Let's face it: perhaps the largest Lexmark office expense is printer ink and toner. If your office relies heavily on its printer, these small cartridges run out of ink quickly and, before you know it, you must go to the store to purchase more for 30 dollars a pop. Now, there's a better, cheaper way.

Remanufactured ink and toner cartridges are half the price of retail cartridges and last just as long. Empty cartridges can be recycled, refurbished, and then refilled with new printer ink. This is the remanufacturing process. Using Lexmark remanufactured ink and toner cartridges not only lowers your office expenses, but also reduces your carbon footprint!

Use Less Paper

Another simple way to become an eco-friendly office worker is to use less paper. This can be done by only printing files that you really need. Most documents can be adequately read or reviewed electronically. If you are a serial note-taker, consider taking notes or making lists on your computer instead of on post-its. These easy steps will save paper, help the environment, and lower office costs.

If you must print a document, be sure to select an Energy Star qualified printer with a double-sided printing option. This will cut your paper usage in half. You can also use recycled paper in your Lexmark office that is made with 100 percent post-consumer content.

Use an Alternate Means of Transportation

This is sometimes easier said than done, but choosing a different means of transportation to and from your Lexmark office is a great way to become more eco-friendly. You can ride to work with a colleague, take the train, ride a scooter, or even suggest working from home. Using a more eco-friendly means of transportation saves gas money and significantly reduces our reliance on nonrenewable resources.

Conserve Energy

If you don't already, shut down your computer when you go home for the day. If you have a long business lunch planned, set your computer to idle mode to conserve energy. Many office printers also have a sleep mode.

 
Another way to save energy is to use Compact Florescent Light Bulbs instead of traditional light bulbs. CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last ten times longer!

Talk to your colleagues about keeping the office warmer in the summer and a colder in the winter. For every degree that is warmer in the summer or colder in the winter, you'll save seven percent in energy costs.
 
And finally, reduce unnecessary waste in your Lexmark office. Stop using foam cups, and request that everyone brings his or her own coffee mug or water glass with them to reuse at work.

This article was written by Christina from inkforcheap.com.
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But how exactly has thermal energy come into existance? Heat naturally occurs underground because of several energy sources. For example, sun light, the earths core, and other radioactive materials that exist in the ground all generate heat. The strength of this heat energy trapped beneath the surface of the ground  will of course depend where you are in the world. It does not really matter where you are in the world though as geothermal heating technologies are able to extract heat from the ground however weak that heat is.

The concept of harnessing heat energy that naturally occurs under ground is not new. Thousands of years ago the Romans grasped the idea that naturally occurring hot water heated by geothermal energy could be used to heat their spas and some of their buildings.  Collecting naturally occurring heated water and transferring it to places to provide heat and hot water for personal use can really be thought of as a simple geothermal heating system. Similarly today, countries like Iceland that are lucky to have a bountiful supply of geothermally heated hot water put this to use to help provide electricity and heat energy using geothermal power plants.

In todays world the Ground Source heat pump is fast becoming a popular geothermal heating system. As the name suggests the Ground Source heat pump harvests heat from beneath the earths surface and using a pumping method provides this heat wherever it is needed. Ground source heat pumps use a series of pipes that are laid underneath the surface of the ground. The loop of pipes are filled with a soltuion has properties to absorb geothermal heat energy directly from the ground. The solution is circulated through the pipe network and absorbs heat from the ground as it moves. The solution flows towards part of the system known as the heat exchanger. At this point the heat is extracted from the solution. This harvested heat is then used to directly warm living spaces and heat hot water tanks.

Geothermal heating systems are seeing an increase in popularity right across the globe. In general most people are very aware that they need to change the way they do things in order to become more environmentally friendly. Most people are also becoming increasingly frustrated at the incredibly high prices they are paying for fossil fuels such as gas and coal. Geothermal heating systems such as Ground Source heat pumps provide just the answer many people are looking for.

If this article has been of interest you may just want to find out a little more about the benefits of investing in geothermal heating systems such as Ground Source heat pumps? A good place to start your search is by checking out the websites of the numerous UK companies that deal specifically in geothermal heating and renewable heating technologies. One reputable and well established company is clled EcoVision. You will easily be able to find them on the Internet. EcoVision specialises in a whole range of eco-friendly technologies including geothermal heating systems. The EcoVision website is a great information portal for those looking to invest in eco-friendly technologies.

Rich Stevens writes articles for EcoVision. Discover more information about Heat Pump technology and how Heat Pumps work on the EcoVision website.
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This winter, pay attention to the air pollution readings in your area, even if the sky is blue and the air smells clean and fresh. Depending on the length of time you are exposed, your health status and the concentration of pollutants in your area, air pollution can make it harder to breathe, irritate your eyes, nose and throat and worsen chronic diseases such as heart disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.

