What To Consider Before Building Your House - What Environmental Issues Are Likely to Occur

This article follows previous ones on factors of the reason to build, where to build, what type of house to build and what social factors to put in mind before getting down to building your own house.

The environment is one of the most universal sources of concern the world over. Environmental impact assessment is one of the statutory requirements of any form of development envisaged today. It should therefore be borne in mind that even before you go for the professional advice, there are basics as far as this subject is concerned. These are mandatory requirements that are not easy to go around and which are your moral obligation as a developer.

The first has to do with where you intend to construct your house. Where is the land situated in relation to a river for example? How many trees will you cut down in order to create space for the said construction? What species of trees and other vegetation are you going to cut down? Do they exist elsewhere? Is any of these endangered or protected? How many animals or birds will you displace? How stable is the ground as pertains to landslides or soil erosion? All these questions are worth of your answers.

The other issue to consider is what comes out of your new house and goes to the environment. The most obvious here is waste management and disposal. The said waste goes beyond the usual sewage and kitchen waste. These will need to be safely disposed off so that it does not in any way contaminate your environment. There are many options here. A conservancy, for example, will work very well in secluded and vegetated areas where space is readily available. This will even form and maintain a new ecosystem! This is however not possible in other areas, where a septic tank will work better. But does a sewer system pass nearby? There is however some other forms of contamination or pollution that are not perceived as detrimental to the environment while they surely are. A good example is noise from your generator and smoke from your chimney. Did you know that shinny roofing sheets are a source of pollution, especially when they reflect sunlight? Very bright lights at night in an otherwise dark surrounding could also be regarded as pollution as they hamper the normal environmental patterns. Tarmac roads in vegetated areas have been known to stop the normal animal movement, especially in forest ecosystems.

Sourcing water is also another environmental issue that one needs to think about before they build. Fetching a lot of water from a neighbourhood stream, for example, may impede the normal flow or even drain it completely. Sinking a borehole may lower the water table, rendering an area even drier! Green building is a concept in construction that seeks to answer to the environmental woes brought about by construction. It involves things like tapping into solar and wind power as energy sources, rainwater harvesting and incorporating green spaces in the design. These and similar concepts ensure that we take a step towards conserving our precious environment.

In the next article, we look at the statutory requirements to consider when building your house.

Why All the Dispassion About Environmental Issues by Business People?

There are many folks who take environmental issues so seriously, that they go out of their way to tell people of their passion for our eco-system. Every once in a while when someone shows me a passionate outburst for our environment, I just roll my eyes. Why you ask?

Well, for a couple of reasons, I see many companies that claim to be green, but in name only. I see many citizens who claim to be environmentally conscious and yet, do little more than recycle and probably only do that because someone provided them with colorful trash receptacles. Hey, don't laugh, I am serious.

Regarding being dispassionate myself at times, let me tell you why. I have over the years worked hard to make our companies "pollution-free" and have gone out of my way, spent lots of money on R and D. Yet, I found myself constantly attacked by competitors, "environmentalists" and government environmental regulators. So, after a while it gets old and many entrepreneurs become less passionate.

The issue becomes; "why should I do good in the world if no one else cares and I am attacked for doing so?" The answer of course, is because it's the right thing to do, still if you have to take hits for it, you can see that it takes strong will to not just say; "oh forget it!"

Healthcare Environmental Issues and Opportunities

The healthcare industry affects the lives of virtually everyone in the United States. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), healthcare expenditures will account for approximately 17% of the Gross Domestic Product this year. Many activities in the healthcare industry result in land, water or air pollution. Much of the waste is recyclable and consists of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and metals. There are two other types of solid waste in healthcare: regulated medical waste and hazardous or chemical waste. Additionally, hospitals discharge large amounts of wastewater and release air emissions from their facility operations.

Oftentimes, hospital services are decentralized, departmentalized, or even managed by contracted services. There may be little or no centralization of efforts. There may be minimal regard, knowledge or control over minimizing waste or environmental impact. If healthcare organizations really want to decrease costs and reduce their carbon footprint, they must embrace sustainability with the full support of top management. They must pay close attention to what they purchase and what they discard.

