Green Technology

What is green technology?

According to Google, green technology is defined as:

Technology whose use is intended to mitigate or reverse the effects of human activity on the environment.

Green technology is methods, materials and techniques to help sustain our planet. It’s important to take advantage of the technology so we can conserve energy and water. Many companies have developed products or gadgets to help us live friendlier. Why would you not want to use a cool innovative gadget that is also environmentally conscious.

Examples of green technology

• Light bulbs - LED light bulbs save energy over traditional light bulbs. LED bulbs use up 80 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional light bulbs. There’s even LED light bulbs that come with added “smart” features to help save even more energy. The Stack Alba smart bulb, changes brightness or turns off based on the time of day, how bright the room is and whether or not someone is home. Also, the Philips Hue uses an app to control your lights. If you cannot afford “smart” bulbs that’s OK, but LED lights are a must! When it comes to living green, light bulbs can really help you save energy at home

• Shower Savers - Only 16 percent of households water is used in the shower, but there is a lot of innovations that has focused on how to use less water in the shower. The UjiShowerhead alerts you when you have been in the shower for too long. A light gradually goes from green to red. Once it goes to red, it means that it is time to get out. This shower head has the ability to decrease time spent in the shower by 12 percent. By monitoring the time spent in the shower, you are helping conserve water. Another water saving shower head is the Oxijet air shower, it reduces water use by 50 percent. The Oxijet air shower head injects tiny air bubbles into the water droplets to make the shower feel like it’s at full pressure, while using 50 percent less water.

• Green Apps - Every day we use apps on our phones and tablets. Apps have become extremely popular and there seems to be an app for everything. Apps like WattBuddy, Kill-Ur-Watts, and Leafully help you monitor your energy usage. The apps track your consumption by working with your utility company. When you track your consumptions, it will help you save energy. If you want to find local recycling centers, you can use the iRecycle app. For more information on how to save water, you can also check out the Water Use Calculator or H20 Tracker app. This is an affordable technology that can help you stay eco-friendly!

It is important for us to stay up to date on green technology trends. Technology is always changing and there is always going to be more eco-friendly methods, tools and techniques. If we want to save energy and water, we need to be aware of what we use and do every day.

HAPPY FRIENDLY LIVING,

Jonathan Berrospes, Silvia Carmona, Scott Giraudin & Nicole Olaya

*Disclaimer: This blog is for the use of a school project 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Keep reduce, reuse and recycle in mind if you want to live friendly! No one wants to live in a filthy and polluted community. It’s important that we all help maintain our community clean and sustainable for generations to come. Everyone should do their part to preserve an eco-friendly environment, because a clean community, is a happy community. It may not be easy, but it can be done!

REDUCE

Everything we do and use affects air and water pollution Reducing pollution can make a huge effect on the environment. Here are a few tips on how to reduce air and water pollution:

• Drive less. Once a week, or as often as you can, use public transition, walk or ride your bike. Driving by carpooling is an alternative if you are traveling more than 25 miles a day.
•  Choose environmentally products. By purchasing and using environmental products, you’re helping reduce pollution in the air. 
• Conserve energy. It’s important to turn off lights, computers and electric devises when not in use.
• Run dishwasher and clothes washer only when full. You don’t want to waste water by washing small loads of dishes or clothes.
•  Don’t pour oil or grease down the sink. This can lead to blockage that can impact the sewer system. Instead, reuse it or dispose of it properly.

 REUSE

Many household items can be used for different purposes. If you’re reusing what you already have, you have no need to throw it away. Because trash can be turned into treasure, right? Here are a few things that can be reused:

• Carrier bags. They can be reused as trash bags throughout the house. If your grocery store gives you paper bags, it can be reused as wrapping paper.
• Envelopes. You can reuse envelopes by sticking labels over the address.
• Newspapers. Reuse newspapers for packing, stuffing and wrapping.
•  Fabric softener sheets. Keep your luggage fresh by reusing fabric softener sheets. If you don’t travel, you can keep them in your drawers.
• Jars. Jars can be cleaned and reused to store things. The possibilities are endless with mason jars.

RECYCLE

Recycling reduces the need for landfills, which helps reduce space and disposable cost. It’s important to know what can and can’t be recycled. Here are a few items that should always be recycled:

• Paper
• Aluminum and tin cans
• Cardboard
• Plastic
• Paper and plastic bags

It's really that simple! All you have to do is stop and think about how you can REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE. Everyday choices can help the environment, so will you be making the right choice? Maybe you can start  by clicking here for some ideas on how to reuse household items!

HAPPY FRIENDLY LIVING,

Jonathan Berrospes, Silvia Carmona, Scott Giraudin & Nicole Olaya

*Disclaimer: This blog is for the use of a school project