Thinking Green - Environmental Tips, News, Commentary

Ever felt like you’ve neglected your body and general health for a while now? It’s never too late to curb the urge to binge and begin the journey to eating healthy. Don’t be discouraged: eating healthy is never about depriving yourself of your favourite food. Rather, it’s about learning some nutrition basics and using them in a way that works for you and your lifestyle. Here are 9 steps to take: TAKE IT SLOWLY, BUT SURELY Trying to create a healthy diet overnight isn’t at all realistic. Changing everything at one go usually leads to cheating or giving up on your meal plan. Gradual changes like adding a salad to your meals once a day or using olive oil instead of butter when cooking may be small steps, but as they become a habit, it will be easier for you to replace your usual food items with healthier choices. Think of water and exercise as part of your diet as well. Water helps flush out toxins and cleanse our bodies, while exercise has a wide range of physical (and even psychologi...

The population growth that we have increases the production of waste materials on earth. Though there are different waste management processes that have been conducted to minimize our waste still, it grows every day. Landfills are now being subject for disapproval by environmentalist and the residents who will be greatly affected in building of dump sites in their area. Since having landfills in the area can be a cause of health issues and pollution that will greatly affect the environment and population. Recycling facilities are being created to solve the landfill concern that we have nowadays. The recycling facility are responsible for receiving, separating and preparing recyclable waste materials that will be used to produce a new product or selling it to manufacturers. But even if there is a recycling facility, landfill can still be useful because that is where the waste materials are stocked. There are different kinds of recycling facility but clean and dry facility is generall...

The recent climate issues that we have in the country created a huge impact in the environment. The government is now being questioned about its plans in the climate change mitigation and Adaptation Program. Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Rafael Mariano said that there is a budget for the program to which the public needs to know the short and long-term plans of the government for climate change. President Benigno Aquino III pronounced his commitment in February 2011 in the aspects of mitigating disasters in geo-hazard areas and to ensure sustainable development for climate change adaptation. The administration focused in illegal loggers which contributes a large impact in the calamities that we are experiencing. But the environmental groups believed that the legal loggers who have permits with DENR are the ones who create a huge damage in the country’s forest along with the mining activities that the government allowed in the country. Climate change is the effect of changes in the b...

Buses and cars are some of the land transportation that causes traffic in our country. It also exudes air pollution that can be hazardous to human health. Traffic fumes that came out from vehicles are not only causing air pollution but can damage the lungs of people who are inhaling it. There is a risk of respiratory problems in the community from the smog that traffic produced. There are also studies that showed traffic pollution can be a cause of brain damage and higher risk of heart attack. Brain damage like memory loss or Alzheimer is linked to traffic pollution. It is also said that people who are living in a polluted area has lower IQ scores compared to those who live in other places that has clean air. Heart disease and other cardiovascular problems can also be derived from exposure to traffic air pollution. But it is also said that the effects of air pollution in the cardiovascular id short-lived, given that the person will not be exposed to air pollution afterwards or will c...

Trees have been a primary source of oxygen and other materials that we often use. Trees come with various benefits. It amends the environment by moderating the climate, it absorbs and cleanses the toxins in the air such as carbon dioxide, it conserves water and soil, and it protects not just humans but also the wildlife. Trees give us fruits and flowers; it also provides us shade during the warm weather and also fresh air, and it provides us with raw materials for the construction of buildings, houses and for other purposes. During typhoons, trees serve the environment as protection from flash floods. It helps preserve our soil and water by holding the soil in place to prevent soil erosion or landslides. Most of the products that are manufactured today are from the wonders of trees and shrubs. Without the existence of trees, our life would be endangered , the populace will suffer, and the economy will drastically collapse. Generally speaking, without trees people and wildlife will not ...

Water as natural resources plays a very important role in our life and environment, for it is impossible to survive without water. It is very essential to life and source of life that needs to be protected for the inhabitants of this planet and for the future generation to come. Water nurtures and helps create life and it should not be overlooked. In order for us to use water, it must be cleaned first; removing any hazardous substances that might result to the contamination of water. One of the biggest environmental problems that every country faces today is the contamination of waters all over the world. Our environment is apparently facing water pollution. Primary causes of water pollution are industry waste, chemical usage, and vehicle emissions. Every year, many people die because of various diseases and illness that are developed from polluted water. One of these diseases for example is the spread of dengue in the Philippines that target and kills mostly children. People belie...

If you want to use a household appliance that you can trust and rely, choose the Miele brand. Miele have different types of products with the highest quality. Since they are focus in giving the consumers the best and their philosophy is continuous innovation in their products, you can really be assured that Miele appliances will provide the satisfaction you need. Their products range from cooking appliances, refrigeration, coffee systems, dishwashers, laundry to Miele vacuums. Aside from the assurance with their top quality products, Miele also give their customer security with the 10-years on appliances and machines that they provide to their customers. Labeled with the good housekeeping brand, you can expect that Miele Vacuum Cleaners can provide the help that you need in cleaning your house. They have different types of Miele Vacuum Cleaners that will suit your floors and house cleaning needs. Uprights, canisters and stick are the types of vacuum cleaners that Miele offers. Uprigh...