There are many variables affecting healthcare waste minimization:

* The types of products and materials purchased

* The types of waste segregation systems

* The degree to which wastes are identified

* The locations of the waste generation

Healthcare wastes can be categorized as:

* Municipal

* Recycling (Pennsylvania Act 101, for example)

* Regulated medical waste (Bio-hazardous or Red Bag Waste)

* Hazardous waste (listed and characteristic waste, commingled waste, pressurized containers and ignitable gas, and universal waste)

* Universal Waste (Batteries, Fluorescent Bulbs, Electronics, Mercury-containing Equipment)

* Waste water, Storm Water and Air Emissions

Municipal Waste:

The United States healthcare industry generates 6,670 tons of waste per day, most of which is solid or municipal waste. Of this solid waste, more than half is composed of paper and cardboard. Hospitals with excellent recycling programs recycle over 40 percent of their total municipal waste.

Recycling:

Many states mandate commercial and residential recycling of a wide range of materials. For example, Pennsylvania Act 101 mandates recycling in Pennsylvania's larger municipalities and requires counties to develop municipal waste management plans. The goals of the Act are to reduce Pennsylvania's municipal waste generation; recycle at least 25% of waste generated; procure and use recycled and recyclable materials in state governmental agencies; and educate the public as to the benefits of recycling and waste reduction.

Municipalities must collect at least 3 of the following materials: clear glass; colored glass; plastics; aluminum; steel and bimetallic cans; high grade office paper; corrugated paper and newsprint. Commercial, municipal and institutional establishments are required to recycle aluminum, high-grade office paper and corrugated paper in addition to other materials chosen by the municipality. Leaf and composting are required to be separated from municipal waste. Businesses, including hospitals, are encouraged to help reduce waste by purchasing products that are durable, repairable, recycled, recyclable and/or have minimal packaging, and to find other uses for surplus goods instead of throwing them away.

Regulated Medical Waste:

Industry best practices for red bag waste are between one and three pounds of red bag waste per patient day, yet many hospitals still treat 25 to 30% percent of their total waste stream as infectious. Bio-hazardous waste includes sharps, pathological waste, blood and blood products, blood-soaked items, and non-regulated chemotherapy waste. Most patients in medical-surgical rooms generate little, if any, infectious waste, however, there may still be reluctance on the part of hospitals to "source-separate" the bio-hazardous waste at the patient's bedside or at the place of treatment. Some healthcare organizations still consider all waste generated in a patient's room as red bag waste even when the waste contains no visible blood. Hospitals may fear that they will be cited with a violation should an item of trash be discarded improperly.

Progress in pharmaceutical technology has reduced the need for surgical interventions. Changes in healthcare reimbursements have decreased the length of stay in hospitals and increased home care and outpatient healthcare. Healthcare products are being packaged more efficiently and the use of plastics instead of glass has lessened the weight of many products. Despite all these advances, the widespread purchase and use of "disposables" in healthcare has created large amounts of waste that cannot easily be recycled. Many "single-use" medical devices can be safely sterilized and reprocessed and used many times. This can save healthcare organizations significant dollars by minimizing their need to purchase single use items.

Hazardous Chemical Waste:

The healthcare industry generates only small quantities of hazardous chemicals relative to the amount of municipal solid waste or bio-hazardous waste. Hospitals that own research laboratories generate greater volumes and more diverse types of hazardous chemicals. Healthcare laboratories that perform diagnostic testing often use a large volume of a few chemicals such as xylene, alcohol and formalin in their processes. Some labs recycle and reuse chemicals to avoid the cost associated with hazardous waste disposal and repurchase of new materials. Other labs are equipped with chemical analyzer systems with reagent reservoirs that reduce the total amounts of chemicals used and waste generated.

Wastewater Discharge:

Most healthcare facilities discharge wastewater to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW). Dischargers are classified as major based on an assessment of six characteristics: (1) toxic pollutant potential; (2) waste stream flow volume; (3) conventional pollutant loading; (4) public health impact; (5) water quality factors; and (6) proximity to nearby coastal waters.

