When we see a fast-food hamburger, most of the time that’s all we see: a meat patty and some vegetables between two slices of bread. The reality, however, is that it took a 634 gallons of water to grow the vegetables and grain for the bread, to feed and water the cow and to deliver the product to the consumer. And, this does not include incidental water use for workplace consumption, cleaning, etc.

Six hundred-plus gallons of water for a hamburger is a lot, but it is nothing compared to some other products. Below we take a look at five products with truly staggering water costs.

1. Electricity/Energy

The amount of water it takes to create one measurable unit of energy depends on the method in which that energy is created, but regardless of fuel type water consumption is significant.

A study conducted by the Virginia Water Resources Center estimates that it takes 25 gallons of water to produce one kilowatt-hour of electricity when sourced from a thermoelectric power plant, which adds up to 201 billion gallons of water a day according to the United States Geological Survey. The study examined the water costs of both energy production and power generation and found biodiesel is the most “expensive” energy producer (up to 75,000 gallons per million BTUs) and nuclear power the most costly energy generator (5,800 gallons per million BTUs).

2. Car

Some day technology will likely make clean water abundant for everyone but right now it's precious and we need to be careful with it.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it takes 39,090 gallons of water to make a car, which includes the water-costly rubber tires. The good news is that cars are generally very durable, so the water expense arguably goes a long way, so to speak.

3. One Pound of Beef

Unlike in the hamburger example above, which relies on a typically skimpy fast-food meat patty, a pound of U.S. beef requires 1,799 gallons of water to produce, according to National Geographic.

This includes the water it takes to grow the grain and grasses for the cow and the irrigation costs that entails as well as water for drinking and processing. This is the highest water cost for a common meat product and by comparison the same study found that a pound of pork requires 576 gallons of water.

4. Blue Jeans

It’s hard not to love blue jeans, but it gets easier when one considers the vast amount of water it takes to make a pair, much of which is used in a “finishing” process that is largely cosmetic.

The EPA reports that it takes 2,900 gallons of water to make one pair of blue jeans. Fortunately, however, public pressure and growing sensitivity to water waste is forcing some jeans manufacturers to take a second look at their processes and sometimes change their ways – even if only in the name of marketing.

5. A Plastic Bottle

It’s true that it doesn’t take much water to make a one-liter bottle – about two liters. The problem is the sheer amount of plastic bottles (particularly for bottled water) that are being made, and the fact that recycling them actually increases the water debt because less is returned than is expended to recycle the product.

The International Bottled Water Association reports that 2.6 billion cases of bottled water or sold in the U.S. annually, or 62.4 billion bottles of water. Using the math above provided by the Pacific Institute, that equals 33 billion gallons of water needed just to produce the bottles every year.

Remember …

The things we buy cost money, but they also cost water. One day soon, the global water crisis may reveal which is actually more important unless we work together now to protect this vital resource.

James Madeiros writes for Seametrics, a producer of water flow meter technology including electromagnetic flow meters used in irrigation to help measure and conserve water.

Re-Use in the Post

This is perhaps the most common way in which to re-use a jiffy bag. Jiffy bags are useful for posting small items that may become damaged and as such can be re-used time and time again. To do so, simply stick a label over the original posting address and pen out any return addresses that are no longer applicable.

Protect Delicate Items in a House Move

A jiffy bag may also be used for a second purpose – that of moving house. Moving home can result in damage of small items that are of value. The moving process is a rigorous one and no doubt something will become damaged in the process.

However, this does not have to be the case with the help of Jiffy bags! Use them to transport smaller items or items that may become damaged. They can be used for extra packaging protection for items within larger boxes.

Storing Seeds for your Garden

Jiffy bags are just as useful around the home. For instance, why not try storing seeds in different jiffy bags? Their padded interior will stop seeds from becoming crushed or damaged and such bags are easy to label with what type of seeds are kept inside them.

Protect Jewelry in Storage

In a similar fashion it is also easy to store jewellery in separate Jiffy bags. This too will ensure that each item of jewellery is packaged in a way so as to avoid damage and it is easy to label each bag. This is a great idea for jewellery that is no longer worn and yet needs to be stored safely.

Wrapping Presents

Jiffy bags can be really useful for wrapping delicate presents. Instead of using traditional wrapping paper that offers little or no protection at all to the gift inside, try using Jiffy bags. Guaranteed a loved one will prefer an in-tact present from a Jiffy bag than a broken or smashed present inside beautiful wrapping paper!

