Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Professional Electrical Services in Orange Are Available - Press Release - Digital Journal

Professional Electrical Services in Orange Are Available - Press Release  Digital Journal

* This article was originally published here

Trending News Corona impact on Power Tools Market 2020, Global Industry Demand Status with Recent Trends, Sales and Revenue, Analysis & Insights,Size and Share Analysis by with Top Players Forecast to 2025| Atlas Copco , Stanley Black & Decker , Robert Bosch , Ingersoll-Rand , Hilti - The Daily Chronicle

Trending News Corona impact on Power Tools Market 2020, Global Industry Demand Status with Recent Trends, Sales and Revenue, Analysis & Insights,Size and Share Analysis by with Top Players Forecast to 2025| Atlas Copco , Stanley Black & Decker , Robert Bosch , Ingersoll-Rand , Hilti  The Daily Chronicle

* This article was originally published here

Maven Moment: Eat Your Veggies and Mash

I always liked veggies, even as a child. Mom often … The post Maven Moment: Eat Your Veggies and Mash appeared first on Earth 911.

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Maven Moment: Eat Your Veggies and Mash



* This article was originally published here

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Fall Diffuser Blend: Relaxing Autumn Aromatherapy

This fall diffuser blend is ideal for damp fall days and cozy autumn nights. Quintessential fall aromas deliver relaxing Autumn aromatherapy!

Over the years I have made a lot of fall DIYs. Some of my favorites include a pumpkin spice whipped body butter and fall leaf air fresheners. All of these DIY’s are special in their own regard, but my favorite way to make my home smell like fall is with my diffuser.

Of course, many fall aromatherapy blends are not safe to use with kids because they contain cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, or other essential oils that should not be used around children. For that reason, most of my fall aromatherapy recipes are for adults only. Below I will share some tips on using non-child safe essential oils when you have young children in your home.

In this post I will share two different fall diffuser blends: one blend is child safe while the other is for adults only. As always make sure you check the individual essential oil safety considerations before using any essential oils.

Quintessential Fall Aromas

Clove Bud

If you ask me, one of the most easily recognizable fall essential oils is clove bud (Syzygium aromaticum). This oil reminds me of fall baking, craft shows, and spiced teas. It is deep and spicy, with subtle sweet and earthy undertones.

Cinnamon

Another obvious autumn aroma for this fall diffuser blend is cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) essential oil. Candied apples, scented pinecones, and all manner of fall treats seem to smell like cinnamon. This oil tends to dominate blends, so use it sparingly but with purpose.

Nutmeg

Similar to clove, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) essential oil is also spicy and earthy, and slightly more subdued. I love to add it to fall blends for depth. It pairs well with most other spices as well as Vanilla to give blends a rich, deep, lovely roundness.

Safety Concerns

All three of these oils are not safe to use around young children. Each has its own safety considerations, and all three have low dermal maximums, so they should be heavily diluted before using on the skin. If you want to learn more about their safety concerns, I suggest reading the full profile for each of these oils on Aromaweb.com.

Safe Use of Fall Diffuser Blends Around Kids

One of the most frequent questions I am asked when it comes to non-child safe essential oils is how to use them around kids. It’s easier than you think, and you do not have to give up all of your favorite non-child safe essential oils. You just have to be smart about how you use them.

One way to use non-child safe fall diffuser blends when you have kids is to use a personal aromatherapy inhaler. This way you can restrict the essential oils to personal use only and your children will not be exposed to them. I use personal aromatherapy inhalers quite often and find that they are very convenient. They are easy to put in my purse or in the office and I can pull them out when I need them.

Another way is to diffuse in a room away from your children and then shut the diffuser off when you are finished. Then allow the room to air out before re-introducing children to the room. I would choose a room that is somewhat far away from your children as essential oils have a way of moving into other spaces even when doors are shut.

Adult Only Fall Diffuser Blend

This adult-only fall diffuser blend combines the lovely essential oil aromas of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and vanilla for a deliciously-scented and uplifting fall treat.

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Add essential oils to a diffuser and diffuse intermittently.

Child-Safe Fall Diffuser Blend

This child-safe blend is spicy and sweet with hints of evergreen. A great calming blend for bedtime or for a rainy fall day.

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Add essential oils to a diffuser and diffuse intermittently.

Did you try these fall diffuser blends? Tell us what you thought of them.

