Many people don't realize that they may be using a product containing beeswax right now and not even know about it. Although we have all heard about beeswax, have you really stopped to think how bees make it and why? Probably not, so let me give you a quick lesson about it.
In an attempt to live a more health conscious lifestyle, my wife and I began switching our everyday products to natural choices. One of changes we made was in the candles that we were burning at home. We changed from traditional candles made from paraffin wax to 100% pure beeswax candles. Of course, being a curious individual, I looked into how beeswax is produced by the bees and why they do it. Some of these facts I knew before hand and some I didn't. What is Beeswax Anyways? It is a waxy substance produced by glands on the abdomen of the bee. The bees first collect floral sugars (nectars) and pollens. They then convert the nectars into honey and eventually into wax. By consuming the honey, the bee will produce tiny scales of wax. It takes about 1,000 of these scales to make up one gram of wax. The bees need to consume eight pounds of honey to produce one pound of wax. The beeswax actually starts out white, not yellow as we all thought. The yellow colour comes from contact with the pollens that they collect and contact with the bees themselves. What do the bees use the wax for? There are a few uses for the beeswax. Some of the beeswax is used to produce the brood comb. This is the area where the eggs are laid, and is usually found in the lower part of the hive. The brood comb will usually appear dark because of the all the pupil linings and other impurities accumulated over time that are tracked in by the bees. They also use beeswax to produce the honey comb. This is the structure that stores the honey and the pollen gathered by the worker bees. Finally, there are the wax cappings. This beeswax is used to seal the cavities of the comb. It is the purest form of beeswax and is typically white or light yellow in colour. What do we use beeswax for? Well, there are hundreds of uses for beeswax. The two main commodities that use beeswax are cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Together these two account for approximately 60 to 70 percent of all the beeswax consumption. Most people think of candles when you mention beeswax, but they only consume 20 percent.
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For those who aren't already aware, the state of California is in a water crisis. More than two thirds of the state's water supply comes from the Sacramento Delta, an area poised for catastrophe when the next major earthquake hits. According to scientists, such an event isn't just a possibility, but rather a probability, and they estimate that there's a 75% chance of such an earthquake occurring before the year 2040. The problem is further complicated by an aging infrastructure, insufficient levies, droughts, and ecological concerns in the area.
All this begs the question, what can California residents do to ensure that there will be enough water in the coming years to support the needs of their growing population? While the state of California realizes that major steps must be taken to overhaul and revamp the Sacramento Delta area, state agencies are also campaigning to raise public awareness about the need for water conservation. Though conservation alone won't solve the problem in its entirety, encouraging residents to use less water is one important piece of the puzzle. One of the biggest sources of water waste in the average American home is the toilet. It's estimated that approximately 25-30% of the average household's water consumption is flushed down our toilets. If the state of California could conserve even a part of that water, multiplied across its millions of residents, the savings would be staggering. One possible solution to water savings in the bathroom are composting toilets. Composting toilets have been around for decades in one form or another, all with the same basic goal-to convert human waste into compost, a harmless substance that looks and smells like ordinary garden soil. Like most products, composting toilets have moved through a product development life cycle that began with fairly primitive fixtures and has evolved into a very sophisticated and highly effective product. The modern composting toilet is not only 100% odorless, but it's also easy to maintain and operate and is aesthetically pleasing in today's residential bathrooms. Composting toilet systems are not cheap. A single, self-contained unit retails around $1,500, or a large, whole-house system with toilets in multiple bathrooms can cost around $3,500. How can the state of California make it financially feasible for their residents to install these pricey fixtures in their homes? One possible solution is to subsidize the cost of the toilets with tax incentives. Many states offer tax breaks to homeowners who install high-efficiency windows, doors, and HVAC units, so why not offer a tax credit to homeowners who install approved composting toilet systems? The state could gather an independent panel of plumbing and home repair experts to evaluate the various models of composting toilets on the market today, and identify one or more particular brands and a group of models within those brands that the state could deem to be "approved fixtures." The state could even subsidize part of the tax credit offered to homeowners by cooperating with the manufacturers of those composting toilets. For example, for every tax credit the state of California gave to a homeowner who purchased a qualifying system, the state could then provide that same documentation to the composting toilet manufacturer to receive some credit or rebate on the sale, payable directly to the same funds that the tax credits come out of. While this may seem fairly simplistic, the state of California has to start somewhere if they want to encourage water conservation on a large scale. Reducing residential water use by even 10-15% would make a huge difference in the state's water situation, and composting toilets might be just the product to help them accomplish the task. For Californians, at least it's worth some consideration. The word ‘tipi’ comes from the Lakota language and is made up of two elements: thi, which means ‘to dwell in’ and pi, which means ‘they dwell’.