Healthcare Wastewater Best Practices include:

* Limit the use of water discharged through conservation and reusing water wherever possible.

* Train employees to use water more efficiently.

* Post signs at all floor drains and sinks to discourage employees from using drains to dispose of oil, vehicle fluids, solvents, and paints.

* Use non-toxic floor cleaners or "Green Chemicals."

* Consider capping off unused floor drains.

* Prevent any spills and drips from reaching the drain.

* Know where your floor drains discharge.

* Set up a preventive maintenance program for inspecting and cleaning floor drains, traps and oil/water separators.

Air Emissions:

Hospitals may generate air emissions from boilers, emergency generators, sterilization chemicals (ethylene oxide), air conditioning and refrigeration, paint booths, and laboratory fume hoods.

Boilers: Many hospitals operate industrial boilers, which generate criteria pollutants (NOx, SO2, particulates, CO) as well as hazardous air pollutants. NOx emissions from boilers are the most serious criteria air pollutant generated by the healthcare industry. Click here for information regarding EPA's new HAP regulations for boilers.

Incinerator emissions: As a result of the Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators HMIWI rule, most facilities no longer have on site-incinerators.

Healthcare Sustainability:

Through training, education, source-separation, environmental purchasing, energy conservation, recycling initiatives and waste minimization, a green initiative will have a major impact on reducing waste and pollution. Healthcare facilities should organize a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals and establish a sustainability program if they haven't already done so. A Green Team will reduce waste from healthcare operations while saving money. Paying attention to the little things pays big dividends. It is also an important component of any organization's public relations and marketing arsenal.

Christmas Decorations and Environmental Issues

Do you have environmental concerns about Christmas tress and consumer waste?

Some environmentalists object to cutting Christmas trees, but many tree farms claim that farm-grown trees are the environmental choice. During a tree's growth period it provides many ecological benefits. Trees control erosion, provide wildlife habitat, produce oxygen, and remove carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

True, these benefits can be extended beyond the seven-to-fifteen years it takes to grow a Christmas tree, but perhaps the trees wouldn't be planted in the first place if it weren't for the Christmas tree industry. In addition, most Christmas tree farmers plant two new trees for each tree cut down.

Here's something else to consider: Fake trees and wreaths are made from nonrenewable petroleum, may be manufactured with child labor in third-world countries, and can't be recycled.

If you are concerned, buy a live tree and plant it after it has re-adjusted to the outdoor climate. Keep in mind though, that live trees may suffer from temporarily living indoors and may end up dying anyway. If you're not sure, buy a live tree, enjoy its fresh fragrance and natural appearance, and make a donation to the National Arbor Day Foundation to appease your conscience.

Psychological Benefits of Bringing Nature Indoors

For people who live in cold climates, time spent outside is limited during winter months. It's essential to refresh the soul with connection to nature year-round, so even more important to bring Mother Nature inside. Use tree branches and greenery from your garden. Using uncommon greenery instead of store-bought fakery or expensive florist Christmas decorations makes your home stand out, saves you money, and connects you to nature. Stimulate your senses with the sight and smell of evergreens.

Forget buying more gaudy holiday decorations this year. Instead, stem the tide of consumerism and go for a garden stroll or hike to find winter décor that truly uplifts spirits. You'll feel refreshed by the process rather than burdened or stressed, and your result will be a delightful, magical, inspiring and festive holiday home.

Watches Go Green - Environmental Issues Come to the Fore

With concerns about climate change reaching around the world and back again, it probably won't come as any surprise to hear that the issue has permeated the watch making industry. The time when all that mattered to consumers was the finished product has come and gone. Now it seems that everyone is concerned about how green their possessions are, whether it is food grown locally or the car they drive.

And when you think about it, why should the watch industry be any different? Watch manufacturers thrive on the attention to detail they put in the movement and case of their watches to ensure accuracy and good looks. Now there is another factor they can weigh in and boast about - how carbon neutral they are.

