Eco-Hotels?
The trend now, as I have read about from various places, is to buy products that are eco-friendly. But did you know, that now when you travel, there are several eco-friendly options available? Many hotels have advertised that they are eco-friendly, and have done so in different ways. Some of them operate from solar or wind power, some of them use eco-friendly linens and materials, some serve organic food, some organize environmental activities for their guests, and some of them do a combination! This new fad, named “eco-tourism” is hoped by environmentalists to expand to other hotels as well, and draw attention to an important issue while providing a relaxing vacation for travelers.
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One such hotel is the Rosario Resort and Spa. They offer a “green package” for vacationers that allows guest to go hiking, clear thier own trail, and still have a good time. They also give discounts for people who reserve this package.
A hostel in Ireland called Gyreum uses solar and wind powered machinery, and has a living garden and roof. For better insulation, they use sheep wool.
In the more urban areas, hotels are still able to take action. Fairmont Hotels and Suites offers recycling services to their guests and discounted parking for hybrid cars. They have also updates their electrical systems and purchase energy-saving appliances.
These hotels in turn, to reward them for their good deeds are given environmental awards, which helps advertise their business. Hopefully this is a trend that other hotels will catch on to.
This is a great way to be in tune with global issues while still enjoying a relaxing vacation. I think the idea of offering guests discounts further promotes the earth’s conservation, because people are rewarded for it. By suggesting hiking trips, people can become closer to nature, and hopefully gain more respect for it.
Source for article:
Al Gore Gives America a Green Example
Former Vice-President Al Gore, as we all know, is an extreme environmental activist. He made a heart-felt speech at this year’s Oscars, one of the most watched programs worldwide, has starred in his own documentary, An Inconvenient Truth (which also won an Oscar by the way), and has spoken out in newscasts, papers, and websites about the importance of our planet. He urges all of the world, especially America, to become involved in the fight against global warming.
Solar Panels on top of Unity College (Unity, MA)
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Some people think that global is a hoax, and say to themselves, “I bet Al Gore pollutes the earth just as much as I do.” This may be true, but truthfully, Al Gore is doing a lot to change that. He recently installed 33 solar panels on the top of his mansion, under the circumstances that they could not be seen by his neighbors. He is also upgrading the ventilation, windows, furnace, and electrical work in his 70-year-old house. In reality, he is buying enough energy from renewable resources to make up for his “ecological footprint” by 100%!
I think that this is a great step for the upper-class of America. Because Hollywood typically lean towards the democratic candidates, aka Al Gore, he was among friends at the Oscars, and hopefully his example will rub off. I think that Al Gore’s solar panels should be able to be seen by neighbors! I’m guessing that he’s living in an upscale community, so if these wealthy people have money to spend, why not spend it on something beneficial to the earth? Though I know many of us live in older houses, and we don’t have the money to completely renovate them, but maybe we can make up for our ecological marks in smaller ways, such as taking public transportation, turning the heat down, and using less energy overall.
Source for article:
Glamour….Gone Green?
With millions of women readers (and some men too, hehe), Glamour magazine is a popular read for the latest gossip, fashion, and expert help with any problem. Being a magazine that promotes a lot of materialistic items that we really don’t need (cosmetics, designer clothes, etc.), Glamour would be the last place I would think to find a huge article about how we can save the planet. In the April 2007 issue, a 10-page article entitled “The Woman’s Guide to Saving the Planet” was featured, explaining methods that ordinary people can do to save the planet.
The article began with a top-ten list of some of the most important things that we can do to help the planet. Number one on the list was to “Change a Bulb.” New lightbulbs called compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s) are available at stores near us such as Wal-Mart or K-Mart. The “warm-white” type of these bulbs use 65% less energy than regular light bulbs and though they cost about 30% more, they make up for their money by lasting about 10 times longer. Number two is to drive a fuel efficient car. The average car emits 95,000 lbs of global-warming pollution each year. Yikes. Number three is to walk or ride a bike instead of driving. Enough said. Recycling is number four. Recycling keeps materials from piling up in landfills and goods made from recycled goods takes less energy than if they were to be produced from scratch. Number five is to invest in some environmentally-friendly household cleaners. Ordinary cleaners can emit potential toxins into the groundwater if poured through the drain. Number six is one that I remember discussing in class; eating locally grown foods. It saves fuel from transportation, supports local economies, and, if grown organically, can keep harmful chemicals out of the ground. Number seven is to buy energy saving appliances. One company I know that participates in this is General Electric, who produces products with the “Energy Star.” Conserving water is number eight. Take shorter showers, fix leaks….we know the drill! Number nine is to adjust your thermostat just one degree up in the summer, and one degree down in the winter. Number ten is to spread the word! Tell everyone you know about these methods to save the planet! : )
The second page of the article encouraged re-using bottles from bottled water, and filling them with tap water. Most experts have agreed that they are very similar, if not the same. The second page also featured facts about hybrid cars. One of them was that though you may spend around $3,000 more on a hybrid car, you could make up the difference in five years with gas savings. Cameron Diaz swears by hers!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/TOYOTA_FCHV_01.jpg/800px-TOYOTA_FCHV_01.jpg
The third page of this article really surprised me, as it educated readers about environmentally-friendly beauty products. Things from face wash, to nail polish, to foundation are becoming more and more prominent in the “organic” fashion. The article warned however that labels can be misleading, and for a product to be truly organic, it must read “USDA Organic.” Popular cosmetic companies such as Aveda and Burt’s Bees offer several eco-friendly options.
The fourth page dealt with an issue that includes everyone: clothes. The article suggests to cut back on the shopping sprees, and stick with the clothes that you really wear. Donate the things that you don’t wear to charity. Look for clothes colored with vegetable dyes, as many other dyes are released into the water supply. This informatino can be found on the tag or clothing label. Look for cotton clothing that is organic, and wash your clothes (in full loads of course) in cold water!
On the next page, many new eco-friendly gadgets were introduced. My personal favorite was the water powered clock, which doubles as a flower vase! There was also biodegradable speakers, a solar recharger, a solar radio, and lamps that run on rechargable batteries.
The next page sought out the earth’s best interest, along with ours, on the right foods to choose to make ourselves, and our planet, much healthier.
The next page of the article featured an article about organic linens you can buy, recycled paper products (computer paper, bags, etc.), and eco-friendly carpeting.
The last page of the article gave a bunch of reasons why we should stop global warming, telling everyone that we are in danger of losing things such as coral reefs, polar bears, ice-skating, cool summer nights, and winter ski vacations. It also gave some shocking facts that I never knew about. Here are a few of my favorite:
- 100 million trees are made into junk mail every year
- 14 plastic grocery store bags contain enough petroleum to fuel a car for a mile
- 75% of energy used to power electronic items is consumed while they are plugged in but not being used.
- 10 times as much energy is wasted when you run a computer screen-save instead of using sleep mode
I have to applaud Glamour on this article. I must admit, I am a frequent reader of this magazine, and it made me happy that they for once focused on a REAL issue, such as the state of our planet, instead of the latest fashion in Hollywood.
Source for article:
Glamour Magazine, April 2007 (p.167-191)
www.glamour.com
