Build A Business, Save the Planet!

Feeling a burning desire to take your entrepreneurship to a new level? Saving the Earth does not have to be down solely to lifestyle - spread the green and share the love by making the world a better place to live all year round! Here are some of the booming business ideas that have taken flight all over the globe. Have a gander and see if anything tugs at your heartstrings and draws you in for an eco-adventure into being self employed.

1. Handmade products that are organic/natural.

Soaps, lip balm, and even cleaning products can be created with things you can find at home, or at a market. Recipes that are easy to follow are readily available online, but not everyone has the time or patience to actually create them. If you package them and sell them as sets, clients will jump at the chance to have these items on hand without having to dig into their own time and resources.

2. Eco-Event Planning.

Whether it's a big bash or a simple get together, it has become very common for a lot of people to hire event coordinators to deal with the details of their party plans. Why not offer a better, healthier alternative? Your main selling point can be the marriage of two wonderful ideas - the party you're planning and saving the Earth! Find green venues, recyclable (or recycled) party materials and create sustainable event management ties that are good for the environment. 

3. Recycled Fashion.

We don't mean bell bottoms that have come back with a vengeance or ripped biker jeans that are back on the runway - we mean actual organic materials used to make beautiful scarves, dresses and accessories! You'd be surprised what creative minds (and hands) can do with fabric scraps and other reusable material.

4. Earth Friendly Landscaping.

Think you may have a green thumb that's just bursting to come out? Offer homeowners your time and eco friendly techniques to maintain a greener garden - drought resistant plants and synthetic turf as well as trees grown strategically saves money, energy and water.

5. Franchise an already established Green Company.

As with every business, building your way up from scratch can be quite a feat; it can be intimidating, time consuming and frustrating especially if you're unsure about a lot of things. Why not opt to do research on companies that have already hit markets and made a big splash? Remember to consider how green they actually are, and also keep in mind why you are doing this to begin with. If you want to make a difference in the lives of others, look to a company that has already been known to do exactly that.

If you need a little guidance, check us out at http://www.greencleaners.asia/franchise.asp

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.

Great (Green) Escapes

Travel has the power to open our minds and deepen our appreciation of the world we live in. As we explore, it’s up to us to travel responsibly and tread lightly on the earth. You can make greener choices on your travels, and even have a positive impact that will last well beyond your week of bliss. Here are five ideas for your next green getaway:

Voluntour

Combine your love of travel with philanthropy by taking part in the ever-growing “voluntourism” movement. Imagine contributing—in a very tangible way—to the community, wildlife and environment you visit. The opportunities are endless. Protect sea turtles in Costa Rica, study climate change in Antarctica, survey coral reefs on a tropical island, or join a Me to We trip and help an impoverished community. We promise you’ll gain new perspective and make the world a better place.

Go camping

The great outdoors beckon. If you’re yearning for both solitude and scenic splendour, pitch a tent! Explore natural landscapes, close to home or on the other side of the country. Bonus: outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking and swimming are all delightfully carbon neutral. Find a National Park, and for tips on camping responsibly, a bit of research goes a long way.

Go WWOOFing

Short for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, WWOOFing is your ticket to an unforgettable farming experience. The program was founded in England in 1971. Volunteers work on an organic farm in exchange for room, board and farming advice. WWOOFers have given thousands of hours of assistance to organic growers, and WWOOF hosts have given their time and experience to WWOOFers in over 50 countries.

Adventure travel

Have an appetite for adventure? Check out ways to learn skills such as mountaineering, climbing or backpacking. Many companies offer small-group tours to destinations around the globe. We love G Adventures and Natural Habitat Adventures. For more options, use the directories of The International Ecotourism Society and Sustainable Travel International. (While you’re there, read the organization’s tips to evaluate responsible tour companies.)

Have a staycation

Explore your own backyard. Not only is it less stressful than going abroad, but you’ll support your local economy, enjoy places and activities you’re usually too busy to appreciate, and save money on transportation. Ideas for local thrills: give your taste buds a trip (visit farmers’ markets, try an organic or vegetarian restaurant, or embark on a culinary adventure; visit a National Park, beach or lake; or start that garden project you’ve been meaning to get to. Being one with nature need not be too far from your own home.

Get Creatively Green!

Whether you need slogans for going green for school, work, or a volunteer project, you've come to the right place. Promote going green with one of these 36 slogans — they are the very best we've found.

