Thinking of renovating or building an environmentally friendly green home?  A green design to your home can have significant benefits to your health, your wallet and the environment. Understanding a few basic principles of green design is not difficult and will assist in achieving a low cost, healthy and comfortable home.  

Your immediate location and climate is your starting point. Whether you live in a tropical, arid, temperate, cold, or polar climate, there are different applications and solutions for all. Passive design of your home can be as detailed or basic as you desire, although a more thorough understanding will of course yield better results. For the purpose of this article, ‘A Basic Guide to Green Home Design’, we will focus on the basics.

Orientation, cross ventilation, thermal mass and insulation are some common terms worth understanding for your green (or passive) design. In summary, orientation is for heating, cross ventilation for cooling, thermal mass for storing and insulation for control.

Orientation to the sun can have a dramatic effect on the thermal comfort of your home. With the correct placement of glass, windows and eaves, the sun’s warmth and energy can penetrate your home, eliminating, or at least reducing, the amount of artificial heating required. The heat can also be stored in your home for use later at night with the addition of thermal mass. Natural light from the sun is also a benefit.

Living in the northern hemisphere, it is generally a good idea to place your living areas on the southern side. Living areas are where you spend the majority of time whilst awake therefore the desire to gain maximum comfort.  I personally like the idea of placing kitchens and bathrooms on the west side of your home, as the sun’s warmth and natural light first thing in the morning when we enter these areas are of great benefit and pleasure.  Place the areas of least importance such as the laundry and storage areas on the northern side of the house. It is the opposite poles for people living in the southern hemisphere. Use the sun to its full potential where possible for warmth and light, after all, it’s free!

Cross ventilation is the ability of natural air to pass through your home, cooling it as it does so. When designing your green home, think about windows and/or louvers at opposite ends of the home to allow for cross ventilation. For additional benefits, why not place a water feature in the prevailing breeze path to cool the air even more. It is also healthier for indoor air quality to have fresh air passing through the home.

Thermal mass are hard dense surfaces such as concrete slabs, brick or rammed earth walls etc that have the great ability to store heat and/or cold and release it slowly. Used in conjunction with orientation, the temperature variance in homes designed with thermal mass is far lower than those not.  A basic guide to thermal mass is; to keep your home warm, allow sun to penetrate your thermal mass storage and, to keep your house cool, shade the sun from your thermal mass storage. When sunny days turn to cool nights, your thermal mass acts like a huge heater, slowly releasing the warmth gained throughout the day. The opposite occurs in summer when your thermal mass has been shaded and acts like a natural air conditioner. The use of deciduous trees planted correctly can assist in shading and ‘sunning’ your thermal mass storage.

Insulation in a home adds control of the indoor temperature. There are various kinds of insulation and applications. Insulating ceiling and walls is often the single most effective way of reducing heating and cooling loads. Window glazing and draught proofing also come under the insulation radar.

Other effective ways for achieving a green home design is using recycled materials. Also, the use of energy efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, televisions and small electrical items add to the success of a green home. Quite often, federal and state governments offer tax savings and incentives to go green in the home.

Not only are you doing the right thing by the environment and providing a healthier home for your family, green design can be cost effective and reduce your ongoing utility bills. In addition, green home design has increasingly immense possibilities of resale success with more buyers opting for health and well being assured by a green home.

Tags: Green Home Design

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Cleanliness is essential for a healthy home, but generally we end up using too many chemical cleaning products and in too great a quantity, and are unaware of their side effects. There are proven natural alternatives that are just as effective, do not have such a negative impact on our environment, and will leave your home smelling pleasantly fresh and fragrant.  

So what are these natural alternatives and why haven’t we heard of them earlier? 

Natural, or Organic cleaning products are a safe, natural alternative to the harmful chemicals found in common commercial products. Every organic cleaning cupboard should have white vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, pure soap, table salt, washing soda, and essential oils to name a few. These organic cleaning products are effective, affordable, healthy and ethical.

The common commercial products we use today are laden with heavy duty chemicals and may not bring the benefits to your life that the manufacturers would have you believe. Less than one quarter of the 70,000 chemicals used in cleaning products and toiletries have been adequately tested for safety, and substances classified as hazardous waste are found in many common cleaning products.