The Government of Canada is making it easier for Canadians and their families to plan their activities around the quality of the air in their communities. The new Air Quality Health Index is currently available in certain Canadian communities, with more to follow. The index measures three contaminants known to contribute to air pollution - ozone, fine particulates and nitrogen oxide - and gives out readings from one to 10 with health risks associated with each number. The higher the number, the greater the health risk.

This winter, take the guesswork out of planning your outdoor activities and see what the air quality is like in your area. The AQHI is available in parts of British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick with more areas to follow as implementation expands across the country. The index measures air quality on a scale from one to 10 and offers suggestions for modifying your activity to reduce your level of exposure to air pollution, depending on your risk factors. For more information on the AQHI, please visit www.airhealth.ca.

For over 25 years, News Canada has been providing the media with ready-to-use, timely, credible and copyright-free news content. Editors, broadcasters, web and video content providers rely on News Canada for newsworthy content to effectively enhance their websites, newspapers and broadcasts.
www.newscanada.com
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Thishas also been accepted by the Obama current administration who get ring-fenced $150 billion dollars in environmentally friendly energy knowing that in order to minimize cost they have to begin at the beginning with energy sustainability and cost. Although brief term costs maybe higher specially in replacement and development, the US government recognizes that the most effective method to recover from a recession is not to climate the storm but to change and adjust, using the gale-force winds to excel.

As we see is not just simply worldwide politics where energy sustainability decisions are designed, its in the households and also businesses across North america who identify that today, more than ever, is the time to modify to a more sustainable idea of lifestyle, basic issues like best insulation and changing the light bulbs for energy saving bulbs. Most of these effortless methods will probably not conquer the actual global economic collapse on their own unique, but it will enable anyone reduce these valuable pounds that are usually so important in the existing climate.

It is usually simple and easy to become depressed watching the news or reading the documents hearing the regular designs of lack of employment, lowered source as well as raised taxes but unless some of us study coming from the this kind of recession that sustainability, both financial as well as enviroment is paramount in our own worldwide recovery it will have all been in vein.

Visit: Energy Sustainability

Rob Guthrie is an expert in energy sustainability. If you want more information about types of energy sustainability, check more article from energyadvantage.com.
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The Santa Clara/Virgin River flood in St. George, Utah, in 2005 was a complete disaster. Standing on the hill and watching the destruction below was an emotional experience for everyone. The trees and shrubs that once lined the small five-foot-wide river were now gone, uprooted and swept away by the violent and turbulent flow of water. What took years for nature to create, nature was able to destroy within seconds. Who would ever have guessed that the creek would swell to such width, viciously cutting away at the landscape?

The once tranquil stream, which could easily be crossed on foot or in a car, was now as wide as the length of a football field, and it was taking everything within its path. The speed of the river had once been five cubic feet per second, and now it was more than 6,500 cubic feet per second. In three days time, it had dug into the earth's surface, carving away at the banks and creating ridges as high as thirty to forty feet. The torrent was digging at the earth at ten feet per hour like a plow and sweeping the red dirt and trees down the river into Arizona and Nevada. In fact, a man found his car thirty miles downstream from his home. It had crossed the border into Nevada.

Men worked feverishly to help the residents remove what they could from the homes that were threatened by the river, but there were those who escaped with only the clothes on their backs. About two hundred homes were damaged and twenty-five were completely destroyed. The experience of charity and compassion by the people was incredible. There was no prejudice of religion, race, culture, or status, just unconditional love and concern for everyone. Homes, clothes, and food were instantly found for the homeless.

Why was the flooding so bad that year? Six weeks of rain following a seven-year drought was the main reason. Built-up debris blocked the river channel and the only direction to go was outward, toward farmland and homes. Not only that, the heavy snow in the mountains seemed to be a blessing to this desert land, but the unusually warm January melted the snow too fast. With the constant rain during that month, the saturated ground couldn't hold any more. The estimated damage was nearly two hundred million dollars.

Lost homes can be replaced, but the sad thing about this flood was the loss of irreplaceable and precious treasures that had no value to anyone but the owner, such as photos and memories of the past. Do you believe in miracles? Stories of hope always touch people, including me.

An elderly widow grabbed what she could with the help of her neighbors but wasn't able to get everything. She lost her husband's and her own Book of Remembrance, which had pictures of their family, their ancestors, and their biographies. All those memories were swept away in the flood. The following day after her home was gone, a knock came at the door where she was staying. A man was standing before her with the book in his hand. He said that he found it washed up on a tree stump near his home. Needless to say, she wept for joy. But that's not all. The following day, her husband's book was found, also.

