CustomEarthPromos - Eco Blog US

There was record installation of renewable power capacity worldwide in 2016. Over 112 billion dollars was invested into wind power last year making it one of the fastest growing business segments in the world. Investment in offshore wind grew 40 percent indicating a strong push away from fossil fuels toward renewables. And just this month, the planet's biggest and most powerful wind turbines began generating electricity in Northern England, solidifying Britain's reputation as world leader in the industry. Wind power is increasingly bringing clean energy to thousands if not millions of homes around the world, yet only four percent of electricity in the U.S. is provided by wind farms, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). California, however, just set a record with 67 percent of its power now coming from renewables. In terms of powering the world, Steve Sawyer the Global Wind Energy Council's Secretary General, estimated it would take approximately 3,995,434 onshore turbines to do so. Nevertheless, onshore and offshore wind farms have helped save over 637 million tons of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. By 2020, the United Nations aims to increase that amount by 1.5 billion tons. There's even been talk of plans to build an entire wind farm island by 2050. Much of the world's motivation for providing clean wind energy stems from the recent Paris Agreement whereby 190 countries pledged to increase their usage of renewable energy sources to reduce emissions. Since the power sector is the single largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, it makes sense for countries to focus their attention on renewable energies. TAKE THE QUIZ How much do you know about the history and the future of wind energy? Curious to find out? Test your knowledge through GreenMatch's Wind Power quiz. Created by Greenmatch Whether or not you passed the test, gaining a better knowledge of clean energy is crucial to understanding climate change and educating others about the desperate need to develop the wind power industry.

Based on all of the plastic bag happenings we've witnessed thus far, particularly in 2017, it clear that the war on plastic bags is far from over. We've seen lawmakers in several states try to ban plastic bag bans. And NYC essentially voted down on using reusable bags. Yet we also saw positive strides for change, particularly when students from Florida showed their support for the ban and urged their county commissioners to do the same. But perhaps the biggest win this year happened last week when Coral Gables officially became the first municipality in Florida to ban plastic bag use. This is a pretty big deal for Florida considering that it was among the states whose lawmakers were in support of bans on plastic bag bans. Hopefully, this news will restore faith in the students of Palm Beach County since a city in a neighboring county has managed to have success. The passing of this law is not only positive news for Palm Beach County but for Jacksonville Beach and the Florida Keys, too – all areas in Florida that have been trying to implement a ban. Commissioners last Tuesday, May 9, unanimously approved the ordinance which prohibits the use of plastic bags by retailers in Coral Gables and at the city's special events. Enforcement and fines on single-use, carryout plastic bags will start immediately for special events and event organizers could have their permits revoked if they are found in violations of the ban. Retail violators, however, will have a year to implement the ban and will receive warnings if they violate the ban. After that, violators will be fined from $50 to $500. The only exceptions to the ordinance include plastic bags that the shopper provides, plastic bags without handles, bags used for prescription medicines at a pharmacy or veterinarian office, dry-cleaning bags, pet waste bags, yard waste, trash bags, and newspaper bags. This action is intended to encourage businesses and shoppers to promote the use of reusable bags. Retailers also have the option of providing reusable bags or paper bags for free or at a fee determined by the business owner. It will be interesting to see what happens to the state law and what actions other cities take now that Coral Gables has successfully passed their plastic bag ban.

If you find yourself consumed by wanderlust, you're not alone. Whether you're an experienced globetrotter or are about to embark on your first journey, you've probably noticed that traveling isn't exactly eco-friendly. From taking multiple planes to get to your desired destination to the resources you'll exhaust once you arrive, traveling is an incredible way to see the world but it will undoubtedly have you leaving a heavy track of carbon footprints behind you. The mission of this mini-guide on eco-friendly travel is to promote ecotourism and sustainability and to bring out the eco-conscious wanderlust in all of us. We're not saying don't travel, just try and be mindful of the environment when you do. via GIPHY Select Your Airlines Carefully  Aircraft is responsible for about 3 percent of total U.S. carbon dioxide emissions which might not sound like a whole lot but if global aviation were a country, it would rank as the seventh largest carbon dioxide emitter with U.S. aircraft emissions accounting for 29 percent of all global aircraft emissions. Last year, Alaska Air made history by becoming the first commercial flight to use renewable fuel made from forest residuals. Now, the airline is among the top 10 greenest airlines in the world. When planning your next trip, keep these green airlines in mind: 1. Alaska Air 6. United Airlines 2. Delta 7. Continental Airlines 3. American Airlines 8. Easy Jet 4. KLM 9. Cathay Pacific 5. JetBlue 10. Ryanair Choose Eco-Friendly Destinations If you want to be a true eco-warrior, choose travel destinations that are renowned for their pro-environmental qualities. We recommend these three eco-friendly travel destinations or choosing a place from this list of the world's greenest countries. Reduce Your Energy Consumption Once you've chosen your airline and destination, think about ways you can reduce your energy consumption once you arrive. For instance, if the city or town you're visiting is small enough, consider walking or biking to get around instead of renting a car. If you need to get somewhere fast, take buses, trains or other forms of public transportation. When it comes to your lodging, choose an eco-friendly hotel or Airbnb and make a conscious effort to reduce your energy waste during your stay: turn the lights off when you leave the place, don't leave the water running, and opt out of daily housekeeping. Treat your lodging like you would if it were your own home. Bring Your Own Bottles and Bags (B-Y-O-B-B) Don't leave your sustainable practices at home. Bring your own reusable water bottles and bags with you. Packing these items will ensure you don't use plastic ones while abroad. via GIPHY Do you have any eco-travel tips or advice to share? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section below.

