Understanding an Ecosystem
No one lives in a vacuum, we might say, and the same is true of nature. Just as people need other people to get connected and learn to survive, so do other natural elements in the universe and on planet Earth. While it may be difficult for most of us to comprehend the universe with the naked eye, we can go out and study the world around us without the use of even a microscope as long as we have some idea of what we're looking for. Studying a microcosm, or smaller world of organic activity, can help us to understand larger principles and systems at work on a major scale.
As schoolchildren, we study the basic physical sciences, including biology, physics, chemistry, and geology. College students will learn even more about some of these topics in fulfilling the general education requirements for just about any diploma. Yet, because few of us study all the sciences at length, we often do not understand very much about the way the natural world works. That's why personal study of a nearby ecosystem may help to expand our knowledge base in useful ways.
Start by reading an introductory lesson on the type of system you want to study. It might be about a woodland area, a bog or marsh, a river or pond, or a plain or meadow. You could study a farmer's crop of corn or beans, or a neighbor's trickling stream. Wherever you look in the rural outdoors, you can find a mini-system of natural principles operating to support a variety of life forms. If you have kids or grandchildren, or teach school or children's church, you may even want to arrange a field trip for an hour or so to let them learn about nature the experiential way. Go over the basic guidelines for identifying an ecosystem and how the parts work together to create a system that supports living creatures and plants.
Choose a good-weather day for the expedition. If you plan to investigate a neighbor's property, get permission first. Be sure there are no safety hazards like swampland, ditches, or gas lines that someone could stumble over. Let everyone know the boundaries for the study project, along with an idea of what to look for. Then it might be a good idea to pair everyone in two's to keep anyone from wandering off or getting lost. Another advantage to twosomes is they can check their impressions with each other to clarify findings.
Have everyone describe the terrain, the climactic and environmental conditions, and the dominant weather cycles for the region. They can do this afterward in discussion or take notes while in the field. Then they should look for typical life forms in the area, including species and genus, if they know how to classify organisms. Otherwise, a simple list by common names is fine. They should at least be able to separate insects from mammals, and so on. Animal tracks can be used as evidence in lieu of seeing the actual creature, like deer, for example.
The next step is to find water, air, and food sources that support the living things. Applying known rules or principles to actual observations will provide a rich and personal learning experience. In the notes or via discussion, explain how everything in the area works together to support an environmental life chain.
This type of activity makes a great family excursion or a fun hobby for an individual. Try it sometime to see whether you enjoy reading physical history in the great outdoors.
Study the fascinating aspects of our planet by checking out Ecology Study at http://www.ecologystudy.com
Friday, May 9, 2008
Household Energy Saving Tips
Household Energy Saving Tips
Each room or area of your household, including the outdoors, can contribute to making the process of saving energy an efficient one, with undeniable results.
Thus, the attic, for example, is an area which plays a huge role in the energy management of your home, which is why you have to constantly make sure the door of your attic is well insulated. Keep an eye also on the ventilation system, as it is highly recommended for this space of your house to receive good air ventilation.
Another area of the house which might be causing energy efficiency problems is the bathroom, due to the fact that here the humidity level is always higher. As a consequence, it is advisable to fix any leaky faucets promptly, as studies show that one single leak of one drop per second will in fact waste the huge amount of 250 gallons of water per month, as well as the energy used to heat it. Another tip on saving water is to install water saving shower heads. Obviously, the most efficient modalities of saving both water and energy are related to being self-conscious and taking shorter showers, turning off the water while shaving or brushing your teeth. Moreover, adjusting the water heater thermostat at a temperature below than 120 degrees F will contribute to both reducing the cost of energy spent on heating and to preventing scalding.
As far as the bedrooms go, and especially the ones for guests, it is recommended to turn off the air conditioning or the heating vents in the rooms you do not use. In addition, for these rooms ceiling fans seem to be the best and energy efficient manner for cooling.
All these smart and easy to put into practice energy saving techniques will eventually turn out to be real solutions for lowering the bills and contributing to keep under control the overall energy consumption.
