Some kinds of oak flooring have a low impact on the environment, others are much worse. Make sure you know what you’re buying when you make your choice.

Oak flooring is extremely popular for several reasons. One of the chief ones is that it looks outstanding: warm, honey-coloured floors that can form the basis of any number of different styles of decoration. But flooring comes in many different forms – solid oak, engineered oak, laminate, parquet… and each of these has a different impact on the environment.

Solid oak flooring
The simplest and arguably the most popular option is solid oak flooring. This is exactly what it sounds like: planks of oak and nothing more. They will have been sawn from trees perhaps 200 or 300 years old, generally sourced from the UK and Europe (if you are based in the UK). It looks great and is regarded as ‘the real thing’. It also happens to have pretty good insulating properties, cutting down your energy bill in the winter and keeping the house cooler in the summer.

There are caveats, but if you do a little research you can make sure that the company has a good ethical approach. This will involve sourcing their wood from managed woodland, so that the trees are replaced and the overall ecosystem protected and maintained. Many companies will make sure they plant more trees than they fell; this is in their own interests, since it helps ensure the long-term viability of their business. There are also questions about when the logs are moved (winter is often a bad time) and the drying and curing process, which may be more or less energy intensive. Assuming they meet a few basic guidelines, though, solid oak flooring can be an extremely environmentally friendly option.

Engineered oak and other products
There are many other forms of oak flooring available, and some of these do have certain advantages over solid oak. Engineered oak is very popular at the moment. This consists of a layer of oak (typically 5 or 6 mm) bonded to a thicker layer of plywood. This uses around a quarter of the oak, but it looks much the same. It also has different physical properties. It is more stable, and tends to react less to changes in heat or humidity. It is generally the preferred option if the house has underfloor heating for this reason, or if it is in an area which experiences extremes of damp and dryness.

However, these advantages have to be balanced against other concerns. Despite its stability, engineered oak is considered inferior to the ‘real thing’, and this may be reflected in the value of the home if you sell. It is also more expensive to buy. Plus, the more processing a product requires, the worse it is for the environment. Plywood involves various chemicals and processes to produce. This problem gets worse when you start to look at more complex forms of laminate flooring.

Conclusion
The choice of whether to go for solid oak flooring or a variation on the theme will depend on a number of factors – cost, conditions in your home and the environment being some. Each have advantages and disadvantages. The main thing is to make sure the company is open and honest about their approach. In the 21^st century, being ill-informed is no defence: if they aren’t up-front about their environmental policy, chances are it’s because they consider it too much trouble to think about.

This article was supplied by English oak flooring suppliers, Sutton Timber. Sutton Timber source hardwoods from privately owned woodlands and government forests across the UK and Europe.

In this case—arguably its loftiest claim yet—Intellectual Ventures is taking the three major telecoms to court after allegedly attempting several times “to discuss licensing options with each of these companies.” In other words, after unsuccessfully trying to bully these companies to purchase litigation insurance, Intellectual Ventures made good on its threat.

Though in the past I’ve written at length about the morally shaky ground upon which intellectual property policy currently rests, this news calls to attention yet another reason to demand reform in this increasingly convoluted matter. Not only does the abusive use of patents already stifle innovation in well-established sectors of the economy, but it poses a real threat to the prospect of an expedient transition to a sustainable energy economy—a transition whose necessity increases exponentially as our addiction to fossil fuels and the slightly less ominous nuclear power continues to metastasize.

What Can We Learn From The Past?

Lately, it’s become advantageous to use rhetoric that ignores past wrongs and mishaps in the interest of looking to the future. As if moving forward is best done wearing a set of blinders, it has become popular to downplay the past as if there is nothing to be learned that is worth the time that otherwise could have been spent “advancing”.

The truth, however, is that the past and future are inextricably linked by the present. It is in taking time to examine the past now that it is possible to make progress that does not lead to the devastation of those gone before us. It is through the critical assessment—and occasional complete restructuring—of existing systems that we are able to ensure that the systems in place support the goals we as a society set.

It is in the continued use of obsolete systems that we are bound to repeat the mistakes of the past from which we ironically wish to distance ourselves.

In this case, it is critical to recall the purpose of patents, to find the point at which these plowshares of innovation were fashioned into swords that stifle it, and to right the wrongs in the system that now threaten to prevent us from moving into a sustainable energy future.

