Green Blog

What is CPTED? The official book definition is “the proper design and effective use of the built environment that can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime and an improvement in the quality of life.” It is simply a goal to reduce opportunities for crime that may be inherent in the design of structures or in the design of neighborhoods. In other words, make your home or neighborhood unappealing to burglars and thugs.

Cities and Counties throughout the country are adopting CPTED ordinances requiring site plan reviews with crime prevention in mind. Law enforcement officers who are specially trained in CPTED are now working closely with Planners, Architects, City Officials, and Educators to ensure the proper design of structures, schools, and neighborhoods. These experts know how the design and use of the environment can control human or criminal behavior and reduce the fear of crime. They used natural means such as landscaping to deter criminals. Access control, natural surveillance, different aspects of lighting and its effects on human behavior, all deter crime.

Many landscape specialists incorporate CPTED into their layout & design of landscapes. Each of the following CPTED strategies are low cost guidelines that they apply to reduce the fear and incidence of crime and improve the quality of life.

1. Natural Access Control guides people entering & leaving a space through the placement of entrances, exits, fences, landscaping & lighting. Access control can decrease opportunities for criminal activity by denying criminals access to potential targets & creating a perception of risk for would-be offenders. Walkways & landscaping should direct visitors to the proper entrance & away from private areas. The design should create a perception of risk for would-be offenders. Walkways should be installed in locations safe for pedestrians & keep them unobscured.

2. Natural Surveillance is the placement of physical features, activities & people in a way that maximizes visibility. A potential criminal is less likely to attempt a crime if he or she is at risk of being observed. At the same time, we are likely to feel safer when we can see & be seen. The landscaping should be selected and installed to allow unobstructed views of doors & windows. The front door should be at least partially visible from the street. Shrubs & bushes near windows should not restrict full visibility of the property. Sidewalks & all areas of the yard should be well lit.

3. Territorial Reinforcement is use of physical attributes that express ownership such as fences, signage, landscaping, lighting, pavement designs, etc. Defined property lines and clear distinctions between private & public spaces are examples of the application of territoriality. Front porches or stoops should create a transitional area between the street & the home. Property lines & private areas should be defined with plantings, fences or retaining walls. Use thorny plants along fence lines and under windows to deter access by intruders.

4. Maintenance is a well maintained home, building or community, and creates a sense of ownership. A well kept area tends to make someone feel like they will be observed by neighbors or business owners as it is obvious people care about the area. Keep trees & shrubs trimmed back from windows, doors & walkways. Keep shrubs trimmed to 3 feet & prune the lower branches of trees up to 7 feet. Use exterior lighting at night & keep it in working order. Keep litter & trash picked up & the yard neat & free of items that might attract theft.

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Chinese foreign investment law requires the issuance of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in before many types of projects are commenced，particularly construction and renovation projects (this requirement applies to both new and existing enterprises). The EIA is used to evaluate whether proper and effective protective measures have been taken with respect to the project’s potential environmental impact. The trend in China is towards stricter environmental standards and more consistent enforcement.

Since certain Foreign Invested Enterprises may be exempted from the EIA, it would be wise to submit a brief but thorough environment impact self-assessment in the feasibility study report, addressing the following issues:

* Raw materials and chemicals stored or in use * Technical aspects of the production process * Types and discharged volume of pollutants, including sewage, solid wastes and atmospheric emissions * Discharge of liquid waste (sewage), and volume and concentration of key parameters * Measures for prevention and control of environmental impact.

In the event that an Environmental Impact Assessment is nevertheless deemed necessary, its scope will be decided by the Environmental Protection Bureau at the level of government (township, local, provincial, national) that supervises your project, but will likely be more extensive. In general, an Environmental Impact Assessment must cover water pollution (sewage), atmospheric pollution, solid wastes discharge and noise pollution. If, for example, only one type of atmospheric pollutant is assessed likely to pose environmental problems, the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment may focus only on this type of pollutant. If pollutants must be discharged, a permit will often be required. Failure to obtain an approved EIA and the necessary permits can result in various penalties including the shut-down of your project.