How to Use Go Green Slogans

Green slogans catch the viewer's eye and attention when placed in prominent areas and help to promote your message. Some ways to use catch phrases for going green include:

•Reusable canvas shopping bags
•Bumper stickers
•T-shirts
•Pens/pencils
•Coffee cups
•Badges
•Signs
•Buttons
•Posters
•Banners
•Flyers
•Magnets
•Recycling bins


Slogans With "Green" in Them

Sometimes you just want to emphasize the "green"-ness of your message. Green is excellent shorthand for environmental awareness and instantly brings to mind images of cleanliness and nature.

•Go Green
•It pays to be green
•Join the green side
•Go green or go home
•Don’t be mean Go green
•It’s not easy being green
•Give green a chance
•Live Green, Love Green, Think Green
•Smells like green spirit
•When the going gets tough, the tough go green
•Think green
•Clean and Green
•Don't Be Mean, Be Green
•Get into the Green Scene
•Green Is the New Black


Slogans With "Earth" or "Planet" in Them

And then sometimes you want to focus on the planet as a whole, to get people thinking about the big picture. Making people aware of the positive impact they can have on the earth as a whole is one successful way to inspire them to do something or help your cause.

•Vote Earth
•Good Planets are Hard to Find
•There is no Planet B
•Earth Day Every Day
•Your planet needs you
•Save paper, save trees, save the planet


Green Slogans that Challenge People

To really grab people's attention, slogans that challenge people to think about the environment do the trick. Many of these slogans contain wordplay that makes you do a double take and stop and think, e.g., the "elders" in "Respect your Elders" meaning both those older than you and a variety of tree.

•Make Conservation a Habit
•Burn Calories Not Oil
•Reduce, reuse, recycle!
•Global Warming is not Cool!
•What would nature do?
•Can You Hear the Eco?
•Buy Local
•I brake for litter
•Respect your Elders (and Oaks, Pines and Hickorys too)
•Think… before you print
•Will Work for Trees
•Where Do You Think the Environment Is?
•Act Like You Live Here


Humorous Green Slogans

Funny catch phrases for going green work best when used in the appropriate context.

•Save water, drink beer — Good for a bar or pub
•Join the Green Side — Good for Star Wars fans or anything that's proudly geeky


Use any of the slogans for going green listed here, or use them as inspiration to make up one of your own. Good luck with your efforts, and let us know how these slogans worked for you, or any good ones you've come up with after reading these. And don't forget: have fun going green!

Interior Design Predictions for the New Year

Community concern for the environment has increased dramatically over the past few years to the point where sustainable living has become a part of the rhetoric of everyday life. Going green has eased its way into the fabric of society in virtually every country in the world and indeed in businesses the world over. It's a natural progression that sustainable living has become a major trend within home design too, and why wouldn't it be considering it's healthier not only for the environment but also for our bodies and our wallets.

Sustainability design trends continue to evolve and with the new year just around the corner we can look forward to discovering fresh trends that will make a positive impact on our lives and the planet. Here are just a few of the many sustainable design trends that are predicted for 2013.

Great greenery

Forget imitation trees and flowers. In 2013 indoor gardens will be integrated into the interior design of the home with entire walls dedicated to vertical gardens. The odd pot plant here and there will be from days gone by and instead large expanses of greenery will clear the air of toxins with ease at the same time as offering a spectacular view right within your home. This is the perfect way to decorate your home and will be a trend that we see being embraced by many households with plenty of enthusiasm.

Creative carpets

The use of chemicals in the production of carpet is but one of the many issues that consumers face when considering green floor covering options. Not only do these chemicals cause potential hazards to the environment, many people are concerned as to the risks of these chemicals being released within the home. Despite all this, carpet in the home can be quite inviting and create a lovely warm aesthetic and hence why we'll see more eco-friendly options more and more in 2013. Manufacturer's know if they're to survive they must meet the consumer demand for floor coverings that deliver green gains and that match with interior design preferences. Organic carpets and even carpets constructed of recycled materials are coming to the fore along with a variety of alternative carpet materials that are considered more sustainable.

LED lighting

Although LED lights are not a new trend it's easy to see why they can be predicted to be one of 2013's sustainable design trends. LEDs have typically been incorporated into commercial settings but as demand has grown LEDs have become more affordable for the domestic market too. Cost is still a barrier when it comes to some LED light designs such as LEDs being used in under-counter lighting, however, we see 2013 as a year where manufacturer's will step up a level in terms of meeting consumer demand in this area. No matter what, consumers will focus on cutting their energy usage costs and LEDs are the perfect way to accomplish that.

