Posts Tagged ‘new resources’

There’s no doubt wooden pallets have played an important role in shaping the world’s infrastructure: real estate; bridges; skyscrapers; transportation, to just name a few — all have used wooden pallets.

However in the recent rise of the green market, wooden pallets are becoming less favourable: they’re unsanitary; they’re high-maintenance; they have a short life span.

Many engineers, architects and tradesmen today are beginning to use more reliable and long-lasting alternatives such as, eco-friendly plastic pallets.

According to the Pallet & Container Research Lab, the plastic pallet market has doubled in the last ten years.

Eco-friendly plastic pallets are here to stay and Renew Resources has quickly highlighted its three major benefits.

Enjoy!

Environment Friendly

Renowned for its longevity and re-usability, eco-friendly plastic pallets simply last longer than wooden pallets, which reduces your wood consumption. When you choose wood; you choose a shorter-life span. Eco-friendly plastic pallets are also made from 100% recyclable materials and are 100% recyclable. When your eco-friendly plastic pallet break through wear-and-tear, it’s convenient to toss in your recycling pile; saving landfill space.

Long-lasting

Plastic Pallets are weather-resistant and save you from the high-maintenance troubles wooden pallets bring you. Plastic pallets won’t absorb moisture, won’t split, rot, mildew or become infested with insects. The longer your pallets last the more money you save.

Sanitary

Plastic pallets were first introduced to the market in the 1960s and were used in sanitary applications for raw foods. When you use plastic pallets you’ll free yourself from all the unsanitary qualities wood bring you; giving you a more versatile functionality: the cleaner; the better.

Summary

Three billion to six billion trees are cut down every year. When you move from wooden pallets to eco-friendly plastic pallets you’ll save trees, reduce resource consumption and own a longer-lasting product. Getting started is simple. All you have to do is research in your local area for companies like Renew Resources and look for affordable rates and experts who can advise you on how to get started.

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Tags: raw foods, last ten years, six billion, environment, Recyclable materials, wood consumption <BR/>

This Man has the Most Oil in the World

Rafael Ramírez should be ranked as one of the most powerful men in the world. As the Venezuelan minister for energy, he is also head of the country’s state oil company – and, therefore, now controls the world’s biggest proven oil reserves. In a little-reported development, Opec recently certified that the South American nation was number one in national reserves, after a vast field of what was previously classified as tar was redefined as extra heavy crude. La Faja, as the heavy oil belt along the Orinoco river is referred to, contains nearly 220bn barrels. That takes Venezuela’s reserves to 297bn – close to 20% of the world’s oil – and leapfrogs it over Saudi Arabia on 265bn.

Read more here

Originally posted on Guardian

Crack Planter Art by Sean Martindale

My concept for these Grass Spills was the original one which grew into the larger Outside the Planter Boxes project (please see ABOUT section for more information). In total, four spilling planters were created on the project launch day along the West side of University Avenue, just North of Queen Street West. Thank you again to James David Morgan and Holy Blue for their assistance in the early morning when I installed these interventions.

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Originally posted PlanterArt

Renewables Give Us More Power Than Nuclear

For the first time in a while, our portfolio of renewable power sources has surpassed power production from nuclear generation. According to the latest Monthly Energy Review from the Energy Information Administration, the most sustainable forms of energy now produce more for us than the most hazardous, largely due to rises in wind, solar and hydro production.

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Originally poster on Green Economy Post

10 Things That You Never Knew Were Recyclable

Nope, you didn’t read that wrong. Human hair is compostable and recyclable. Hair from your hairbrush or fur from your pet are full of useful nitrogen that can be thrown in the compost pile. Donating your hair could help clean up future oil spills. San Francisco nonprofit Matter of Trust collects human and pet hair to create booms that soak up oil. Currently, warehouses are full, but you can be placed on the email alert list when the need arrives again.

Read more here

Originally posted on earth911

Infographic: Backyard Vs. Food Supply

It’s time to get self-sufficient…

With food prices ranked at an all-time high and the consecutive bursts of social upheaval surfacing across the globe — all cancers formed by the same food Uncle Sam feeds you and I — relying on affordable and accessible food from your local supermarket in the future isn’t going to be as easy as it is today. Starting your own garden and growing your own food in your backyard is risk-free, inexpensive, and empowering; allowing you to save money and steer clear from the stresses of finding food for your family tomorrow or in case of emergency.