Although the time taken to complete an Environmental Impact Assessment depends on its scope, it usually takes 2-3 months. There is no fixed tariff system for Environmental Impact Assessment reports, but the regulations provide for 5 fee-based components: research, supervised sampling, laboratory experiments, testing, evaluation and reporting.

Cleaning Up - If you are purchasing a site with existing environmental contamination, be aware that the Chinese law usually attributes liability for clean-up to the party that caused the contamination. However, the environmental regulatory regime is rapidly developing, and future regulations may require current Land Use Rights holders or occupants to clean up environmental contamination. Accordingly, due diligence should include a thorough environmental survey before land use rights are acquired.

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Cincinnati Schools’ Green Renovation

Cincinnati School’s has in effect a long term $1 billion building project that will help to renovate and rebuild many of its older buildings. One Cincinnati School ’s elementary school, Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, has been recently featured in District Administration. This national magazine focuses on issues in K-12 education. The article from the August issue discusses the growing concern and interest in green building and environmentally friendly construction. The article states that even though the upfront cost can be more the long term benefits of green construction are quite clear. The construction of Cincinnati Schools’ Pleasant Ridge Elementary School is not only a gain for green construction strategies but it also teaches the students important lessons about the environment and responsibility.

Cincinnati Schools’ Pleasant Ridge Elementary School will be the first LEED School in Cincinnati Schools upon its completion. The LEED Green Building Rating System was devised by the U.S. Green Building Council which has helped Cincinnati Schools write its new building plans and codes. The article refers to the work of Ginny Frazier as one of the major influences on the Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project. A private citizen who lives in the area, Frazier is the head of a local group that advocates environmentally friendly building. She went to the Cincinnati Schools’ authorities and administrators with proposals on how the school in her neighborhood could be rebuilt using green materials and environmentally friendly tactics. Some of the ideas she proposed included according to the article, “geothermal heating so the new building uses the earth’s temperature for cooling and heating, using natural building materials, noxious-free cleaning products and art supplies, as well as natural water filtration systems.”

The article discusses the five key areas that the Cincinnati Schools’ Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project uses innovative techniques or old-fashioned common sense to improve the building design. The Cincinnati Schools’ Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project will improve the lighting of the schools in several ways. The lights will feature sensors that will automatically turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. Currently Cincinnati’s City Hall is using a similar system that has greatly reduced energy costs. The Cincinnati Schools’ Pleasant Ridge Elementary School will also have photovoltaic panels, which convert solar energy into electricity. Saving energy with heating and cooling systems is also a concern. All the new and renovated Cincinnati Schools will have central air systems. The article states that, “Air conditioned classrooms prevent pollution from outside, and in the end, help asthmatic children breathe easier, he says. And moisture from hot, humid days can also cause ceiling pads to buckle or gym floors to sag”

Another area the article talks about is indoor air pollution. Cincinnati Schools’ Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project is using less carpet in the design in order to help reduce pollutants indoors. Plans for reducing the amount of water use in the Cincinnati Schools’ would also be based on sensors that detect movement around sinks and toilets. The article comments on the concerns that the Cincinnati Schools’ Pleasant Ridge Elementary School project has in this area. The main concern is in using faucets that have an automatic shut off system or a push button system.

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The world is changing faster now than at any time since the last ice-age 10,000 years ago and the major cause of that change is man. To allow the changes to continue unchecked is reckless at the least. Monitoring those changes and being able to convince others that we have to do or not do activities that affect the environment will take well qualified people with the relevant environmental science degree.

It has often been said that the education offered in colleges and universities are a direct response to the job market and the trends therein. If this is so then the future for professionals with an environmental science degree could not be much brighter.

After the industrial and the informational age, we are quickly entering the environmental age, where the environment and its characteristics are of paramount importance.