Each room or area of your household, including the outdoors, can contribute to making the process of saving energy an efficient one, with undeniable results.
Thus, the attic, for example, is an area which plays a huge role in the energy management of your home, which is why you have to constantly make sure the door of your attic is well insulated. Keep an eye also on the ventilation system, as it is highly recommended for this space of your house to receive good air ventilation.
Another area of the house which might be causing energy efficiency problems is the bathroom, due to the fact that here the humidity level is always higher. As a consequence, it is advisable to fix any leaky faucets promptly, as studies show that one single leak of one drop per second will in fact waste the huge amount of 250 gallons of water per month, as well as the energy used to heat it. Another tip on saving water is to install water saving shower heads. Obviously, the most efficient modalities of saving both water and energy are related to being self-conscious and taking shorter showers, turning off the water while shaving or brushing your teeth. Moreover, adjusting the water heater thermostat at a temperature below than 120 degrees F will contribute to both reducing the cost of energy spent on heating and to preventing scalding.
As far as the bedrooms go, and especially the ones for guests, it is recommended to turn off the air conditioning or the heating vents in the rooms you do not use. In addition, for these rooms ceiling fans seem to be the best and energy efficient manner for cooling.
All these smart and easy to put into practice energy saving techniques will eventually turn out to be real solutions for lowering the bills and contributing to keep under control the overall energy consumption.
Identify the ways to save energy
Identify the ways to save energy
People have started to be more and more aware about the fact that they need to save energy in their household for a variety of reasons. The first reason, which is in fact the one that mostly affects them, is related to the financial aspect. Thus, by teaching the household members some practical strategies of being energy efficient, the amount to be paid for the utilities bills will automatically be drastically reduced.
On the other hand, due to well organized campaigns and to intensive educational activities carried out by an extremely large number of environment friendly organizations, people have, furthermore, started to place a greater accent on how crucial it is for the future of us all to protect the planet.
Anyways, in order to start being energy efficient, there are a few steps very useful in identifying the problems, in figuring out which are the precise areas of the house where the largest amounts of electrical energy are consumed in vain. Fist of all, one has to know that there two possible ways to identify these areas: one is by means of performing a simple home audit by yourself or by contracting a professional, in the person of an independent energy auditor, who can explain and advice you on these matters.
The questions you have to make sure you do not fail to ask yourself are related to how much you are currently spending on energy; where exactly in the house is the area with your most significant energy losses; what period of time would an investment in a energy efficient method demand before paying for itself in real energy savings; would you have to use the help of a professional or could you implement the system yourself?
Answering all these questions is definitely going to lead to a profound understanding of any energy consumption problems that might exist in your household, as well as to discovering the most recommended techniques that might be able to lead to greatly reducing the amount of energy unnecessarily wasted.
People have started to be more and more aware about the fact that they need to save energy in their household for a variety of reasons. The first reason, which is in fact the one that mostly affects them, is related to the financial aspect. Thus, by teaching the household members some practical strategies of being energy efficient, the amount to be paid for the utilities bills will automatically be drastically reduced.
On the other hand, due to well organized campaigns and to intensive educational activities carried out by an extremely large number of environment friendly organizations, people have, furthermore, started to place a greater accent on how crucial it is for the future of us all to protect the planet.
Anyways, in order to start being energy efficient, there are a few steps very useful in identifying the problems, in figuring out which are the precise areas of the house where the largest amounts of electrical energy are consumed in vain. Fist of all, one has to know that there two possible ways to identify these areas: one is by means of performing a simple home audit by yourself or by contracting a professional, in the person of an independent energy auditor, who can explain and advice you on these matters.
The questions you have to make sure you do not fail to ask yourself are related to how much you are currently spending on energy; where exactly in the house is the area with your most significant energy losses; what period of time would an investment in a energy efficient method demand before paying for itself in real energy savings; would you have to use the help of a professional or could you implement the system yourself?