Donating Jiffy Bags to Local Stores

There may be a local store that sends out deliveries to people in the area such as books or CD’s. Places such as this need Jiffy bags on a very regular basis and would no doubt appreciate the donation of as many Jiffy bags as possible to re-use.

Give them Away

Alternatively, advertise free Jiffy bags on websites such as eBay or Freecycle – many people have uses for old Jiffy bags and will even pay postage in order to receive a big batch of such items.

This post was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of UK Packaging. To find out more about their great range of packaging products including jiffy bags please click here. Photo: PhotoOptik

Do you know what poisonous chemicals are lurking in your cleaning bottles?

If someone told you that your home was full of potentially deadly chemicals, would you know which ones they were? Would you know just how dangerous they actually are? If you have pets or children, you should know the most dangerous cleaning chemicals you use. Follow these guidelines to keep those you love safe.

1. The most dangerous chemicals used to clean are those with highly corrosive chemicals, such as drain cleaners, oven cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners. These products can cause severe burns when they come into contact with your skin. Contact with the eyes can cause blindness, and ingestion could prove to be fatal.

2. Bleach and ammonia are highly irritating on their own, but when combined, they produce extremely dangerous fumes. The gas created is called chlorine gas, and it has been used as a chemical weapon. It causes severe damage to your lungs if you breathe it in. Never use chlorine bleach and ammonia together. Even used separately, bleach and ammonia can cause irritation if they come into contact with skin, and the fumes are highly irritating to the mucus membranes of the eyes, throat and nose.

3. Many cleaning products, especially those intended for laundry, contain fragrances. These fragrances can cause a great deal of irritation, especially in people who have sensitive skin. They are known to cause rashes and have been identified by many people as a trigger for migraines or asthma attacks. Part of the problem is that because the chemical compounds used in items like fabric softener and other cleaners are considered trade secrets, manufacturers don’t have to disclose the ingredients and exact chemical compounds. This makes it more challenging to avoid specific chemical compounds that you know you are allergic to.

Keeping these items properly stored and safe from small hands or animals is essential. Place a lock on the cabinet used to store these products. Mark the bottles with stickers clearly identifying them as poison. You can often obtain these from your local poison control center.

Animals and small children are not the only ones at risk from these products. Take precautions to protect yourself from irritation and fumes when you clean with these chemicals:

• Wear rubber gloves when cleaning with bleach or ammonia or when filling your upholstery cleaning machine.
• Wear a mask to filter fumes if you are using drain cleaner or oven cleaner. A mask can also be helpful for bleach and ammonia.
• Goggles will help protect your eyes from irritation from fumes and possible splashes when cleaning with these products.
• If you know that you or another family member is sensitive to a chemical, be careful to avoid products that contain the chemical. You may want to switch to using natural-based products made with ingredients like baking soda and vinegar.

You may decide these chemicals aren’t worth the risk, especially since there are great natural alternatives available, but if you decide to continue using them, make sure you keep them locked up at all times.

If you're having a bad day, read this and you'll realize how blessed you are.

How Gratitude Helps You Live a Better Life

If you spend ten minutes watching the news at night then you’re well aware of the negative things happening in the world. If it’s not a natural disaster, there’s the economy to worry about or more personal concerns like your children’s grades or the grocery bill getting more expensive. Without even trying, you can probably rattle off a long list of things that are wrong in the world and in your life. It’s easy to fall into the trap of negative thinking where your thoughts seem to get caught in an endless loop of lack. When you’re in that dark place, focused on what you don’t have, it’s hard to feel like your life is fulfilling or complete. How do you change your mental position? Utilize the abundance of gratitude.

Like developing any habit, good or bad, gratitude takes practice but the benefits are profound and far-reaching. Concentrating on what’s right in your life, the things that you’re grateful for will make them flourish. Investing goodwill and joy in your life helps you feel satisfied and fulfilled. A wise person once said, “what you pay attention to gets bigger.” This applies to the positive aspects of your life.

A good exercise that will help stop that loop of negative thinking is to make a gratitude list every night before bed. It doesn’t have to be long, and it can be a list that you make in your head or one that you keep in a journal. The good thing about writing down your list of abundance is that you can then look back over time and appreciate how far you’ve journeyed.