Never before, as a society, have we paid real attention to the environment and many would argue we still do not pay enough attention. Continuous exploitation of the earths natural resources and constant generation of heat and waste products have caused significant damage to the environment.

We live in an age where knowing, understanding and adapting to the environment is no longer a choice - it is the only way ahead. This age demands qualified professionals, especially those with professional environmental science degrees.

A number of allied degrees find their place alongside conventional environmental science degrees. Big business has, for a long time, been required to comply with safety and industrial security requirements. In industries like biotechnology, due to the nature of the products, there are numerous opportunities for disaster.

Disaster management and hazardous material management are fields of study that are very much in demand by today’s high technology industries. While often these studies are not comprehensive enough to be offered as science degrees by themselves, these courses are more often than not partnered with environmental science degrees as part of a package deal.

For the environmental science degree student, it can be an advantage. While pursuing their main course of study, they can get qualifications in a number of allied fields. This makes them thorough professionals and capable of entering a wide range of industries when they graduate with their environmental science degree.

As a result of the long-standing lobbying activities, the United States is home to some of the worlds largest and best funded environmental groups and many professionals, working for these groups, have environmental science degrees.

Jobs exist with government bodies, lobbying positions with political groups and corporate organizations, research positions with foundations and other research organizations. More opportunities exist in the environmental safety departments of leading oil majors and even faculty positions at colleges offering environmental science degrees. They all offer lucrative positions that professionals with an environmental science degree can hope to secure.

An environmental science degree does not deal with environmental topics alone. Due to the very nature of their work, professionals who acquire an environmental science degree need to be equipped with allied subjects like compliance, law, criminal justice, and public communication.

The courses of study that ultimately lead to a environmental science degree are varied and interesting. Someone with an environmental science degree is likely to be tasked with protecting our environment as a result we need the very best!

If you have a concern about the World we live in or a desire and determination to do something to improve a steadily deteriorating habitat, then an environmental science degree would be an excellent place to start.

Anyone aspiring to be an environmental professional would typically need to go in for a BS Environmental Science Degree before going for an MS or a PhD in Environmental Studies.

Environment science degrees are offered in all major colleges and universities across the United States and the Western World. An environmental science degree can be taken full-time, part-time or by distance learning so whatever your circumstances you can contribute.

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Environment awareness has increased around the world together with the necessity for better regulations that will allow automotive salvage become a safe environmental occupation. Under law enforcement, automakers should take care of their products from cradle to grave. Carmakers are subjects to great international pressure and urging that all dismantled car pieces, wrecks and carcasses should no longer pile up in waste metal yards, but be reused or recycled.

Is it just metal piling up in salvage yards, which has brought automotive salvage into the spot light? Only partially; as there remains the risk of chemical pollution and infestation due to all the vehicle fluids that pollute the soil, should there be any leakage. Those company owners that deal in car dismantling should follow some general basic environmental security rules when fragmenting cars to pieces.

The best way to minimize spill-over during automotive salvage operations is by evacuating fluids before dismantling and depositing these fluids to safe tanks or containers. Fluids should be immediately removed from all the constituents of the vehicle. If this were not possible, check for leaks, and in case you find any, isolate them and reduce the risk of contamination.

The fluids that result from dismantling automotive salvage should be kept in safe containers or tanks. These should be labeled and inspected on a regular basis in order to prevent alterations or leaks. In case they are deposited outside the salvage yard, they must be equipped with a double protection system from the external environment.

One great advantage that automotive salvage has is that it makes possible the reduction of the production price per component in big vehicle companies that can invest in recycling items or reconditioning them for reuse. Some automakers are also talking about increasing the number of recycling points, where automotive salvage might become the starting point for alternative building materials.

The question that has brought much heated debate is: “To whose expense?” Who pays for automotive salvage that is for dismantling, for reusing, for recycling? The answer to this may be the answer to a whole bunch of environment issues that originate in careless automotive salvage in junkyards.