The largest number of occurrences of poisoning are due to non organic cleaning products - drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, soaps and detergents. Ammonia is a very volatile chemical frequently found in non organic cleaning products and is very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin. Non organic laundry detergents contain phosphorus, enzymes, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, sodium nitilotriacetate and countless other chemicals. Non organic cleaning products for toilet bowls may cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Oven cleaner is one of the most toxic non organic cleaning products that people use.

Using organic cleaning products is the core of natural cleaning. Organic cleaning products are truly cleaner because they are nontoxic, natural, biodegradable, concentrated, and hypoallergenic, and are excellent cleaners. I love organic cleaning products because they are totally safe for the home, they will not harm the environment and have major health benefits. When you take the time to become better informed about the choices that are available to you, you'll learn that organic cleaning products and recipes are easy to find, and will probably fit nicely into your budget. There are numerous excellent books and information available on ‘green cleaning’.

I confess; I’m a recent convert to using organic cleaning products at home. The only reason I had not ‘converted’ sooner was that no one had informed me of the natural alternative. I have found the products work just as well in almost all situations, is cheaper, healthier, more environmentally friendly and it gives me a good feeling to know that I’m ‘doing the right thing’. My chemical free home is a delight to be in – it looks and feels good and smells wonderful too. 

So, with all the information above, why aren’t more of us switching to the natural alternatives? Based on feedback, the answers I received are; 1) people are not educated or aware about the alternatives, 2) people don’t have the time or desire, and 3) many claim the organic options don’t work as well as chemicals. I have a personal opinion on all three answers, but the wonderful world we live in means people are very different on many levels. As a result, the reasons listed above are valid to many people.  

The objective of this article is not to sell you anything; I just want you to be aware, then you can make your own decision. I do however, strongly urge and encourage you to try the natural alternatives, just once. What have you got to lose? I guarantee the benefits you get will far outweigh any inconveniences you feel you may encounter. You will feel and smell the benefits of switching to organic cleaning products if not immediately, then certainly after a couple weeks.

So clear out your old household cleaners and start anew with the natural alternatives and keep your home clean, safe and healthy. Organic cleaning products are the way to go!!

Tags: Natural Organic Cleaning Products

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 Byron Dixon – Earthhuddle.com

I’m not sure what it’s like in your country of origin, but here in Australia, I’m deeply concerned about the lack of environmental education being taught in our schools. As a father, an individual, a community member and a concerned global citizen, I think it’s extremely important for our education to be responsible and relevant in the 21^st century.

Just like generations before us, values, principles, behaviour, goals and priorities will change as a way of life, it has to, and our education needs to not only follow, but where possible, lead these changes. The problem is not related to questioning whether environmental education is essential, but which kind of environmental education is important, in order to incite a change of values and behaviors. No doubt, if you’re a regular on Earthhuddle.com, you too are concerned about the social, economic and environmental changes currently sweeping our planet and the urgent action needed for change.

When I was attending school about twenty five years ago, I was questioning the content, the relevance, and adaptation of my education. Today, as a wiser individual in an ever changing world, my questions and concerns back then have been justified today. It is my opinion that the current ‘curriculum’ has changed little in this time despite the massive changes witnessed in so many other areas. Twenty five years later and a hugely different world, with a whole set of new values, challenges and opportunities, it’s definitely time for a change in education.  It’s time to properly introduce environmental education to our children.

The goal of environmental education should be to create a world population that is aware of, and concerned about, the environment and human impacts on the environment. We must gain the knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivations, and commitment to work individually and collectively toward solutions of current problems and the prevention of new ones. Environmental education is also about bridging social borders. It is an essential endeavor for the re-evaluation of contemporary society, thereby helping us in the transition to a sustainable society.

Environmental education is, in most cases, a non-mandatory component of schools and, as a result, struggles for acceptance in mainstream formal and teacher education. ‘Alternative’ schooling such as Steiner and Montessori could be considered a slight exception.  Because environmental education is multi-disciplinary, it is hard for teachers to work it into their narrowly defined lesson plans. The framework for environmental education is in some ways radical, ambitious and transformative.