Tipis were used by most (but not all) Indians of the great plains as the tipi is highly durable and mobile, easily broken down and packed away quickly when a tribe needed to move camp in pursuit of more fertile land, warmer climates and buffalo. Buffalo were indispensable to the Native Americans. They provided them with food (meat) tools, clothes, weapons (buffalo hide shields and strings for the bow) and the skins of many buffaloes were needed to cover the fifteen foot tipi poles. Although there was an abundance of buffalo (prior to the 19th century bison hunts) there was very little wood on the great plains and the Indians would often travel many hundreds of miles in search of straight poles to erect their Tipis. Three poles were lashed together to form a tripod and then additional, lighter, poles were added around it two or more feet apart. The shape of the Sioux tipi is not a perfect cone and is slightly longer at the front than at the back. The poles would always be positioned so that when the cover is in place the entrance faces away from the prevailing winds and towards the rise of the morning sun. To make the cover, fifteen or more skins (preferably from buffalo killed in the spring when their skins were thought to be thinnest) were stitched together with buffalo sinews under the watchful eye of an elder. The smoke flaps at the top were sewn on by a woman with a cheerful good nature; never a shrew. The ‘dew’ cloth or inner liner was then hung inside the tipi and provided an insulated airspace that drew smoke up through the flaps. The inner liner was often painted with the designs inspired by the dreams and visions experienced by the owners. Painting also served the purpose of warding off bad spirits and brought protection to the dwellers. The Indian women of the tribe were responsible for the construction and ownership of the tipi. They chose the campsite, erected and took down the tipis and chose how the tipis were furnished and arranged around the heart of the tipi; the fire. Used for warmth and for cooking, fire also held a spiritual significance as it was symbolic of purification and transformation. Cool in the summer and warmed by the fire in the winter the tipi is a truly magical place with an overwhelming connection to the past. Born from the herds of buffalo of the great plains the tipi truly is the home of the hunter. Many of you have read or seen in the news how a lot of the global warming gurus have been skewing climate records to make global warming seem like it is real. In the past thirty or so years, these so called experts have made billions off their fabrication of the truth. It even seems that the media has been helping covering up the fraud. We can't even trust the United Nations in the matter. Most people do not know what to believe about global warming any more, including yourself..