The need for the world to embrace a more sustainable approach to modern living is growing ever strong and therefore there is little surprise that new trends continue to evolve. The influence of this green approach is being seen more and more in home design and this can only be seen as positive for the planet and all its inhabitants. Remember, it's consumers that are effecting the changes and trends we're seeing so keep pushing for, searching for and insisting on sustainable design options and we'll all be able to look forward to a brighter future.

Greening Your Kitchen

With all of the talk about global warming, carbon footprints and the often dire predictions associated with them, creating a greener, more eco-friendly home has finally become a more mainstream conversation. It can be difficult to visualize how small, individual changes can have much impact on such a problem of, quite literally, global proportions. But it’s those changes that really matter and many can happen right in your own kitchen.

In general, the process of growing food, getting it to the consumer, preparing it, eating it and disposing of what’s left can have an enormous impact on global warming. Who knew that we had the power to change something that has such a huge effect on the world we live in? With that in mind, here are some simple steps you can take to make that change happen today.

1. Save those scraps.
Instead of throwing away those left over vegetables, set them aside and freeze them for later. These scraps can be used to make a delicious vegetable stock for your favorite recipes.

2. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Reduce the number of disposable products you use. For example, replace paper napkins with cloth napkins at your table. Reuse products whenever possible. Aluminum foil can often be safely reused. (Never reuse foil that has been used for raw meat). Recycle paper, plastic and glass as much as possible. See how much you can reduce the amount of garbage you put out at the curb each week. You’d be surprised how easy it really is!

3. Drink Locally.
We’ve suspected this all along. The water in those plastic bottles really is no better than the water from your tap. Yet, we spend billions of dollars on bottled water and then those empty bottles are at best recycled and at worst thrown into the landfills, and those bottles will each take over 1,000 years to biodegrade.

4. Eliminate the Plastic.
Using plastic wrap to store and preserve food may be convenient but it’s a not an eco-friendly choice. Instead of reaching for the plastic wrap, start buying reusable containers to store food. Another tip: Use glass containers and your refrigerator will use less energy to keep the contents at a safe temperature.

5. Clean Green. Read those labels on your favorite cleaners. Avoid those that with harsh chemicals, bleach and phosphates. Instead, switch to more eco-friendly choices. Look for natural cleaning agents like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and citrus oils. A good rule of thumb to use? If your home smells like a chemical plant after you’ve cleaned, chances are you’ve used products that are not only harmful to the environment but also harmful to your family’s health. Remember, real clean does not leave any traces of smell!

6. Keep the Fridge Stocked.
Your refrigerator will use less energy to keep its contents cool when it is near capacity.

7. Change the Bulbs
One of the easiest ways to green your home is to switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs. The compact fluorescent bulbs will use about 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

8. Look for the Energy Star
When you are in the market for a new appliance, look for a label that indicates its energy efficiency, proving that the product has been tested and approved – this ensures that you will pay less for a more effective electric appliance!

9. Precycle
Buy food in bulk whenever possible and opt for products with less packaging. Whenever possible, avoid single-serving prepackaged foods and instead create your own “single serving” and refrigerate or freeze them. Not only will you create less waste, you can prepare more healthful meals with less sodium and saturated fat. Another bonus: You have more control over food miles and where your food comes from.

10. Choose Local over Organic
Organic food choices are more available than ever and that’s a good thing. But if you have the choice between buying products from local farmers vs. organic products that were most likely trucked hundreds or thousands of miles, go local. In the long run, keeping our local farmers in business will keep us in tune with our communities and the source of our food. Bonus: That money will go to your local farmer who will, in turn, spend that money within your community. It’s a win-win!

Making a Comeback

Hi Friends! Today we are dishing out clever ideas to help common household items make a comeback instead of getting cast aside as rubbish. One of the best ways to avoid sending things to a landfill is to reuse them! Save the earth and be kind to your wallet. It's the best combination!

Carpet remnants: old carpets can easily be cut up into smaller reusable pieces. You can use a small mat for the garage or basement, line the bottom of pot and pan storage (it keeps the noise to a minumum) or even take a piece to line you doghouse!

Glass jars: these can be used to store leftover food, sauces, candies, cookies or transformed into a puggy bank! You can also get creative, decorate them and give them away as presents.