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Originally posted on Renew Resources

Solar Roadways Set to Build First Solar Parking Lot

Solar Roadways, the company behind a technology that could transform the nation’s roads into a network of shatter-proof, energy-generating solar panels, has just a received a new $750,000 grant from the federal government. With that money, the team will get to work at developing a prototype solar parking lot that will fully put their technology to the test.

Read more here

Originally posted on Ecofriend

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Tags: proven oil reserves, heavy oil, david morgan, south american nation, recycle, renew resources, reuse <BR/>

I don’t know if you’ve noticed before.

But there has a been a trend that has always existed in the minds of Man where new ideas first seem impossible; then probable; then inevitable.

This trend rings true in what we’ve come to witness in the passed decade with the phenomena known as: Green / Sustainable Home Building.

And to pay homage to green living, Renew Resources  has posted a new infographic below highlighting the top Green Home Improvement trends of 2011 for you to adopt and discover.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author

SC
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Source: Infographic Showcase

Tags: reduce, renewable resources, environment, home improvement <BR/>

Making Green Homes Affordable

When it comes to construction projects, “green” often translates to “more expensive.” As a result, many working families, seniors and people with disabilities don’t have a chance to enjoy the multiple benefits of eco-friendly living: lower utility costs, healthier living spaces and the feeling that you’re doing the right thing for the planet.

That bothered Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for low- and moderate-income people through affordable housing and thriving communities.

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Originally posted by Sophia Bennet

Self-Watering Plant Containers for Your Garden

Most plants don’t need much to survive: Just dirt, sunlight, and water — although that last one can really trip you up if you’re a novice gardener, out of town, or just plain forgetful.

That’s where self-watering container gardens come in: You place your plants in an insert, place the insert in a reservoir of water, and let the plant soak up water as required.

Self-watering gardens are a cinch to DIY with almost any kind of container, from an empty soda bottle to an 18-gallon storage bin, but there are plenty of pre-made versions, too.

These nine options — from the basic insert to the DIY IKEA to the chic, cubist alternative — will help that basil, marigold, tomato plant and more flourish, despite your watering flaws.

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Originally Posted on Treehugger

World Changing:  Top Sustainability Trends of the Next Decade

World Changing created a list of the top sustainability trends they see occurring over the next decade:

Bike usage will continue to rise across cities worldwide: “Copenhagen residents use bikes for 37 percent of all their transit. But bikes in Europe represent more than utility; riding a bicycle with the Velib’s bikeshare program in Paris now easily competes (42 million registered users) with taking a spring walk along the Seine. Bike-sharing abounds in dozens of European cities as well as in Rio de Janeiro and Santiago, Chile. Look for North American burgs to continue their proliferation of bicycles-as-transit use and bike lane expansion (NYC bicycle use is up 61% in two years).”

Copenhagen UNFCCC meeting will eventually result in a set of targets for cutting GHG emissions: “The UN COP15 Copenhagen conference resulted in no binding treaty status among any of the attending 128 nations that attended for them to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s late fall gathering in Mexico City is likely to set national binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions.

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Originally posted by The Dirt

TAU’s Eco-Architecture Could Produce “Grow Your Own” Homes

Stable building structures are being built from living trees.

A bus stop that grows its own foliage as shade? A children’s playground, made entirely from trees? A shelter made from living tree roots that could provide natural protection against earthquakes in California?

“Eco-architecture” may sound like a Buck Rogers vision of an ecologically-sustainable future, but that future is now thanks to the guidance of Tel Aviv University Professors Yoav Waisel and Amram Eshel. The concept of shaping living trees into useful objects ­­­­ known as tree shaping, arborsculpture, living art or pooktre isn’t new. But scientists are now ready to use this concept as the foundation of a new company that will roll out these structures worldwide.

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Originally posted by Aftau

Infographic: Map of Pollution Levels in China’s Major River Basins

The seven major river basins, as a whole, have had steady improvements in water quality over the past decade.

The water quality of the Pearl River and the Yangtze River are the best among the seven major river basins. There have been few changes to the Hai River over the last decade, while there was a big increase in water classified as drinkable (Grades I-III) in the Yellow River. The Huai River has had a relatively stable improvement, but the Songhua River has experienced slow improvement from 2004 to 2007 (perhaps due to two catastrophic pollution accidents that occurred there in 2005 and 2006).

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Originally posted by Circle of Blue

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Tags: storage bin, working families, tomato plant, copenhagen residents, living spaces, doing the right thing <BR/>

 

This is for you. The busy eco-body who just doesn’t have enough time to keep up with Renew Resources’ daily Twitter feed.  So to save you the hassle of sifting through all of our glorious Eco-friendly tweets, we have narrowed and highlighted this week’s best “Sustainable Building” posts. They’re current, relevant and definitely worth knowing about!  Here we go in no particular order!