In the United States, we need look no further than the Constitution to know the purpose of patents. Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the authority “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” In other words, the purpose of the protection that patents provide is simple—temporary protection to promote progress.

With such protection, inventors could invest in their inventions without having to fear that someone could just steal the final idea and leave them destitute. The idea was not to provide a way to turn ideas into private property that could then be used to sue people with the same ideas, sell to the highest bidder, or—worst of all—hold economic progress hostage in order to maximize profit.

Yet, that’s exactly what has happened. Potential innovators and entrepreneurs—the driving force behind economic progress—are faced with the choice of either starting a business at the risk of being crushed by patent litigation, or going to work for one of the same companies that would have sued them. And to add insult to injury, the price of choosing the latter often includes the complete surrender of those ideas.

As a result, a small, increasingly powerful group of companies, who profit from the stagnation of new ideas, are able slow the pace of economic growth so long as it benefits them to do so. In fact, ten firms account for nearly 8 percent of all patents granted in the U.S. since 1977, and as patent litigation and multinational mergers continue to skyrocket, one can only expect that number to increase.

While these obstructions to innovation may seem less severe in other sectors of the economy, its importance to the establishment of a sustainable energy economy could not be more severe. This leaves us with one final question:

What Can We Do Now?

Equally concerning about the idea of disregarding the past in the interest of the future is losing sight of where we currently are. After we’ve gained insight about the pitfalls of the past, it is important to start acting now, not simply plan for future action. Ideals are only as valuable as the action taken to substantiate them.

In this case, it is not good enough to hope that things will correct themselves with time. Nor is it realistic. Swords do not evolve into plowshares on their own. They must be heated, hammered and molded back into their life-giving form. Likewise, the use of patents as weapons will not cease voluntarily. To stop this “patent arms race”—which threatens to keep us beholden to war-inciting, disaster-causing, severe-weather-inducing energy sources until it’s too late—we must return to the basic purpose and understanding of intellectual property that was introduced more than two decades ago.

Ideas are not property in and of themselves, but the precursors to property. As such, an economy which wishes to progress as the best technologies become available—not when old technologies become less profitable—must treat ideas differently than the products they sometimes yield. They are not objects to be traded or sold. Nor are ideas exclusive to the people that have them.

Therefore, patents ought to provide temporary protection for those who actually produce the products their ideas envision. The acquisition of patents by companies who have no plan but to sue individuals and companies who actually want to move the economy forward should be restricted. If an idea’s owner fails to produce the product or goes out of business, that idea should be free to be patented and acted upon by someone else without fear of being sued.

Otherwise, we can expect the same kind of obstruction that Intellectual Ventures is known for to spill over into green technology, whose development is already moving at a snail’s pace in this country. In fact, research has shown that “patent thickets” have already placed a substantial weight around the neck of sustainable energy, notably in the development of fuel cells, wind energy, and carbon sequestration. Thanks to legislation like the Bayh-Dole Act, even publicly funded research—which comprises 60 percent of all basic research in the U.S.—is bogged down by the massive expenditures, increased consumer prices and economic limitations that patents have come to embody.

If we want to prevent green technology from becoming the latest casualty in the patent arms race, we must be willing to look at the past with a critical eye. If we want to move away from temporary, dangerous sources of energy to safer, more sustainable means, we cannot allow for the continued weaponization of what was meant to help break new ground and stimulate progress.

The only way to be truly future-oriented is to never stop learning from the past.

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Matt Stanford is a Tech Writer and Marketing Coordinator for technology website Experts Exchange. He writes breaking news and analysis pieces for EE Tech News and contributes to the Experts Exchange company blog. Matt is also the author of monthly column Technocracy Now, in which he analyzes the intersection between public policy and modern technology. Readers can connect with Matt on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus.

A leaflet campaign can offer a great ROI, but some businesses will want to consider the environmental impact of flyer printing. You can minimise this by bearing in mind a few simple principles.

The digital print revolution means that flyer printing is now cheap and easy. This has brought problems of its own because the quality of flyers is generally low. Flyers that get thrown away are wasteful of resources – both natural and financial. You need to make sure that you gain maximum impact from every distributed flyer. Printing just a handful of leaflets that prove effective is far preferable than printing thousands and having most of them end up in the recycling.

1. Consider digital printing

Traditional print processes can be uneconomical and are generally better for larger print runs. Your requirements for flyer printing may be comparatively limited, and you don’t want to purchase any more than you really need. That is a recipe for waste. Digital printing allows you to carry out much smaller print runs economically. This is because digital printing has lower set-up costs, since it is such a simple process.