Answering all these questions is definitely going to lead to a profound understanding of any energy consumption problems that might exist in your household, as well as to discovering the most recommended techniques that might be able to lead to greatly reducing the amount of energy unnecessarily wasted.
Tips on being energy efficient
Tips on being energy efficient
If you realize the monthly bills that you are paying for energy mainly are tremendously high, then you probably are seriously thinking about identifying the most efficient ways that might eventually lead to reducing your costs.
It is generally accepted that in order to try to identify solutions for any problems it is mandatory to conduct a correct and efficient assessment of the real situation. In this case, in order to correctly identify the issues that might be solved or corrected, you have to know that there are two options available. First of all, you have to know that you can conduct the house auditing by yourself answering a set of questions or secondly, you can turn to a specialist, who can come and carry out the assessment for you.
In case you elect the first option, here are some of the important things that you need to check on your list and which are going to be able to assist you in determining the existence of any problems:
• Verify the level of insulation in your exterior and basement walls, ceilings, crawl spaces, attic and floors. If you are not precisely sure how to do it correctly, contact your local contractor, in order to get professional advice.
• Make sure that there are no holes or cracks in your ceilings, windows, walls, doors, electrical outlets etc., because they can leak air into and out of your home, which makes your house less energy efficient than you actually would want it to be.
• It is also highly advisable to make sure that there are no open fireplace dampers.
• Furthermore, make sure that both your appliances and your cooling and heating systems are working properly and are properly maintained.
• Keep in mind that a lot of the energy that we consume is actually wasted on the lighting needs of the household members. As a consequence, it is strongly recommended to identify the areas in the house with the most increased energy consumption, such as the living room or the kitchen and to replace the traditional light bulbs with energy efficient ones, as for example with compact fluorescent lamps.
If you realize the monthly bills that you are paying for energy mainly are tremendously high, then you probably are seriously thinking about identifying the most efficient ways that might eventually lead to reducing your costs.
It is generally accepted that in order to try to identify solutions for any problems it is mandatory to conduct a correct and efficient assessment of the real situation. In this case, in order to correctly identify the issues that might be solved or corrected, you have to know that there are two options available. First of all, you have to know that you can conduct the house auditing by yourself answering a set of questions or secondly, you can turn to a specialist, who can come and carry out the assessment for you.
In case you elect the first option, here are some of the important things that you need to check on your list and which are going to be able to assist you in determining the existence of any problems:
• Verify the level of insulation in your exterior and basement walls, ceilings, crawl spaces, attic and floors. If you are not precisely sure how to do it correctly, contact your local contractor, in order to get professional advice.
• Make sure that there are no holes or cracks in your ceilings, windows, walls, doors, electrical outlets etc., because they can leak air into and out of your home, which makes your house less energy efficient than you actually would want it to be.
• It is also highly advisable to make sure that there are no open fireplace dampers.
• Furthermore, make sure that both your appliances and your cooling and heating systems are working properly and are properly maintained.
• Keep in mind that a lot of the energy that we consume is actually wasted on the lighting needs of the household members. As a consequence, it is strongly recommended to identify the areas in the house with the most increased energy consumption, such as the living room or the kitchen and to replace the traditional light bulbs with energy efficient ones, as for example with compact fluorescent lamps.
Save Energy
Be Power Smart and Save Energy
Before people can be informed on the options that they have when it comes to turning their house into an energy efficient household, they need to know why it is so important to save energy. Unfortunately, most of the time, due to the fact that people are too busy to be interested or are simply overwhelmed with the everyday problems, it makes no sense to them to care about energy saving issues.
However, there are environmental organizations that are doing a great job at explaining to people why we all need to bother to save energy. These groups are frequently organizing conferences and workshops, are publishing brochures and flyers and are trying to offer as much assistance as possible, in order to make people stay focused on these environmental and energy efficient issues, which are many times neglected. Thus, people are clearly explained in which manner saving energy positively affects the amount they pay for the utilities, how it increases their level of comfort and to what extent they can contribute to reducing pollution.