 Environmental education however, is the foundation for creating the green workforce of the new economy. It is for people of all cultures, including those for whom English is not the native language. It should not be restricted to in-class lesson plans for it is often taught or enhanced through outdoor experiences.  Environmental education is also good for student academic performance, and hands-on environmental education connects children with nature.  Experience in environmental education is an asset and should be strongly encouraged.

The true goal of any environmental education is not only to raise children with a healthy respect for the environment, but to create a generation of leaders who will find new ways to live in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.  

Tags: Environmental Education Children

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The word ‘Sustainable’ appears to be the buzz word of the early 21^st century. It’s increasingly used by politicians and government, business and marketing, media and entertainment and ordinary, everyday people.  It is used in all manner of discussion and debate, policy and purpose, subject and science.

 Increasingly used is the term ‘Sustainable Living’ and for a very good reason.

The best definition of sustainable living I have found is; “Sustainable living is fundamentally the application of sustainability to lifestyle choice and decisions. Sustainability itself is expressed as meeting present ecological, societal, and economical needs without compromising these factors for future generations. Sustainable living can therefore be described as living within the innate carrying capacities defined by these factors. “

There are many other definitions of sustainable living that may be easier for some to understand. For example, sustainable living is “a lifestyle that can be sustained without exhausting natural resources. That is: living simply and efficiently, and making everything we do use go as far as possible and achieve as much as possible”. Whilst this is perfectly acceptable, it does tend to focus on the environmental or ecological issues only and not address society and the economy, topics that must be included in today’s world  if it is to be truly sustainable.

 The term sustainable living has arisen quite rapidly as a result of the current economical, social and environmental challenges we face. Many words and phrases have arisen with this, such as sustainable living, sustainable practices, sustainable housing, sustainable development, sustainable energy, sustainable business, sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry, the list goes on. All these are immensely important to the overall sustainability and sustainable living topic and there are many individual articles on these topics.

Sustainable living is absolutely critical. History has shown us that cultures collapse and disappear when they are no longer sustainable, therefore the importance of such. However, with reckless overuse of the word or phrase by politicians, business, media and the likes, are we in danger of prostituting the word so much that it loses its value, importance and impact? Is the word ‘sustainable’ becoming unsustainable?

Sustainable Living or sustainability is a topic we should all educate ourselves and others about. Sustainability affects every level of organization, from the local family to the entire planet. It encompasses all challenges before us.  It is something we must strive towards for the survival of humankind as we know it.

Self sufficiency is an important term to understand as well, for self sufficiency – the ability to provide for your own needs without the assistance of others – is an extremely important strategy to achieving sustainability. It is sobering to realize that self sufficiency and sustainable living are necessities of life for 80% of the world’s people. These people are considered by us westerners as being the poorest of people living on the planet. Does this mean we have to become poor as well? The answer is simply no. See our article “The Self Sufficiency Manager” on Earthhuddle.com

Sustainable Living in summary is a beautiful thought. It brings thoughts of community, happiness, independence, health, beauty, harmony, prosperity, and will give us all a bright future. Let’s all do our little bit to educate ourselves and understand the little things we can all do on our healthy quest for Sustainable Living.

Tags: Sustainable Living

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Alternative energy continues to fuel widespread debate on a number of fronts.  Mankind has known for decades that fossil fuels such as coal and oil are not limitless. There will reach a critical point in which we find ourselves running out of these reserves. The question as to when this will happen is debatable but we are becoming aware of the hazards associated with our use of fossil fuels.

The broad umbrella of the alternative energy debate includes a range of topics and issues and can be quite a complex one. The complexity varies depending on, but not limited to, your beliefs, moral standings, education on the topic, and/or agenda/s.  Social, corporate and environmental sustainability issues have become common topic today and the energy debate must have these broad topics at the forefront of any discussion.

Alternate energy is defined as any type of energy that is a renewable energy source. Examples of this are wind, solar, any type of biological process, and geothermal energy flows. Most examples of alternative energy sources can all be indirectly linked to the sun. The exceptions would be geothermal energy or tidal energy. These are powered by the Earth and the moon's gravitational pull.