*******

Fall Diffuser Blend: Relaxing Autumn Aromatherapy was written by Katie Vance.



* This article was originally published here

Your Input is Important – 2021 United States Energy and Employment Report (USEER)

                                           Call for Participation in the U.S. Energy and Employment Report 2021

Over the past 3 years, the survey has been led by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI).  The purpose of the survey is to compile employment-related data from the energy, energy efficiency, and motor vehicle business community to provide policy makers, business leaders and energy stakeholders with key information on trends, outlook, and challenges facing these critical sectors of our economy. This confidential, voluntary survey will take about fifteen minutes of your time and will provide us the valuable feedback needed to ensure the needs of companies like yours are well understood by key energy stakeholders.

Follow this link to the Survey:
Take the Survey

Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://bwresearch.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7QH0z2M0hnrUx8N?Q_DL=myWYAYMzkiEpBVd_7QH0z2M0hnrUx8N_MLRP_3rNUmGKkMMIkxOR&Q_CHL=email

This is the sixth year of a national survey originally launched by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2015.  The U.S. Energy and Employment Report 2021 is an extension of work originally produced by the U.S. Department of Energy (see: https://energy.gov/downloads/2017-us-energy-and-employment-report).

NASEO and EFI have maintained the continuity of this information over the past several years and have sought to add additional breadth and depth to the data (see: www.usenergyjobs.org).  NASEO and EFI have engaged the same independent research firm, BW Research Partnership, to conduct the survey.  The resulting database will provide needed insights on the strengths, weaknesses, barriers, opportunities and needs from the business, workforce, investment, innovation, and policy aspects of this important sector.

Please be assured that your individual responses will remain strictly confidential.

If you have any questions regarding this survey or would like more information about the confidential and anonymous nature of the study, please contact the Principal Investigator for this study, Philip Jordan, at pjordan@bwresearch or Ryan Young, Research Manager at BW Research at ryoung@bwresearch.com.

Thank you in advance for taking time to participate in this important study.

Sincerely,

Philip Jordan
Vice President



* This article was originally published here

Your Food Waste Has Global Impact

You probably feel a little guilty about tossing leftovers. Throwing … The post Your Food Waste Has Global Impact appeared first on Earth 911.

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Your Food Waste Has Global Impact



* This article was originally published here

Monday, September 28, 2020

HoekHome gives furniture a sustainable makeover

Putting together furniture has been rich sitcom fodder for years. People often associate this task with frustration, confusion and many lost hours. But thanks to modern furniture companies such as HoekHome, furniture assembly has changed. You can assemble HoekHome’s click-together furniture with no tools other than your hands. This sleek, stylish and modern furniture also incorporates sustainable practices for the eco-conscious consumer. Together, these features elevate HoekHome’s furniture game to a new level. It will take you longer to tell a joke than it will to put together HoekHome furniture. The click-together design means that you only need to use your hands to assemble each piece. Unclip the legs from the chassis, click it all into place, and then you’re done. Assembly may only take seconds. You won’t need a hammer, nails, screws or even that notorious furniture construction manual. You can also “unclick” HoekHome furniture to make it flat again. This process makes moving significantly easier, as the flat furniture proves easy to store and transport . While easy assembly, disassembly and storage make the brand stand out, these features only tell half of the HoekHome furniture story. HoekHome furniture is also sustainable. Made from 100% post-consumer recycled HDPE plastic and FSC certified plywood , the furniture appeals to consumers who value eco-friendly design. These pieces epitomize responsible, environmentally-conscious design practices. You can decorate your entire house in sleek, sustainable HoekHome furniture. The product line includes side tables, desks, coffee tables and dining tables. Find your favorite pieces in multiple colors, from natural wood tones to bright, vibrant shades. As a new company, HoekHome is still gaining its footing. A Kickstarter campaign planned for October aims to help the company launch so it can create more products for consumers. If successful, this campaign could represent a major shift toward making the furniture industry friendlier to both consumers and the environment . + HoekHome Images via HoekHome

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HoekHome gives furniture a sustainable makeover