It has been proven that a lot of people believe that being energy efficient is a sacrifice and do not realize that in fact it means getting the most out of every unit of energy that they pay for. Furthermore, it is vital for them to understand that appropriate insulation can contribute to both increasing the comfort level and to substantially reducing the utilities costs. To always stay on the safe side, as far as energy consumption goes, it is highly recommended to only purchase environment friendly and energy efficient appliances.
Easy to follow and to put into practice tips related to saving energy techniques include a special attention, when adjusting the thermostat, which controls the temperature in the whole house. Keep in mind that the house needs time to warm up and setting the temperature at a really high level will not do any good and moreover, you might actually forget to turn it back to the normal level, which will inevitably result into a waste of money and energy.
Before people can be informed on the options that they have when it comes to turning their house into an energy efficient household, they need to know why it is so important to save energy. Unfortunately, most of the time, due to the fact that people are too busy to be interested or are simply overwhelmed with the everyday problems, it makes no sense to them to care about energy saving issues.
However, there are environmental organizations that are doing a great job at explaining to people why we all need to bother to save energy. These groups are frequently organizing conferences and workshops, are publishing brochures and flyers and are trying to offer as much assistance as possible, in order to make people stay focused on these environmental and energy efficient issues, which are many times neglected. Thus, people are clearly explained in which manner saving energy positively affects the amount they pay for the utilities, how it increases their level of comfort and to what extent they can contribute to reducing pollution.
It has been proven that a lot of people believe that being energy efficient is a sacrifice and do not realize that in fact it means getting the most out of every unit of energy that they pay for. Furthermore, it is vital for them to understand that appropriate insulation can contribute to both increasing the comfort level and to substantially reducing the utilities costs. To always stay on the safe side, as far as energy consumption goes, it is highly recommended to only purchase environment friendly and energy efficient appliances.
Easy to follow and to put into practice tips related to saving energy techniques include a special attention, when adjusting the thermostat, which controls the temperature in the whole house. Keep in mind that the house needs time to warm up and setting the temperature at a really high level will not do any good and moreover, you might actually forget to turn it back to the normal level, which will inevitably result into a waste of money and energy.
Energy Efficient
Why Buy Energy Efficient Appliances?
When purchasing a new home appliance, a lot of people have the tendency to go straight to the discount department and select the cheapest models available. Sometimes the difference in price can be indeed significant, but is it really worth it?
You have to be aware that most of the time, the cheapest models of appliances are far from being the most energy efficient ones, which is why is highly recommended to select the model which is likely to produce future benefits, rather than just having a reduced price on the shelf. In other words, if you end up by buying a fridge that is more expensive than the discounted models, but has, on the other hand, the energy saving option available, you will discover that it is worth the extra money because the energy costs will be reduced.
In order to make sure the appliance you are about to purchase has the right kind of features there are some simple steps to follow: carefully read the label or the user guide; try to compare the energy consumption for apparently similar models; do not forget to consider both the price and the estimated energy consumption when deciding on a specific model.
The main reason, however, for which you should turn towards an energy efficient model, is related, first of all, to the amount you pay for your utility bills. However, it is as well, very important to keep in mind the fact that the use of all these appliances help reducing the pollution in the air and conserving natural resources.
Despite the fact the majority of the home appliance brands available on the market do meet energy conservation standards, you have to be aware that some models are more energy efficient than others, which is why you should not hurry into taking any decision, before reviewing all the possible options.
Detailed information about energy saving, including tips on household savings and environmental issues, are available at http://www.energyshack.com/
When purchasing a new home appliance, a lot of people have the tendency to go straight to the discount department and select the cheapest models available. Sometimes the difference in price can be indeed significant, but is it really worth it?
You have to be aware that most of the time, the cheapest models of appliances are far from being the most energy efficient ones, which is why is highly recommended to select the model which is likely to produce future benefits, rather than just having a reduced price on the shelf. In other words, if you end up by buying a fridge that is more expensive than the discounted models, but has, on the other hand, the energy saving option available, you will discover that it is worth the extra money because the energy costs will be reduced.