Alternate energy is further defined by its effect upon the Earth's atmosphere and landscape. The end goal of all alternative fuels is that there are no waste products or harmful byproducts associated with alternative energy's use.

Is using nuclear power considered an alternate energy source?

Are there hazards to using alternate energy?

If we consider nuclear power as an alternative energy source, then there should be recognition of the dangerous side-effects of radioactive power. When a nuclear core is breached or a meltdown occurs, mankind and the environment immediately suffer as radiation poisoning spreads. It is for this reason that many environmentalists do not consider nuclear power as an alternate energy. Other alternative energy sources such as the sun, wind and water, do not produce any harmful side-effects.

What is the initial cost of switching over to using alternate energy?

Switching over depends on what exactly you are switching. Houses that have to be retrofitted using solar panels to generate electricity can be quite costly although many governments around the world are assisting by way of rebates or subsidies. Vehicles are cheaper to retrofit but require work. The best way to get an estimated idea is to seek out a contractor or mechanic that is using alternate energy sources.

The cost of alternative energy sources to the consumer can vary for anything switched over. The cost of switching an entire global economy, which has primarily been built around the availability of cheap oil, is massive to say the least. With that said, many argue the cost of doing nothing will be far greater.

What types of products are available on the market?

Products that use alternative energy sources range from entire houses to vehicles. Engineers are aware of consumers seeking out cheaper alternatives to the rising costs of utilities and fuel prices. As more and more people push for the decline in fossil fuel usage, we will see more and more alternative energy products hit the market.

Regardless of your views about climate change, the date and effects of peak oil (the time when oil demand will outstrip supply), or the health of our planet in general, one thing is for certain and that is our current energy sources of oil, gas and coal are non renewable therefore unsustainable. Alternative energy is going to be a major necessary challenge in the 21^st century, or if you’re a ‘half full’ person, a major opportunity. It will require great courage from our global leaders, as well as constant pressure from the people who place them there. Corporate leaders in particular, and the media, also have a moral obligation to give us all the facts, without prejudice, to assist in the necessary transformation from a dirty, non renewable  and unsustainable energy source, to a cleaner, renewable and sustainable energy source.

Tags: Alternative Energy

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There is a great deal of organic waste that can be used to make compost. Small twigs, leaves, hedge and grass clippings, and other organic materials, including some kitchen waste, can all be used in composting, which is a very effective form of recycling. Material that has gone through the composting process ends up producing a wonderfully rich material that is filled with minerals and nutrients that are well suited to encouraging lush and healthy growth of new plants, as well as overall soil health and sustainability.

Pretty much any type of organic matter will eventually decompose if it has sufficient time and the right conditions. But, even with that said, you don't want to toss any old organic materials on your compost pile. Some items are not recommended to be thrown into your compost pile. Meats, dairy foods, pet feces, cooked foods and kitchen grease will end up attracting disease or pests and vermin, so these should not be used in your home composting efforts.

Good compost should include a mix of brown organic material and green organic material. The brown materials provide carbon for the mixture, while the green materials bring in supplies of needed nitrogen. The brown organic matter includes dead leaves, twigs, cardboard, paper and manure. The green material will be comprised of things such as grass clippings, hedge trimmings, coffee grounds, fruit rinds and vegetable waste. As much as possible, it is best to try to maintain a one to one ratio of brown material to green material to produce the best final compost. Layer one after the other like you would making a lasagne!

 The composting process involves four different components that are required to create a mixture that will deliver the sought-after benefits. These four key components are organic matter (addressed above), correct moisture, sufficient oxygen and bacteria.

The proper moisture levels are important to a successful composting process. It is said that the compost pile should have about the same amount of moisture as a sponge that has been wrung out by hand. If the compost pile is too dry, then the decomposition slows down. You can simply add some water to the pile during dry weather periods or any time when a lot of brown material has been added to help keep the process moving along.

Should the compost become too wet, simply dig in and turn the pile to mix the materials and spread the moisture. You can also add some brown organic materials that are very dry to help balance things out.