Corks: attach a cork to boat keys - if they end up in the water they will float! They also make great fish hook holders, as well as razor sharpeners (slide a dull blade through and get a few more uses our of the razor)!

Newspapers: old newspapers have a lot of uses around the house - you can line the bottom of your pet's cage with them, mix them under garden mulch to reduce the onset of weeds and even use them as wrapping paper! If you want to have a bit more fun, old newspapers also make for great paper mache crafts.

Shredded Paper: don't throw away all that shredded office paper! It can serve as packing material for storing or moving your breakable items and makes good kindling for a fire.

Tin Boxes: these make cute emergency kits to hold band aids, ontments, sewing kits and can even hold your change for the bus!

Toothbrushes: old toothrbrushes make good scrubbers - for those hard to reach corners in the bathroom tile, those stubborn clothing stains and the grime around your kitchen sink!

Styrofoam egg cartons: egg cartons make great storage options for odds and ends such as office supplies (thumbtacks, pins, paper clips) and even accessories like rings and cuff links!

Empty (and cleaned) pill bottles: these are another storage option - placing loose items such as beads, staple wire and string help keep the clutter at bay!

5-20 Aug: Green Screen at Sinema Old School

Join us this August, as Sinema Old School deals a series of award-winning four green-themed films that will get you to sit up and take notice of the ever-changing environment around us.

The feature documentaries - Tapped (2009), Plastic Planet (2009), Bag It (2011), Carbon Nation (2011) - examine the impact of human consumption of the Earth’s resources on the environment today, serving as a wake-up call to the world — before it’s too late.

The films will be screening from 5-20 August 2011. Tickets are available either online or physically at our box office. Please check http://tix.sinema.sg for more information.

Green buildings: Good for people, productivity and profit

One more reason to begin standing up for a cleaner, greener environment – a working environment, that is.

Today's leading-edge green buildings are driving a radical shift in office politics.
Gone are the days of the senior management pinching the penthouse floor and hogging the best harbour views. Today, green buildings are providing truly equitable workplaces, with fresh air, natural light and views of the outdoors available to all staff regardless of their salaries.

Ask most employees for their office wish lists and onsite gymnasiums, massage therapists and child care centres will be lower down the list than fresh air, natural light, indoor comfort and collaborative spaces.

In fact, Colliers International Office Tenant Survey 2010 found that excellent indoor air quality and thermal comfort was second only to location to public transport (and above cutting edge IT and communications) in the top three office attributes for staff attraction and retention.

Office employees intuitively know that the basics of natural light and fresh air make workplaces happier, more productive places - after all, most office workers spend 90% of their waking hours indoors.

What they may not understand is how much poor indoor environment quality (IEQ) can affect their performance - and how simple solutions can have a dramatic impact on their productivity levels.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that sickness and absenteeism costs organisations an estimated $2,700 per employee each year. When indirect costs are factored in, absenteeism costs around $5m for every 1,000 employees.

At the same time, we know that good IEQ in green buildings reduces sick leave and improves worker productivity and health. The evidence-based research has found that these gains are between two and 10 per cent per worker.

The principles of green design recognise that improving IEQ can dramatically affect productivity, health and wellbeing. Green Star, Australia's environmental rating system for buildings, rewards building projects that can demonstrate high levels of IEQ - by providing more fresh air, circulating fresh air around the rooms more efficiently, ensuring daylight can reach more of the interior, and eliminating harmful chemical compounds found in paints, adhesives or carpets.

We now have more than 315 Green Star-rated buildings around Australia, with tens of thousands of people enjoying the benefits of cleaner, greener offices. After moving into their green office, the legal firm at the 5 Star Green Star-rated 500 Collins Street in Melbourne reduced staff sick leave by 39% - well below the national average. What's more, sick leave costs fell by 44%. A post-refurbishment study also found a 9% increase in typing speeds of secretaries and a 7% increase in lawyers' billings ratio, despite a 12% decline in the average monthly hours worked.

Trevor Pearcey House, the 6 Star Green Star head office of Australian Ethical Investment in Canberra, provides staff with a healthier work environment by maximising the use of natural ventilation and lighting. More than 90% of the floor space is naturally ventilated with openable windows, which also improve daylight penetration. Occupant health was also a priority in choice of materials, with paints and sealants, furniture and fittings selected for their low levels of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde. The building now ranks in the top 11% of Australian buildings for staff productivity and amenity.