The kindness of others was overwhelming for this little valley. Fundraisers were put together and schools collected money for the homeless. To me, this was a story of hope and love, a story of charity. As I included all this information in my novel, Anasazi Intrigue, I relived this disaster once again. You see… I'm from Washington County, St. George, Utah. This was my valley. This was my home. These were my people!

Written by Linda Weaver Clarke, author of "Anasazi Intrigue: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans," a story of mystery, disaster, hope, love, and charity. Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a "Family Legacy Workshop" at libraries, encouraging others to write their family history and autobiography. Clarke is the author of the historical fiction series, "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho," which includes: Melinda and the Wild West - a semi-finalist for the "Reviewers Choice Award 2007," Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, Jenny's Dream, David and the Bear Lake Monster, and Elena, Woman of Courage. A new mystery series, "The Adventures of John and Julia Evans," includes: Anasazi Intrigue, Mayan Intrigue, Montezuma Intrigue, and Desert Intrigue. To learn more, visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com.

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Be informed – look for the EnerGuide or ENERGY STAR labels!

The EnerGuide rating system provides you with a standardized method for comparing the energy efficiency of different models and brands of heating and air conditioning products available for sale in Canada. The EnerGuide rating label that can be found in manufacturers' product literature identifies the efficiency range of gas, propane and oil furnaces, central and ductless air conditioning systems and air-to-air heat pumps.

The energy efficiency of central air conditioners and heat pumps is measured by SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). The higher the rating, the more efficient the model. Gas and oil-fired furnace energy-efficiency is measured by AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency). Again, the higher the AFUE number, the more efficient the model.

The ENERGY STAR program aids consumers in identifying energy efficient products on the market. The ENERGY STAR symbol will only appear on the product literature or on the product itself that meets

the program's efficiency criteria. Central air conditioning systems and air-to-air heat pumps are required to have a SEER rating of 14.5 or higher to be ENERGY STAR qualified.

Simply put, more efficient equipment uses less energy. Savings from lower energy use will accumulate over the lifetime of the equipment. The actual amount of energy savings will depend on location (the climate and the cost of fuel or electricity in a particular region), the efficiency of the equipment chosen and the house design.

Your heating and cooling contractor can demonstrate how the EnerGuide energy-efficiency rating system and the ENERGY STAR program can help you choose the correct furnace, air conditioner or heat pump for your home, as well as to calculate your approximate payback period.

More information is available online at: oee.nrcan.gc.ca, or toll-free at 1-800-387-2000.

To obtain a list of qualified HVAC contractors in your area, as well as consumer tips on how to choose a heating and air conditioning contractor go to www.hrai.ca or call, toll-free, 1-877-467-4724.

www.newscanada.com

For over 25 years, News Canada has been providing the media with ready-to-use, timely, credible and copyright-free news content. Editors, broadcasters, web and video content providers rely on News Canada for newsworthy content to effectively enhance their websites, newspapers and broadcasts. Content is made available to you, the media, in the format you need, when you need it.
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With electricity deregulation, the rules have drastically changed and consumers in Texas now have the power to select their electricity providers. Implementation is dependent on the state, as states like Texas have fully embraced the rules set by deregulation, while others have derailed implementation pending further study and planning.

What is Electricity Deregulation?

The basic concept of electricity deregulation is to empower consumers to choose who or what company shall provide their electrical power. Like in the state of Texas, most residents can choose their electricity provider, and plan depending on their individual needs.

Switching from one company to another who will provide electricity to residents will not result in a disruption of services for a house or business establishment as the same electrical wire and poles will be used -- only the company selling the electricity will change. The difference would lie in the price or power rates that a particular electric company shall offer, as well as the quality of service and responsiveness that they provide their customers.

What are Potential Issues with Electricity Deregulation?

Energy deregulation is implemented on a state-by-state basis however not all states, as well as consumers, have totally embraced this implementation. For one thing, many states find the redesigning of their electricity market too complicated for implementation to occur immediately. Other consumers on the other hand are still in a wait-and-see mode and have not yet made the move to switch to another Electricity provider.

This could be due in fact to past experiences by other states like California, whose initial implementation of electricity deregulation was plagued with blackouts, electrical supply emergencies, and major utility companies diving into financial trouble due to sudden price spikes.

What Benefits will Consumers get with Electricity Deregulation?