* This article was originally published here

Third Nature imagines a zero-emission regenerative city district in Bergen

An old logistics port and ferry terminal in Bergen, Norway has been reimagined into an inspiring zero-emission district where nature-based climate adaptation, a community-based sharing economy and renewable building materials will take center stage. Copenhagen-based architecture studio Tredje Natur (Third Nature) is the mastermind behind this grand vision, a 40-hectare mixed-use development known as the future Dokken. The design follows principles of a regenerative city, from the emphasis on public transportation and pedestrian-friendly spaces over car-oriented transit to the inclusion of low-carbon construction strategies, such as adaptive reuse and building with renewable and reusable materials. Developed for the Bergen Municipality in close collaboration with Entasis, Matter by Prix and MOE, the future Dokken regenerative city concept seeks to fulfill the goals of the Paris Agreement . Located along the water, Dokken is continually being expanded upon with surplus materials, such as granite rubble, from infrastructural works around the city. The architects aim to better connect the area’s enlarged footprint with two primary elements: a new urban “allmenning,” a climate streetscape that builds on Bergen’s existing urban fabric with unique public spaces, and an all-encompassing, nature-based loop that would create a new 4.5-kilometer coastline. The coastline would introduce a massive, publicly accessible green space connected to the natural harbor-front. Related: Futuristic eco-city powered with renewable energy is unveiled for the Maldives To inject new life into the area, the first phase of the Dokken development would include The Sea Quarter, which comprises the Institute for Marine Research, the Directorate of Fisheries and the new Bergen Aquarium housed within the old Harbor Warehouse; The Sugarhouse Square, a new public space; and Under the Bridge, a place for experimental urban interventions and grass-roots initiatives located under the Puddefjord Bridge. New housing would be built of renewable and reusable materials, while car parking would be tucked underground to create a pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly area with close access to light rail. In total, the urban development encompasses 535,000 square meters of mixed-use, cultural and civic buildings.  “Creating a regenerative city is about integrating sustainability into all the discrete parts if the city, great or small,” the architects said. “In a sustainable future, everything — from our everyday consumer habits to the total ecological footprint of the city — must work together in circular processes, which won’t destroy our nature and climate. The sustainable city must correct the sins of the past by recreating lost narratives and reuniting separate areas and processes — and, in the case of Dokken, by creating new connections and reuniting Bergen with the water.” + Tredje Natur Images via Tredje Natur

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Third Nature imagines a zero-emission regenerative city district in Bergen



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September 28 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “Boris Johnson Promises To Protect 30% Of UK’s Land By 2030” • An extra 400,000 hectares of English countryside will be protected to support the recovery of nature under plans by Boris Johnson. He will make the commitment at a virtual UN event. He is joining 65 leaders who pledged to reverse losses in the natural world by 2030. [BBC]

Lake District (Aivin Gast, Wikimedia Commons)

  • “UpriseEnergy Demonstrates Rapid-Deploy Wind+Battery Energy Solution In A Shipping Container” • UpriseEnergy has shown a portable wind turbine. The company took a prototype from their 20,000 square foot facility in San Diego, drove it to a site a dozen miles away, set it up, and ran it for an hour, putting out about 6 kWh of electricity. [CleanTechnica]
  • “The Ancient Trade Holding Back The Sahara Desert” • With climate change, the Sahara Desert has grown about 100 km southward since 1950, and it is expected to keep growing. Now, acacia trees, whose gum has been prized for its unusual culinary and medical uses, are part of a continent-wide effort to hold back the Sahara Desert. [BBC]
  • “Climate Change May Spark Serial Washoe Wildfires” • Within 20 years, northern Washoe County, Nevada, may become the epicenter of persistent wildfires driven by higher temperatures and prevalent drought brought about by climate change. That prediction is among several grim conclusions based on analysis of climate research. [Reno News & Review]
  • “China’s Carbon Pledge Will Require Complete Inversion Of Existing System” • China has pledged to reduce carbon emissions to virtually zero by 2060. If it succeeds, it could reduce the global heating forecasts by up to 0.3°C. To do this, it will need to rethink its energy supply completely. One projection is for reliance on solar and windpower. [The Guardian]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.



