Just Breathe.

How aware are you, really, of your breathing? We're not talking yoga relaxation methods or hypnosis inhale exhales, we mean the general, day to day breaths we take (or hold) when we are tense, stressed, excited or simply going about our day doing emails and making phone calls. In the hectic bustle of today's world, breathing could possibly fall to the bottom of your reminders list; it is, after all, a natural movement of air into your lungs. So why are we rambling on about its true significance?

“Remember to breathe. It is after all, the secret of life.” (Gregory Maguire, A Lion Among Men)


Every breath you take brings to life your dreams, your fears, your fondest memories. Does it not then make sense for you to ensure that each time you inhale, you are breathing in a high standard of quality indoor air?

We like to share ideas on how to live an environmentally responsible lifestyle. Today however, our focus will lie solely on five eco friendly alternatives that allow you to rest easy knowing that your space is filled only with the 'good air', because good indoor air quality begins at home.

1. Flora, flora, flora.

There are many home and cleaning products that emit chemicals found in paints and lacquers. Clean-air plants, such as the Lady Palm, the Boston Fern, the Snake plant and the Wax Begonia, do more than just purify. Houseplants are the eco-friendly alternatives to air purifiers! They rid homes of pollutants to any potentially negative home environment. Take the time to check out your local flower market and ask around about these green air cleaners. We promise, they're worth it.

2. Let the Air Flow.

Opening windows provides easy cross ventilation and introduces cleaner air. By allowing the air to circulate, you also allow any residual cleaning chemical odours from things like your carpet and curtains to find their way out of your home.

3.  Green Purification.

There are a lot of eco friendly air purifiers out in the market that are highly efficient and operate on little energy. Devoid of lead, they work by filtering toxic particles and have been known to ease allergies, asthma and calm the common cold.

4. Get On Top of Your Cooling and Heating Systems.

When your air conditioner is on, as when the heater is hard at work, they cause dust particles to flow freely about. Sound gross? It's totally true. The solution though is pretty simple - just make sure that you have someone come in and clean all filters before they actually need a good scrubbing. This prevents all the pesky dust sheets from even forming!

5. Invest in Green Cleaners.

Not all of us are happy homemakers; we don't always have the time to concoct DIY cleaning products from lemon, vinegar and baking soda. The alternative? Look out for cleaning products that are natural. Be careful not to fall for the cheapest or the one in the prettiest looking packaging - read labels and research because you can never be too well informed about what you use in your home. Eco friendly cleaning products do not emit chemicals and usually have no after-smell because the truth is, clean does not smell like lemon or flowers - clean, smells of clean.

 Breathe in, breathe out, and if you haven't already, check out our line of green cleaning products:
http://www.greencleaners.asia/products.asp

Green Feature: Adelaide!

A recent survey has ranked Adelaide the most eco-friendly city in Australia.

With services ranging from green plumbing, eco-friendly pest control and even environmentally responsible sky diving, Adelaide has rocketed to the top beating out cities like Copenhagen in Denmark and Stockholm in Sweden!

We absolutely love to celebrate going green in all its forms, and this is the ultimate tribute to a dream made real after 10 years of hard work. Here are some fun facts about Adelaide - activities, hotels, and what makes it so sustainable!

1. Earthworms wiggle their way into helping the city. Did you know? The Adelaide Convention Centre employs 800,000 of the little critters to turn food waste into plant food.

  2. The Miller Apartments is one of Adelaide's Eco Friendly Hotels. They are focused on making sure you have a comfortable holiday, while keeping their carbon footprint at an all time low. From solar powered gas heating for water to green star appliances throughout the hotel, these sustainable development techniques have changed the way you vacation forever.

3. Adelaide City Bikes have more than 500 bikes available for hire. Simply flash a valid form of identification, helmet up and cycle away!

4. Meet Tindo - the world's first solar powered bus. Tired from your bike ride? Glide around in this comfort of air-conditioning and upload those photos of all the greenery with the help of the wireless internet available on this bad boy.

5. Feeling adventurous? Head on over to SA Skydiving, where they plant a tree for every person who sky dives with their team! So far they have planted over 30,000 trees - how's that for an eco adventure?

There are a lot of different ways to make a positive change, and Adelaide has proven that anything is possible. If you can conceive it, you can make it happen. 