The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting, and flowers are blooming which means spring is here. Of course, after opening the windows and letting in all of that sunlight and breeze, it won't take you long to realize just how dusty and cluttered your house has become during the winter months. The solution? Spring cleaning of course. But often the chemicals used to clean with can be more harmful than the dirt and dust they're intended to clean. The good news is that there are many spring cleaning tips to make for a greener, more eco-friendly home. Here are some of our best spring cleaning tips that will help you freshen your home in the least toxic and most environmentally-friendly way. Green Cleaning Products Spring cleaning should freshen your home and rejuvenate you, not make you feel sick by filling rooms with toxic fumes and pollution. Chemicals found in conventional cleaning products, you know, the ones that say things like "harmful or fatal if swallowed," and "highly flammable" should stay on the shelf where they belong. Instead, opt for "all natural" cleaners or better yet try making them yourself. Most eco-friendly homemade cleaner recipes can be found online but they usually consist of a combination of things such as hot water, vinegar, and baking soda. You can also add a few drops of essential oils for scent. Just make sure you check to see if they are toxic to animals. Eucalyptus oil, for instance, can be toxic to dogs. Reduce Your Waste  Eco-friendly homes shouldn't just be chemical-free, they should also aim to be waste-free. By using natural cleaning products, you're on the right track to having a more eco-friendly home, but if you're using an entire roll of paper towel just to clean the bathroom, you're not exactly being eco-friendly. Swap paper towels and disinfectant wipes for reusable cloths or sponges. And ditch your Swiffer sweeper for a broom or use reusable microfiber pads on the sweeper instead. Recycle and Donate If you're planning on doing a thorough spring cleaning, you might end up with a pile of items you don't want cluttering up your home anymore. If you find yourself with old electronics and clothes, remember that there are recycling centers for nearly every item. Instead of sticking old things like VCRs on the curb or throwing batteries away that will all inevitably end up in landfills – recycle or donate these items to your local recycling collection centers. Other Tips Do you have any spring cleaning tips for a greener, more eco-friendly home? We'd love to hear from you in the comments section below.

For some, climate change doesn't feel real unless it impacts them directly or hits close to home. If you don't live in an area that's feeling the brunt of rising sea levels, natural disasters, and rising temperatures, you might be wondering what all of the fuss is about. But if there's one thing most of us can relate to, it's wine. A new Global Wine Index outlines the most at-risk wine regions based on major climate change factors such as natural disasters and rising temperatures. The index was created by a multidisciplinary European-Australian team of researchers led by Dr. James Daniell of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) who presented their global risk index map for wine regions at the 2017 Annual Conference of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in Vienna. The research team analyzed 110,000 wineries in 131 countries that produce a combined total of 26 billion liters of wine a year. The results from their study reveal Mendoza and San Juan in Argentina, to be the wine regions with the highest risk due to extreme weather events, followed by Southern Cahul in Moldova (#3), Northwest Slovenia (#4), and Yaruqui in Ecuador and Nagano in Japan (#5). [caption id="attachment_12755" align="aligncenter" width="634"] Winerisk Map showing a global risk index for wine regions. The wine regions of Mendoza and San Juan in Argentina are exposed to the highest risks worldwide[/caption] "We see that Mendoza in Argentina, which has earthquakes, hail, floods, the whole gamut of natural hazards... is number one," said Dr. James Daniell. If you zone in on the largest wine producers such as Italy, which contributes 4.9 billion liters annually, you'll see it too is experiencing extreme weather as a result of climate change, factors including hail, frost, and earthquakes. In France, it's predominantly frost, hail, and storms. And in Spain, it's hail, frost, and rising temperatures. As for American wine, it's not hard to guess. Most of the nation's wine comes from California and its biggest threat is earthquakes. Even if you aren't a wine drinker, the industry contributes a whopping $300 billion to the world economy every year. Researchers hope this data will help wineries around the world adjust their grape varieties to combat climate change and improve their technologies that will reduce grape damage from extreme weather. The underlying message, however, isn't directed to just wineries but to all of us. So, let's not wait until the effects of climate change come knocking at our door or until it's too late. Now is the time to make daily changes in our lives that will reduce the impact of climate change and most importantly, save the wine.