Many of Australia's employers of choice are looking for green office space to attract and maintain top talent. Increasingly, Green Star-rated buildings symbolise a corporation's environmental and social performance, and can be a powerful strategic business tool.

A 2008 Deloitte survey of organisations that had undergone at least one green building retrofit in the US found that 93% of respondents found it easier to attract talent after their renovation, with 81% reporting greater employee retention. Every company surveyed reported an increase in goodwill and brand equity. Closer to home, leading corporate such as ANZ, Google and Accenture have recognised that operating from Green Star-rated facilities can not only boost performance, but also attract and retain staff.

ANZ's new global headquarters, the ANZ Centre in Melbourne, is the largest 6 Star Green Star-rated building in Australia. The new building, which houses 6,500 staff, offers fresh air, natural light and easy access to outdoor open spaces. More than 500 bike spaces have been provided, alongside yoga and Pilates classes, physiotherapy and massage at the ANZ Wellness Centre. ANZ's Green Star rating is part of its employee attraction and retention program, saying that the new headquarters "was designed and developed with great care and consideration for employees, with facilities and services available that enhance the working environment and promote health and wellbeing".

The Green Building Council of Australia's post-occupancy survey of its own 5 Star Green Star-rated office, known as The GreenHouse, found that 95% of all staff had a positive or very positive perception of their new workplace. One staff member even said that it was a "one-of-a-kind office and I feel very privileged to be able to work here. None of my previous offices have made me want to come to work".

Green buildings are more affordable than ever before. A 5 Star Green Star-rated building is now considered cost neutral when compared with its non-green counterpart, and the ongoing operational costs are significantly less. When productivity gains are factored in, it just makes good business sense to go green.

Ontario's city hall goes green

ONTARIO - When city officials committed to building a more sustainable community, they knew the only way to achieve it was if they took the lead. That's what they did with the renovation of City Hall.

The $21.9 million building incorporates sustainable practices that will not only reduce the city's carbon footprint but lead to energy savings and cost savings over time.

"It's important that we not only set the pace but set the example," Councilman Jim Bowman said.

The building has been designed to meet Silver LEED certification standards. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized green building certification system. Meanwhile, the sustainable design status is given by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Work on LEED certification started as soon as officials embarked on the 19-month demolition and construction process, and in order to improve their chances of reaching the silver rating, Ontario officials had to be certain that they recycled as much material as possible from the demolition of the interior of the building. All waste was separated into various types thus minimising the impact on the landfill – a move that was simple enough for the city which already maintains an active recycling program.

To bring the old building into the 21st century, energy efficient lighting has been installed. Windows in the building have also been double paned, to retain heat. Another portion of the project was improving the plaza area in the interior courtyard of the building. Trees and new seating have been brought in and a metal shade structure now surrounds the windows. The structure will help block the direct sunlight that would otherwise hit the building.

In the courtyard, as well throughout the entire building, officials have placed California drought tolerant plants. In an effort to save even more water a drip irrigation system was installed underneath the plants, which releases water directly to the roots.

The city has removed the cement and installed permeable pavers around the building. The change will allow water to seep into the ground rather than creating groundwater runoff. However, the project continues to extend itself to the parking lot, with officials earning extra points in providing specific parking spots for fuel efficient vehicles.

The city of Ontario is currently preparing for a re-dedication ceremony for the newly renovated City Hall.

Incentives 'can help home-owners go green'

Incentives, such as garden makeovers and fruit and veg vouchers, could help home-owners invest in energy efficiency measures, a pilot scheme has shown.

But the study found that more had to be done to convince people of the merits of flood protection devices, even if they lived in high flood risk areas. The trial by the University of Salford set out to discover if non-cash incentives could change attitudes. Studies have estimated that 70% of homes in 2050 have already been built.

Experts warn that unless existing homes are "retro-fitted" with energy saving devices, then the UK will not meet its target of cutting CO2 emissions by 80% in the middle of this century from 1990 levels.

Tempting technology

In the small-scale trial, 50 households in Timperley, near Manchester, were offered surveys to assess the houses' energy efficiency and vulnerability to flooding.

They were then offered a selection of non-cash rewards, including public transport season tickets and access to further education courses, if they decided to go ahead and invest in devices to reduce energy use or protect their homes from flooding.

Out of the 50 homes, 25 agreed to have a survey carried out. Five households then went on to have their homes improved, while a further seven were undecided at the time the team produced its interim report.