Despite these past issues, several states like Texas and their consumers have benefitted significantly from the implementation of electricity deregulation. Private consumers, commercial establishments and businesses have benefitted from this in more ways than one as outlined by the list below:

* Electrical deregulation allowed the entry of alternative energy providers that provides clean and renewable electricity, making it safer and better for the environment

* The playing field for industry players and providers are leveled out, with existing and upcoming service providers have an equal chance of providing service to consumers

* Consumers have the option to choose providers that offer the most cost effective power rates package to their clients. This same benefit can also be enjoyed by commercial and other business entities.

* Regional differences in power rates between states can be leveled out and standardized

* The entry of more service providers creates more jobs for the people of the local communities

* Service quality and reliability is greatly improved due to the increase competitiveness between providers.

About Shop Texas Electricity- Shop Texas Electricity helps consumers and businesses compare and shop for their electricity plans in Texas. Learn more about Shop Texas Electricity by visiting us at www.ShopTexasElectricity.com

As the founder of Shop Texas Electricity, Mirza has over 12 years of experience in the utility industry. Prior to founding Shop Texas Electricity, Dawood was Director of Alternate Sales Channels at Reliant Energy where he managed the acquisition strategy for movers and oversaw the Builder/Multi-family, Realtor and Mover direct mail channels. Learn more about Shop Texas Electricity by visiting us at ShopTexasElectricity
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The Houston Dome is one of the most absorbed cities in the US after the third most. The City of Houston is using funds to build this approximative dome over the city of Houston, called the Houston Dome.The components used to construct the Houston Dome to shieldthe entire city of Houston must of course be abiding, but also lightweight enough. The Houston Dome Project is assumed to use a project called Texlon EFTE, which is light-weight and chronic and is accepted to uphold winds up to 180 MPH. Texlon EFTE is able to hold up against fire as well as water and even a hurricane with the catostrohpic category 5. The Texlon EFTE will be used in conjunction with steel for aid.Houston is amplified with humidity and intense sun and also lots of flooding, so Houston is expected the geodesic dome to abort the negative elemets, which is proposed to make Houston a more adequate place to live.Some questions that are aggrandized is what if the people of Houston apotheosize seeing the sun and the feeling the pitter patter of rain and the warm breezes on their faces? Will they still abide by a naturally grown wild plant? It seems to be that life will be experienced inside an air conditioned bridled bubble and that just doesn't seem natural. The Houston Project Dome seems rotund and straying.

The Houston Dome may save the city from catostrohpic perils in the future. As the blueprints of the Houston Dome Project continues, protests and debates have occured whether or not the dome should be built.

Visit http://chickenmemo.com/  To Watch The Leaked Video of The Real Blueprint of The Houston Dome Project and how it affects the world and your future.

The real question, is it unethical to build the dome?

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More than you might imagine.

Be it to improve soil use, reduce pollution, or guarantee better access to drinking water, space technologies and satellite data play an essential role in the daily lives of Canadians here on Earth.

Indeed, did you know that the Canadian Space Agency encourages and supports the development of advanced applications and solutions to help improve the quality of life everywhere? Here's a snapshot, for example:

WATER MANAGMENT:  

Fact: Over one billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water.

Application: Did you know that applications developed for Canadian satellites Radarsat-1 and Radarsat-2 enable hydrologists to locate and better manage water resources around the world?

AGRICULTURE:  

Fact:Canada's total farm acreage is estimated at over 675,867 square kilometres, which is more than the area of the province of Alberta.

Application: In addition to guiding us on the ground, the global positioning system (GPS), combined with Canadian engineering, is helping Canadian producers save time, money and effort, while increasing safety. A Canadian company used GPS technology to develop an agricultural guidance system that greatly improves the distribution of fertiliser on fields either on the ground or from the air, a system that increases the cost-effectiveness of the whole process.

POLLUTION:  

Fact:Canadians released emissions into the atmosphere equivalent to those of 747 million mid-size cars driven for 5,000 km.

Application: MOPITT, a Canadian space instrument designed to measure pollution in the troposphere, that part of the atmosphere where most of our weather originates, was launched in December 1999, and was one of the first instruments to clearly show the large-scale transport of pollutants from one continent to another.

CLIMATE CHANGE:  

Fact: Every year, roughly 40,000 icebergs migrate through Canada's eastern waters.

Application: One of the most alarming effects of global climate change is the melting of the ice caps, which threatens to flood many coastal areas all over the world. Using Radarsat-1 and Radarsat-2 data, experts are able to monitor the ice and its movement.

EARTH RESOURCES:  

Fact: Our satellites are "gold mines" of information for responsible use of land and natural and geological resources.

Application: Mapping of geological features makes it possible to improve safety and realize major savings. Using images obtained by satellites Radarsat-1 and Radarsat-2, experts are able to detect faults, folds and other information critical in the search and distribution of groundwater.

