News

Pick up the trash along the beach or water way nearby. Leave your footprints, take other people’s junk away. “Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb; When I made a cloud its garment” Job 38: 8-11 – See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Oceans#sthash.fVqbqd7a.dpuf Pick up the trash along the beach or waterway nearby. Leave your footprints, take other people’s junk away. In nature, life operates in a circular system and waste generated by one organism becomes food for another. Fallen leaves decay and the nutrients are returned to the earth, where they become food for the tree again. An exciting challenge facing city communities is to work towards a life without waste,there the unwanted items of one cycle are essential goods for another. For every bin that we put out in front our homes, about 70 bins of waste are generated during the manufacturing and production of the items we use. For example it take about 75 kg of resources (coal, oil and water) to produce one cellphone and about 1.5kg of resources to produce a toothbrush. By buying durable and reusable products rather than disposable or cheap items that break quickly, we reduce the waste we produce. This is illustrated in the short documentary “Story of Stuff’ which can be seen at www.storyofstuff.com Although it is important to pick up litter wherever you see it, it is particularly important to pick it up from waterways and oceans. We’re treating the oceans like a trash bin: around 80 percent of marine litter originates on land, and most of that is plastic. Plastic that pollutes our oceans and waterways has severe impacts on our environment and our economy. Seabirds, whales, sea turtles and other marine life are eating marine plastic pollution and dying from choking, intestinal blockage and starvation. Scientists are investigating the long-term impacts of toxic pollutants absorbed, transported, and consumed by fish and other marine life, including the potential effects on human health. Environmental Resource Management

Don’t go with the flow. Do not keep taps running when brushing teeth, washing dishes or cleaning your car “I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs”. Isaiah 41:18 You can save gallons of water by getting a grip on your taps! Did you know A running tap uses a lot more water than you think, it puts 8 litres (2 gallons) down the drain every minute it is on you might use 20 litres leaving the tap running while washing your teeth  washing dishes with the tap running can waste 50 litres! washing your car with a hose uses up to 300 litres! What to do?: The Answer is simple Brushing Teeth: Wet your brush when you brush your teeth and rinse the brush when finished. Shaving: fill the sink when you shave  Dishes: fill a sink . When you are waiting for the water to heat up in the tap, use that water to fill your kettle rather than letting it run. Car: use a sponge and bucket Bathing: take a shower rather then a bath. By using less hot water you save both water and electricity. And if you are willing to take a bigger step, consider a grey water system , where water from your showers and washing machine in fed onto the garden.  

No Meat Monday How old is your hot water heater? Insulate your hot water tank, energy efficient tanks should stay at a temp of 60⁰C “The one to be cleansed shall then wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe in water and be clean” Leviticus 14:8 Geyser Blankets Making use of geyser blankets in your home or office buildings is another great way to use saving energy techniques! What does a geyser blanket do exactly? Geyser blankets maximise heat retention. You can actually check how much heat your geyser is losing by simply placing your hand on the geyser. If you feel your geyser is warm, then you know it needs a geyser blanket because it is losing heat. Always use an insulation expert to install your geyser blanket. If it is not installed correctly, heat loss may still occur and it won’t help much with saving energy. If you turn your geyser temperature down to 60 degrees C instead of leaving it atthe standard 70 degrees, you will notice a massive saving on electricity usage! Geysers use way more energy to maintain 70 degrees C! This way works best when your geyser has been insulated properly with a geyser blanket and pipe insulation. Solar Water Heater Having a solar water heater installed can drastically reduce power consumption at home and save a ton of electricity! Using a solar water heater can save up to two thirds of the total water heating cost you build up at home. The energy saving does vary though and if you are looking to achieve the best possible results, use a geyser timer. If you cannot install a solar water heater then a heat pump is another alternative to help with power consumption. You will get similar energy savings from a heat pump that you do from a solar water heater, but heat pumps haven’t been around for very long, so there is still testing needed to be done on them. They may need more maintenance than your typical solar water heater. Read more: Home insulation 