Going digital has intrinsic benefits of cost and speed for your flyer printing run. Additionally, conventional printing can be quite bad for the environment. Presses may use large quantities of water and plates need harmful chemicals in the set-up process – something a digital printer largely avoids.

2. Don’t compromise on your leaflet

Good leaflets are few and far between. Cheap flyer printing has made the medium accessible to anyone and everyone, with the result that there are vast numbers of poorly-written or badly-designed flyers around. Printing yet another example of the genre doesn’t do anyone any favours. Your flyers will end up in the bin, costing you money and frustrating your potential customers – and harming the environment. There are guides to writing compelling business leaflets all over the internet, so read a few and make sure that you don’t make some of the most common mistakes. Make sure your copy is clean and concise, hooking the reader from the start and offering a solution to their problems. You only have a few seconds to convince people that your leaflet is worth keeping, so start strong and don’t throw away your chance.

3. Research your demographic

It is tempting to undertake a large flyer printing run and carpet bomb a neighbourhood with them. You will have seen the effects of this yourself. It’s so easy to print thousands of leaflets and have the Royal Mail or another company push them through doors that everyone seems to be doing it. Aside from making your leaflets readable and helpful, make sure that you research your demographic and target people who really might be interested in what you have to offer.

Printing flyers and distributing them to a specific postcode (as the Royal Mail can do for you) is a good way to reach a wide range of people within a local area. However, this strategy will be most successful if your business is, similarly, a local one that applies to a wide cross-section of people – such as a pub or restaurant, some kinds of shop and other services. Something more specialist (like a high-end car-hire service) will not appeal to a significant proportion of people to make this a viable leafleting campaign. Instead, you might consider distributing your flyers another way, such as through relevant magazines or other publications.

Conclusion

Flyer printing is now simple and economical, thanks to advances in digital printing. However, to avoid your flyers being thrown out, you need to think a little harder than the competition. Finding the right print company, researching and targeting your demographic properly, and making sure your content is strong, are all ways to lower your environmental footprint, reducing waste and contributing to an eco-friendly leaflet campaign.

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This article was supplied by Printed.com, suppliers of unbeatable quality digital flyer printing, and an ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 accredited company.

After a summer that was somewhat bleak in terms of produce in many parts of the country, this fall seems to be making up for it with loads of bountiful, satisfying, and delicious produce.  If you have the opportunity to take advantage of the surplus of produce and stock up, now is the perfect time to gather in the harvest and transform fresh into a variety of options that will last you well into the winter, providing you with that extra vegetable side dish for a winter dinner or that tantalizing taste of sweetness for an after dinner dessert.  If you aren’t sure how to start or what your options even are, here are some of the top methods for preserving and why you might want to choose one over another (in order of easiest to most difficult!).

Freezing
If you aren’t interested in canning, then I highly suggest you consider going with freezing, it’s about the easiest thing you can possibly do to preserve your produce.  The only downside is that as water expands when frozen, the cell walls in fruits and vegetables will typically break during the freezing process, hence leading to a soft or potentially “mushy” texture upon thawing.  Also, you’ll want to keep in mind that though freezing does halt the growth of bacteria, mold or yeast once frozen, as soon as the food is thawed out, these will begin to grow again.

Fortunately there’s really no expert knowledge needed when freezing!  It’s less involved than canning but allows you to prepare much of the same types of foods (sauces, jams, fillings, etc.).

When freezing whole fruit as is, you can cut it up into any shapes and sizes you like.  Often fruits are frozen in a water/lemon juice mixture to eliminate the usual “darkening” that occurs when cut.  Adding sugar to the fruit before freezing can also help to intensify taste and keep color vibrant.  Both are optional.

When freezing vegetables, all you will need to do is quickly blanch (submerge in boiling water) your vegetable of choice.  Blanching will kill any enzymes that would age with your vegetables and keep them tasting fresher longer.  You can easily find online charts that will tell you the proper blanching times for each vegetable type.  For a comprehensive chart, see the Iowa State University freezing guide.

Dehydrating
Dehydrating is probably nearly tied with freezing in terms of how easy it is, although it will take slightly more of your attention in the beginning as you monitor the drying.  And, depending upon your method, you may need to invest time in turning the produce from one side to the next.