FORESTS AND GREEN HERITAGE:  

Fact: Canada has the largest national parks system in the world – 42 national parks.

Application: The applications developed using data provided by Rasarsat-1 and Radarsat-2 play a leading role in observing and managing Canada's natural resources. Canadian satellites Radarsat-1 and Radarsat-2 provide data that can help protect and manage the ecological integrity and use of Canada's national parks.

More information is available online at www.asc-csa.gc.ca

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For over 25 years, News Canada has been providing the media with ready-to-use, timely, credible and copyright-free news content. Editors, broadcasters, web and video content providers rely on News Canada for newsworthy content to effectively enhance their websites, newspapers and broadcasts. Content is made available to you, the media, in the format you need, when you need it.
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For details, view the entire article by subscribing to Industrial Info's Premium Industry News at http://www.industrialinfo.eu/showNews.jsp?newsitemID=156388, or browse other breaking industrial news stories at www.industrialinfo.eu.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news. For more information send inquiries to europe@industrialinfo.co.uk or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe (http://www.industrialinfo.eu).

Contact:
Joe Govreau
713-783-5147

GALWAY, IRELAND--(Marketwire - February 25, 2010) - Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) -- GDF Suez (EPA:GSZ) (Paris, France) is proposing to build a new nuclear power plant in France's Rhone Valley, according to a letter sent to the government and leaked to French newspapers. The reports cite a letter from the company's chief executive, Gérard Mestrallet, to Minister of Ecology and Energy Jean-Louis Borloo, calling for the construction of a 1,100-megawatt (MW) nuclear facility.

For details, view the entire article by subscribing to Industrial Info's Premium Industry News at http://www.industrialinfo.eu/showNews.jsp?newsitemID=156388, or browse other breaking industrial news stories at www.industrialinfo.eu.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news. For more information send inquiries to europe@industrialinfo.co.uk or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe (http://www.industrialinfo.eu).

Contact:
Joe Govreau
713-783-5147

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Firstly, you have to remember to recycle and reuse things around the house. Also, reduce your amount of waste by buying things that have less packaging. You can set up family recycling days to sort out paper, plastic, glass, and cans to send to the recycling center. This can dramatically reduce your amount of carbon dioxide emissions. You can also seek out a recycling center that does its own sorting.

To spare your own budget and conserve energy, then you should start using less heating and air conditioning. If you live in a place with extreme temperatures, add insulation to different parts of your house to keep the cold or hot out of the house. When you're not in the house, you can turn down the heat or air conditioning.

Everyone has heard of fluorescent lights, and replacing your normal bulbs with them will save you lots of money on electricity. It uses a lot less energy and releases less heat which can save on air conditioning bills in the long run. Aside from this, public transport is also advised. This lessens the number of cars on the road, reducing traffic jams, and it is also very efficient in terms of gas and vehicle use.

In order to get your family hands-on in the process of making the world a better place, you can have an activity like planting a tree. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce oxygen, which is necessary for our respiration. Over time they create shade and when planted on the south side of a house, this can reduce air conditioning costs in the summer. Not to mention, trees are beautiful to look at and also fun to plant as seedlings and can prove to be a bonding experience for the family.

Make sure to educate yourself and your family about the importance of being environmentally friendly. You can even go to classes about the ecosystem in places like zoos and other institutions together as a family. You can volunteer as a family and feel good about having helped in the fight against energy and resource waste. This also provides you with a chance to meet other people who also care about the environment so that you will have a support group and you can help each other improve your lifestyles to be more environmentally friendly.

If you get your family to know about the importance of protecting the environment and all of its flora and fauna, then they can inspire others to do the same. We all have the power to make our world a better place, as long as we start with ourselves and help others be like us. Let's make this world a better place for our children to live in, and our children's children as well.

Michelle Patelle, stay-at-home mother and writer, hopes that nursing mothers will investigate their choices at sites such as http://babylovesyourmilk.com which has information about breast pump reviews and breast shield fit.
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All this begs the question, what can California residents do to ensure that there will be enough water in the coming years to support the needs of their growing population?  While the state of California realizes that major steps must be taken to overhaul and revamp the Sacramento Delta area, state agencies are also campaigning to raise public awareness about the need for water conservation.  Though conservation alone won't solve the problem in its entirety, encouraging residents to use less water is one important piece of the puzzle.

One of the biggest sources of water waste in the average American home is the toilet.  It's estimated that approximately 25-30% of the average household's water consumption is flushed down our toilets.  If the state of California could conserve even a part of that water, multiplied across its millions of residents, the savings would be staggering.  One possible solution to water savings in the bathroom are composting toilets.

