Composting Toilet - Environmental Benefits

There are many pros to installing a composting toilet: money savings for the owner, improved facilities when you're replacing an old outhouse, and particularly environmental benefits. In this article, we're going to discuss a few of the ways that composting toilets make a very big and very positive impact on the world around us.

Environmental Benefit 1-Less Pollution
The disposal of human waste is one of the largest sources of pollution, water contamination, and disease on earth. In many third world countries, basic sanitation systems are not present, meaning that people are simultaneously drinking from and eliminating in the same streams and rivers. The health implications of this are obvious. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of all disease and death in developing countries is cause by polluted water, with fecal matter being one of the major contaminants of freshwater around the world.

Even in developed countries like the United States, 20% of people are getting their tap water from private wells, which are easily contaminated by old, failing septic systems that owners don't want to spend the money to repair or replace. Septic systems should be inspected every 2 years and pumped every 3-5 years to ensure proper functioning and to prevent possible contamination of nearby wells and other groundwater. Failure to do so can lead to fecal contamination causing dysentery and even hepatitis.

Environmental Benefit 2-Use Less Water
Since many compost toilet systems are waterless, and since about 25% of the average American home's water consumption is used to flush toilets, the potential water savings from composting toilets are huge. As much as 80 to 90 gallons of water per day, or approximately 32,000 gallons per year, can be saved in a U.S. household simply by installing composting toilets. When freshwater is saved, this also means that energy is saved-the energy that would otherwise go into waste water treatment plants where waste water is made clean again.

Environmental Benefit 3-Nutrients are Recycled, Not Wasted
Did you know that over 90% of the waste we produce is actually water? When the water is removed, and salts are oxidized, only about 3% of the original waste is left. When this small 3% is properly decomposed, valuable nutrients are leftover, creating a fertilizer that is ideal for plants, trees, and shrubs. By flushing our waste down the drain, we waste an enormous amount of water simply to transport the waste to another location where those valuable nutrients will be disposed of, instead of recycled back to nature. A composting toilet, on the other hand is a completely self-sufficient system that does not waste water and uses very little energy.

The primary function of any composting toilet is to first evaporate all the water, leaving behind the very small amount of solid matter. In a properly functioning composting toilet, this solid matter need not be seen or dealt with directly by the homeowner until it is completely processed (decomposed), at which point it will look like nothing more than inoffensive garden soil. This compost can then be added to your flower garden, trees, or shrubs, where it will provide excellent growth benefits for those plants.

As anyone can see, composting toilets make a lot of sense when compared to their traditional, water-wasting counterparts. So if you are someone who is concerned about the environment, or who simply wants to save money on your water bill, and if you need to replace a toilet in the near future, it might be time to give composting toilets a little further consideration and research. Today's modern systems are clean and sleek, completely odorless, and very easy to install and maintain. By installing a composting toilet, you'll save money in the long run, and you can rest easy knowing that you're doing something really great for the environment, too.

Autor: Ellen Bell

Ellen Bell works for the Composting Toilet Store. For more information about waterless composting toilets or to request a free catalog, visit us at http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/Compost_Toilets_s/34.htm.

Added: February 13, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

The Process of Setting Up Solar Panels

The process of setting up solar panels is becoming a accepted method for many householders, given the truth that this fantastic system deals with the electricity and heat demands of homeowners. Additionally, individuals with extremely effective photo- voltaic panels definitely get to put up for sale the energy they yield towards the utility organizations, subsequently contributing to the decrease of the fuel combustion for energy generation.

Dependent upon the home specificity, setting up solar panels can be considered a lot more or much less problematic. It is usually positive to take into account the belief that during construction is really the perfect time to put in the solar panels on the roof.

Mounted or tilted up versions are usually an equal substitute whenever setting up solar panels, but when the mounts are hooked up during the roofing operation, you will surely to do away with the possibility of a leaking roof. When the roof is off, the panel structure is incredibly easier to attach onto the rafters, which makes it more durable even more resistant to leakage.

Shingle roofs are a lot less demanding to manage than tile roofs. When you realize that transporting, along with the very means of setting up solar panels can be quite fragile. It is best to use some licensed company to manage the entire job cycle, and thus, you ensure that there is no room left for amateurish flaws.

Although prices needed for setting up solar panels are significant, you have to consider the fact that you will be saving a lot of income on electricity bills for the rest of your life and in time the initial cost will likely be entirely covered. Additionally, setting up solar panels may well bring a tax reduction of up to thirty percent and tax credits are granted for those of you that elect to go green when it comes to electricity production.

Regrettably, the usage of alternative energy remains low in a lot of locations around the globe because setting up is reasonably pricey. On the other hand, environment consciousness is made with the great offer of merchandise that rely on the use of alternative energy. Thus, setting up solar panels can first complement the regular energy system, but in time, more panels can be acquired until an entire residence is supported by such systems.

Do not dismiss the evolution capability of these type of systems, as you could always add a different structure to increase the electricity and heat generation in accordance with the changing needs to increased challenging living standards.

Autor: Frank Allison

Frank Allison is a solar garden lights professional and owner of Wave Light Solar. Our goals are to promote solar lighting technologies that offers low maintenance, that is ECO- Friendly, which help contribute to a sustainable future everyone can enjoy. Please visit us at http://www.wavelightsolar.com

Added: February 11, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Calculate Energy Savings From Energy Efficient Window Treatments

With so many window treatment options, it can be hard to choose which blinds you want to buy. Then you hear about energy efficient blinds and wonder how much you could actually save. There is an easy way to find out. If you go to some online blinds store, you can use an energy calculator to give you an idea of how much you would save based on the square footage of your home.

Here are some other ways to figure out savings.

Honeycomb Cellular Shades and Fusion Shades are the Most Energy Efficient
The double cell honeycomb shade along with the fusion roman shade is the most efficient design available today. What you may not realize is that the color makes a difference in the energy efficiency of the blinds.

- Choose a light color or a shiny surface to reflect light and heat.
- Choose dark colors to absorb heat.

How Sunlight Effects Your Energy Bill
During the summer, windows can cause your energy consumption to increase a whopping 20 to 50 percent of the total energy used in a home. To give you a more concrete example a tiny one by one foot window lets in more heat than your entire wall! This can make your air conditioner work as much as 50 percent harder than it has to. The right window treatment means the energy used goes down, electric bill goes down, and the sun can't fade your carpet or furniture.

Window Blinds and Coefficient
The coefficient measures the shades ability to insulate the home and how well it blocks out solar energy. In this case, you want a low number. The lower the number the better a job it will do keeping your house warm during the winter and cool during the summer.

You can find a coefficient rating on both honeycomb shades and fusion roman shades.

Using the Energy Calculator to Determine How Much You Will Save
Of course, the energy calculator is only an estimate. However, you can get a good idea about how much you can save with the right blinds.

All you do is enter the square footage of your home. Then you choose from a variety of styles and then estimate energy savings. You will notice that honeycomb cellular shades, blackout shades, and even double cell translucent shades top the list.

An average size home can expect to save between $200 and $400 dollars from installing window treatments. In addition, when you choose qualifying blinds, you can get a Federal Tax Cut as well.

Autor: Chris R. Stanley

Order free samples and see for yourself the quality Window Treatments offered at Blinds Chalet. Visit http://www.blindschalet.com/ today and see how you can get no payments for 90 days with Paypal Pay Later.

Added: February 9, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/