Dehydrating is an extremely green version of preserving foods because it doesn’t require keeping a freezer running, nor using any power to accomplish the drying if you’re using the sun’s natural energy.  You can slice and dry whole pieces of both fruits and vegetables like sun-dried tomatoes or dried apple slices and you can make more involved snack types of foods like fruit “leather,” and pumpkin seeds.  Drying vegetables like corn and peas will make for delicious and fat easy-to-throw-together soups mid-winter!

And of course, if you don’t have the space or time for sun drying, you can also use your oven or a standard commercial dehydrator.

Canning
When it comes to canning, your options are nearly endless.  You can obviously can fruits and vegetables plain, in their natural state.  But you can also get creative and stash away a pantry full of delicious things like homemade berry pie filling, jams, jellies and enticing applesauce.  Depending upon where you live, the smartest, greenest method to look at canning is to use whatever is growing locally in abundance and can that.  Stock up and have fun with making as many varieties as you can with the produce that’s near to you.  If you’re surrounded by cherries, then your options might look like canning cherries whole, making cherry syrup, cherry jelly and cherry pie filling.  But, if you’re loaded in green beans, then you’ll get to go a whole new direction and could do things like canning zesty garlic green beans or a three bean salad option

Whatever method you choose, remember that local and organic for starters is always best.  Canning mangoes shipped in from another country would more or less defeat your goal of going green because of the carbon impact connected to that journey they took.  But if you can get yourself through the winter with your cravings for fruits and vegetables quenched with locally preserved goods and escape the pressure to buy produce that’s not in season nor local, you will increase your green standards greatly.  Plus, it can be great fun. There’s nothing quite like a jamming party with your best friends!

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Freelancer Jocelyn grew up with a mom who inspired her to preserve and go green every fall.  Now, when not writing green food related pieces, you’ll find her writing about greening up energy use with a small house heater instead of a central heating system.

by Jacqui Donnelly.

If you’ve been thinking about going green but aren’t sure where to start, then you are definitely not alone. Most people have some kind of compassion for the earth, whether it’s focused on stopping global warming, reversing water pollution or even as simple as cleaning up a local park or roadway. While these are noble aspirations, the age-old question comes into play: Where should I begin?

Nowadays, the average person has a full schedule and very little time for anything else. Without proper planning, jumping into a green routine headfirst can become overwhelming and hard to upkeep. That is why we’re bringing you seven easy, completely do-able steps to help you get started. Before long, you will be living a clean, green lifestyle.

Invest in Power Strip

Have you ever heard of conserving energy? Not only will utilizing power strips help reduce your carbon footprint, but as an added bonus it will also help lower your monthly energy bill. This may be most helpful for entertainment systems, battery chargers or any kind of appliances you leave plugged into the wall. Be sure to hit the power switch on the strip when you’re leaving the house (or if you’re just done using the electronics) to prevent pulling in power you’re just not using. Many electronics, especially laptops and cell phone chargers, can continue to draw power even if the phone or computer is not attached. Cutting the power completely by using a power strip can lower its usage significantly.

Reusable Water Bottles

While a refreshing bottle of water may sound like a good idea, bottled water is considerably detrimental to the environment. More than 90 percent of water bottles are not recycled; ending up in landfills for the thousands of years it takes them to decompose. On top of that, the water and oil used to manufacture these bottles is more than the water actually produced. So, what can you do to help the environment? Try switching to a reusable water bottle that is BPA free. Fill the bottle from the tap and use it over and over again. If you’re afraid of contaminants, invest in an attachable water-filtration system to either your faucet or water bottle, available at many grocery stores.

Go Digital and Use Less Paper

Most people have heard of saving trees and using less paper to help the earth, but how many people are actually living by this principle? Many schools and big businesses are now taking strides to use less paper, such as the class syllabus and assignment software used by New Jersey’s Montclair State University, or the paperless statements used by financial institutions Bank of America and Sallie Mae, to name a few. Some stores are even printing on both sides of the receipt now. When it’s possible, choose methods that will use less paper in the long run by seeing if your company or service providers offer paperless options.

Recycle

This should be obvious, but far too many people don’t use the recycling bin. One of the easier ways to go green is to simply make sure you recycle objects such as glass or plastic bottles, aluminum cans and newspapers. Feeling really motivated? Try properly recycling used batteries, plastic grocery bags and even old electronics. Check out plasticbagrecycling.org and mygreenelectronics.org to learn how.