This isn't anywhere near as simple as it looks. Although the factories that assemble watches can be environmentally friendly - IWC Schaffhausen, for example, is based along the banks of the Rhine and their factory has hydroelectric power - the act of mining ores and smelting them down to make the metal required is decidedly harder to control. In addition to this, many watch houses buy parts made all around the world and assemble them on site, which means they have no control over how eco-friendly their components are going to be.

But the problem is one that an increasing number of watch manufacturers are going to want to solve, because now the green agenda is something everyone is talking about. Being able to boast that the watch on your wrist was not only made by a luxury brand but is actually eco-friendly as well could certainly give you an edge when it comes to garden parties this summer.

The major watch houses won't be rolling out completely carbon-neutral watches right away. While factories in Switzerland are already fairly green thanks to the efforts of the Swiss government's legislation, how do you regulate components manufactured in China? And how far do you go back down the line? Arguments about whether the mining and smelting of metals should be included, or just the manufacture of the parts could be what is holding the watch world back.

It won't be for long. Already many factories are being redesigned - Rolex has rooftop gardens and glass facades, Jaeger LeCoultre has both a bus service for its workers and a car-pooling incentive. And carbon-offsetting means that factors which can't be changed, such as the emissions from producing and transporting components, can be evened out. Tree-planting schemes and carbon and methane capturing projects mean that any damage done to the environment is undone elsewhere.

Giveaway Bags Should Be Green To Promote Environmental Issues

It is very common these days to see store bags of all descriptions that the shop gives away for free. This not only lets the customer carry away the goods of course, it also advertises the shop at the same time. Even restaurants and food outlets have to go bags which enable leftover food to be transported in safe and hygienic carriers and it is just another service for the customer which probably makes them come back time and time again.

Indeed, some of the shop carriers that people are very familiar with are much sought after by those who want to look fashionable. If they can carry something with an iconic logo then this makes it better since people will assume that they shop in this place all the time. This is great if it is a designer store, and it really does not matter what is inside!

Perhaps the biggest innovation that people have come across these days is the specialty sacks that people have done for parties or special events. Those who have wedding showers or birthday parties will often have something festive designed so that people can take home cake or goodies after the event.

Seminars are another place that this kind of item is used since the participants often have to take home gifts or paperwork after the event and they seldom take along anything extra to do this work. Of course, this is also a good way to advertise the event or to spread the word about the company which was promoting the whole show.

Those fashion houses which want to push their products will often invite some celebrities to a function and allow them to take their pick of some goods which they have brought in specifically to woo them. The artiste will wear or flaunt the item at photo shoots and it then becomes the 'in' thing for the general public to wear. Of course, these people can afford just about anything but we humans like nothing better than to get a free gift or two even if we can pay for it without too much strain.

What they need at the end of the function is something wonderfully fashionable to carry away the loot but if it has a great logo on too then the company supplying the loot will get a boost from the advertising.

Most of us probably do not even notice the free giveaway containers anymore because it has become such a common thing. These days though people are far more likely to insist upon this container being recyclable or easy to disintegrate if it is thrown away.

Insurance and Environmental Issues in Mobile Car Washing

Well many in the mobile car washing Industry sub-sector say that running a home based small business like a mobile car wash is perhaps one of the simplest businesses in the World to operate. Indeed this is true and after spending 25 plus years enjoying the fruits of this mobile onsite car wash business, I can say it was a major plus. Nevertheless there are some serious issues which must be addressed in mobile car washing; namely the issues of Insurance and Environmental concerns and considerations.

In the Mobile Car Washing Business the Environmental issues are quite simple, no water is allowed to flow into a storm drain as per the NJDEP and the EPA Federal Clean Water Act along with the NPDES permits of townships, cities, counties and corporate properties. I have seen some people cleaning in office parks blocking storm drains and then vacuuming the water remaining that did not evaporate into waste wash water tanks either to take to a Coin-op car wash to dump (make a deal with owner-trade for pressure washing his location) or to the POTW sewer treatment facility.

Insurance is another huge issue and you will need 1-million completed operations insurance and Garage Keepers liability probably 100,000 per occurrence the cost will be based on your estimated annual income when you sign up, look for an Independent Insurance Agency handling commercial lines. They will be able to assist.