Sufficient oxygen is also a key element that is necessary for decomposition. Oxygen supports the breakdown of the organic materials by the bacteria. Supplying oxygen to the compost pile is as simple as turning the compost so the materials at the outer edges of the pile are moved to the center. This also helps to control odors that can develop. The pile should be turned about every two weeks for best results.

It is the bacteria, and other types of microorganisms, that do the real work involved in the composting process. With the other needed elements in place, the bacteria can go to work breaking down the organic components into the compost that will benefit the organic garden.

When the composting cycle has turned the organic waste matter into a muck that is rich in nutrients, you will be able to easily add it to your garden soil. While preparing your soil for a spring planting, simply cover the ground with about 3-4 inches of the compost and then till the soil to mix it in well. In no time you will start to see a healthy and vibrant garden.

There are a number of different types of composters on the market to meet a variety of needs and situations. Bins for composting can be built from materials that you already have around the backyard, or they can be purchased from garden supply stores, especially those that specialize in organic gardening.

The benefits of composting have been extensively studied. The results reveal physical, chemical, biological, and environmental benefits.

Tags: Compost Recycle

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Meet the corporate guy. Young, ambitious and enthusiastic with a desire to succeed in life and impress all around him. Only in his twenties, he has a six figure salary, company car and enjoys business class, five star travels all around the world with the company gold Amex. He’s the rising star in a multinational company. He seems to have it all to his family and friends and appears to be happy.

The corporate guy however, has a suspicion, a feeling, something he can’t quite explain. It’s a rumble rising from the core. Perhaps it’s his inner soul slowly bubbling to the surface of his vast, deep ocean of being. It’s distant and deep so he ignores it for quite some time.  He doesn’t really have time to think about it for he’s busy accomplishing things.  It’s there all the same; slowly rising until one day, he decides now is the time to dive deep in the ocean of his soul.

Fast forward ten years.

Meet the hippy guy. Yes it’s the same guy, on the surface anyway. He’s moved from the big smoke, the corporate life, the big money, the material things, and has purchased a beautiful piece of paradise with a rainforest gully, waterfalls, distant ocean views through the tall trees, and a flora and fauna that he’s only seen in documentaries.

Gone is the drone of the city replaced with absolute silence, except at times of the day when it is lovingly interrupted with an orchestra of nature. Gone is the tall concrete jungle replaced with a real green jungle. Gone is the stale, CO2 polluted air, replaced with an air that he never knew existed, a crispness and freshness that is exhilarating to inhale. Gone is the stress and pace of a frantic life in the city to be replaced with time to ponder and appreciate his family, friends, surroundings and his new life!

Meet corporate hippy. Does he feel insecure, for he no longer has a ‘career’, nice income and material possessions? Does he feel lonely and like an outcast, for some of his friends, family and society think he’s ‘thrown it all away’? Does he feel like a failure, for now he has less money in the bank than ever before? No, no and no, corporate hippy is extremely happy and content with a sense of inner peace. In fact he’s never been happier.

What happened to corporate hippy is an amazing journey. From corporate ambition and desires to a self sufficient ‘hippyish’ lifestyle and then back just a little, to a nice balance. He listened to that rumble within, gained some courage, sold his possessions, put a backpack on and traveled the world. During his journeys he received the most thorough and comprehensive education he has ever received, a worldly education in life. His life is now wealthy with non material rewards he never knew existed. Corporate hippy has discovered other currencies in life. It’s not easy though, for there is constant pressure to achieve his new goals and not be manipulated by others.

Part 2 begins his true education of life with doubts and fears, exhilarating highs and occasional lows, and a world he never knew existed.

Tags: Corporate Hippy Personal Development

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Have you ever thought about a job where you don't actually 'go to work'? A job that has meaning, is fulfilling and varied? A job that serves towards better health, for mind, body and soul ? How about a job where you don't have to answer to anyone except yourself, that is beneficial to you, your family, your community, and the planet! What about a job that satisfies all of lifes currencies? May I introduce to you perhaps the most desirable job of the 21st Century, "The Self Sufficiency Manager".

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