High-technology gadget is the fashion in today’s generation. Some people think that you are too old or outdated if you do not have the latest type of computer or cellular phones. Even cellular phones are not called as simple as “cell phones” but there are smart phones, iPhone, and palm. Having computers with bulky monitors and CPU is even considered obsolete since there are laptops, iPad, and even phones that can be used as computers. With this advancement in technology, comes the growth of electronic wastes and the environment is the one who suffer. Since electronic wastes have harmful components that can cause health risk to humans and pollution to the environment, it is very much needed that it is properly disposed and managed. The harmful substance that electronic waste have that is considered a threat to the environment includes lead, copper, tin, mercury, sulphur and many more. Though these substance are also considered part of the environment since these are mostly miner...

Advancement in technology is continuously growing and speeding everyday. Computers, cellular phones and electronic gadgets are becoming a trend in today’s generation. People are changing their gadgets just like the way they change their clothes. With this advancement, there has been a growth in electronic wastes and environment is at stake in this regard. Although electronic wastes can be re-used and recycled, some of the companies does not practice it and use new materials to produce new types of gadgets. Electronic waste or sometimes called e-wastes can vary from computers, television, printers, cellular phones, fax machines and even house appliances like refrigerator, vacuum, and rice cooker. There are harmful materials in electronic wastes and environment protection and safety is much needed to save mankind. Since harmful wastes like lead, copper and zinc that are part of electronic gadgets can be a health-risk to humans who are exposed to it. Proper waste management and dis...

In our everyday lives, we always encounter trash. It is everywhere and present in everything that we do. There are a lot of ways that we can do to manage our waste. It can start in as simple as avoiding to have trash or using recyclable materials so we can lessen our garbage. Landfill is one of the most commonly used waste management method that is being done in most countries. But nowadays, we are encountering issues with regards to excessive and lack of location for landfills. One solution that is being done for this is turning waste into energy. It is a waste management process wherein waste are being recovered to produce energy that can be used for electricity and create fuel. Although incineration is considered as one of the oldest and effective way to eliminate waste, studies says that it has negative impacts to the environment. Since incineration has a process includes releasing of ashes and flue gases, it is considered as harmful to mankind. That is why, waste to energy e...

Waste management concept is to eliminate waste on earth. If not to diminish it all, minimizing the garbage is one of the main reasons why companies and the government are working on having a safe waste management procedure. For the tons and tons of garbage that we produce every day, there are different types of waste management that is being practiced today. There are different types of waste management that is conducted to different kind of waste materials. Waste management is not just working on eliminating waste but also to make use of waste into good use. There are different kinds of products that can be produce from waste to which it is properly created in waste management procedure. Refuse-derived fuel - RDF is one product that is being produced from waste material. It is a fuel that can be used to provide electricity. Shed and burn is the main procedure in making RDF. Municipal solid waste like plastics and biodegradable waste which are separated from metals and inert wa...

Refuse-derived fuel or RDF is the secondary fuel produced by shredding municipal waste (MSW) converting it to energy. Noncombustible materials like metals and gas are removed prior to making refuse-derived fuel. The production and use of the secondary fuel has been helpful to the community and to assess the environmental impacts of using and producing Refuse-derived fuel (RDF), it is necessary to compare this practice with not using Refuse-derived fuel as an alternative for waste management. The production and use of Refuse-derived fuel is connected with various environmental effects. In general point of view, the protection of resources is likely to be the main ecological rationalization for the production and utilization of refuse-derived fuels. This indirect environmental benefit should be considered an absolute environmental impact. The process of series production and use of refuse-derived fuel goes with several direct impacts, starting with the collection and transporta...

Food is part of our daily lives. We have different kinds of foods which are meat, vegetables, fruits, root crops and others. Some food is considered healthy and some are not. Some foods can help us maintain a healthy body and some can provide us with different kinds of disease. If we don't watch out our diets, we might not see ourselves getting old. Nowadays, many people are really into making themselves fit and healthy. Even celebrities are promoting different kinds of diet just to make them fit and stay young. There is a kind of food that we have now that most people are consuming which is the organic food . Organic foods are believed to be healthier than non-organic or conventional type of foods. The processing of organic foods are said to be natural since there is no chemical involved in producing this kind of food. There are no additives or preservatives in this kind of food. It is also grown in organic farms. Organic foods are naturally grown so the nutrients and mine...