 

 

Beton Hala Waterfront Proposal by Architecktur Studios

Introducing the Beton Hala Waterfront proposal by Egyptian architects Andreas Eckmann and Stefanie Hesse of Architecktur studios.  Here we have an eco-friendly structure that goes beyond most of our eco-friendly building tweets we’ve made thus far.  What’s so special about it?  Underneath the asphalt lies Piezoelectric Sensors which are placed underneath the 350 meter long pathway expected to produce 420 KW of electricity per day. Specifically, when a 125 lbs individual walks up and down the roadway for a few seconds, it’ll produce 0.1 W of electricity.  Amazing, huh?

Source:  Eco-friend

 

Groundbreaking Recyclable Basketball Stadium by Architizer

Designed by Sinclair Knight Merz, Wilkinson Eyre and KSS London unveil a Recyclable Basketball stadium for the 2012 Olympic Games.  How is a 1,000 steel tonne structure “Green?”  Good question.   It’s a recyclable basketball stadium, meaning that the country can reuse its temporary structure for other events.  Nonetheless, London avoids using over the top wasteful materials for the Olympics and shows to put forth more effort in recyclable standing structures which a step closer to an eco-friendly direction.

Source:  Architizer

 

 

 

Yiftach Ben Meir Sea02′s Computer System For Sustainable Design

 

Architect Yiftach Ben Meir invents Sea02, a computer system dedicated to propose energy alternatives for sustainable design.  Here we have a quick example of how Sea02 helped produce an eco-friendly structure using for a green building project in Tel Aviv.  Ultimately, the plan is to utilize the sun, wind, and land energy sources optimizing solar, wind and land energy for green living.

Source:  Tuvie

 

 

 

 

Summary
And there you have it, Renew Resources‘ top three sustainable building tweets of the week.  All three tweets help us forget about the clusters of crises we experience today and also reminds us that the human species always finds a way to reach over the clouds of calamity and father rainbows of solutions that save the day.  Until next post—stay green.

Author
SC
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Comments?  Know how to speak tweet?  Don’t be shy, share your green tweets with us today!

Tags: basketball stadium, Save You, new resources, reuse, piezoelectric sensors, renew resources <BR/>

 

If you are new to our social media feed, this Green article shows you–in four posts–the eco-friendly building revolution.

And due to popular demand, Renew Resources has compiled a quick list of the trendsetting structures that were built using green design techniques and most importantly recyclable building materials!  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Consarc Architects

It’s no surprise the award-winning designers at Consarc Architects were given the “Green light” to concoct the iCon Innovation Center. The eco-friendly building is famous for being the first ever commercial building in the UK to use “Phase-change” eco-friendly materials. What makes it uber special?  It only uses 15 Kg of Co2/m2/yr giving the iCon Innovation Center and everyone associated with it “Zero carbon status.”

 

Source: Consarc Architects

 

 

 

The Helix Hotel

Masterminded by Leeser Architects, the eco-friendly Helix Hotel in Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Bay maximizes natural light, sun, wind and hydro energy. Its spiral aesthetic gives each room its own unique view providing all guests with a certain “sustainable design hospitality.”  What makes it special? It uses GROW panels made out of 100% recyclable plastic on the outside making it easier for green energy to transfer indoors for optimized energy efficiency. Oh and did I mention that it has an ocean fed waterfall coming straight from the Persian Gulf! Amazing.

Source:  Leeser Architects

 

 

Bay and Adelaide Center

And now trumpeting  Brookfield Properties, the architects who developed the Bay and Adelaide Center in Toronto, Ontario.  Here we have Toronto’s first sustainable standing structure to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold standard. The 51-story eco-structure was made with local and recyclable building materials all positioned to perfection in efforts to harness natural light and hydro energy.

 

 

Source:  Brookfield Properties

 

 

Fushionopolis

Last but not least we have Ken Yeang’s Fushionopolis Research Center, an eco-friendly building made for the Singapore Sky. Its eco-friendly design embodies Yeang’s trademark philosophy: “All standing structures should be designed like living organisms.” Here you can also witness the world’s largest 15-story vertical garden armed with vegetation which also acts as a natural passive cooling and insulation system. It’s also positioned to maximize natural light using indoor prisms for optimized energy efficiency. What makes Fushionopolis special? It’s organic and inorganic materials are built as one living ecosystem!