In order to make sure the appliance you are about to purchase has the right kind of features there are some simple steps to follow: carefully read the label or the user guide; try to compare the energy consumption for apparently similar models; do not forget to consider both the price and the estimated energy consumption when deciding on a specific model.
The main reason, however, for which you should turn towards an energy efficient model, is related, first of all, to the amount you pay for your utility bills. However, it is as well, very important to keep in mind the fact that the use of all these appliances help reducing the pollution in the air and conserving natural resources.
Despite the fact the majority of the home appliance brands available on the market do meet energy conservation standards, you have to be aware that some models are more energy efficient than others, which is why you should not hurry into taking any decision, before reviewing all the possible options.
Detailed information about energy saving, including tips on household savings and environmental issues, are available at http://www.energyshack.com/
Smart Energy Tips
Smart Energy Tips
It has become a very common reality for the majority of household owners to spend huge amounts of money on monthly utilities. Most of the time, the most expensive things we all have to pay for are related to heating and cooling the house, but, however, the use of home appliances can also make a difference in the overall cost of living for a common family.
In order to prevent spending unnecessary amounts of money, for a quality of life that we can obtain cheaper, it is always good to keep in mind a series of simple energy saving techniques, which eventually are going to make a consistent difference in the overall utility cost. These techniques or tips can be easily put into practice and moreover, they can be adapted to the necessities of each household, in order to maximize the percentage of energy saved.
Thus, the living room, for example, can be heated during the warm season by simply keeping the shades on the south-facing windows open during the day and closed during the night, instead of using artificial form of heating. In addition, to avoid undesired chilling of the room, make sure the fireplace damper is closed, when the fire is not burning. Moreover, if you never use your fireplace, it is recommended to plug and seal the chimney flue.
As far as the kitchen energy tips go, it is advisable to keep the preheating time of the oven to a minimum and try to open the oven door as few times as possible, because you actually loose heat with every single opening. When cooking, make sure you cover the pots and pans with lids, so that you keep the temperature high and reduce cooking time.
Thinking about minor details, such as switching off the light when you go out of a room and saving water when you brush your teeth, will eventually result into an important difference, as far as the amount of money you have to spend on your utilities bills.
Detailed information about energy saving, including tips on household savings and environmental issues, are available at http://www.energyshack.com/
It has become a very common reality for the majority of household owners to spend huge amounts of money on monthly utilities. Most of the time, the most expensive things we all have to pay for are related to heating and cooling the house, but, however, the use of home appliances can also make a difference in the overall cost of living for a common family.
In order to prevent spending unnecessary amounts of money, for a quality of life that we can obtain cheaper, it is always good to keep in mind a series of simple energy saving techniques, which eventually are going to make a consistent difference in the overall utility cost. These techniques or tips can be easily put into practice and moreover, they can be adapted to the necessities of each household, in order to maximize the percentage of energy saved.
Thus, the living room, for example, can be heated during the warm season by simply keeping the shades on the south-facing windows open during the day and closed during the night, instead of using artificial form of heating. In addition, to avoid undesired chilling of the room, make sure the fireplace damper is closed, when the fire is not burning. Moreover, if you never use your fireplace, it is recommended to plug and seal the chimney flue.
As far as the kitchen energy tips go, it is advisable to keep the preheating time of the oven to a minimum and try to open the oven door as few times as possible, because you actually loose heat with every single opening. When cooking, make sure you cover the pots and pans with lids, so that you keep the temperature high and reduce cooking time.
Thinking about minor details, such as switching off the light when you go out of a room and saving water when you brush your teeth, will eventually result into an important difference, as far as the amount of money you have to spend on your utilities bills.