The trial was funded by the Environment Agency and Trafford Borough Council.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said that one-in-six homes in England and Wales were at risk from flooding.

"The Environment Agency has completed 225 new defences in the past four years, increasing protection to over 198,000 properties, but flooding cannot be entirely prevented," he told BBC News.

"We urge people to check whether their property is at risk by signing up to the Agency's free flood warning service to get free alerts.

"Individuals and businesses can also help make their properties more resistant to flooding using specialised flood products."

Erik Bichard, who led the research team, explained why incentives could have a role to play as a policy tool to improve the take-up of green technology. "Psychologists have been trying to tell us about how people make decisions for some time, it just has not filtered through to this area," he said.

Professor Bichard said there were five main areas that affected people's decision-making processes:

- Understanding the issue
- Caring about the issue
- Knowing what to do
- Will doing something solve the problem?
- What will people think?

He went on to explain how the offer of rewards could influence how people made up their minds.

"Some of these areas are cognitive, intellectual, fact-based reasons, such as: Is there a problem? What can I do about it? Will it work?

"Incentives by-pass a lot of that thinking and take people straight to the question: 'If I do this then will I be better off than before'?"

One of the participants, Barbara Tarbuck, decided to pay for a new boiler to be installed in return for a garden makeover and fruit-and-veg vouchers.

Despite living in a relatively modern home, she explained that she agreed to a survey because she wanted to know what measures were already present in the house.

"I also wanted to see what I could do to reduce energy bills, so I was quite intrigued to see what ideas they came up with," she said.

Mrs Tarbuck also welcomed the idea of offering non-cash rewards: "It is alright to have a little grant to have a little bit to put towards the cost, but I am seeing benefits in two sorts of ways.

"I probably would never spend money on a garden makeover, I would have kept it for what you might call more practical things."

Tough choices

In the trial, all five households that decided to improve their properties all went for energy saving measures, with none choosing to reduce their homes' vulnerability to flooding.

Professor Bichard and his team asked people why they had decided against spending money on flood protection measures.

"About half of the people were put off by the price of flood protection," he said, adding that two door guards and some air brick covers would cost almost £2,000.

"Although we were proposing to reward back the full amount, the economic situation [meant that] people just did not have that sort of cash in the bank to make that sort of investment."

Mrs Tarbuck was among this group. She explained: "I went for the larger outlay of getting a boiler fitted. I am not saying I will not do it in the future, as I still have the report and what was recommended."

Professor Bichard said that the other half of participants were sceptical as to whether it was necessary to spend the money in the first place.

"They simply did not believe that flooding was ever going to affect their house, even though the Environment Agency's statistics show that they lived in a flood threatened area and they really needed to take responsibility to protect their house.

"That is interesting because even with the amount of incentives that we were offering, it just was not enough to overcome the fourth 'will it work' reservation."

NEC To Focus On New Ideas For 'Green Brunei'

Asia Inc Forum has officially announced the date for the next National Environment Conference, and also given details on what is to be expected.

Now in its fourth year, the National Environment Conference (NEC) will take place at the Rizqun International Hotel on June 8, with the theme "Green Brunei: New Ideas for a Sustainable Country".

The conference will focus on the state of the environment and the priorities for Brunei including water, marine conservation, disaster preparedness, green business sustainability and youth advocacy.

It will also feature overseas speakers from Singapore and Australia who will assess how we can best adapt to our changing climate.

The conference will coincide with the "Youth Go Green Initiative Awards", an event held to recognise the contribution of the young citizens of Brunei in promoting environmental awareness on the effects of climate change and global warming as well as stimulating their creative minds in taking action to save the environment for their future through innovative green solutions.

The 2011 Youth Go Green Initiative Awards will be founded under the theme "Saving the World, Saving Our Future", and is organised in collaboration with the Science, Technology and Environment Partnership (STEP) Centre, Ministry of Education.

Another feature at the upcoming NEC will be the "Green Showcase", an exhibition of initiatives or programmes by Asia Inc Forum's corporate partners and local businesses in promoting products and services, which will be open to the public.

Also to be showcased are the outstanding and shortlisted entries of the 2011 Youth Go Green Initiative Awards and projects by the next generation, including the "ISB Short Eco Video Competition" which aims to educate the public about the importance and relevance of taking action and adopting a green lifestyle.

For more information and to register for the conference, the awards or the exhibition, you can visit Asia Inc Forum's website, www.asiaincforum.com.

