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TerraExpo 2011
Welcome to TerraExpo 2011! An international exhibition held in Panama and aimed at promoting green products, services and innovative solutions. If you are a business owner, entrepreneur or simply an eco-conscious individual, there is something for you at TerraExpo 2011. There will be a wide variety of exhibits inspiring you to make your company environmentally friendly, as well as items and equipment designed to make your everyday life a little greener. Anything from solar systems, blackwater recycling, bio-degradable products, clothing and organic food and accessories to ecological cleaning products can be found at TerraExpo 2011. Further you will have the possibility to learn about how to implement green business, and you can find information on eco-tourism destinations. TerraExpo 2011 offers simple and inexpensive opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint and help the environment.
Green Corporate Social Responsibility
Green Corporate Social Responsibility is a new concept that deals with environmental actions that is not required by law. Earlier, the focus of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was on local philanthropy and labour issues. However, in the 1970s, Milton Friedman discussed an article related to CSR in the New York Times Magazine. The focus of the article was on the social onus of business. From this point of view, the social actions that are beneficial, and increases profits are the strategic CSR. Friedman referred to this as “hypocritical window-dressing.” In recent times, companies are associating themselves with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). They are also joining the Climate Exchange of Chicago and producing social reports on the corporate world.
Here are the factors behind the trend of Green Corporate Social Responsibility
The consumers of this new generation are expecting to go green.
The business personas, who indulge in proactive steps to avoid political differences rather than show their reactions to peer pressure, are instrumental.
The selflessness of the managers plays a vital role in the development of this trend.
Is CSR beneficial for the society?
The manager has a preference on the group of share holders, as the shareholders may have a different choice of beneficiaries to the charitable donations. They might prefer to allocate the charitable contributions in different ways, as the market for donations is perfectly competitive. The sole aim of the shareholders is to maximize their profit from the investments that they have made. This is one of the powerful arguments can be held against CSR. However, if the above-mentioned assumption is not in practice, the difference between “strategic” and “altruistic” CSR is blurred.
Socially responsible firms can combine a charitable donation with an investment. This can attract the investors, as it averts the personal transaction costs and the taxation involved in corporate profits. These firms can supervise even if certain investors desire to make charitable contributions directly. The investors are free from bearing the cost of CSR activities, if information about the unit’s CSR activities is given during the time of their investment in which case, the entrepreneurs will bear the cost. The entrepreneurs benefit by starting the firm while the investors have a wide range of investment opportunities. People who receive CSR directly benefit.
If the regulators and legislators pursue the interest of the public, there is less opportunity for CSR to improve on enlightened government rule. However, the companies that the regulatory agencies control often capture them. This implies that the political market is inefficient. If this is the case, the welfare results of strategic CSR are dependent on the political circumstances in which it has occurred.
Government regulation can be a costly and cumbersome enterprise. CSR is less costly and can be a substitute for government mandates. This way, it will increase welfare.
CSR activities can determine the regulatory decisions in many ways. It can make the regulators aware of such pollution abatement techniques that it is not too costly. This way, it will encourage new regulations that can produce a competitive reward for the signaler.
Worms for Vermiculture Projects
Worms have several benefits for soil that is used for cultivation or gardening. There are no better earth excavators than earthworms that spend their lives consuming, digesting and excreting the soil. This soil in the form of worm castings is richer in good bacteria and nutrients than good soil. The worm cast is better than synthetic fertilizers in providing nutrition to plants. The castings also contain growth hormones, good microbes and enzymes. The burrows of the earthworm are also helpful in creating tiny channels in the soil that make it more porous to air and water. The free passage of air (oxygen) through the soil makes for easy and efficient plant respiration. The tiny channels also make it possible for water to percolate to greater depths in the soil. This works as a good drainage system after rains and prevents soil erosion. The tunneling action of the earthworms brings the more fertile subsoil to the surface, thereby making the top soil more fertile. A secretion of the earthworm, known as slime, contains nitrogen that is very important for proper growth of plants. The slime performs another important function of holding together the soil in clump like aggregates. The aggregates allow air to pass through the spaces between them. Thus, earthworms not only improve the soil structure but also improve its physical features. In fact, it is believed that as much as 50% of the fertile topsoil is result of earthworm activity. Earthworms also supply another rich product called worm juice. This juice is not only rich in nutrients, but also contains a large amount of nitrogen fixing bacteria, minerals and other trace elements in the well-aerated liquid. This juice is applied to the soil to help it regain its nutrient content and to help the plants grow better. People have realized the importance of these worms in agriculture, horticulture and gardening. Thus, today, they are raised in controlled environments to contribute to the fertility of the soil. Worm composting is known as vermiculture. The basic process that takes place in vermiculture is the conversion of organic matter into compost. Unlike other composting methods, vermiculture doesn’t require any heat to stabilize organic material. Not all species of earthworms are suitable for vermiculture. The best compost earthworms are red worms (also called red wrigglers, scientific name- Eisenia fetida). This is because red worms are capable of processing a large amount of organic matter, such as, decayed leaves and compost piles. The wrigglers make the soil richer in potash, phosphorus and nitrogen. These nutrients are very essential for the growth of a plant. Another advantage of using red worms is that they breed really fast. Night crawlers are also a good choice of worms but they don’t thrive well in very moist conditions. You can also have your own vermiculture compost. You can turn your kitchen garbage into excellent fertilizer for your garden. It doesn’t take much effort or space and you also get worms to use for fishing. Vermiculture is a good way to avoid use of chemical fertilizers and go green.