Detailed information about energy saving, including tips on household savings and environmental issues, are available at http://www.energyshack.com/
Energy Plan
Design Your Saving Energy Plan
At least once in a while and most likely when the utility bills are delivered people seriously consider finding a good energy plan that might be helpful in assisting them with implementing some techniques that will result efficient in what concerns reducing the amount of energy consumed in their household.
There are some basic things that anybody can check and fix, if necessary, that can contribute to improving the overall energy saving in a home, which include, for example, identifying any possible cavities in the walls. You should know that wall cavities are actually the prime result of 33% of the overall heat lost in your house, which is why an insulation of the walls might constitute one of the most cost efficient manners to save energy at home. It is relevant to mention that a well-performed cavity wall insulation will have as a direct result a cool house during summer and a warm indoor atmosphere during winter.
Moreover, it is also recommended to check your boiler and its functionality and more than that it would be really good to try to carry out this action during summer time, so that in case you find anything wrong with it you have the time to fix it. Studies show that old boilers are one of the main causes of domestic energy lost. As a consequence, a new and energy efficient boiler might actually result into a real method of saving up to a third of the amount that you are currently paying for your heating bills.
In case you decide you need to purchase any sort of new appliances for your home, make sure you buy only the electrical appliances that have the energy saving logo on them. You should be able to find it on most of the appliances, starting even with light bulbs.
All these small and apparently insignificant details are sure to make a difference in the overall energy consumption of your household, so do not hesitate to keep them in mind!
Detailed information about energy saving, including tips on household savings and environmental issues, are available at http://www.energyshack.com/
At least once in a while and most likely when the utility bills are delivered people seriously consider finding a good energy plan that might be helpful in assisting them with implementing some techniques that will result efficient in what concerns reducing the amount of energy consumed in their household.
There are some basic things that anybody can check and fix, if necessary, that can contribute to improving the overall energy saving in a home, which include, for example, identifying any possible cavities in the walls. You should know that wall cavities are actually the prime result of 33% of the overall heat lost in your house, which is why an insulation of the walls might constitute one of the most cost efficient manners to save energy at home. It is relevant to mention that a well-performed cavity wall insulation will have as a direct result a cool house during summer and a warm indoor atmosphere during winter.
Moreover, it is also recommended to check your boiler and its functionality and more than that it would be really good to try to carry out this action during summer time, so that in case you find anything wrong with it you have the time to fix it. Studies show that old boilers are one of the main causes of domestic energy lost. As a consequence, a new and energy efficient boiler might actually result into a real method of saving up to a third of the amount that you are currently paying for your heating bills.
In case you decide you need to purchase any sort of new appliances for your home, make sure you buy only the electrical appliances that have the energy saving logo on them. You should be able to find it on most of the appliances, starting even with light bulbs.
All these small and apparently insignificant details are sure to make a difference in the overall energy consumption of your household, so do not hesitate to keep them in mind!
Detailed information about energy saving, including tips on household savings and environmental issues, are available at http://www.energyshack.com/
Make It Safer
Is Indoor Air Safe? 4 Simple Steps to Make It Safer
It is true that we spend most of our time, almost 80% of it, in indoor spaces. We're used to worrying about the air outdoors. We complain about pollution, gas emissions and smog. However, indoor air can be more hazardous than outdoor air. That is due to the levels of humidity that are created in closed spaces, which support growth of bacteria and intensify the existing pollutants. The concentration of pollutants per unit of air can be 10 to 50 times greater indoors than out. Additionally, indoor air is perfectly absorbed and exchanged with fresh air. That leads to breathing higher concentration of pollutants per breath.
Some of the indoor air pollutants whose existence we know of include:
-Tobacco, which is generally known to cause cancer to smokers, what we don't know is that passive smokers also run a high risk of developing cancer, nose or throat irritations, bronchitis and asthma. Additionally, tobacco smoke, being thick, is not completely absorbed and/or exchanged with fresh air. It becomes smog that sits around the house.
-Volatile organic compounds are regularly used in houses. The name is tricky but the products are simple. Perfumes and hair sprays, various detergents, air fresheners, polishers, fragrance candles... these innocent products can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and nausea.