In the terms of geology, land changes is a lot easier to study than the warming of the earth. Global warming facts are not as strong as the facts on the changing of landforms. The changing of land is a lot more alarming. It is really amazing more people have not picked up on this alarming campaign. This has been going on for many years but it has increased exponentially the last 200 years. A classic example is taking the city of New Orleans as it has changed for the worse. Most of New Orleans was swamp land. Many people have been hurt from strong hurricanes. The swampy land had to change to give people a place to work and live. Levees were built near the ocean or in the ocean to protect the people of New Orleans. The land itself should have told the people designing this area should have never been changed in the first place. The people ruined the natural habitat to live there. These people put themselves in danger. It is unfortunate that this has had a negative impact on the people that lived there. The impacts on people can be both negative and positive. Negative impacts on the environment can happen when changing landforms. This has been factually proven, unlike climate change. Just take for example when rivers have been changed to benefit people. The change in the flow has hurt many animals and fish. Some animals have become extinct. Another example of changing landforms that has a harmful impact on the world is the cutting down of forests. This has also caused the death and even extinction of some animals. On the news we see or hear of the animals that are on the endangered species list because their forest is destroyed. There are fewer trees in the word to clean up the carbon dioxide. The planet we live on can have a very negative impact if we change our forests. New Orleans was not positive. The weather can be changed from modifying our land from high to low or low to high. These changes of land can cause a difference in many things such as rain and snow. It should be knows that changing weather is expected but when we destroy landforms it is not natural. This world needs to think deeply on what it does. Today and throughout history, we have needed to change landforms just to survive. Though, we do need to think about the effects of changing the landforms and how it does effect our environment. The facts hold true and strong that changing landforms can have a negative effect on the environment, weather and animals. We do not really know if global warming is real or not. More people need to focus on helping landforms survive than global warming. Only change what actually needs to changed. It's an age-old concept but one that we tend to forget when we're running around from one appointment to another or taking the kids to school or a sporting event or piano lessons, but taking a moment to keep organized and neat can save time in the long run. It's easy to poke fun at this idea, that taking a little bit of time out of each day can save time overall, but it's true and if you find yourself struggling to keep a neat home or office, then it's certainly something to consider.
When we're in a hurry, it's easy to let things go 'until later.' In the morning when you're running late to work or school, you drop the cereal bowl in the sink and say to yourself that you'll get to it later. Or you shove some paperwork that you have scattered across your desk to one side and think to yourself that you'll organize that later. Then later arrives, you come home late from a long, tiring day and grab something to eat. Then those dishes pile up in the sink and you profess to clean them tomorrow. And that paperwork soon finds itself under another stack of papers. And the dance goes on and on. This simple and basic example illustrates the dilemma. A few days pass and you finally get to cleaning the dishes. Yet now the food is stuck firmly to them and you have to scrub each dish, as well as the silverware, just to get them clean. And the paperwork is a mess. You can't find what you need and you have to spread everything out, making new piles to sort them all. Those few minutes that it would have required to get the job done and stay on top of the situation suddenly adds hours to your cleaning and organizing routine. Vacuuming is another thing that is far too easy to pass off to another time, but the more we do this, the longer dirt has to burrow deep down into the carpeting or into the crevices of the wood or ceramic tile floors. By taking a moment to run the vacuum across the floors every couple of days, you will save time and money by having to avoid costly carpet cleaning services. There's a reason that 'old adages' stand the test of time; they're usually true, so the next time you think you're saving yourself time by passing off a cleaning or organizing task until later, think again. You'll thank me in the long run. With all of the advancements in technology happening, people are sometimes too busy to pay attention to what really matters and provides benefits for the users. The use of solar panels which produces solar energy for example, the technology of solar panels allows the conversion of sunlight to solar energy for home, used to operate almost everything in your home. These solar panels turn the sun's energy into DC, or direct current. An inverter is also found within the system changing DC current to AC current, therefore supplying power for electric appliances in your home such as computers, televisions, refrigerators, lamps, etc.