Composting toilets have been around for decades in one form or another, all with the same basic goal-to convert human waste into compost, a harmless substance that looks and smells like ordinary garden soil.  Like most products, composting toilets have moved through a product development life cycle that began with fairly primitive fixtures and has evolved into a very sophisticated and highly effective product.  The modern composting toilet is not only 100% odorless, but it's also easy to maintain and operate and is aesthetically pleasing in today's residential bathrooms.

Composting toilet systems are not cheap.  A single, self-contained unit retails around $1,500, or a large, whole-house system with toilets in multiple bathrooms can cost around $3,500.  How can the state of California make it financially feasible for their residents to install these pricey fixtures in their homes?  One possible solution is to subsidize the cost of the toilets with tax incentives.  Many states offer tax breaks to homeowners who install high-efficiency windows, doors, and HVAC units, so why not offer a tax credit to homeowners who install approved composting toilet systems?

The state could gather an independent panel of plumbing and home repair experts to evaluate the various models of composting toilets on the market today, and identify one or more particular brands and a group of models within those brands that the state could deem to be "approved fixtures."  The state could even subsidize part of the tax credit offered to homeowners by cooperating with the manufacturers of those composting toilets.  For example, for every tax credit the state of California gave to a homeowner who purchased a qualifying system, the state could then provide that same documentation to the composting toilet manufacturer to receive some credit or rebate on the sale, payable directly to the same funds that the tax credits come out of.

While this may seem fairly simplistic, the state of California has to start somewhere if they want to encourage water conservation on a large scale.  Reducing residential water use by even 10-15% would make a huge difference in the state's water situation, and composting toilets might be just the product to help them accomplish the task.  For Californians, at least it's worth some consideration.

For more information on compost toilets and other waterless toilet options, visit the Composting Toilet Store at http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/
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According to the US Dept. of Energy, Texas produces and consumes more electricity than any other state. Over half of Texas' energy comes from natural gas-powered generation plants. Texas produces 25% of the nation's natural gas and is the largest producer; storing and supplying natural gas via pipeline for all regions of the country. Yet while Texas has large reserves of low grade coal, most of what is burned in its coal-fired plants is brought in via train from Wyoming and Montana.

So, it makes sense for Texas electric power generators to rely more on the supply of natural gas in our back yard rather than waiting for the next 10,000 tons of coal to roll in from Wyoming. Natural gas burns cleaner than coal and does not leave behind large amounts of cinder and ash that require proper disposal.

In the past, natural gas was usually uncovered when drilling for oil. Many middle eastern oil companies commonly used natural gas to push oil out from deposits in the earth and then let the gas burn off (called "flaring"). This was because there was neither large local demand for natural gas, nor a way to safely transport it overseas to markets that wanted it.

In Texas, the practice was very different. Natural gas and oil have been twin commodities that helped build Texas. Natural gas pipelines stretch in all directions from Texas and it has long been used throughout the US for heat, light, and electrical generation. So, it's little wonder that in this country its price has long been bound to oil, a commodity in a very volatile market where prices are often shaped by world events. For this reason, power generating companies have paid more for natural gas than coal, nuclear, and wind. Because it is the most expensive and so heavily relied upon, the price of natural gas determines the price of electricity.

When the Wave Broke

Throughout 2007 and into 2008, petroleum and natural gas prices rose due to a popular tide of speculative investment. This drove resource development and innovation in natural gas technologies to bring gas reserves to market. Among these:

The growing Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) trade is expected to increase at 6.7 percent per year until 2020. New fleets of inexpensively built ships and refineries expanded the industry worldwide. LNG now involves 15 exporting countries and 17 importing countries, including the US.

Qatar announced its goal to develop both its Northfield natural gas reserve production (from roughly 54 billion cubic feet in 1995 to 2.7 trillion cubic feet in 2008) and its Gas-to-Liquids capacity. Qatar is now the world's largest LNG exporter.

Developments in horizontal drilling and rock fracturing techniques with high pressure water provide lower-cost access to several huge deposits of natural gas trapped in common shale. These include the Marcellus shale bed and the Barnett shale in Texas (much of it under Ft. Worth) – which has been estimated at holding 26 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and is producing 2 billion cubic feet per day.

In July, 2008, the petroleum/natural gas price wave peaked. Gasoline surged to over $4.00 per gallon and natural gas prices to $13.69 per billion BTU (mmBTU). The cost of Texas electricity exploded.