Eco Parents (to Furry Babies!)

It isn't always easy being green - but it can be fun, cool and simple if you take the time to remember these tips to turn yourself into the meanest, greenest eco parents to your furry (or scaly, or shell-y) pets!

The Power of the Poo.

Yes, we went there. Truth be told though, whether you have cats, dogs, or bunnies - pet waste generates a lot of waste so consider making a little change here that could have a big impact. If your furry child tends to do his or her business outdoors, why not use biodegradable poop bags instead of grocery bags?  Think about it - 365 days a year times twice or thrice a day of throwing away plastic bags that will forever be deep sixed in some landfill? Ick. If you have yard space, you can also look into septic and compost systems for pet waste. For cats and other pets that use litter, use options that contain fewer chemicals and mined materials. Some options are even flushable – which leads to fewer garbage bags.

Pro-Earth Grooming.

Be conscious of the ingredients used in your pet shampoo. In this day and age of the green boom, there are certainly loads of environmentally friendly options not just with the products themselves - you can also use washable towels instead of throw away wipes!

 Trim the Treats.

Not only do most treats come in bags or containers that we wouldn't reuse - a lot of them also contain preservatives and artificial flavours that aren't good for your pet especially on a long term basis. Consider making your own treats at home using food that may have been leftover from last night's dinner. This way you know exactly what's going into your pet; after all, you're more than likely the one cleaning it up when it comes out the other way.

Go Big or Go Home.


 




Buying litter, food, and treats in larger quantity bags is usually a great cost-saver, but it also means less packaging waste. Think about the bags you'll stop from ending up in a landfill over the course of a year. Get a refillable container with a good seal to keep food from going stale.

Don't have a pet but thinking of getting one? Adopt a pet. There are so many animals our there that need a loving home, and it is the ultimate way to recycle! They get a chance to be loved by a family and you adopt a new member of the family. Don't forget to have them spayed or neutered if you aren't ready to have them knowingly reproduce. This prevents strays, sickness and more homeless pets on the streets.

Greening the Race Track.

Australia shakes the grandstand as changes are made in the set of rules in Formula One - possibly the biggest change undergone in racing history! Many traditional fans may initially have felt dismayed at the uncertainty of what these changes mean for their teams, their drivers and most of all, the magnificent roar of engines. However, once looked into more closely nobody can deny the great deal of good this all entails. See for yourself, list provided by The Guardian:

Engine The biggest difference of all, with a 1.6-litre V6 turbo replacing the old 2.4-litre V8 as F1 turns green. It is the first time we have seen turbos since 1988. The new engine will produce 600bhp, while the old version was capable of 750bhp, but extra power will come from the new ERS system.

Energy recovery system (ERS) This replaces Kers and produces more power, an extra 160bhp against 80bhp, and it can be used for just over 30 seconds per lap. It works by generating power using waste heat from the turbocharger, while generating energy under braking.

Fuel This is one for the strategists, with fuel limited to about two-thirds of what it was before. Each car is allowed a maximum of 100kg (about 135 litres) per race. Before, there was no limit, but most cars carried around 160kg. The new limit means the driver must work closely with his engineer.

Weight The minimum weight has been raised from 642kg to 691kg. This is because of the increased weight of the new power unit. It has placed extra pressure on the drivers to be as light as possible before a race.

Rear wing The lower beam wing has been outlawed and the main plane is shallower. The DRS slot is bigger than in 2013.

Front wing This is narrower, reduced from 1800mm to 1650mm. The maximum nose height has also been dropped from 550mm to 185mm

Penalty points A driver will be banned for one race if he collects 12 penalty points on his superlicence during a 12-month period. For smaller infringements, stewards can also impose a five-second penalty.

Central exhausts One central exhaust pipe, turned upwards to stop the flow being used to produce downforce via the diffuser, replaces last season's double tailpipes.

Gears Gearboxes will have eight forward gears instead of seven, which each team must nominate before the start of the season.

Testing In-season testing makes a comeback. Four two-day tests will be held in the course of the year, with the first one coming after the Bahrain Grand Prix next month.

Although not all changes are directly correlated to going fully green, it is wonderful to know that awareness is being raised on track and brought to the attention of the people in the stands. 