Choose Your Vegetables Responsibly

While supermarkets are convenient, many of them choose to import fruits and vegetables from farms around the globe. While the food may look fresher during off-seasons, these methods have left you with less control than ever when it comes to what ends up on your table. Are the farmers responsible, or do they only care about cost-effectiveness? When chemicals such as pesticides are used on farms, it often ends up in the groundwater, polluting the earth. Next, think of the millions of pounds of produce that are shipped around the world and how much fuel it takes to fly or drive them to their destinations. Most produce travels around 1,500 miles during one shipment, adding up to significant carbon emissions. By simply choosing local, organically grown produce, you can be one more person against waste and toxic resources.  Farmers markets are one way to find greener options, or even starting your own backyard garden. Many supermarkets are now offering organic produce sections.

Change Your Light Bulbs

Sometimes, going green can be as easy as changing a light bulb. In this case, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can save the resources used to produce energy while saving you some money at the same time. These bulbs use more power for light, while older models convert part to light and part to heat, cutting energy usage by around 75 percent. As an added bonus, these bulbs also last much longer and require less watts for the same amount of light.

CFLs are agued to contain mercury, a dangerous element that is also considered a pollutant to the environment. While this is true, they actually emit less mercury into the environment than the traditional light bulb. This is due to the amount of fossil fuel used to produce the energy needed by a traditional light bulb, making significantly more pollution than the CFL. Because of the mercury, the CFL must be recycled properly. Check out earth911.org to find a retailer that accepts used bulbs. There are also guidelines for cleaning up a broken bulb, which is not likely to harm you through mercury contamination.

No More Styrofoam

Many companies will not accept Styrofoam as a recyclable material, which is an expensive and environmentally damaging process. Not only does this product sit in a landfill for years, it’s also a safety hazard for many wild animals and emits toxic chemicals into the environment, and into your food. This happens when the product is heated or cooled to extreme temperatures, with studies showing the passage of styrene (into your food) to be as much as .025 percent. So, next time you microwave that Styrofoam coffee cup think again about using an alternative material such as paper, BPA-free plastic or glass.

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Jacqui Donnelly is a professional freelance writer and food scientist. Her work as appeared in multiple on and off-line publications, and can be found at JacquiDonnelly.com.

Wood is known to be one of the greenest materials that you can use for building, manufacturing and fuel. However it needs to be sourced carefully so that it doesn’t risk contributing to deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

Fortunately there are a couple of resources available to help ensure that you keep using eco-friendly wood namely the UK’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification and Friends of The Earth’s Good Wood guide (FOE).

The FSC ensures that you are buying wood from sustainable sources, so for example if you decided that you wanted some wooden blinds for your new home then you seek out an FSC approved supplier.

This means that you can be sure that the damage done is relatively minimal. Under the FSC, UK forests must observe the following rules:

• Only harvest what will grow back
• Protect biodiversity and endangered species
• Preserve rare and ancient trees
• Guard local streams
• Support indigenous peoples
• Use narrow skidding trails so as to ensure minimal disruption of the forest
• Ban replacement by tree plantations
• Ban toxic chemicals and genetically modified trees.

They aren’t perfect, but off all the forestry certification schemes they offer the greatest surety. They are also easy to find, look for the tree tick symbol to ensure your wood is green.

The FOE’s guide is a great way to check whether the wood you are buying is from an endangered species or not. In its online form it contains a near exhaustive list of tree species that are used for wood along with how threatened they are and whether they are easily available in the form of reclaimed wood. So, for example, if you look up Mahogany you will see that it is vulnerable but is available in reclaimed wood.

There are also several sources that you can expect to be greener than the alternatives. Reclaimed wood is a great example of this as a way of reusing wood. It is also reckoned to be stronger than newly cut wood having been weathered and aged for hundreds of years. You can also get VOC free wood composite products which are made from the waste products of manufactures. Both fill the promise of reusing wood making them the greenest option available.

If reclaimed wood is unavailable, some woody plants such as some bamboo and palm species grow rapidly and are naturally pest resistant making them another good option for sourcing wood.  In addition you can get both from FSC approved sources.

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Daniel Frank (UK) is a guest green blogger who is interested in sustainable materials. He is writing on behalf of Wooden Blinds Direct.