Inundated with high fuel prices, consumers all across America cut their travel and their energy use. In the fall of 2008, the economy contracted so severely that businesses laid off workers or closed. They stopped using natural gas to heat their buildings and stopped needing electricity to power their machinery. This helped drive down the price of oil, gasoline, and natural gas. But in the case of natural gas, the big developments in LNG supply and natural gas shale brought enormous amounts of natural gas out of the ground. Ready to use, it now lay idle in pipelines, tanks, and ships at sea. With plenty of supply but no demand, the price sank further.

One year after the price peak, the DOE's EIA reported in its weekly natural gas storage report for August, 14, 2009:

"Working gas in storage was 3,204 Billion cubic feet (Bcf) as of Friday, August 14, 2009, according to EIA estimates… Stocks were 562 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 513 Bcf above the 5-year average of 2,691 Bcf."

By September, 2009, natural gas lost over 80% of its July 2008 value and had plummeted to $2.409 per mmBTU. Texas electric rates fell as well.

Big Supply + Little Demand = Low Price

Because of booming US domestic supply, natural gas' price tumble has decoupled it from oil's price. As analyst Fadel Gheit put it, "[O]il is a global commodity; gas is a regional commodity. You can have a huge discrepancy in gas prices from country to country, from continent to continent, because of a lack of adequate transportation – the means of shipping to take gas from where it's found in abundance to where it's needed."

As a regional commodity now, present US domestic natural gas prices are somewhat insulated versus shocks from international problems. New shale deposits being drilled throughout the lower 48 states provide a more stable supply and stable pricing. As a result, LNG imports to the US are dropping, prompting the United Nations International Energy Agency's chief economist, Fatih Birol, to forecast a world-wide natural gas glut continuing through 2015.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, energy commodities analyst Stephen Schork painted this picture of the current natural gas supply: "We have more gas than we know what to do with in the U.S.; we have more waterborne gas floating around the world's oceans that doesn't have a home."

When natural gas prices began their slide, many natural gas companies capped their wells and cut their production. The EIA recently reported in its Short Term Energy Outlook:

Total marketed natural gas production is estimated to have increased by 3.7 percent in 2009, despite a 59-percent decline in the working natural gas rig count from September 2008 to July 2009.

Even Qatar announced it will not pursue any new development in its North field reserve for another four years.

Right now, the two big drivers of US consumption are its winter and its economy. This winter, an early cold snap increased heating demands for much of the country and even caused a brief $1 price increase. Though faltering, the US economy has improved somewhat since September, 2008. Because of the slight contraction in productivity and the early cold weather, natural gas prices have risen from their September, 2009 low —but they are still 50% lower than their peak in 2008. The EIA statistic for the January 27, 2010 price at the Henry Hub in New York ($5.42 mmBTU) is 14% higher than the same date last year ($4.75).

The big new for 2010 is it's still a natural gas buyer's market. With storage levels still at 5 year highs, enhanced domestic production capabilities, and slow consumption growth, prices are not expected to rise dramatically through 2010. EIA projects that the natural gas spot price at the Henry Hub will increase to an average of $5.25 mmBTU in 2010, which is $1.27 more than the 2009 average of $3.98 mmBTU. Remember, this is an average price; seasonal increases will occur, especially during the summer cooling months in Texas when power demand is at its height.

For Texas electricity consumers, this means that energy prices will remain low through for the rest of the year, though there will be some fluctuation due to seasonal demand, as stated. However, one thing about the near future is certain: consumption of natural gas will increase as economic conditions improve. Businesses will need more people as they will get back to running equipment and machinery – and they will all use more energy. As consumption rises, more generators will burn natural gas to meet that need. Natural gas prices will rise. And so will the price of Texas electricity.

Long Term Solutions for the Texas Energy Consumer

The best thing an electricity consumer in Texas has right now is energy choice. If you sign on to a two year (24 month) plan now, you can lock in the current 2010 rate through 2012. Switching between now and spring when rates are low could save you hundreds of dollars over the next two years. Why? Because you can take advantage of a long term fixed energy plan that locks in the current low energy price. In the near future, the EIA projects that prices will increase in 2011, averaging $6.00 mmBTU as the existing surplus shrinks in the face of a rebounding economy. That's a 13% increase in price. Right now, if your energy plan is locked in at .114 cent/kWh for 1500 kWh per month, you're paying about $171/month. But in 2011 given a 13% average increase, your bill could jump to $193.23/month. That's a difference of $22.23/month or $266.76 for the year.

To maximize your savings for these next two years, you need to act before mid-April because that's when the price begins its annual increase for summer cooling costs. To find a long term plan that will help you save the most money, go to Bounce Energy and check out their Price Protector 24 plan. Qualified customers will receive movie tickets, bill credits, companion airline tickets, price reductions and more for paying their bill on-time!