* This article was originally published here

Sunday, September 27, 2020

More reflections about regenerative grazing and the future of meat

More reflections about regenerative grazing and the future of meat Jim Giles Fri, 09/25/2020 – 01:30 Editor’s note: Last week’s Foodstuff discussion on the impact of regenerative grazing on emissions from meat production prompted a flurry of comments from the GreenBiz community. This essay advances the dialogue. Let’s get back to the beef brouhaha I wrote about last week. I’d argued that regenerative grazing could cut emissions from beef production , helping reduce the outsized contribution cattle make to food’s carbon footprint. This suggestion produced more responses than anything I’ve written in the roughly six months since the Food Weekly newsletter launched. The future of meat is a critical issue, so I thought I’d summarize some of the reaction. First up, a shocking revelation: There’s no truth in advertising. I’d written about a new beef company called Wholesome Meats, which claims to sell the “only beef that heals the planet.” Hundreds of ranchers actually already are using regenerative methods, pointed out Peter Byck of Arizona State University, who is leading a major study into the impact of these methods. This week, in fact, some of the biggest names in food announced a major regenerative initiative: Walmart, McDonald’s, Cargill and the World Wildlife Fund said they will invest $6 million in scaling up sustainable grazing practices on 1 million acres of grassland across the Northern Great Plains . Two members of that team also are moving to cut emissions from conventional beef production. We tend to blame cows’ methane-filled burps for these gases, but around a quarter of livestock emissions come from fertilizer used to grow animal feed . When we consider the best way forward, we have to think about what economists call an opportunity cost: the price we pay for not putting that land to different use. Farmers growing corn and other grains can cut those emissions by planting cover crops and using more diverse crop rotations — two techniques that McDonald’s and Cargill will roll out on 100,000 acres in Nebraska as part of an $8.5 million project. These and other emissions-reduction projects are part of Cargill’s goal to cut emissions from every pound of beef in its supply chain by 30 percent by 2030. Sounds great, right? You can imagine a future in which some beef, probably priced at a premium, comes with a carbon-negative label. Perhaps most beef isn’t so climate-friendly, but thanks to regenerative agriculture and other emissions-lowering methods, the burgers and steaks we love — on average, Americans eat the equivalent of more than four quarter-pounders every week — no longer account for such an egregious share of emissions. Well, yes and no. That future is plausible and would be a more sustainable one, but pursuing it may rule out a game-changing alternative. In the United States, around two-thirds of the roughly 1 billion acres of land used for agriculture is devoted to animal grazing . Two-thirds. That’s an extraordinary amount of land. And that doesn’t include the millions of acres used to grow crops to feed those animals. When we consider the best way forward, we have to think about what economists call an opportunity cost: the price we pay for not putting that land to different use. The alternative here is to eat less meat and then, on the land that frees up, restore native ecosystems, such as forests, which draw down carbon. This week, Jessica Appelgren, vice president of communications at Impossible Foods, pointed me to a recent paper in Nature Sustainability that quantified the impact of such a shift . The potential is staggering: Switching to a low-meat, low-dairy diet and restoring land could remove more than 300 gigatons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2050. That’s around a decade of global fossil-fuel emissions. In some regions, regenerative grazing techniques, which mimic an ancient symbiosis between animals and land, might be part of that restorative process. So maybe the trade-off isn’t as stark as it seems. But demand for beef is the primary driver of deforestation in the Amazon, where the trade-off is indeed clear: We’re destroying the lungs of the planet to sustain our beef habit. Once you factor in land use, eating less animal protein and restoring ecosystems looks to be an essential part of the challenge of feeding a growing global population while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact of our food systems. That doesn’t mean everyone goes vegan, but it does mean we should cut back on meat and dairy. Pull Quote When we consider the best way forward, we have to think about what economists call an opportunity cost: the price we pay for not putting that land to different use. Topics Food & Agriculture Regenerative Agriculture Featured Column Foodstuff Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) Off Duration 0 Sponsored Article Off

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More reflections about regenerative grazing and the future of meat



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September 27 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “Zombie Storms Are Rising From The Dead Thanks To Climate Change” • “Zombie storms,” which return to life after petering out, are a new addition this year. And undead weather anomalies are becoming more common thanks to climate change. One example was tropical storm Paulette, a hurricane that petered only to return. [Livescience.com]

Hurricane Paulette, marked by circles where it was a hurricane and triangles where it was a storm (BananaIAm, Wikimedia Commons)