Unless you live in a place where plastic bags are officially banned, then chances are you can still be tempted by their infamous "convenience" factor at your local grocery store or retail shop. Making the switch to reusable bags is a simple enough concept – it's forming a new habit of remembering to use them which can be the hard part. In fact, new research found that on average, it takes 66 days until a new habit is formed (aka way too long if you're hoping to save the planet soon). We couldn't cope with the thought of waiting that long, so we came up with some ways that we hope will speed up the habit making process and help you remember your reusable bags the next time you leave the house to go shopping. Keep these tried and tested tips in mind until grabbing your reusable bags becomes second nature. Keep Your Reusable Bags in the Same Place  In the same way that you keep your car keys in the same place (or at least try to), keeping your reusable bags in the same place and in plain sight will help you remember to use them. Try storing them near the front door, keeping them in your garage, or leaving them in your car. Basically, you want to find a spot that works for you where the reusable bags will be clearly visible and easily accessible. Have Multiple Sets of Reusable Bags on the Go If you can't choose just one location to store your bags, invest in multiple sets of bags to keep in different places. This allows you to stash one set by the front door, one set in the car, one set in the laundry room, and one set that can be rotated through on a daily or weekly basis. Write Yourself a Reminder and Use Sticky Notes Putting a "don't forget the reusable bags" sign or Post-it note on or near the door is a foolproof way of not forgetting them. If you know what days you plan on shopping, you can also set a reminder on your phone or add it at the top of your shopping list. Invest in a Set of Chic (or Funny) Reusable Bags If you buy bags that have funny or chic slogans on them or have some reusable bags customized, you won't be able to resist taking them everywhere with you.

When people think about reusable shopping bags, they normally associate them with grocery or retail shopping. However, going green means taking every opportunity you have to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Below are five alternative uses for your reusable shopping bags that will help you limit your carbon footprint. 1. Use Them As Overnight Bags Going away for a day or a couple nights? Grab a reusable shopping bag and fill it with everything you might need for your overnight stay. 2. Gift Them to Attendees Whether you're running an event, conference or have an upcoming wedding, reusable shopping bags make great gift bags for attendees. Fill them with goodies and customize them to make a lasting impression. You can learn more about how to make your conference bags stand out here or check out our mini guide on welcome bags for eco-friendly weddings. 3. Plant With Them If you have a reusable shopping bag that has seen better days, don't throw it out. Instead, turn it into a planter which can be hung up or used to decorate the front porch. Reusable bags work great as vegetable container gardens because they are deep but they would also look stylish filled with your favorite fresh flowers from your local farmer's market. 4. Use Them As Beach or Pool Totes Reusable shopping bags amake great beach or pool day bags. Fill them with all of your beach essentials such as sunscreen, flip flops, and towels. Just make sure it's a bag you can wash and reuse again for your next outing. 5. Fill Them With Your Workout Clothes The next time you head to the gym, as an alternative to a duffle bag or backpack, put your workout clothes in a reusable bag. Don't forget your reusable water bottle and organic protein bars. If you're stuck on ideas for more alternative uses for your reusable bags, you can always count on your cat to find a use for them. via GIPHY

Earth Day is on April 22 but Google is celebrating one day early and is using today's doodle to promote an important message about our conservation efforts and ultimately, climate change. The Earth Day-themed doodle, designed by doodler Sophie Diao, is presented in a series of child-like illustrations that tell the tale of a fox having a nightmare about the consequences of climate change. Throughout the nightmare, the fox encounters dead coral reef and marine life which is timely considering that just last month, scientists confirmed Throughout the nightmare, the fox encounters dead coral reef and marine life which is timely considering that just last month, scientists confirmed large sections of Australia's Great Barrier Reef to be dead – a real life tale that reflects the health of our seas. In the following frame, the fox can't bare to look at the melting glaciers and icebergs. The fox doesn't witness the devastation of its own habitat but that doesn't stop the omnivorous mammal from taking immediate action after waking abruptly. With the help of two friends, the fox begins to make small changes to everyday habits and lifestyle choices that will help save the planet. Together the animals choose a veggie diet over meat,  plant new crops, ride bikes, invest in solar energy, and conserve electric. It's only after all of these conservation efforts have been taken that the animals are able to sleep soundly knowing that they did their part to help fight climate change. Earth Day Tips  When you click past the doodle on the search icon, you'll uncover simple "Earth Day Tips" to help you do your part as well ways you can support key conservation efforts including the World Wildlife Fund, The Ocean Agency, and The Jane Goodall Institute. [caption id="attachment_12671" align="aligncenter" width="308"] GIF: Courtesy of Google.[/caption] As well as a visual message, Google also sends a literal one: "Today, we honor the rich, vast Earth that's sustained generations before us and continues to nurture life and inspire wonder. At an estimated 4.543 billion years of age, the Earth is still the only known object in the Universe known to harbor life. It's also the densest planet in the Solar System and the largest of the four terrestrial planets. That's quite an awe-inspiring roster of qualities if you ask us." Like the fox and its diligent friends, let us come together this Earth Day to celebrate our beautiful planet and fulfill our quest to protect and nurture the environment and do our utmost best to put a stop to climate change.