Filipino Architect Takes Living Green to New Heights

MANILA, Philippines - “80 percent of green design is common sense,” says Aya Maceda, a Filipino architect based in Australia. As a senior associate at Popov Bass architects, one of the most prestigious architectural practices in Australia, Aya constantly works on finding green solutions as well as coming up with elegant designs.

“My job deals with working on the design in the early stages, conceptualizing,” she says. Aya heads the interiors division of the office as well. She describes the Popov Bass aesthetic as “Modernist, but with warmth, with good quality light coming into the building.” She adds, “Our buildings have a light and airy feel and are known for fine details.”

Architect Aya Maceda describes the Popov Bass aesthetic as modernist, but with warmth, finished with fine details. Sensitivity to the environment is essential to their design philosophy.

Aya grew up in Manila, with a love for travel. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in Architecture at the University of the Philippines. “I was on my way to take my masters in the States,” she shares, but fate had a different plan. When Aya received the Philip Recto design award for her thesis, she earned a scholarship in Singapore. “I just went with it,” she says. “I worked there for two years.” Eventually finding her way to Australia, Aya worked with FJMT Architects, winning awards for her work. She then decided to shift focus to concentrate on residential work and applied for Popov Bass.

“I’ve grown with the company,” Aya says. “Now I’m part of those spearheading the company, bringing it into the future.

At Popov Bass, Aya explains, “We always examine what the site is, what the challenges are and we design from there. It is important to assess where you are, especially in the extreme harsh Australian coastal environment.”

Along with their green design philosophy, Popov Bass uses predominantly recycled materials, incorporates provisions for rainwater collection, cross-flow ventilation, and automatic sunshades to create environmentally-sensitive designs.

“We use water efficient fixtures and energy efficient lighting,” says Aya on some of the environment-friendly interior details. “We make sure that our design blends in harmony and is not imposing to the landscape.”

“I want to reconnect with my roots,” says Aya. “I’m doing a lot of great work in Australia and I’m really hoping that I can come back and participate in the design culture in the Philippines.”

The design solutions that Popov Bass applies in Australia are definitely possible as well in the Philippines, Aya says, noting that the country is similar in climate as Northern Australia. “If you know how to address a site, you can design pretty much anywhere.”

The technology for green architecture is available in the Philippines, she readily points out. “It’s just a matter of getting the client to commit to using these technologies.”

It is also important, she adds, for the government to back green architecture with legislation.

This commitment to employ green architecture design solutions, both from the government as well as the private sector, is what is needed today. “It should be, because we have no choice,” says Aya. “We’re facing so many global environment issues. Being environmentally conscious is a necessity.”

Aya Maceda is only one of many people in various fields who have begun the trek towards saving what is left of our environment. Living green is going global – don’t get left behind!

Eco – Friendly Easter Baskets created by Moms for the family to enjoy!

New York, NY - When two best friends decided to join forces to create simple yet fun family-friendly activity kits in 2009, they would never have dreamed how popular their creations would become.

Alison Zajac and Ailis Martin conceptualized packaging some of their family-fun projects for retail when they noticed how many other parents commented on the unique crafts and hobbies that the two moms did with the neighborhood children.

"We would bring our children to the beach when they were little, and make plaster molds of their feet in the sand," Alison commented, "It never failed that other parents would come up and ask if they could join us and do the same. That's how Sandy Feet, our first kit, came to be. We realized if we could make these hobbies easier for parents to do with their own kids, they would be more likely to get their family to participate in these activities. Family activities are not only fun and educational, but they create priceless memories that last forever."

This Easter season Spots and Ladybugs introduces the original Easter Grass-kit™, where kids can grow real grass in their Easter baskets, creating beautiful springtime decorations, wonderful memories, and leaving a fresh treat for a certain hungry bunny on Easter morning, not unlike leaving milk and cookies out for Santa! This earth-friendly alternative to wasteful plastic "grass" also provides children an educational experience as they track the seed growth daily, watching it sprout into lush green blades growing to clipping length in only 7 short days.

Parents nowadays are just so consumed by taxing routines at work and even the daily grind at home. Activities that are prepared and ready to enjoy make it easier for families to come together and spend quality time being creative with crafts that are good for the environment as well.

About Spots and Ladybug, LLC:
Spots and Ladybugs, LLC is a burgeoning manufacturer of innovative fun-time activity products. Designed with family fun in mind, Spots and Ladybugs designs and develops a growing collection of project and hobby kits that are easy to use for all ages. Spots and Ladybugs offers a unique selection of activity kits that are designed to inspire children's creativity and self-confidence while creating memorable moments between parents and children alike.