-Pesticides and other bug repellents cause respiratory irritation, impaired lung function and may even contribute to asthma and damage to the central nervous system.
-Animal dander, dust mites and pollen from indoor plants can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks to people with respiratory problems.
-Various bacteria also exist in our indoor air, as well as mold, mildew and fungi, which may cause eye, nose and respiratory irritation, skin rash and other allergic reactions.
-Some of the most dangerous pollutants indoor are radon asbestos, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and organic gases that cause respiratory irritations, nausea fatigue and headaches, contribute to lung cancer, liver and central nervous system damage.
Along with oxygen, we breathe these harmful substitutes every day. Let's see what we can do to purify our indoor air and protect our health.
-Use air-cleaning houseplants. Houseplants have the ability not only to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen but also to trap and absorb many pollutants through their natural process of photosynthesis. Luckily, plants are very effective at removing gases such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, benzene and cigarette smoke. The best air purifying plants are Aloe Vera, Bamboo palms, Dracaena palms, Spider plants, Philodendrons, Pothos and Chrysanthemums.
-Ventilate your space properly. Air-purification devices can reduce the amount of pollutants found in indoor air. Clean the filters regularly. You can use filters with activated carbon, which is very effective as pollutant gases are attracted by and stick to the carbon.
- Open the windows. That will allow the exchange of indoor air with fresh air letting many pollutants to escape. Create an air cross draft to clean the air faster.
-You shouldn't rely solely only on outdoor air to refresh your space. Outdoor air isn't completely clean; it contains many pollutants as well. The best way to keep air healthy is to eliminate the source of pollutants as much as possible. Be on the lookout and remove all products that contain petrochemicals.
Scientific research has shown increased evidence that indoor air pollution is one of the biggest environmental risks we face. Public-health experts coordinate to bring solutions, but meanwhile, take precautions, such as the ones listed above, to protect yours and your family's health.
It is true that we spend most of our time, almost 80% of it, in indoor spaces. We're used to worrying about the air outdoors. We complain about pollution, gas emissions and smog. However, indoor air can be more hazardous than outdoor air. That is due to the levels of humidity that are created in closed spaces, which support growth of bacteria and intensify the existing pollutants. The concentration of pollutants per unit of air can be 10 to 50 times greater indoors than out. Additionally, indoor air is perfectly absorbed and exchanged with fresh air. That leads to breathing higher concentration of pollutants per breath.
Some of the indoor air pollutants whose existence we know of include:
-Tobacco, which is generally known to cause cancer to smokers, what we don't know is that passive smokers also run a high risk of developing cancer, nose or throat irritations, bronchitis and asthma. Additionally, tobacco smoke, being thick, is not completely absorbed and/or exchanged with fresh air. It becomes smog that sits around the house.
-Volatile organic compounds are regularly used in houses. The name is tricky but the products are simple. Perfumes and hair sprays, various detergents, air fresheners, polishers, fragrance candles... these innocent products can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and nausea.
-Pesticides and other bug repellents cause respiratory irritation, impaired lung function and may even contribute to asthma and damage to the central nervous system.
-Animal dander, dust mites and pollen from indoor plants can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks to people with respiratory problems.
-Various bacteria also exist in our indoor air, as well as mold, mildew and fungi, which may cause eye, nose and respiratory irritation, skin rash and other allergic reactions.
-Some of the most dangerous pollutants indoor are radon asbestos, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and organic gases that cause respiratory irritations, nausea fatigue and headaches, contribute to lung cancer, liver and central nervous system damage.
Along with oxygen, we breathe these harmful substitutes every day. Let's see what we can do to purify our indoor air and protect our health.
-Use air-cleaning houseplants. Houseplants have the ability not only to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen but also to trap and absorb many pollutants through their natural process of photosynthesis. Luckily, plants are very effective at removing gases such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, benzene and cigarette smoke. The best air purifying plants are Aloe Vera, Bamboo palms, Dracaena palms, Spider plants, Philodendrons, Pothos and Chrysanthemums.