Worms have several benefits for soil that is used for cultivation or gardening. There are no better earth excavators than earthworms that spend their lives consuming, digesting and excreting the soil. This soil in the form of worm castings is richer in good bacteria and nutrients than good soil. The worm cast is better than synthetic fertilizers in providing nutrition to plants. The castings also contain growth hormones, good microbes and enzymes. The burrows of the earthworm are also helpful in creating tiny channels in the soil that make it more porous to air and water. The free passage of air (oxygen) through the soil makes for easy and efficient plant respiration. The tiny channels also make it possible for water to percolate to greater depths in the soil. This works as a good drainage system after rains and prevents soil erosion. The tunneling action of the earthworms brings the more fertile subsoil to the surface, thereby making the top soil more fertile. A secretion of the earthworm, known as slime, contains nitrogen that is very important for proper growth of plants. The slime performs another important function of holding together the soil in clump like aggregates. The aggregates allow air to pass through the spaces between them. Thus, earthworms not only improve the soil structure but also improve its physical features. In fact, it is believed that as much as 50% of the fertile topsoil is result of earthworm activity. Earthworms also supply another rich product called worm juice. This juice is not only rich in nutrients, but also contains a large amount of nitrogen fixing bacteria, minerals and other trace elements in the well-aerated liquid. This juice is applied to the soil to help it regain its nutrient content and to help the plants grow better. People have realized the importance of these worms in agriculture, horticulture and gardening. Thus, today, they are raised in controlled environments to contribute to the fertility of the soil. Worm composting is known as vermiculture. The basic process that takes place in vermiculture is the conversion of organic matter into compost. Unlike other composting methods, vermiculture doesn’t require any heat to stabilize organic material. Not all species of earthworms are suitable for vermiculture. The best compost earthworms are red worms (also called red wrigglers, scientific name- Eisenia fetida). This is because red worms are capable of processing a large amount of organic matter, such as, decayed leaves and compost piles. The wrigglers make the soil richer in potash, phosphorus and nitrogen. These nutrients are very essential for the growth of a plant. Another advantage of using red worms is that they breed really fast. Night crawlers are also a good choice of worms but they don’t thrive well in very moist conditions. You can also have your own vermiculture compost. You can turn your kitchen garbage into excellent fertilizer for your garden. It doesn’t take much effort or space and you also get worms to use for fishing. Vermiculture is a good way to avoid use of chemical fertilizers and go green.
Green Appliances and Electronics
It is important to make your home enjoyable and comfortable to live in and at the same time increase its resale value.
Following are the information about Appliances and Electronics that will be helpful for advancing your improvement goals and home remodeling:
You can opt for interior home advances, such as, Home Décor, Energy Star Electronics and Appliances and Interior Paint. You can create a healthy, clean and safe home via sustainable ‘green’ furniture.
You can focus on doors, windows, air sealing and insulation, plumbing opportunities that save water, highly efficient heating and air conditioning arrangements, skylights, and lighting.
On the outside of your home, you can look for landscape design and gardening. In addition to this, you can also have wind energy, solar energy and other sources of power.
You can replace all the light bulbs and use LED lights. These lights have greater longevity than the average household bulbs. This way, you can consume less than 75 percent of energy.
You can recycle your electronics. Heavy metals and pounds of chemicals end up in the land every year. Therefore, you need to recycle them. You can sell your old electronics, such as, your cell phones and can earn some extra cash.
The equipments that have the Energy Star tag have features, such as; channel settings, remote-control functions, and clock displays. They also save energy when switched off.
Following are the criteria that you will keep in mind while buying your preferred products:
Appliances that save energy: You have to purchase Efficient Appliances, by estimating the Energy consumption for these Appliances and judge the Energy efficiency Standards. You can check on the Appliance Parts. You have to be careful about the Appliance Repair as well.
Refrigerators: If you are purchasing a refrigerator, you can carefully go through the reviews and ratings of the Refrigerators. You can check on the Refrigerators parts and the Matching Cabinet Panels. The Counter Depth Refrigerators and the Wine refrigerators will also be helpful for you.
Dishwashers: You can scrutinize the Dishwasher Parts, Dishwasher Drawers and the Matching Dishwasher Cabinet Panels before purchasing a Dishwasher. You have to be careful about the reviews and ratings of various types of Dishwasher. You can also check out for the natural dish soap.
Ice Makers and Freezers: Check on the parts of the Freezer and the Icemaker and on the reviews and ratings of each of them.
Microwaves and ovens: See if the oven has self-cleaning facilities. You can select the Toaster Ovens, Wall Ovens or the Convection Ovens. Microwave Convection Ovens will be useful for your home.
Home Automation, Alarms and Electronics: For your smart home, you can opt for Flat Screen Televisions, Home Entertainment and Cable, DSL High Speed Internet, Power Controlling Devices, Alarms, Power Strips, Home Theater Electronics and Surge Protectors.
Wiring Projects: You can wire your Ceiling Fans and Lights and repair your electronics. For this, you can go through the Electrical Safety Tips.