Managing the automotive salvage yards would dramatically reduce the amount of scrap that fills the land. There are thousands of independent automotive salvage yards owners who need a efficient recycling system as they see the pile growing on their property, as not all of it can be sold or re-used without reconditioning.

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Computer recycling refers to the practice of salvaging useable components from obsolete electronic devices or safely disposing off electronic devices. It is a practice that each one of us must inculcate because inappropriate handling of discarded computers and other electronic devices can cause environmental hazards.

Studies estimate that over 40 million electronic pieces become obsolete annually. These pieces have constituents such as lead, cadmium, barium, and mercury, which are hazardous to the environment. In a landfill, these materials seep into the ground and then into our food and water supplies. This can cause serious health concerns over a long period.

Obsolete Computers: Environmental Threats Obsolete computers that are simply dumped in the garbage drums are the biggest threat to the environment. The computer monitors have cathode ray tubes containing four to five pounds of lead that contaminates the environment acutely. Besides lead, the computers have many other hazardous elements such as mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium. When inhaled over a long period, these elements cause high blood pressure, liver and nerve disease, blood with poor iron, and even brain damage to the exposed group. This causes great concern, considering several million computers become obsolete annually.

Therefore, we must handle the obsolete electronic devices carefully. Moreover, different Environmental Laws have banned the illegal landfills by the disposals of computers and other electronic equipment. These laws necessitate sending the un-functional computers to a reputable recycler for harmless recycling. The laws also specify the need for regular recycling to avoid such computers from piling up.

There are several methods to deal with old computers. Some of them are as follows:

Give It For Reuse: If your computer is in a decent condition, you can sell it to a company or an individual so that it can be used further, or simply donate it to someone needy.

Trade It In: There are many computer dealers (e.g. HP) who offer trade-in promotions on computers and peripherals.

Auction It: You can sell the computer on eBay or any other auction site. You can also organize a quick garage sale and see if any of your friends or neighbors wants the computer.

Set up a Server: You can continue using the old computer as a server to store and share data.

Salvage Some Parts: You can see which parts of your computers are in good working condition. You can salvage those parts and use them in your new computer.

Go for computer recycling and safe the planet earth!

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Asbestos is a term used for some naturally occurring minerals that form long thin fibers and fiber bundles on crystallization. Most commonly found group is the serpentine group that includes Chrysotile (white asbestos). It is also the most frequently mined form of Asbestos. Another very important asbestos group is known as the amphiboles, which includes Crocidolite (blue asbestos) and Amosite (brown asbestos). The asbestos fibers have high tensile strength, and chemical, electrical and heat resistance properties and so are extremely useful as a building/insulation material. Asbestos has been used extensively all over the world.

Asbestos: General Information

Although Asbestos is a hazardous material, it poses a health risk only if the Asbestos fibers become airborne and subsequently inhaled. Therefore, most Asbestos materials pose little health risk unless they are disturbed in a way that allows the fibers to be released into the atmosphere. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to serious diseases such as lung cancer, Mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lungs or lower digestive tract) and asbestosis (a chronic fibrosis of the lungs).

Many industries used Asbestos extensively in the past, exposing their workers to this deadly materials. As a result, many new cases of Asbestos caused ailments are occurring now. However, the fact that Asbestos was also installed in many buildings means that a wider range of people still have the potential to be exposed - particularly building and maintenance workers. For this reason, the latest revision of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations introduces (from May 2004) a new responsibility on those responsible for non-domestic premises to manage the asbestos contained in them.

Asbestos Caused Diseases

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleural and peritoneal lining. It exclusively related to asbestos exposure. By the time it is diagnosed, it is usually fatal. Mesothelioma has a long latency period (time between exposure and onset of disease) of at least 15 years and sometimes as long as 60 years.

Asbestosis is a scarring of the lung tissue. This scarring impairs the elasticity of the lung and hampers its ability to exchange gases. This leads to inadequate oxygen intake to the blood. Asbestosis restricts breathing leading to decreased lung volume and increased resistance in the airways. It is a slowly progressive disease with a latency period of 15 to 30 years.