As the dangerous effects of greenhouse gas emissions and the threat of climate change becoming harder to ignore, businesses as well as individuals are looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

With businesses responsible for half of all carbon dioxide emissions in the UK, it is little surprise that the government is offering financial incentives and implementing energy efficient schemes to encourage businesses to go green. There are many ways to improve energy in the office or in the manufacturing process but what about reducing waste and becoming more environmentally friendly when holding conferences and exhibitions?

In 2009, UK business events and exhibitions contributed 60, 000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions into the environment, with travel to and from events being one of the major factors.

However, there is also a lot of wastage attributed to promotional materials such as display banners, exhibition stands, leaflets and programmes as well as the vast amount of energy used in heating and lighting venues. At trade fairs and promotional events there is also the added factor of corporate gifts and promotional materials most of which end up discarded in the rubbish.

However there are ways in which businesses can reduce their carbon footprint when planning an event:

• Think outside the building box. When it’s absolutely necessary to host an event or conference outside of the usual business premises try and source a venue that is also committed to reducing its environmental impact. Green issues have become a lot more of a priority for all businesses so with a bit of research and planning you will be able to find a venue which is committed to being energy efficient with lighting, heating and even catering. It is also worth considering if the venue has its own in-house technical equipment all of which can reduce the cost and energy of transporting your own to the event. It is always wise to locate a venue with good public transport links for both staff and guests to reduce the need for individual car travel. If this isn’t possible consider hiring a minibus or coach if quite a few members of your team are attending. If an overnight stay is required, try and source a hotel nearest to the event as possible, preferably in walking distance or better still, try and negotiate a deal on rooms at the venue if available.
• Spare the trees while increasing usability. Ask yourself how important the information is that you’re providing at the event. If it’s appropriate, consider recordings such as video links to slides or audio recordings so that attendees will be able to go through the information again if they need to and those who can’t attend can be kept informed without realms and realms of print-outs and will also allow you to reach a wider audience. Of course it may not be possible to do everything digitally, but if paper programs are needed try and use recycled paper, print on both sides and avoid laminating. Promote the event through email and websites and provide any necessary information packs on the day of the event rather than beforehand to avoid the need for duplication.
• Be a conscientious consumer. Consider hiring equipment rather than purchasing it, taking care to source the most energy efficient options. If you require the use of banner displays or exhibition stands, consider choosing re-usable options that allow for you to change the graphics without having to discard the stand. This is particularly useful if the display is event specific, but it is also helpful if you need to make any changes your company details or logo. If you are planning on giving away any corporate or promotional gifts look for eco-friendly companies that offer greener more functional products such as re-usable bio-degradable bags, pens made from recycled re-fills and even USB pens made from recycled materials. Not only will they be more environmentally friendly, they will create a bigger impact on your guests and less likely to be thrown away.
• Eat and drink sustainably. When catering for your guests, ensure food is sourced locally using seasonal ingredients. Consider providing more vegetarian options and if using fish make sure it’s from a sustainable source. Try and avoid using individually packaged items such as milk and sugar portions when serving tea and coffee, provide jugs and sugar lumps instead. Provide filtered tap water instead of bottled water and ensure tea and coffee is fair-trade. Where possible avoid disposable cutlery, plates and cups, using crockery and regular cutlery where possible. If this is not feasible, use paper plates and wooden cutlery rather than plastic or polystyrene and make sure there are plenty of well posted designated recycling areas. Good organisation and planning will normally ensure there isn’t a significant excess of food, but if there is any significant food left-over, consider donating it to charity or send it to a local facility for composting.

Lucy Hunt is a UK blogger with a keen interest in environmental issues. She is currently working on behalf of Marler Haley-an ISO14001 certified company specialising in display banners and exhibition stands.

Windows are a major source of heat transfer in a building. Energy-efficient window treatments are environmentally friendly by reducing use of fuels for heating and cooling; they save money as well. Window coverings retard the transfer of heat, block ultraviolet (UV) radiation and reduce air infiltration by providing an insulated barrier in front of window glass. Insulated window treatments keep heat in during winter and cool air in during summer. Some materials like wood, bamboo and natural fabrics not only insulate, but are bio-degradable and recyclable.

Shades
Cellular or honeycomb shades block UV light and filter sunlight. The space between cells creates an insulating barrier by trapping air. Honeycomb shades are made as single or double-celled; double cells have more airspace and better insulation. Honeycomb shades come in a great variety of opacities, colors and pleat sizes. Transparent cellular shades transmit light but block UV light. Blackout cellular shades have an additional layer of material that prevents light from penetrating through the shade. Sidetracks enhance energy-efficiency by hugging the window frame which keeps drafts from infiltrating around the shade.