  • “GE Dumps Coal Power and Pivots to Wind” • GE said that it plans to stop building new coal power equipment. The decision didn’t come as a surprise. Coal is going out of favor rapidly in many countries due to its status as one of the dirtiest fuels, along with falling costs for cleaner sources of energy like natural gas, wind, and solar. [Motley Fool]
  • “In Siberia Forests, Climate Change Stokes ‘Zombie Fires'” • In a marshy clearing of a sprawling Siberian forest, a small cohort of volunteers battle a winter-resistant, underground blaze. It is a growing problem in Russia. In some places, peat has smoldered underground for around five years, and it can re-emerge, set fire to dry grass, and spread rapidly. [The Japan Times]
  • “Coal Dropped from 26.9% of US Electricity to 17.7% in 3 Years” • Electricity from coal power plants has declined from 26.9% of US electricity generation in the first 7 months of 2018 to 17.7% of US electricity in the first 7 months of 2020. Furthermore, that’s down from 33% in 2015, 39% in 2014, 45% in 2010, and 50% in 2005. [CleanTechnica]
  • “As Climate Displacement Accelerates, Is The US Next?” • From the extreme storms in the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to historic fires in the West, the US is facing the impacts of climate change firsthand. As people flee from ecological disasters, the US faces questions about how to respond to climate displacement, on both short and long term. [The Hill]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.



* This article was originally published here

Episode 238; Facebook faces up to criticism, Climate Week conversation

Episode 238; Facebook faces up to criticism, Climate Week conversation Heather Clancy Fri, 09/25/2020 – 02:00 Week in Review Stories discussed this week (7:40). Global net-zero commitments double in less than a year Walmart drives toward zero-emission goal for its entire fleet by 2040 Anthology “All We Can Save” passes the mic to female climate leaders Features Facebook faces up to climate misinformation (18:20)   The social media company’s CSO, Ed Palmieri, briefs us on the Climate Science Information Center, a separate, dedicated space on Facebook that connects its community with factual resources from the world’s leading climate organizations and actionable steps people can take in their everyday lives to combat climate change. Fifth Wall’s mission in ‘climate-friendly’ real estate (28:45) Fifth Wall is the largest venture capital firm focused on technologies and innovations related to real estate. We chat with the Brendan Wallace, co-founder and managing partner, about the company’s new fund dedicated to helping the industry reduce the carbon impact of buildings and its recent decisions to become a Certifed B Corporation. *Music in this episode by Lee Rosevere: “Curiosity,” “Waiting for the Moment That Never Comes,” “Knowing the Truth,” “Late Night Tales” and “Introducing the Pre-roll” *This episode was sponsored by Amazon and WestRock Resources galore A dilemma . How do we develop sustainable packaging solutions that protect food safety and availability everywhere, while living up to critical environmental and climate commitments? Join the discussion at 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 29. Clean air in California? It’s easier than you think.  Hear from the California Air Resources Board, the city of Oakland and Neste in this session at 1 p.m. EDT Oct. 1. Partnerships for packaging . How working together advances low-cost, circular solutions. Register for the webcast at 1 p.m. Oct. 6.  Innovation in textiles. The global fashion industry is looking toward innovative materials and strategies. Learn more about what’s possible in this interactive discussion at 1 p.m. EDT Oct. 13. Do we have a newsletter for you! We produce six weekly newsletters: GreenBuzz by Executive Editor Joel Makower (Monday); Transport Weekly by Senior Writer and Analyst Katie Fehrenbacher (Tuesday); VERGE Weekly by Executive Director Shana Rappaport and Editorial Director Heather Clancy  (Wednesday); Energy Weekly by Senior Energy Analyst Sarah Golden (Thursday); Food Weekly by Carbon and Food Analyst Jim Giles (Thursday); and Circular Weekly by Director and Senior Analyst Lauren Phipps  (Friday).  You must subscribe to each newsletter in order to receive it. Please visit this page to choose which you want to receive. The GreenBiz Intelligence Panel is the survey body we poll regularly throughout the year on key trends and developments in sustainability. To become part of the panel, click here . Enrolling is free and should take two minutes. Stay connected To make sure you don’t miss the newest episodes of GreenBiz 350, subscribe on iTunes . Have a question or suggestion for a future segment? E-mail us at 350@greenbiz.com . Contributors Joel Makower Topics Podcast Corporate Strategy Facebook Venture Capital Collective Insight GreenBiz 350 Podcast Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) Off Duration 41:31 Sponsored Article Off GreenBiz Close Authorship

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Episode 238; Facebook faces up to criticism, Climate Week conversation



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Saturday, September 26, 2020

How to Clean Stainless Steel with Homemade Cleaners

Learn how to clean stainless steel with homemade cleaners. Included are both light and heavy-duty homemade stainless steel cleaner recipes.