For more information visit: www.spotsandladybugs.com.

A Mother’s Plea – Mother Earth, That Is.

A major US science conference was held last Sunday, whereby concerns were raised over the effect of a continually growing population on the planet. The United Nations has predicted that by the end of this year, the global population would have reached seven billion – and may escalate to nine billion by the year 2050.

What does this mean? Basically a rapid growth in the population would lead to an increase in food production – however, bear in mind that we already have a scarcity in resources as it is. If current trends carry on as they have been, by the year 2050 our children and grandchildren could very well be residing in an unrecognizable world.


Being that incomes are expected to rise as well in the coming decades- tripling globally and quintupling in developing nations- this development ensures added strain to global food supplies.

To feed all those mouths, we will need to produce as much food in the next 40 years as we have in the last 8,000! People tend to move up the food chain as their incomes rise, consuming more meat than they might have when they made less money.

It takes around seven pounds (3.4 kilograms) of grain to produce a pound of meat, and around three to four pounds of grain to produce a pound of cheese or eggs. The standing possibility is this - more people, more money, more consumption, but the same planet. Thus, scientists and governments are being urged to start making changes now on how food is produced.

Meanwhile, population experts are now calling for attention to be drawn on more funding for family planning programs to help control the growth in the number of humans, especially in developing nations.

For the past two decades, very little investment has been aimed toward family planning. However that has begun to change, partly because of the environmental factors like global warming and food prices. Minimizing population growth is one of the key factors in making a significant alteration to the predicted outcome, and the only feasible way of going about that is through effective family planning.

Our moment is here, and the time is now. Ask yourself this - what good will a pretty penny do for you and your family if we all live to see the day that the Earth is spoilt beyond recognition? Take this into consideration when you find yourself making decisions day by day, and I implore you to be a little more conscientious in the way you choose to live your life. Do it for the future of your family, and for the planet, the one home in which we thrive. Mother Earth has always been generous in providing for our needs, and it’s high time we did our part in protecting and restoring her to her splendour.

Toys for Tots – Safe for your child, kind to our Earth

It’s everywhere – on billboards, the television, radio ads and magazines. It won’t be long before all nations come together and “go green”. We read about eco friendly homes, with tips and advice on the how-to’s in going about this lifestyle change.

Anything and everything that could possibly entice you, pique your curiosity or encourage you to continue to take steps towards being kinder to the Earth is lain before you with one click of a mouse and a few key words.

So who’s to say that only grown ups can enjoy the benefits of going green? We all know the cliché, the future lies in the hands of our children; well the cheery toymakers of Rubbabu have taken it a step further.

Wilmington, DE-based Rubbabu Inc. has been focusing on their mission which is to create simple, classic, colorful and safe toys.

In 2010, while millions of toys were recalled from the marketplace due to concerns of high levels of lead and choking dangers, Rubbabu was raking in high level awards from one of the most discriminating industries in the nation.

Confusion surrounding various product lines often leave parents scrambling to find quality toys that are educational, eco-friendly and guaranteed safe.

At Rubbabu, much emphasis is given to ensuring that each toy created is simple, educational and made with love.

With more than 200 children’s toys ranging from finger puppets to building blocks, puzzles to magnetic upper case letters and action vehicles to animals on wheels, Rubbabu’s Toy Collection has been proven to be safe both for the planet and the children.

The Toys are crafted from pure natural rubber foam obtained direct from the rubber tree. And by extracting the sap without cutting down trees, Rubbabu ensures the entire process is fully sustainable. The company is also particular about the sources from which it acquires its ingredients, purchasing raw materials from Switzerland (yes, you read that correctly), the UK, America and Malaysia.

Their foam toys avoid the infusion of potentially harmful synthetic fillers. The toys themselves are eco-friendly as the company has adopted the mission of being as close as possible to fully-green, with only 1.2 percent of their production cost funding energy usage.

The response from the market has been quite positive – more and more parents and teachers, aunts, uncles and grandparents have become more aware of the state our world is in, and kudos to them for doing something about it.

And to the creators of Rubbabu toys, cheers and more power to you as you provide children all over the world with quality toys that actually do help make our earth a greener place to live.

For additional information about the Rubbabu line of handmade natural toys, visit www.rubbabu.com.