Upgrade Your Workplace: Benefits of Greening Your Business.

In support of our last blog about how going green is an important lifestyle choice, we have decided to focus today's blog on the importance of moving your workplace into a more eco friendly zone. Applying green processes to the workplace creates a healthy environment for employees, reduces unnecessary waste and recognizes the role that businesses play in leading the way for social change.If you haven't already and are considering taking the plunge, here are some things to consider:

Going green will save you money.

Yes, you read that right. Imagine lower heating bills, leaner utility costs, and less money feeding the photocopier. Reducing emissions goes hand-in-hand with reducing energy use.This means by simply turning off lights in unused conference rooms, unplugging appliances before you head out for lunch, liaising via email rather than printing out loads of copies of business paraphernalia, you are not only saving yourself some money, you are also saving the environment. Pretty good deal, huh?

Making this change will attract customers and improve your brand image.

Boosting your green credentials can significantly improve your public image. When you go green, you will come across as a company that cares, and this can help to attract customers who share your values. Being an environmentally friendly business can also create some great PR opportunities, and you could find that it has a positive effect on business.

A green business provides a healthier working environment.

A healthier and greener working environment can help to improve your company output and the morale of your workforce. We're not saying shut off the air conditioning completely in the summer or turn all heating off in the winter - your employees need to be comfortable, after all! However, small changes do make a big difference, and little changes like using natural cleaning products could deeply benefit staff.  Green cleaning supplies can help employees who suffer from respiratory and other health-related conditions, because green products contain fewer chemicals that are connected to physical problems. Healthier staff means less sick days as well as an overall improvement in the office atmosphere.

There are changes that you can make today that will have an immediate impact on your business, and changes that you can start to implement that you will benefit from in the long term. If you would like to run your business in a more environmentally sustainable way, start looking into ways that your business can go green today and enjoy all of the benefits that it can bring!

Upgrading to a Greener Workout

Due to the wonderful response from our readers the last time we wrote a post about a green workout routine, we decided to revisit the subject - with some tweaks here and there, of course!

We believe that going green is more than just a fad; it's a necessity. Greener choices and making changes lead to an overall improvement in your health and lifestyle. Which is why, more than focusing on green workout products, today we want to provide you with options that help provide  more flexible, feasible ways that you can upgrade to a greener workout.

Utilize the Great Outdoors.

 When nature and fitness are brought together, the benefits and possibilities are endless. The fresh air gives you a boost of energy, the sun produces vitamin D which is good for your too! Whether you run, jog or cycle, being outside gives you an opportunity to shake things up - you can explore new areas, challenge yourself by hitting hills and mountains, all while interacting with your community.

Maximise Your Home Space.

 Need a change of pace? Outdoors not really speaking to your fitness drive? Why not set up a workout station at home? A lot of exercise routines only require minimal space and can be bought online, watched via a DVD or even found on YouTube! Working out at home not only leaves a significantly smaller carbon footprint than say, driving your SUV to the gym and back, it is also convenient and cost-effective.

Flock Together.

 Exercise with your friends. This allows you to have more input about your progress and gives you more time to hang out too. Sign up for a marathon race or join a sports team. Share your equipment and carpool to the park or sports ground!

Fill Your (Tummy) Tank.

Fuel up on sustainable food. Protein bars and processed shakes are full of sugar and preservatives. You can get all the nutrients your body needs straight from the farmer's market. This means not only do you support the local produce, you also cut down on environmental waste. Tips: Bananas ease muscle cramps, cherries help combat soreness, free range eggs give you protein and spinach is good for muscle building antioxidants.

 

Have any ideas on how else you can upgrade to a greener workout? Let us know, we'd love to hear from you!

 

 

Raw Desserts: Eating to Thrive, Not Just Survive!

Hi Everyone! We hope you've all had a great weekend. This week we wanted to discuss something a bit more controversial - raw desserts! We all know that this has been a 'thing' for quite a while now; a lot of you may have encountered restaurants that serve raw and organic options, and some of you may have even begun to change their lifestyle around eating more raw and organic meals. The big question is, why go raw in the first place?