Smart Fish Friday Give back by planting a tree, and educate yourself on invasive species in your area “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations”. Rev 22:2 Trees are indeed God’s miracle plants – here are some of the things they do! -Trees combat the climate change: Trees absorb CO2, removing and storing the carbon while releasing the oxygen back into the air. In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of CO2 produced when you drive your car 26,000 miles. – Trees clean the air: Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. – Trees provide oxygen: In one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people. – Trees cool the streets and the city: Trees cool the city by up to 10°C, by shading our homes and streets, breaking up urban “heat islands” and releasing water vapor into the air through their leaves. – Trees conserve energy: Three trees placed strategically around a single-family home can cut summer air conditioning needs by up to 50 percent. By reducing the energy demand for cooling our houses, we reduce carbon dioxide and other pollution emissions from power plants. – Trees save water: Shade from trees slows water evaporation from thirsty lawns. Most newly planted trees need only fifteen gallons of water a week. As trees transpire, they increase atmospheric moisture. – Trees help prevent water pollution: Trees reduce runoff by breaking rainfall thus allowing the water to flow down the trunk and into the earth below the tree. This prevents stormwater from carrying pollutants to the ocean. When mulched, trees act like a sponge that filters this water naturally and uses it to recharge groundwater supplies. – Trees help prevent soil erosion: On hillsides or stream slopes, trees slow runoff and hold soil in place. – Trees shield children from ultra-violet rays: Skin cancer is a very common form of cancer. Trees reduce UV-B exposure by about 50 percent, thus providing protection to children on school campuses and playgrounds – where children spend hours outdoors. – Trees provide food: An apple tree can yield up to 15-20 bushels of fruit per year and can be planted on the tiniest urban lot. Aside from fruit for humans, trees provide food for birds and wildlife. – Trees heal: Studies have shown that patients with views of trees out their windows heal faster and with less complications. Children with ADHD show fewer symptoms when they have access to nature. Exposure to trees and nature aids concentration by reducing mental fatigue. -Trees reduce violence: Neighborhoods and homes that are barren have shown to have a greater incidence of violence in and out of the home than their greener counterparts. Trees and landscaping help to reduce the level of fear. – Trees mark the seasons: Is it winter, spring, summer or fall? Look at the trees. – Trees create economic opportunities: Fruit harvested from community orchards can be sold, thus providing income. Small business opportunities in green waste management and landscaping arise when cities value mulching and its water-saving qualities. Vocational training for youth interested in green jobs is also a great way to develop economic opportunities from trees. – Trees are teachers and playmates: Whether as houses for children or creative and spiritual inspiration for adults, trees have provided the space for human retreat throughout the ages. – Trees bring diverse groups of people together: Tree plantings provide an opportunity for community involvement and empowerment that improves the quality of life in our neighborhoods. All cultures, ages, and genders have an important role to play at a tree planting or tree care event. – Trees provide a canopy and habitat for wildlife: Sycamore and oak are among the many urban species that provide excellent urban homes for birds, bees, possums and squirrels. – Trees block things: Trees can mask concrete walls or parking lots, and unsightly views. They muffle sound from nearby streets and freeways, and create an eye-soothing canopy of green. Trees absorb dust and wind and reduce glare. – Trees provide wood: In suburban and rural areas, trees can be selectively harvested for fuel and craft wood. – Trees increase property values: The beauty of a well-planted property and its surrounding street and neighborhood can raise property values by as much as 15 percent. – Trees increase business traffic:Studies show that the more trees and landscaping a business district has, the more business will flow in. A tree-lined street will also slow traffic – enough to allow the drivers to look at the store fronts instead of whizzing by. Benefits of tree planting