-Ventilate your space properly. Air-purification devices can reduce the amount of pollutants found in indoor air. Clean the filters regularly. You can use filters with activated carbon, which is very effective as pollutant gases are attracted by and stick to the carbon.
- Open the windows. That will allow the exchange of indoor air with fresh air letting many pollutants to escape. Create an air cross draft to clean the air faster.
-You shouldn't rely solely only on outdoor air to refresh your space. Outdoor air isn't completely clean; it contains many pollutants as well. The best way to keep air healthy is to eliminate the source of pollutants as much as possible. Be on the lookout and remove all products that contain petrochemicals.
Scientific research has shown increased evidence that indoor air pollution is one of the biggest environmental risks we face. Public-health experts coordinate to bring solutions, but meanwhile, take precautions, such as the ones listed above, to protect yours and your family's health.
Seals Can Sing
It sounds like a side show, doesn't it? It does to me. But it's true; researchers have discovered that some varieties of seals really do sing. Indeed, male leopard seals have been heard singing complex melodies in their lonely search for a mate. Likewise, male Weddell seals, which are a very social creature, lure their mate by improvising original melodies the way a master musician would in front of an audience.
Hearing that seals sing really shouldn't surprise any of us. Music is a central element of life. Walk through the forest at night in the eastern part of the United States and you can't help but be moved by the symphony of sound that is created when each woodland creature sings its part.
Music moves us, often in ways that we don't understand. For example who hasn't been calmed by the sound of quiet singing such as a lullaby? But more than that, who can explain why cows produce more milk and chickens lay more eggs when listening to certain songs like The Blue Danube? I've seen many studies that verify that these observations are true, but none that I've seen fully explain why.
Fortunately, we don't really have to understand why singing and music in general is so central to the world we live in to benefit from it. I doubt that Mozart or Beethoven understood it, but we have all benefited from the works of these two masters, both of whom seem to have benefited from listening to the birds sing. As a matter of fact, many people believe that Beethoven actually stole the opening to his Violin Concerto in D, Opus 61 from the song of the European Blackbird! Maybe, maybe not. But we know from Mozart's own notebooks that he played the last movement of his Piano Concerto in G Major to his pet starling who then sang the passage back to Mozart with revisions that impressed the master. Now that's singing worth noting!
So sing already! Join all of God's creatures in singing and making melody. In the animal kingdom that singing comes in all forms so there's no reason that any of us can't join in. We might as well, the more we learn of the world around us, the more we learn that singing and making music is central to life.
If seals can sing, so can you!
Hearing that seals sing really shouldn't surprise any of us. Music is a central element of life. Walk through the forest at night in the eastern part of the United States and you can't help but be moved by the symphony of sound that is created when each woodland creature sings its part.
Music moves us, often in ways that we don't understand. For example who hasn't been calmed by the sound of quiet singing such as a lullaby? But more than that, who can explain why cows produce more milk and chickens lay more eggs when listening to certain songs like The Blue Danube? I've seen many studies that verify that these observations are true, but none that I've seen fully explain why.
Fortunately, we don't really have to understand why singing and music in general is so central to the world we live in to benefit from it. I doubt that Mozart or Beethoven understood it, but we have all benefited from the works of these two masters, both of whom seem to have benefited from listening to the birds sing. As a matter of fact, many people believe that Beethoven actually stole the opening to his Violin Concerto in D, Opus 61 from the song of the European Blackbird! Maybe, maybe not. But we know from Mozart's own notebooks that he played the last movement of his Piano Concerto in G Major to his pet starling who then sang the passage back to Mozart with revisions that impressed the master. Now that's singing worth noting!
So sing already! Join all of God's creatures in singing and making melody. In the animal kingdom that singing comes in all forms so there's no reason that any of us can't join in. We might as well, the more we learn of the world around us, the more we learn that singing and making music is central to life.
If seals can sing, so can you!
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