There are the obvious reasons - that deep frying, sodium and sugar additives along with preservatives are simply not good for your body. Without delving deep into a lot of unfamiliar jargon, the crux of the benefits of eating raw is this: a lot of the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need are compromised when certain food are cooked. We're not saying everyone needs to jump on the bandwagon and start chucking out the stoves and pans, but why not experiment with the best part of the meal? Dessert!

Here are 3 scrumptious, raw dessert recipes that make us drool. Give it a go and let us know what you think!

1. One Minute Fudge (A quick fix for a craving for one!)

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 teaspoons coconut oil

2 teaspoons honey

Directions:

1. Throw the ingredients in a tiny bowl.
2. Grab a spoon and begin to mix. You may want to put a playlist on and groove as you will need to mix slowly and carefully.
3. When the texture is similar to our photo, the fudge is ready to be enjoyed!


2. Raw Raspberry Bars

Ingredients:
Shortbread bars

2 cups dried, shredded coconut

1/2 cup cashews

1/4 cup maple syrup (or honey or agave nectar)

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Raspberry Jam

1 1/2 cups raspberries

1/2 cup dates

Directions:

1. Process all white shortbread ingredients in food processor. Process briefly until you get a crumbly consistency. Tip: mixture should stick together when pinched.
2. Take 3/4 of the white mixture and press it down firmly into your pan/molds. Refrigerate immediately so the bars can start firming up. Set remaining 1/4 white mixture aside, to be used later.
3. Blend all raspberry jam ingredients together until a smooth, jam-like consistency is reached.
4. Get your white bars out of the fridge, and smooth the raspberry jam on top of the bars using the back of a spoon. Place back in refrigerator.
5. Refrigerate bars for at least 1 hour so that the jam can firm up a little bit.
6. Sprinkle remaining white crumble mixture on top of the bars.
7. Place in freezer for at least 3 hours to firm up.
8. For an optional fancy addition, top each bar with a frozen raspberry and share with friends!

3.Vegan Banana Split - on a Spit!

Strawberry Layer Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Natural Cashew Butter
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Cups Hulled Strawberries
1/2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
3 Stevia Packets
Dash of Salt



Banana Cream Layer Ingredients:

3 Bananas
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Dash of Cinnamon
3 Stevia Packets
1/4 Cup Coconut Milk
3 Tbsp Shredded Coconut

Chocolate Layer Ingredients:
1 Cup Pumpkin Puree
4 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tbsp Agave (Maple Syrup or Honey)
1/2 Cup Natural Peanut Butter
2 Tbsp Almond Milk

Directions:

1. Blend each layer separately in your food processor and set aside.
2. Layer each as desired into your popsicle molds.
3. Freeze for 6 hours or more.
4. Remove and enjoy!

There you have it - let us know which dessert was your favourite, and if you have other recipes to recommend.

For more recipes, check out these sites: http://www.therawtarian.com/ http://www.damyhealth.com/2012/07/top-30-best-raw-desserts/

Happy National Day, Singapore!

Today Singapore celebrates it's 49th birthday. As a tribute to this beautiful city we would like to highlight a few fun facts about why it is known internationally to be one of the most green cities in the world.

 Longest Running Campaign to Save the Planet.
    Singapore's Clean and Green Campaign has been around for nearly two decades, hosting regular events, activities and community all over the city, pretty much all the time. Not only do they get the whole family involved, they raise awareness on the importance and urgency of moving into the green lane. Can you say sustainable effort?

 Children Are, Indeed, the Future.
    Another project called Green Singapore 2050 provides a platform for the younger generation to take part in becoming planeteers. They are encouraged to ask questions, find solutions and voice their concerns. Why? Simply because the youngsters of the next generation are the ones in line to inherit the earth - and they are being given the responsibility to take matters in to their own hands and make changes in their lives as early as today.

 Government Generosity.
     Singapore is so serious about this green stuff that the government actually absorbs a percentage of spends when locals do the right thing. This includes making the right car choices and getting a discount on certain wedding venues if you prove you have taken at least 8 eco friendly measures to ensure your special day leaves a smaller carbon footprint!

It's Called the Garden City.
   Come on now, have you looked around? It may have started as a coined nickname for this charming city but today, wherever you go, side streets and main roads are lined with greenery. Trees adorn estates, landed properties and parks. Singapore has turned itself into a beautiful town of lush flora and we are proud to be part of the green movement.