Earth day is just around the corner and like any holiday, it provides plenty of opportunities to promote your business. Whether you sell eco-friendly products or not, here are some unique ways you can promote your business on Earth Day. Keep in mind that these ideas can also be used for other upcoming eco-friendly holidays. 1. Give Green Gifts with Purchases Instead of discounting the products you already sell, you could offer Earth Day customers free eco-friendly gifts with their purchases. For instance, you could donate a percentage of the sales on Earth Day to a charity of yours or your customer's choice. Or you could gift them an eco-friendly product related to your business. Let's say you owned a coffee shop, for example, your free green gift with purchase could be a reusable mug or a bag of Fair Trade coffee. 2. Give Away Reusable Shopping Bags By offering customized reusable shopping bags for free or at a discounted rate with purchase, you'll be supporting Earth Day, promoting sustainability, and creating a long-lasting product that will carry your business name or logo on it for years to come. 3. Celebrate Earth Day and Share Green Tips on Social Media This year, Earth Day is all about promoting environmental and climate literacy. So, don't miss the chance to use your company's social media pages to share tips and advice with your followers and potential customers on how to be environmentally-friendly. You could also run a giveaway or contest on social media that promotes your business as well as the holiday. 4. Offer Sales or Special Promos on Sustainable Products Does your business sell recycled or sustainable products? Perhaps you provide eco-friendly or waste-free services? Consider offering Earth Day shoppers a special promo or sale on the green services or products you sell. This will show consumers that you care about them as well as your company's carbon footprint. Mark your calendars and schedule your social media posts for Earth Day on April 22, 2017. 

If you remember watching Leonardo DiCaprio's documentary on climate change last year, you might recall his visit to Beijing where he witnessed mind-blogging smog throughout the city and learned from experts how citizens viewing pollution data had helped shift public attitudes towards the environment. China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, yet Decaprio predicts that China could one day be 'the hero of the environmental movement.' And perhaps he's right. Even though China is also the world's largest coal user and producer, it was surprisingly outranked by 15 other countries that are more polluted, according to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Nevertheless, China still took the #16 spot on the list. Below is a look at the top 20 most polluted countries. How does your country compare? Middle-Eastern oil-rich countries dominate the top ten spaces on the most polluted list: 1. Saudi Arabia, particle matter level of 108. 2. Qatar, particle matter level of 103. 3. Egypt, particle matter level of 93. 4. Bangladesh, particle matter level of 84. 5. Kuwait, particle matter level of 75. 6. Cameroon, particle matter level of 65. 7. Mauritania particle matter level of 65. 8. Nepal, particle matter level of 64. 9. The United Arab Emirates, particle matter level of 64. 10. India, particle matter level of 62. WHO data confirms that 3 million deaths a year are linked to air pollution. Close to 90 percent of air-pollution-related deaths occur in low-and-middle-income countries – with nearly 2 out of 3 occurring in South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions. 11. Libya, particle matter level of 61. 12. Bahrain, particle matter level of 60. 13. Pakistan, particle matter level of 60. 14. Niger, particle matter level of 59. 15. Uganda, particle matter level of 57. 16. China, particle matter level of 54. 17. Myanmar, particle matter level of 51. 18. Iraq, particle matter level of 50. 19. Bhutan, particle matter level of 48. 20. Oman, particle matter level of 48. These countries top the list given their higher rates of particulate matter in the air we breathe (particles that can affect our heart and lungs and cause serious health effects). An interactive map produced by Eco2Greetings reveals the median rate of particular matter across 184 countries. With 92 percent of the world's population living in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits, these findings shouldn't be taken lightly. It's important that more and more countries use satellites to monitor air pollution and better understand the necessary steps that need to be taken in order to reduce toxic exposures and human death tolls.