Lung Cancer is a malignant tumor of the bronchi covering. The tumor grows through surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing air passages. Again, the disease has a long latency period of at least 20 years.

The victims of all these asbestos related diseases are eligible to file lawsuits for compensation against the persons and organizations responsible for causing asbestos exposure. They can take the help of mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys to fight their compensation claims.

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There are many different flooring materials available today including one of the most beautiful and environmentally friendly, a bamboo floor. No, this isn’t taking round bamboo stalks and lashing them together to make a floor for your home. Bamboo flooring in one of the most durable and unique flooring materials you can get for your home today.

Many hardwood floors feature a nice grain and wood look that is very pretty especially in the various colors and patterns. Bamboo flooring however features a much more subtle graining pattern and because of the way it’s manufactured, features more of a pronounced ring like pattern. So you have a grain that suggests a direction and every so often a uniquely bamboo ring pattern. Bamboo can also be stained and finished just like regular hardwood flooring.

Bamboo is actually a grass like plant that grows quickly and is usually considered an aggressive plant. That is, it tends to grow rapidly, overwhelming many of the other plant life in it’s immediate area. This makes for a very sustainable resources as a full bamboo crop can be harvested in less than 7 years. This is a much better alternative to hardwood trees that can take upwards of over 20 plus years to mature.

Bamboo, traditionally thought of as an Asian but specifically Chinese plant has found a new home in products for the west. As bamboo has gained in popularity, many more people are protecting bamboo forest areas and are much more concerned about conservation. The growth of bamboo use for furniture, blinds, many home decor products, and bamboo flooring has created a robust economic incentive to grow natural products instead of clear cutting to make way for farming.

Bamboo flooring is comparable to hardwood floors in durability, looks, and installation. It has broad appeal and beauty that will not easily go out of style. Due to the interest in bamboo flooring, you can now find it in commercial buildings, hotels, restaurants, offices and many high traffic areas.

Another great benefit of bamboo flooring is price. Due to the rapid growth rate, the cost of fully stained and sealed bamboo floor material can be found for less than half the cost of planked hardwood. Bamboo floor can be installed using any of the usual hardwood flooring installation methods. These include a floating floor where the floor is simply glued together to form a single piece, straight gluing to the old floor material and a basic nailing method.

If you’re looking for a uniquely beautiful flooring material that will provide years of ambiance and warmth to your home, look no farther than a high quality bamboo floor.

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Summer season tends to make me happy. I love going swimming, enjoying baseball, and not wearing socks for four months. But if there’s one point about summer that bugs me, it’s … definitely, bugs. Not only are mosquito bites itchy and painful, they’re also hazardous. Going outside, particularly into a wooded place, without any insect repellent isn’t an option. But insect repellents, as you could imagine, are neither eco-friendly or specifically healthy for you. Many are made with DEET, which is noteworthy in keeping off pests but not something you would like swimming about inside your blood vessels, which is precisely where it winds up once you spray it on your skin. Fortunately, for individuals who wish to protect their health by steering clear of both insect bites and chemical-based insect repellents, there are all sorts of do-it-yourself formulas for natural insect repellents.

But insect repellents, as you could imagine, are neither eco-friendly nor particularly good for you. Many are created using DEET, which is highly effective in warding off pesky pests but not something you would like swimming around inside your blood vessels, which is exactly where it ends up after you spray it on your skin. Thankfully, for those who wish to safeguard their health by steering clear of both insect bites and chemical-based bug repellents, there are all sorts of do-it-yourself recipes for organic insect sprays.

The ingredients are: 1 cup of grain alcohol (organic if on the market), vodka, or witch hazel. 30 drops essential oils (lavender, citronella, rosemary, rose geranium, lemon, or tea tree oil (pick one or a combination of only two). Place all ingredients into a spray bottle. Shake very well. Spray liberally all over your skin prior to going outdoors. Reapply as necessary. This recipe should also ward off ticks, fleas, wasps, along with other undesirable pests. Keep your homemade repellent in a dark container far from heat as well as sunshine.