Gasification is the method with a thermo-chemical type wherein carbon-rich materials like coal, biomass or petro coke which are changed into gas. This gas now contains hydrogen and a lesser carbon dioxide of carbon monoxide. It is high pressure, under oxygen depleted and high heat steam condition. This is commonly called as Syngas. Gasification process is not only a way for efficient extracting of energy but it can also help the waste disposal system by returning double benefits. There are different designs of gasifier but it is still falls into three categories for the design of gasification reactor or gasifiers which are the moving bed, entrained flow, and fluidized bed. Moving bed is the type of gasifier wherein the dry carbon fuel is fed from the top part. It responds with oxygen and steam as they flow in different direction of the bed while the carbon fuel slowly drops to the vessel. The contaminants that are traced are scrubbed from the syngas. In entrained flow, the fuel ca...

Climate change is one of the challenges that our environment is facing. It is the change in the pattern of the weather over a long period of time, mostly decades or centuries. But with the pollution and improper use of energy by people, we are facing a faster climate change which can be harmful for everyone. But of course as with every problem, there is a solution. There are sustainable solutions that we can do to be able to slow or even stop climate change. That is, if everyone will cooperate and do their part for the world. Sustainable solutions are the ways that we can do for the environment that won’t be using or compromising the future needs. It is like avoidance of the negative things that might happen like climate change and in return, it can sustain what we will be using for the future. Here are the top ten ways that we can consider as sustainable solutions for climate change: 1. Walk. God has given us two legs to be able to walk and run. We should use these two legs to walk...

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that grow in tropical and subtropical seashores. These areas are hard-hitting places for plants to grow. Mangroves can thrive in salty water and survive in harsh conditions because of their strong roots that can filter the salinity of the sea and only consume the fresh water it needs. Aside from its ability to stand against the salty water of the sea, Mangrove is also well known to contribute to the overall health of the coastal area by providing food, shelter and environmental protection for marine organisms, nest dwellers and even humans living near seashores. This family of shrubs traps and rotates different elements, chemicals, and minerals. Their roots acts as block and provide environmental protection for some various marine organism such as fish and seashells. They also provide food for various marine species such as oyster, shrimp, tarpon, jack, and snook. Not only the marine organisms benefit in mangroves, but their branches also serve...

Davao Region or Southern Mindanao is located southeast of Mindanao. Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley. The Davao Gulf is bounded by these regions. Davao City is its regional center. As it lies outside the typhoon belt, rainfall is evenly distributed though out the year. The area is shielded from the rough weather by Mount Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines. This makes the fauna and flora of the region flourish, nurturing diverse and unique species. But pollution, deforestation, and excessive hunting left these species endangered. The most renowned endangered species of Davao is The Philippine Eagle . It is similarly called Haribon or monkey-eating eagle. Only found in the Philippine islands of Mindanao, Luzon, Leyte, and Samar, it is among the most endangered species of its kind in the world. Length-wise, it is the largest among its kind. Its broad-spanned wings ensure powerful flights. Due to its being rare and majestic features, private...

The drive for awareness on global warming in the Philippines is not an easy feat. Since us Filipinos have a tendency to learn things the hard way. We forgive easily. We forget too quickly. And despite its importance, the issue of global warming in the Philippines is not a priority. Our Waste Management Act, which mandates every city to have a proper waste management, is being implemented since 2007 but is anyone complying on the standards set? The methane gas being emitted by mountains of garbage in poorly managed landfills contributes to greenhouse effect. The illegal logging of trees that could counter the effects of global warming is still rampant. Studies show that 5 million hectares of our forest have been stripped and that the deforestation rate of 119,000 hectares for every year means that in a decade our forests will be in sorry state. The carbon dioxide emissions from our vehicles, what with their old engines, compete among the worst all over the world. The toxic emissions ...

You probably often come across articles about how to conserve energy several times while browsing the web. I do. But did you ever really read it and practice the tips? I don’t. But now I have to create my own list of top 10 ways to conserve energy and I might really consider putting it into practice. Our utility bill at home is taking up a huge chunk of our monthly budget and would you believe, there’s a sense of accomplishment in doing it. Knowing that you have control in lowering your expenses and that you are actually doing the environment a favor when you make a conscious effort to conserve energy. These won’t require you to change your lifestyle - just slight modifications, some discipline and commitment. So try to do these simple ways to conserve energy :

Simply put, it is renewable versus non-renewable energy. The fact that mother earth is in the verge of running out of fossil fuels (studies show an estimate of how much fossil fuel reserve remains), its cost and the environmental effect of its use had spawned ideas about the use of clean energy. Examples of fossil fuel include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Their benefits affect our everyday lives. Think of electricity, transportation and infrastructures. We have become so dependent on it that we have actually doubled up our usage in one hundred years. And fossil fuel is not renewable, meaning once we have used up its resources, there will be no more. While it is true that fossil fuel can be cheap (true among countries who produce them), readily available and convenient to use, and its importance deeply ingrained in our daily lives, the environmental effect of its usage is slowly making its presence felt as well.