Bounce Energy is a Texas Electric Company based in Houston. Bounce Energy's goal is provide more than low Texas Electric Rates to our customers. With innovative and flexible plans, excellent customer service, and superior customer rewards, Bounce Energy offers a unique approach to Texas electricity.
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It is unfortunate to think that war will most likely never cease to exist because it looks as if it is in human's nature. We pay attention to its emotional, mental, and some physical impacts it has on us, but our environment hardly ever comes to mind. When the world trade center was hit and destroyed, people were running from the resulting debris because they did not want to get hit by anything or cough in the black air. However, it confidentially assumed that no one was thinking about the toxins in the air from the atmospheric plume (Environmental Effects of Warfare, www.lenntech.com). This might have been because we cannot sense the toxins and we only perceive about one-trillionth of what is really happening around us (Ornstein, MindReal).

Warfare disrupts our living, but it also affects wildlife and their environment as well. Products of war such as harmful explosions, crashes, and mass machinery have a lethal impact. Poisons and wreckage pollute the air environment while the land is degraded and tarnished (The Environmental Effects of Warfare, www.dea.org). To think that people fight over land that they destroyed through warfare and oil that pollutes the environment we live in is astonishing.

Most people do not realize the consequence of war on our environment and how it can physically affect us by causing miscarriages, cancer, tumors, as well as genetic deformation. This issue needs to be addressed just as much as war's impact on the economy. Even though many see the violence of war as the answer to worldwide disputes, no one seems to realize that it never completely solved any problems in the past, so why would it today? War has only left us with harmful damages to our world. Not only does warfare cause death to humans and wildlife, but it causes death to our environment as well.

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Across to Ireland

Getting to Ireland from Britain by train and ferry is a lot cheaper than you'd think. Right now you can get a train and ferry to anywhere in Ireland from any station in Britain for just £30.50 or less each way, at all times. Find out more .

Round the continent

Travelling around Europe by train is easy, fast, fun and affordable. The great thing about travelling round Europe is that everything is so close together so you can fit loads of great destinations into one trip.

European trains are known for being punctual, and most of the continent is covered by a high speed network.

The European high speed network can be easily accessed on the. The high speed network currently stretches from Paris across to Berlin and Vienna and down to Rome and the Marseille but extensions are expected soon.

Get a night train with a sleeper berth and fall asleep in one country and wake up in the next.

Top tips for Euro-railing

Plan your trip in advance. Decide how much time you have and where you want to visit.

These should help with your planning:

European rail network map

Comprehensive schedule of trains in Europe

Book as far ahead as possible for the cheapest deals, and try to be as flexible as possible. Depending on the country, tickets become available two or three months in advance. Rail Europe specialise in selling tickets and rail passes.

If you just want to visit one or two cities or are only going for a short break, then it's often cheaper to just buy tickets for those journeys.

For longer breaks, you may be better off getting an InterRail pass. These give you access to the railways of 30 European countries and are a great and cost effective way to see much more of the continent. There are no region restrictions on the tickets so you can travel wherever you wish. Once you've paid for the ticket, travel is free except for high speed and sleeper trains, which require a supplement. You have complete control over your itinerary, choosing your route and how long you wish to travel before setting off.

Going further afield

If you're looking for adventure and have the time, you could travel all the way across Europe to Asia by train.

The Silk Route will take you from London, across Europe, through central Asia and beyond to Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Saigon, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The Silk Route encompasses the famous Trans Siberian railway, which stretches from Moscow or St Petersburg to Beijing, crossing Mongolia en route. The views along the way are breathtaking.

The Royal Orient train is one of the world's most exotic trains and crosses two Indian states - Gujarat and Rajasthan. It is an experience that takes you back to the times of the Rajas and Maharajas.

The Orient Express is a wonderful way to see South East Asia and the beautiful scenery of Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Great value coach trips

For really environmentally friendly and low cost travel, you could opt for travelling round Europe by coach or bus. Coaches are the most efficient form of public transport and cost as little as £15 one way to Europe. Eurolines are Europe's largest regular coach network with routes to over 500 destinations throughout the continent and Ireland.

Plain sailing round the UK

If you're ever wanted to captain your own boat, then a canal holiday might be right up your street. Britain has over 3,000 miles of canals and navigable rivers to explore. Although a self-drive narrow boat is the usual holiday choice, canals are also popular with other types of craft including small motor boats and canoes, so look around for the best option for you. Ecotravelling.co.uk has some great information on canal travel and can put you in touch with booking agents.

For more information on reducing your carbon footprint, visit the Energy Saving Trust.
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