You can also dab essential oils directly on your skin - normally in your elbows, behind the knees, and at the rear of your ears will do. Nevertheless, give this a trial run before going outside to make sure your own skin doesn’t respond badly to the oils. Different types of essential oils respond differently with individual body chemistry, so you may have to try things out a bit before finding the one that is best for you. If you don’t want to produce your very own, there are all kinds of natural insect repellents on the market. Burt’s Bees, Kiss My Face, and All Terrain all produce herbal insect sprays that are DEET-free and safe for kids.

Just how do you hold the bugs away? You quite likely will not ought to plant this home alternative considering the fact that it can be a common weed, quite often developing in compacted soil alongside sidewalks and driveways. To work with the flora as first aid for a an insect bite, crush a couple of leaves and chafe them on the bite.Numerous anti-itch drugstore drugs to utilize comprise Calamine serum or cortisone products. Doctors normally advise pain prescriptions, ice packs and meat tenderizer to relieve insect bites and stings. Instantly utilizing a dab of ordinary meat tenderizer directly to a sting can neutralize the allergen.

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Your flowers require your utmost love and attention to be able to provide you with the gorgeous flowers you desire. In this case, by looking at their conditions inside the garden, you can check if they’re free of any damage from insects. How would you find out if they’re secure and safe? By carefully checking them every day, you can be updated to exactly what particular pest attacks your crops. Being a home gardener, you should always be looking for possible solutions to your house garden’s health issues. Make this your concern to be able to flourish in the flower gardening business.

A way to reduce the attack of pests and conditions is to carry out multiple-cropping program. This means, planting diverse crops of different types. This has been proven effective and also boosts the soil condition, while lessening your pesticide costs. One more method, and this is also quite effective, is to include in your garden some insect repellent crops. If you will incorporate these kinds of plant repellents within your multiple-cropping system, you’ll double your profit against your production expense. These help control destructive insect pests. They have got a natural odor that wards off insect pests.

Some examples of plant repellents: Lemon grass. Plant them alongside of the fence or as border plants. Marigold. Great as border plants. Grow them in between rows or even plots. Neem tree. Plant them around your garden. They also function as wind break. Cosmos. Plant them as border plants between other blossoms. There are plenty of these plant repellents within your country. Go to your local agriculture extension office in your town, and look for top tips to learn more about some pesticides. Other natural management for common insect pests

Some examples of plant repellents: Lemon grass. Grow them along the sides of the fence or as border plants. Marigold. Great as border crops. Grow them between rows or even plots. Neem tree. Grow them all over your garden. They additionally function as wind break. Cosmos. Grow these as border crops between other blossoms. There are plenty of these plant repellents in your country. Go to your local agriculture extension office in your area, and look for top tips to learn more regarding some pesticides. Other natural control for common insect infestations Chewing insect pests (hard or soft-bodied). Mash 10 cloves of garlic or a medium size onion. Mix along with 2 quarts/liter of water. Allow it to sit for a while. Strain to remove impurities. Quickly squirt without diluting the mixture. To make it stronger specifically for hard-bodied insects, add 30 pieces cayenne/hot pepper. This is effective versus nematodes.

Caution: Hot pepper is irritating to the eyes. Use protective eye cover whenever using them. Sucking insect pests (hard as well as soft bodied). Dissolve bar bath soap (not necessarily detergent soap) in 8 quarts or 1 liter water. When completely dissolved, immediately squirt directly towards the insect pests. For hard-bodied, add 2 teaspoon salt and about 30 pieces cayenne/hot pepper.

Stick to the same preventive measures for chewing insects when using hot pepper to guard the eyes. By making use of the natural control, you are guarding the environment reduce chemical pollution and poisoning which is the major reason for human and animal illness globally.

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