Curtains
Curtains dress up a window and achieve a high insulating value. Using multiple layers allows the most flexibility for regulating light and controlling heat exchange. Sheers at the window can be used on sunny days to allow light into the room; they have little insulating effect. A middle tier of blackout or insulating curtains can be closed at night or on very cold days to keep heat in. Blackout curtains come in a variety of materials, colours and fabrics that have excellent insulating properties. Several manufacturers market foam-backed curtains that have both light-reducing and insulating properties.

Draperies
Interior draperies made of tightly woven fabrics like jacquards or napped fabrics like flannel impede heat transfer through window glass, block UV light and reduce drafts. Heavy silks, velvets and wools can be used in a variety of styles for decorative effect while enhancing energy-efficiency. Adding lining and interlining to decorative curtains enhances the insulating properties. For maximum insulating value, curtain rods should be hung approximately 30 cm (12 inches) above the window frame and approximately 15 cm (6 inches) on either side to prevent airflow around the frame.

Blinds
Blinds are another way to dress up a window and create an energy-efficient barrier. Both horizontally and vertically slatted units are available in metals like aluminum, an assortment of fabrics and many types of wood. Fabric vertical blinds look elegant on a bay or French door with their simple lines and soft look. They can be paired with curtains or swags, which enhance both visual appeal and energy efficiency.

Slats
Wood is a good insulating material and gives a warm, snug feeling to a room. Routless, or no-hole, wooden slats increase energy efficiency by stopping air and light from penetrating through cord holes. Slat widths vary from approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) to 6.5 cm (2.5 inches), and can be matched to the decor of a room. Blinds can be used with curtains to give interest to windows, allow modulation of light and maximize the insulation value.

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Liberty-Belle Howard is a UK blogger with a keen interest in green issues. She’s currently writing on behalf of Hillary’s Blinds.

by Staff Writer Megan E. Hunt.

Course Introduction

Soft, stretchy, itchy, fine, rough, fuzzy, smooth, course, filmy. Name any texture, and there is a type of fabric out there to match the description.

But what exactly is rayon made of? How about spandex? Or acrylic? Isn’t acrylic something that’s used in salons for artificial nails?

What exactly am I dressing my body in, and why does it matter?

As society develops and the global population increases, we find ourselves focusing more and more on the environmental effects of our industries, our societies, our businesses, even our daily choices.

The textile industry is not (as of now) known for its environmental hazards. That is to say, it has not gained the reputation that has amassed around other “non-ecofriendly” materials, such as the plastic bag.

However, in actuality the textile industry is expansive and is one of the worst industries for the environment.

One of the most common ways this industry touches us (literally) everyday is through clothing. The materials out of which our clothes are made tell us something about its cost to the environment. Unfortunately, a clothing tag with the word “rayon” or “spandex” inscribed on it does not usually tell us the whole story.

Below you will find a break down of eight common fabrics: a description of what materials are used to produce the fabric, and positives and negatives of both practical and environmental aspects of the fabrics. Think of it as a decoder of label tags – words we’ve seen so often but never really understood what they signified.

These products are constantly presented before us for purchase. The more information we have about them – and about their environmental ramifications – the easier it is to weigh our options and make choices that give us the best results for us and for the environment.

Unit I: Natural

Cotton

Ingredients: Cotton plant, Gossypium

Pros: This is a natural fiber. Cotton fabric is easy to find and inexpensive.

Cons: Mass amounts of pesticides are used in cotton production (cotton wins the prize for the crop with the most pesticide use!), cotton also requires a lot of water. For example, 257 gallons of water are needed to produce one t-shirt.

Overall: Natural fiber, inexpensive, pesticide-free when organic, comfortable, easier and easier to find organic. unfortunately, heavy water use.

Wool

Ingredients: Coat or hair of an animal, most often sheep

Pros: Natural fiber, no pesticides needed.

Cons: Possible water contamination from manure, detergents used for cleaning the unrefined wool, animal rights issues surrounding factory-farmed sheep.

Overall: Relatively easy to find, warm, sparse chemical use. unfortunately, occasionally itchy, and not exactly practical for everyday wear.