Before bed take a moment to do some deep breathing. This allows your body to transition from the stress and business of your day to prepare for sleep. Write down five things that you’re grateful for. In the beginning you might have to focus on the small things, especially if you’re dealing with stressful issues that seem to overwhelm every aspect of your life like a death in the family or a major illness.  For example: I’m grateful for the blooms on the blueberry bush in the garden, the warm weight of the cat on my lap, clean sheets on the bed, fresh water to drink on this hot day, an email from my best friend where she said she loved me.

If you end every day with a gratitude list, then the view of your life, and by extension the world, begins to shift. Negative thinking gives way to the elements that make you feel content and fulfilled. Like ripples in a pond, the more abundance you feel the more abundance others will feel as well. The best way to communicate your abundance is to practice expressing it.

For example, thank you notes aren’t just for when you receive a gift on a special occasion. Try writing a note of appreciation to someone who has a positive impact on your life. What about a teacher that helped you through a particularly rough time in your life or the doctor that helped deliver your child? Think of ways to express your gratitude for the significant relationships in your life or the services that you enjoy throughout the course of your day. Putting the messages of “I’m grateful for you, I’m grateful for this” out into the world has positive, energetic repercussions. The end results will be a strengthened connection between you and the people you care about that will extend to the world around you.

Amy L Overley is a freelance writer and blogger at CreativeSpace. Drop by her blogspace and check out her latest projects: wedding favors!

Australia is an excellent place to enjoy green gap years, thanks to variety of eco-friendly organisations and projects that are happy to welcome new members and volunteers.

Get there

Despite your best intentions, if you’re visiting from outside of Australia it’s going to be very difficult to get there without taking a flight to Australia.

A flight to Sydney from London typically uses just over 1.7 tonnes, but don’t fret about it – it’s unavoidable and during the course of a gap year you can clearly make up for it by staying green.

Preserve some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes
Look for excellent non-profit organisations such as Wild Mob, who are dedicated to preserving the natural jewels in Australia’s crown. A great opportunity for anyone looking for a way to make a difference, you’ll find there are a number of different projects on the go – from weeding on Brampton Island to cleaning up Tasmania’s rugged coastline.

Volunteer with dolphins in Western Australia
A good choice for animal lovers, you’ll find there are a number of projects to help research dolphin behaviour and educate the public on these animals. Volunteering with dolphins can be a very rewarding experience, but be sure you have plenty of information about the program you sign up with.

Help out on Kangaroo Island
Another unforgettable green gap year experience can be found on Kangaroo Island, where volunteers are able to get up close to some of Australia’s best loved indigenous species. You could enjoy the chance to do anything from feeding kangaroos to monitoring koalas, in an example of eco-tourism at its cutest.

Dedicate yourself to Australia’s rainforests
For the chance to stretch green fingers, volunteer to helping conserve Australia’s precious rainforests. There are a number of places you can help out and get hands-on experience, especially in North Queensland, from the conservation of native wildlife to the care of wildlife habitat. Tourism Queensland is a good source for anyone looking for ways to make sure they are giving something back to the environment while also having the chance to enjoy Australia’s natural wonders.

Sometimes volunteer holidays can incur a number of costs, especially when they are in desirable regions, be sure to minimise your bills by searching for cheap flights, travel and accommodation to help you make the most of your gap year – but be sure to always look for the most green friendly alternatives too!

James writes for Skyscanner.net, a travel comparison and cheap flights finder. To find out more about Skyscanner or to compare the cost of your next flight, try the new Skyscanner app for Facebook.

Particulate pollution is made up of very small particles. The emissions from a car exhaust contain a large amount of particulate pollution which surprises many people. The particles are so small in size that they are suspended in the air, and unfortunately this makes them very difficult to be removed. Even using an air filter may not be able to remove particulate pollution from the air unless the filter has a small enough mesh size to capture the particles in the first instance.

Particulate pollution also comes with a liquid component; however this form of pollution is comprised of a mixture of particulates and liquid droplets.  The smallest particles are the ones which cause the greatest damage to people; their small size makes them very difficult to remove from breathable air, even in the home, while at the same time they are able to find their way deep into your lungs and airways. These particles are a fraction of the width of a human hair and they are also widely produced by coal fires or gas and diesel exhausts as well as from natural fires or burning fields in agriculture.