Using solar energy for home purposes does require a significant upfront investment. One solar panel can produce approximately 50 to 200 watts of power per day, but the cost per panel can range anywhere from $300 to $600. Although possible, this is not the most cost-effective solution to power all of your home appliances, but it should still be able to reduce you home electricity costs each month. Just like an investment, it could take years before making back the money that you have initially invested for this solar panel system. Saving money is not the only benefit you get from using a solar panel system. If you care enough about what happens to the environment, then you will be glad to know that by using solar energy for home use will eliminate 120 tons of carbon dioxide over a period of 30 years or so, assuming you use a 6kw system for the duration of its expected lifespan. It probably sounds like that is a long time, but at least you can feel better knowing that you are helping out with the environment. Before purchasing and installing the solar panel system at your home, it is ideal to get an estimate of how much money you are looking to spend. Also consider assessing how much solar energy for home you will need to generate each day, by simply performing an energy audit of your house. Simply write down all of your electrical items or appliances that you use at home each day, as well as its wattage, and then add up all the numbers. You will then have an idea of how many solar panels you will need installed, and even make you aware of how much energy you are consuming on a daily basis. Once you've completed your list of appliances that you would like to operate daily as well as its wattage, calculate how many solar panels you are going to need to power all of the electrical items. This will give you a ballpark figure of how much you will be looking to spend for installing the solar panels. Though investing to get solar energy for home usage may cost you thousands of dollars, the result of "not" using solar power greater pollution and consumption of some of our most valuable natural resources. So if you are one of those people who are interested in sustainable living and a green lifestyle, the benefits will definitely outweigh the total cost. In this day and age where health is a major concern for many people, one facet of our lives that is often overlooked when it comes to healthy living is our ability to be organized. Being organized can transform more than just a room or a house or even an office; it can transform your entire life.
Let me explain. Think about the last time you were in a hurry and couldn't find something you needed, such as the keys to your car or an important document. At first the frustration builds but you remain calm. Under the surface, however, your blood pressure begins to rise and the heat builds in your face. Your muscles become tense and the longer you scramble to find what it is you're missing, the more stressful and angrier you become. Stress, anger, and frustration are all conditions that our bodies attempt to fight as though they are an infection. It is scientific fact that the natural antibodies in our systems that are intended to fight infection actually course through our veins seeking invaders when we're stressed and 'on edge.' By being organized, you minimize the chances of losing important items and having to scramble at the last minute to find them, so from this alone it should be quite obvious how being organized is good for your health. But it isn't the only reason. When you're organized, when your home and/or workplace is clean and neat and everything has its place, then you are better able to manage and optimize your time. It becomes easier to prioritize daily tasks that need to be done. You also find that you're more in control of your schedule. When we feel that our schedule is controlling us, when we feel that we don't have control over our own lives, we endure a level of stress that, over time, can build up and cause other health related issues. Ulcers and headaches are two of the most common health problems that stem from stress. Skin complexion problems can also be a cause. Yet being organized isn't merely about finding a place for everything; it's also about keeping things clean. While we can spend hours dusting and wiping down furniture, all that dust that is kicked up settles on the floor. When we walk around, we end up stirring those particles back up. So when you decide to get organized to improve your health, don't forget to vacuum at the end. Your life will be much healthier in the long run. The 'Green' revolution that has taken over modern advertising in recent years has brought to light a number of products that boast their environmental benefits to both the consumer and the world, but how many of these products are merely an advertising slogan and which actually live up to their boasts?
The question isn't an easy one to answer and while this article certainly can't comment on every single one, we'll give you a general idea on what to look for and what to avoid when it comes to the cleaning products in your home. In 1960, the federal government passed the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act that basically freed companies from having to disclose any dangerous ingredients in household products unless certain reaction or side effects would immediately be noticed after use. If you think about it, this is a rather sobering fact. For starters, cleaning products don't fall under the same government regulations that food products, for example, do. If you purchase a product that is labeled 'bio-degradable' or 'eco-friendly' or 'natural,' these words are, in effect, meaningless. There is no oversight with regard to these labels as there are in foods that claim to be 'organic,' for example. How many products are in your home right now that claim to be natural or biodegradable? What is 'natural?' Lead is natural but we've learned in recent years that it's not something we would really want to be around everyday. We certainly wouldn't want our children to be exposed to lead on a regular basis, would we? But it's natural. Then there's the biodegradable label. If you wait long enough, just about every product ever created with degrade. In recent years, however, there have been new programs develop to combat the misleading and sometimes malicious labeling that occurs within the cleaning product business. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has created the DfE label that it affixes to products that use the safest available ingredients from each category in its products. This doesn't classify a product as 'safe,' however. The Green Seal, created by the company with the same name, is attached to products that are non-toxic, non-corrosive, free of carcinogens, mutagens, and are truly biodegradable. So when you're looking for the best cleaning products, look for these labels. Don't forget to take a closer look at that vacuum cleaner you're using, either. Many of these new bagless systems boast environmentally safe claims as well. The best advice is to look closely at the fine print and do your homework. Does winter get you down? Do you find yourself looking longingly through the windows of your home wishing that all of the gray would turn to green and the sun would warm everything up so that you can enjoy life outside again? Winter can produce depression and a sense of being stuck in place, but there are things that you can do that can both help your mental state of mind and improve your life at the same time.