Source:  Ken Yeang

 

SUMMARY

And there you have it!  The four eco-friendly building trendsetters that have set the tone for future sustainable design projects. Of course, this is only the beginning; however, all four examples above will likely provide green building inspiration in your neck of the woods. Until next post!

Author

SC

www.renewresources.com

 

Comments? Got a Green building project to share? Leave a comment below!

Tags: energy source, innovation center, sustainable design, eco-friendly building, green art, green energy, Building material <BR/>

Today, it is safe to say vertical gardens are the new “Black” to any modern day green garden ensemble.  The genesis of the “Green Wall” garden dates back to 1988 when French botanist, Patrick Blanc fathered and debuted his concept for the Museum of Science and Industry in Paris, France.

Now, thanks to the green movement vertical garden designs are exploring new innovative coordinates for people to discover and use for individual self-sufficiency and artistic expression. But before you “Plant for success,” you need to consider the following 5 key vertical gardening factors–here we go!

 

SUNLIGHT

Plants are autotrophs, meaning that they make their own food. Specifically, they use sunlight, break it down through photosynthesis, inhale CO2 and release fresh oxygen for animals, you and I to breathe.

Ultimately, your vertical garden needs at least 4 hours of sunlight a day.  The best way to ensure this is to face your vertical garden south.

 

 

 

WATER

To start the germination process, your seed needs water. The term “Germination” is defined as the process where the new plant in the seed emerges from its shell.  Water activates enzymes in seeds and encourages swelling and softening, which give it enough punch to push through and grow.  A great reminder is to keep your vertical garden near a hose or local water faucet.

 

 

REUSE CONTAINERS

If you want to avoid wasting new resources, reuse/recycle old two litre bottles, milk jugs or cans for plant containers.

You can also research vertical gardening companies such as Urbio.  This is one of many companies who offer highly affordable vertical gardening pucks and inserts made out of recycled plastic for vertical gardens.

 

 

 

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EAT?

If you are a beginner, start by planting something easy such as mint, chili or lettuce. If you’re looking for a challenge try purchasing broccoli, tomato or brussel sprout seeds.

You also want to consider the root depth. Carrots and beats require at least a foot and a half of soil to plant their roots while vegetables such as lettuce require a lower root depth.

 

 

 

PATIENCE IS MAINTENANCE

With all the excitement vertical gardening gives us it’s important to show discipline with garden maintenance. Make sure your vertical garden is bug free by planting natural plant flower pesticides, which will give you an enhanced visual beatification.

 

 

 

 

Summary

Vertical gardens are an excellent way to maximize your space at home while making a social statement.  Self-sufficiency is an art most Westerners have forgotten. To know how to garden is to know how to take care of you and your family–whether it’s vertical or horizontal.  Good luck!

Author

SC

Comments? Want to plant seeds of insight?  Leave a comment!

Tags: museum of science and industry, litre bottles, vertical gardens, south water, self sufficiency, vertical garden, french botanist <BR/>

Want to hear something interesting?
Once upon a time, 14% of planet Earth’s surface was once covered with lush rain-forests; today it’s down 6%, which is only expected to last over the next 40 years.
Still interested?
Of course you are!
You wouldn’t be interested in this article if you weren’t interested in the environment, patios, and…of course–veggie burgers.But first! Before you eat you need a patio, right?
And during times of hell, fire and brimstone where facts scream out “help your environment; help your backyard” we can’t help but listen.  So without further delay Renew Resources has saved you time and has listed 4 Green Ways to Improve Your Patio!

 

 

Use Water-Borne Stains

Kiss the old days of oil-based solvents goodbye and say hello to water-borne staining.
It’s recommended to stay away from oil-based solvents.
They’re highly saturated with paraffin, which leaves your wood vulnerable to heat and sunlight.
If you want to help the environment while you give your deck a face-lift–use water-borne stains for varnish.
This will instantly lower the dangerous organic compounds emitted in the air which rip the Earth’s ozone.
Water-borne solutions also offer all the benefits of H20′s genetic compounds.
This will allow your wood to breathe and stain just the way “Green” wants and needs it to be.

 

Make DIY Cleaner Using Natural Chemicals

Use white vinegar or apple vinegar to clean out pesky pockets of mildew or rust stains.
I recommend using the following recipe: ½ cup of white vinegar; 1 cup of ammonia ¼ cup baking soda; 1 gallon of warm water.
Try putting it in a spray bottle.
Or just pour your new DIY eco-friendly deck cleaner onto the deck’s surface.
Let it sit, and rinse.
Your tattered deck should look as new as it was last summer.