Linen

Ingredients: Flax plant

Pros: natural fiber, processed using relatively low amounts of energy, a great fabric for warm weather, requires less water and chemicals than cotton, long fabric life

Cons: pesticides (not used if organic), somewhat expensive, not practical for cooler temperatures, not as widely available as other fabrics

Overall: Relatively low environmental impact, however it is not widely manufactured, is not great for cooler weather,  and can be expensive.

Unit II: Manufactured

Acrylic

Ingredients: Synthetic polymers: acrylonitrile (natural gas and petroleum)

Pros: Holds its shape, can be highly elastic and wicks away moisture-thus is good for sportwear, breaks down quickly in the environment.

Cons: Acrylonitrile is also used in the production of plastics, debated whether or not it actually breaks down easily, high levels of exposure to acrylonitrile are considered toxic.

Overall: Extremely useful in certain contexts (just ask the NBA and NFL-acrylic socks are included in their uniform!), however extensive exposure is not recommended.

Nylon

Ingredients: Nylon fibers consist of long, synthetic polyamide (made from petroleum) chains.

Pros: Strong yet lightweight, versatile fabric, inexpensive and widely available.

Cons: Not biodegradable, creates a greenhouse gas 310 times stronger than carbon dioxide, manufacture is energy intensive.

Overall: Numerous environmental negatives surround nylon, arguably so many that they outweigh the positives of this fabric.

Polyester

Ingredients: Water, air, petroleum, coal. Chemical reaction of an acid and alcohol.

Pros: Durable, extends the life of garments, widely used not only in clothing but in furniture, as insulation, and for many other goods, inexpensive.

Cons: Not biodegradable, energy intensive production, water and air pollution.

Overall: Practical, widely used, but unfortunately has heavy environmental ramifications.

Spandex

Ingredients: Polyester, diisocyanate (two isocyanate- nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen compound)

Pros: Can be greatly stretched, comfortable

Cons: Spandex is not used for many items, not everyone can (should) wear spandex in public, same negatives as polyester listed above.

Overall: Useful for a limited amount of sectors and due to the environmental damage, it should remain limited.

*Other manufactured fabrics with similar chemical processes as those listed above include acetate, lycra, lastex, etc.

**Petroleum is used frequently in manufactured fabrics. Unfortunately, the list of environmental and health damage and risks from petroleum are numerous.

Unit III: Half and Half

Rayon

Ingredients: Any plant, sodium hydroxide, carbon disulfide

Pros: Rayon can be created from a number of sources, which makes it easy to manufacture. It’s also comfortable and inexpensive.

Cons: Rayon often contributes to deforestation and the chemical process produces harmful water and air emissions.

Overall: Rayon does well when graded according to practical requirements. Unfortunately, it scores low on the environmentally friendly test.

ATTENTION: Safety Warning

There are positives and negatives to every fabric we come across. There are innovations in the textile industry. Hemp*, an easily grown plant is being increasingly used for many items including textiles. Bamboo, growing densely and quickly, is another eco-friendly fiber that has become a bit more popular.

We do need to be careful, however, as companies try increasingly to freeload of of the “green” success. Bamboo is a good example of this. As seen above, rayon can be made from anything. Manufacturers have been using bamboo to make rayon and calling it “bamboo”. However, the rancid chemical process used makes it no longer classifiable as eco-friendly or bamboo. Fortunately, the FTC has begun to crack down on this false labeling.

*Hemp is an extremely versatile plant, capable of being used for an enormous amount of purposes (over 25,000)! It grows densely, making it difficult for weeds to grow thereby naturally minimizing the need for chemical weed-killers. Check back soon for an introductory course to hemp!

Preview of Fabrics 201: Textiles of Tomorrow

Ecotextile production and use is a new frontier! The RITE group, a major leader of the movement, was created just three years ago in 2007.

“Reducing the Impact of Textiles on the Environment”, RITE seeks to “provide advice and fact based information to reduce/minimise the negative environmental effects of the production, use and disposal of textiles. To drive forward the sustainable and ethical production of textiles and apparel throughout the global supply chain.”

There are still many changes that need to be made in order for environmentally friendly textiles to be inexpensive, comfortable, and widely used.

As Prof Michael Braungart, the founder of the chemical section of Greenpeace, said at the first annual RITE conference on sustainable textiles and clothing, “Paving the way to hell with good intentions is not enough.” Tomorrow is here; it’s time to address the issues.