For millions of people around the world, winter usually means spending more time indoors. Why not make the most of it by getting organized and cleaning your house from top to bottom. Some people might call this 'spring-cleaning,' but you don't need to wait for that season to get started. Besides, once spring rolls around, the last thing you may want to do is cleaning. So take those winter doldrums and turn them into a clean house. How? It's simple. Start by selecting one room and decide to clean it from top to bottom. If you choose a bedroom, start by stripping the linens from the bed and washing them. Flip the mattress so that your body will appreciate the comfort of a new, firmer feel. Then work your way through the room on step at a time. Dressers, desks, and closets are places that we usually neglect when it comes to organization, especially within our own bedrooms. After all, our bedroom is usually where only our closest or most intimate friends and acquaintances are invited. During the winter months, the sun doesn't shine as bright as it does during the summer, so make sure that while you're cleaning you open the blinds or the curtains fully. This will let as much light into your room as possible and subsequently make you feel much more lively and energized. When you become more active during these relatively inactive months of the year, it spreads to other aspects of your life as well. Energy begets energy, as the adage goes. When you begin to clean one room, then you will want to do the other rooms as well. Just don't start on another room until the previous one is finished. That can lead to frustration when it seems like you're not getting anywhere. Before you finish one room and move to another, don't forget to vacuum the floors. All the dust that you've kicked up will settle in the carpet on along the baseboards, waiting for the next breeze to kick back up. You'll find that your winter doldrums flee from you when you start cleaning and you'll feel much better about the season as a whole. Millions of homes across the nation have fireplaces that date back decades, sometimes even longer than that. Over time, these original constructions will begin to break down from the assault of the heat and normal wear and tear. Mortar can crack and peel from the masonry work and blackened soot can build up and corrode the edges of the mantle.
Renovations can be costly. While historic homes have a sense of pride hinging with its majestic fireplaces, many homeowners still see them as merely functional. Before spending an abundance of money on refurbishing your existing fireplace, consider another option: inserts. Fireplace inserts convert your existing fireplace into a gas fireplace and the results are often astounding. These inserts can use the existing chimney for ventilation, called natural ventilation, or can be converted to direct ventilation for more tightly sealed homes. There are a number of advantages to using fireplace inserts as opposed to reconditioning an existing fireplace. One of the greatest advantages is that an insert can change the entire makeup and appearance of your fireplace. When a home changes hands and moves from one generation to the next, remodeling is generally a part of the process and while the wall color, floors, and even ceilings may change, a fireplace typically stays the same. Fireplace inserts allow you to bring your fireplace up-to-date and fit the new look and appearance of your home. Another advantage of fireplace inserts is that you would no longer need to worry about supplying firewood for the winter, braving the elements of a harsh winter storm to bring that wood inside, and then struggle to light a fire, stoke it, and encourage it to life. In our hustle and bustle modern lifestyle, we often don't have the time to devote every night after work to starting a fire. With a gas fireplace, a flip of a switch is all you need. New gas fireplace inserts also come with different options, such as fans to help distribute to heat through the room, a remote control so that you can turn it on or off from your lounge chair, and different faux wood setups to accommodate your particular tastes and preferences. Gas fireplaces of yesterday may have had the appearance of being fake, but today's models look incredibly real that your guests will have to ask if it's a real fireplace or not. When it's time to upgrade your existing fireplace, inserts are the way to go. |
No Forest No Future
Nature Is Important, So Save Nature for Sustainability. Archives
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