 

 

Use FSC-Certified Wood

If you need to replace dead wood, use FSC-Certified wood to build addition al patio furniture or extensions.
FSC-Certified wood is the most sustainable wood harvested on planet Earth, and one of the most natural sources for furniture.
Better yet, instead of purchasing new wood, save a few trees and shop around at second-hand stores or at garage sales.
If you can’t find anything at garage sales, another alternative is to opt out for eco-friendly wood made out of recycled plastic.  It lasts longer, frees you from splinters, warps, and overall maintenance giving you the same wood aesthetic merged with more environmentally conscious “muscle.”

 

Save a Tree, Use A Deck Cover

Trust me, I’ve been there. You step out onto your patio and voila. You see hideous planks of wood unfit for the grimiest pirate.
To instantly turn your old deck into new, use deck covers.
You’ll save you a lot of time, money, and most importantly trees!
Deck covers resurface your entire deck using a tongue and groove plank system.
It’s low-maintenance, superior to your deck structure, and provides you with the wood color & textured word grain surface we all want for our patios.

 

Summary

STOP! Before you leave this article thinking about delicious veggie burgers, it’s important to note that only 20% of Earth’s original forests remain in tact.
Over 70% of these forests are found in Russia, Brazil and Canada.
Given the calling of “Green leadership” is trumpeted by all nations; however, these three major countries need to be the “ones” to hammer in the “save-a-tree” nails that build the foundations of a global green effort.
And…that’s the moral of our generation’s story—the end.

Author

SC

Comments?  Got a green talent?  Want to share a few insights?  Drop a comment!

Tags: decks, lush rain forests, apple vinegar, white vinegar, hell fire <BR/>

Warning: Every 20 minutes that passes you by, planet earth loses one animal or plant species.
I repeat.
Every 20 minutes that passes you by, planet earth loses one animal or plant species!
If you don’t believe me, Google it!
And in a world infested with mountainous piles of un-recycled plastic, paper, glass coupled with waves of unpredictable tsunamis and prosaic reality television shows (all dangerous in some form or another), shines a creative phenomenon known as the “Green movement.”
Have you seen the creativity?
If you haven’t, Renew Resources has saved you valuable time and has assembled April’s Top 3 Creative Eco-friendly Junk-Art Projects!

Reuse and Renew Luggage!

Ever thought of reusing old luggage and transforming it into luxury couches, shelves or coffee tables?
No?
Well, you have now!
Take a quick peek at Katie Thompson, a creative eco-friendly interior designer and founder of Recreate.
Here’s a shining example of how one creative individual can reuse everyday materials, churn them into furniture masterpieces and help save the environment.
Easy as recycle, reduce and reuse!

Reuse Junk Mail Into Tables!

Every year the world wastes 100 million trees and 28 million gallons of water on junk mail.
Of course, the most popular way to help this situation is to simply contact your local distributer and remove your mailing address from solicitation.
However, if you live with someone who “loves coupons” try flexing your creative muscle.
Here’s an interesting example of how a group of teenagers transformed their junk mail into an eco-friendly furniture business called, ReVision.
If they can do it, so can you!

Reinvent “Waste” into Art

Last but not least, Renew Resources has come across a ton of eco-friendly art blogs that utilizes everyday objects into eco-friendly art galleries.
Take notice of Swiss artist Jinks Kunst who collected cigarette butts off the streets for three years and created a portrait of his favourite artist, Serge Gainsbourg.

Summary

By adding “reinvent,” to the age-old mantra: recycle, reduce and reuse you’ll have the opportunity to become more self-sufficient and environmentally conscious.
The eco-friendly creative ideas above is a source of inspiration that may help you add more spice to your green life, living space and if you’re good enough–your wallet.

Author
SC
www.renewresources.com

Comments? Got the “blues” from all the junk mail? Do you have a way to add “green spice” into your life? Renew Resources wants to hear from you!

Tags: old luggage, junk mail, mountainous piles, prosaic reality television, sc www.renewresources.com comments, Sustainable living <BR/>

In honour of Earth Hour—Renew Resources is giving YOU 20% off all Skateblend orders! All you have to do is simply mention `PROMO 20` when you contact us for eco-friendly skate ramp materials!  To receive your exclusive GUARANTEED 20% off, contact any one of the following:

email: sales@renewresources.com

Twitter: renewresource

Facebook:  Renew Resources

Phone: 416-335-4040

Toll Free: 1-800-439-5028
LIMITED TIME OFF ONLY, ORDER NOW!

Tags: renew resources, limited time, new resources, time off <BR/>