Bring your green ideas to the office, use ceramic coffee cups, recycled envelopes and get your coworkers to join in. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” Col 3:23 Here are a few ideas for making your office greener! You can be the one to influence others. – Use electricity wisely Make sure computers, printers, photocopiers and other equipment get turned off when you go home. Check that monitors are on their most efficient setting (eg set to shut off after 15 mins of no use). When leaving a room for more than a few minutes, switch off the lights. Use compact fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent ones. Take advantage of natural sunlight as much as possible. Reduce, reuse, recycle: Reduce, reuse, recycle” means more than just throwing old notepaper in the blue bin (though you needn’t stop doing that). Really think about everything you use. Do you need disposable cups at the water cooler? Can you use the other side of the used sheets of paper you’ve thrown in the recycle bin? Australia has added a fourth R – Refuse. Simply put: Don’t buy stuff you don’t need. And, when you do make a purchase, bring your own bags. Use environmentally friendly office products. On average, they only cost 5% more, which is a small price to pay to cut down on waste and pollution. Start small – 100 % recycled paper, refillable ink cartridges, non-toxic highlighters, etc Use non-toxic cleaning products. There are many brands available nowadays. Encourage your cleaning company to use green cleaning products and if they won’t, switch to one of the many companies that now do use environmentally friendly products. Make eco-friendly food choices Encourage use of the 100-mile diet: local first; organic for high consumption foods. When ordering lunch for an office meeting, how about going vegetarian ? Cutting down on meat can have a huge impact on the health of the planet Telecommuting Encourage working from home, particularly for workers who would normally drive to work. This cuts down on pollution and increases time availability. Transportation For those who do come to the office on a regular basis, encourage (and help arrange) carpooling, use of public transit, biking, or walking.  Aim for a paperless office Though the paperless office may still seem unrealistic, at least try to cut down on printed material when possible. Read on-screen and only print documents when absolutely necessary. Use only 100% recycled content paper products in the office. Institute a casual dress code Not having to wear suits in hot summer months can help keep cooling costs down (and make for a happier workplace). Fair trade & organic Buy fair trade, organic coffee and teas for the office. If employees prefer to go out for their hot beverages, encourage them to take their own mugs. Most coffee shops offer a small discount to patrons who do so. More importantly is the reduction in waste from not having to throw out paper or Styrofoam cups. Green your office 

Keep your lawn mower blades sharp, use compost for fertilizer and to lower waste and remember longer grass will keep more moisture “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8 Just as eating local and organic pays dividends beyond just a healthier diet, eco-conscious lawn care benefits more than just your lawn: it’s healthier for the environment, your family, and your pets Soil contains an interconnected array of organisms that create natural fertilizer, feeding with organics mimics the natural world Treating lawns organically enhances soil life and reduces disease, which means healthier greenery and a cleaner environment. Studies also show that organic lawn care is safer for kids and pets, whose health can be threatened by many common lawn chemicals. If you’re looking to replace the grass variety in your yard, consider one of these environmentally friendly grasses such as Buffalo grass They require less watering, less mowing, and less fertilizer, all of which helps cut down on your carbon footprint. Watering too often encourages roots to stay near the lawn’s surface where they’re more susceptible to drought and disease. By watering infrequently but deeply, we encourage roots to grow downward in search of the moisture,”If you’ve just planted, it’s good practice to water every day until the new plantings are established. But after that, you should only need to water once a week, if that. To test whether you need to water, feel six inches down into the soil: if it’s wet, don’t water. Cover with layer of mulch and compost; this helps retain moisture and keep the birds away. Mulch and compost are yard wastes that have been organically broken down and recycled by Mother Earth. Consider water conservation the next time you think about watering your lawn. You don’t have to stop watering completely, but what if you could use rainwater instead? You can harvest rainwater and store it in drums for future use. It’s actually quite simple. All you need to do is catch it as it flows out of your gutter downspouts. You can buy elaborate systems or make your own rainwater collection system using food- grade plastic barrels. For optimum results, you can even elevate your rain barrels and let gravity increase the water pressure. Reduce your area of grass: On the other hand, why not opt for a creeping flower or no-mow lawn instead of grass? Low-level groundcovers such as thyme, sweet alyssum and lavender offer beauty and don’t require the maintenance. A no-mow lawn requires no watering or mowing, and those are two ways to positively impact the environment. You may want to consider hardscaping. Instead of grass, build a desert or rock scene. Hardscaping requires no maintenance, not to mention you won’t have to worry about erosion. The landscape may be hard, but taking care of it won’t be. Eco friendly lawn care 101 Tips to an eco-friendly lawn