Larger particulate pollution is created by the grinding or crushing of materials in industrial processes, however they can also be generated by vehicles being driven over the road as a consequence of friction.

Particles which are unable to bypass the nose and throat may not reach the lungs, however they are still capable of causing irritation and health conditions within the nose and throat membranes.

Exposure to fine and coarse particulate pollution is responsible for a wide range of health problems, particularly affecting the respiratory system but not exclusively so. Patients with pre-existing conditions affecting their lungs and hearts are exceptionally susceptible, with particulates triggering recurrence of conditions are complicating health issues. Even short exposure to particulate pollution is dangerous; there are numerous instances and studies which demonstrate that periods of less the 24 hours exposure have led directly to deterioration in patients’ health and quality of life standards.

Longer term exposure is directly linked to an increase in emergency hospital visits, increased outpatient medical care demand and the long term development of a whole host of lung, heart and cardio-vascular disease as well as cancer.

Here are two main solutions to particulate pollution. The first is to create a controlled and safe air environment which removes particulates from the atmosphere within the home or building where they are. This can be accomplished by filtration and ensuring that ventilation is controlled properly. However, the major solution, and one which is dominating much of environmentalists and legislators time, is to reduce the overall levels of particulate pollutants being emitted into the air we all breathe.

Rabbit Air produces high quality air purifiers that are stylish and functional, they have a review comparison online to demonstrate.

1) Whole house water filter systems are eco-friendly.

Many whole house filtration systems are a great deal more environmentally friendly than water softeners are. This is because unlike softeners, they do not use any sort of salt, chemicals or magnets to remove chlorine and other unwanted contaminants. Whole house filtration uses only all natural materials to filter your home’s water. This filtration system utilizes a granulated composite made of coconut shells, which is complete safe and does not add anything unnecessary to your water.

Not only do certain whole house filtration systems keep the planet clean by not adding chemicals or salt to wastewater, it also uses a renewable resource to filter the water: coconut shells. The plant material used to make the filtration system is reclaimed from coconuts used in food products, which is also a form of recycling. Feel great knowing that you are being a responsible environmental steward.

2) Whole house filtration is efficient.

Whole house filtration is also wonderful, because it isn’t wasteful. All of the water that enters your home is filtered with these sorts of systems, which means that you don’t have to buy separate filters for each and every tap in your home. Water is filtered at the source, and every drop that flows into your house—whether it goes through the shower, hose or kitchen sink—is of the same high quality. This means that your hair will be cleaner; your dishes will sparkle; and you will have delicious, pure water to drink at all times, without having to toss out and replace costly softeners or sink filters every few months.

3) Whole house filtration saves money.

Along with the fact that all of your water is filtered at the source comes money savings, too. Think about this: with clean, pure water at all times coming from your own sink, you will never have to buy bottled water again. Simply refill a jug and refrigerate for cold H2O anytime. If you aren’t buying screw on tap filters every few months, you will be saving money on those, too. Whole house filtration systems can last 15 years or more, and they will keep you well hydrated, while saving you money in the process.

Jessica writes about a wide variety of topics.  She especially enjoys writing about nutrition. You can learn more about Drinking Water Filtration Systems at http://www.lifesourcewater.com/

Clean Air

One of the environmental benefits of taking public transportation is cleaner air. If more people choose public transportation over their private vehicle, then the amount of harmful emissions put out by cars could be significantly reduced. These harmful emissions clog the air and can cause respiratory problems as well. It is reported that each year people that use public transportation systems help avoid 126 million pounds of a major source of smog called hydrocarbons and 156 million pounds of a respiratory disease-causing chemical known as nitrogen oxide.

Gasoline Dependency

Opting for public transportation rather than driving a car can also lessen the United States’ dependency on gas. The fewer cars there are on the road, the less our need will be for large amounts of gas. It’s possible that if people made more of an effort to take public transportation, we could reduce auto fuel consumption by 1.5 billion gallons a year. In an effort to become even more environmentally conscious, there are several public transportation systems that have started using compressed natural gas, low-sulfur burning buses or even diesel-electric buses.

Urban Runoff

If there are more cars on a road than that road can handle, then more roads may be have to be built. While this may sound convenient for those of us who are tired of being stuck in traffic all of the time and long commutes to work, this is actually doing more harm than good…for the environment at least.

