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EU Will Reach 2020 Carbon Emissions Targets Nearly a Decade Early

On January 25, 2012 in Footprint

Initially the European Union (EU) was slated to reduce its CO2 emissions by 20 percent in 2020. That initial estimate was given in the 90s under the Kyoto Protocol, and since, the EU has surprised the world by achieving over half their goal in a decade. Since the 1900s, the EU has reduced its emissions by some 17 percent, and is slated to exceed expectations by 2020 – promptly the union to see if it can’t do more.

While the creation of smart homes with Vivint and choosing to bike to work instead of drive have been great green efforts on the part of individuals, the EU can give accolade predominately to the union’s leading industries for actively pursuing initiatives that lowered their emissions. The EU had dramatically improved since the 90s, and will only continue to do so if given the right resources. Continue Reading →

Go green with an eco-friendly printing company

On December 18, 2011 in Footprint

Making your business more environmentally-conscious means finding opportunities to improve in every aspect of your operations, and this includes marketing. Printed flyers, posters and stationery have long been a popular and low-cost way to spread your message to the public – but not everyone is aware of the impact some printing firms have on the environment. By selecting a company that has proved its environmental credentials, such as Flyerzone, you can rest assured that there is one more part of your business that is doing its bit for the green revolution.

Printing firms using petroleum-based inks, paper sourced from poorly-managed forests and glueing and binding processes that render the finished product unrecyclable can all cause lasting damage to the environment. White paper is often bleached with a chlorination process that releases dangerous pollutants into the water, and even the process of cleaning the printing presses can involve toxic chemicals that cause long-term health problems if they are not disposed of properly. The printing industry is also power-intensive and uses a large proportion of the country’s electricity supply. Continue Reading →

Virgin Plans Flights Using Fuel from Industrial Waste Reuters

On October 13, 2011 in Energy, Footprint

Virgin Atlantic Airways announced the development of a world-first low carbon aviation fuel with just half the carbon footprint of the standard fossil fuel alternative.

The ground breaking partnership with LanzaTech represents a breakthrough in aviation fuel technology that will see waste gases from industrial steel production being captured, fermented and chemically converted using Swedish Biofuels technology for use as a jet fuel. The revolutionary fuel production process recycles waste gases that would otherwise be burnt into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Continue Reading →

Using a Storage Unit to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

On July 6, 2011 in Footprint

Everyone is trying to go green these days. Whether they are trying to recycle more or use less, families and individuals are looking for new and unique ways to not only reduce their own monthly expenses, but also to reduce their carbon footprint. However, families don’t have to come up with obscure ways to go green to both save money and reduce their carbon footprint. Simple initiatives already in place will suffice, and can be made easier through the use of a storage unit like those at StorageMart. Great ways to use a storage unit while going green include:

Down Sizing

Owning a large home can cause a family to greatly increase its environmental impact. By downsizing a family can save money on their mortgage and utility bills while also reducing their environmental impact by reducing the energy they use. However, choosing to down size isn’t always easy. Many families have numerous items and heirlooms that they may not be able to store in their new smaller home. For those special items which need to be safely stored, a family can easily rent a storage unit to keep all their additional items.  Continue Reading →