pollution. Here are some of the ways in which climate change can affect us.

Heart problem

There can be heat waves due to global warming. This happens due to pollution and you might suffer from heart problems due to heat waves. High temperatures can cause irregular heart beats and can eventually cause a heart attack.

Increased amount of allergies

More allergies occur due to climate change. When the temperature increases and the level of carbon dioxide increases, people have more allergies. The total production of pollen increases as the plants start to flower earlier. So, people become more allergic.

Natural disasters

Because of global warming, natural disasters can occur like floods, storms, drought, etc. Many people die because of these extreme events. They lose their homes and belongings as well.

More deserts

According to a study, about 38% of the world has arid areas. These places are at risk of desertification. The soil in these places is not productive. So, the land cannot be used for growing crops. This can increase the growth of dangerous bacteria in the ocean.

Climate change can have a devastating effect on our health. The climate change mostly takes place due to human activities. We should be careful about not causing pollution so that the climate is affected less. We should always try to do things that will improve our environment.

5 ways we cause damage to the environment without realizing

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New things are getting invented regularly. Some of these things benefit us, but there are others that cause harm to our environment. We sometimes use things without knowing that they are harmful to the environment. Here are some of the things that cause damage to the environment.

Anti-bacterial soap

Most of the anti-bacterial liquid soaps contain triclosan. A small amount of this substance stays behind after getting flushed down the drain. These substances don’t go even after the treating the water in sewage plants. They end up in different water bodies.

Tea bags

We drink tea almost every day. In America, most people use tea bags. Tea bags are not totally biodegradable. This is due to the presence of plastic polypropylene that is not fully biodegradable. Even the best quality tea bags end up in landfills.

Water bottles

Billions of water bottles are used by people every year. These bottles contain polyethylene terephthalate which is hardly biodegradable. So, they end up in landfills. Even the manufacturers who claim to use recycled bottles, cannot recycle all the bottles due to limited facilities available.

Disposable razors

Every year, billions of razors are thrown away. It is possible to recycle the steel blades, but the razors still go to landfills. You also need to use lots of water to get rid of your shaving foam.

Wooden chopsticks

To produce wooden chopsticks, millions of trees are cut every year. Half of these chopsticks are used in China. Taxes have been imposed on this item and there are some strict government regulations. Still, the forests are being cut at an alarming rate.

We use these products almost every day. But most of us don’t realize what damage we are causing to the environment by using these products on a regular basis. We should think of alternative products and make sure that they are biodegradable or recyclable.