Surfaces paved in order to make way for more traffic causes urban runoff. Basically this means disrupting nature’s natural environment design in order for human life to be a bit more comfortable. Urban runoff is the cause of 55% of environmentally disrupted ocean shorelines, 46% of disrupted estuary miles, and 21% of disrupted lake miles.

Choosing public transportation is not only good for the environment, it’s also good for our health; walking to the bus stop and train stop is good exercise. Riding public transportation also allows us the chance to relax and let someone else worry about the driving for a change, reducing our stress levels. Explore the public transportation offers available in your community today.

When he’s not reading about the latest developments in auto technology, Miles Walker normally writes feature articles for carinsurancecomparison.org. He recently talked about cheap car insurance quotes.

Probably the biggest trend affecting contemporary home construction is the rise of “green construction.”  Residents want homes that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient.  While in past years the most important aspects of energy efficient home design, such as solar panels, were beyond the reach of most consumers, fortunately the price of green construction is now lowering enough to be able to satisfy the demand.  Keep reading to find out more about the benefits of sustainable building design along with tips on how to make it a reality for your own home.

• Green building construction is becoming so popular because it offers two important advantages:  It is good for the environment and it is good for the consumer.  Because green materials and appliances do not use up as much energy or create as many carcinogens, they have a negligible impact on the environment.  And because they are energy efficient, these appliances and design features save the resident a lot of money and grant them independence from electricity and utility companies.
• Solar panels are perhaps the single most important aspect of San Diego green home construction.  Solar panels allow residents to produce their own electricity by harnessing the power of the sun by means of panels that convert sunlight into energy.  Solar panels grant the user almost complete energy independence, and here in San Diego, there is always plenty of sunshine available.  Furthermore, if you produce more energy than you need, you can sell it back to the utilities companies for an energy credit.  Solar panels can also provide a sizeable increase in your home’s value, so if you plan on moving in the next few years, you might still want to go ahead and have those panels installed.
• If you wish to reduce your usage of lamps and other forms of artificial lighting, you may want to install some skylights.  While they are only useful during daylight hours, skylights provide you with free lighting from a non-depleting source (the sun).  No electricity will be needed to light your house while the skylights are at work.
• A good way to reduce your dependence on the thermostat is to improve your house’s insulation.  A well-insulated house will retain heat well, meaning you will not feel the need to turn on the furnace.  Wearing warmer clothes will also help in conjunction with the upgraded insulation.

The scientists says that cases of kidney stones could raise by 30 percent, or even more than that in some areas of the United States if global warming predictions are accurate.

According to University of Texas at Dallas professor of geosciences Tom Brikowski, “This is really the first direct human impact of climate change that has been demonstrated.”

I’m not saying the study should be taken lightly since I’m sure a lot of time went into it, but it does take some things for granted, such as global warming actually occuring as predicted which I certainly hope doesn’t happen. I’d like to think we as humans are smart enough to see the negative ramifications of not trying to do something to stop global warming (not everyone is even certain that global warming is really occurring and instead think it is just a natural ebb and flow of the earth and is nothing to be concerned about).

Plus it assumes that people will continue to be stupid and not drink enough water to keep their bodies hydrated (maybe that’s not such a big assumption – many of us have proven we aren’t going to drink enough water to stay hydrated even though we know we should).

As far as the global warming fact or fiction controversy goes, I happen to be one of the people that thinks global warming is real and that it is the earth’s way of saying “okay you’ve treated me pretty crappy for quite some time now by spewing poisons into the atmosphere and piggishly and selfishly taken what you’ve wanted from the land and sea without any thought to the ramifications so I’m going to make you pay attention.”

But I also think that instead of taking the study too literally and saying kidney stone rates will rise, we should instead use the knowledge to avoid it. It’s like the saying, “forewarned is forarmed.” When you know something can or will happen you can take steps to not get caught in its trap.

If nothing else, you can use this news as a fun ice breaker at parties (at least if you think talking about medical issues such as kidney stones is fun). People will probably pay attention when you say “global warming is causing more kidney stones.” They may look at you like you’ve lost your mind but at least you’ll have their attention (and any kid can tell you that attention – good or bad – is always desirable). Then if you choose you can logically explain how global warming really could contribute to increased kidney stone rates or you could just change the subject and regale the captive audience with the topic you really wanted to discuss instead.