Cleaning Stainless Steel

When our old refrigerator developed a leak in the gasket, our landlords decided to get a new one that was more energy efficient. This new one has a stainless steel front that I thought looked really cool… until the fingerprints and water stains started showing up.

I got some cleaner at the hardware store, but the smell was overpowering and I began to wonder what chemicals it contained.

I knew I could come up with something better!

How to Clean Stainless Steel

Let’s take a look at both light and heavy-duty homemade stainless steel cleaners.

Light Duty Cleaner

The most simple and natural way to clean fingerprints, water stains, and other smudges from your stainless appliances might surprise you. All you need is a microfiber cloth and warm water. Wet your cloth with warm water, wring out the excess and wipe with the grain of the steel. Buff dry with another microfiber cloth, wiping with the grain. (If you like the results, you can stop here. If you want to polish and shine a little more, move on to the Stainless Steel Polish.)

Heavy-Duty Cleaner

If you have stuck-on grime (think ketchup or ice cream), you can use another simple stainless steel cleaner to remove this. Cut a lemon in half and dip it in baking soda. This will foam a bit, helping you in your cleaning. Rub the lemon over the spots you want to clean and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe off and rinse with a spritz of clear water. Repeat if necessary.

Once you remove most of the larger particles of grime, then move on to the polish.

Homemade Stainless Steel Polish

This polish recipe will buff, shine, and clean your stainless steel appliances and is one of the easiest things you’ll ever make. I keep mine in a spray bottle so I can touch up spots during the week. I’m really busy and don’t have time to clean during the week, but at least I can make it look like I do!

Ingredients:

  • 2 parts distilled white vinegar
  • 1 part vegetable oil

Instructions:

Mix ingredients together and apply to the surface. Rub it in a bit and buff it off, wiping with the grain. If you keep it in a spray bottle, be sure to shake it well before you spray. If you make it in a bowl, stir well before you dip your rag in.

This can be used to clean all stainless steel appliances, sinks, faucets, door hardware, and even car bumpers! The mixture works on chrome as well as stainless steel.

NOTE: If you are going to use this on anything that may be heated, such as a toaster or grill, you might want to use fractionated coconut oil. Regular vegetable oils will go rancid over time, especially when exposed to heat or sunlight. Fractionated coconut oil will stay liquid, unlike regular coconut oil, and will never go rancid, even if stored for years.

Now you know how to clean stainless steel naturally!

Tip: check out our homemade all-purpose cleaner.

*******

How to Clean Stainless Steel with Homemade Cleaners was written by Debra Maslowski.



* This article was originally published here

Gem painting is the TikTok-friendly craft that lets me turn off my brain - Polygon

Gem painting is the TikTok-friendly craft that lets me turn off my brain  Polygon

* This article was originally published here

Earth911 Reader: Sustainability, Recycling, Business and Science Articles For Concerned Citizens

Every week, the Earth911 team combs news and research for … The post Earth911 Reader: Sustainability, Recycling, Business and Science Articles For Concerned Citizens appeared first on Earth 911.

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Earth911 Reader: Sustainability, Recycling, Business and Science Articles For Concerned Citizens



* This article was originally published here

Friday, September 25, 2020

This Salted-Caramel Pumpkin Oatmeal Cake Recipe Is a Must Bake This Fall - POPSUGAR

This Salted-Caramel Pumpkin Oatmeal Cake Recipe Is a Must Bake This Fall  POPSUGAR

* This article was originally published here

Record number of pilot whales get stranded, die in Tasmania

Over 380 long-finned pilot whales have been confirmed dead after nearly 500 were stranded on Tasmania’s west coast. The whales are believed to have been lured to the shore to feed or erroneously guided by one of their own. By late Wednesday, rescuers had managed to save 50 of the stranded whales and were working hard to save the remaining 30. According to Tasmanian officials, the rescue efforts are to continue as long as the whales are still alive. Nic Deka, the regional manager for Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service, said that the government has hope of rescuing the remaining whales and as long as they are still alive, they have a chance of getting back to the water. However, Deka also explained that the chances of survival get slimmer every second that passes by. “While they’re still alive and in water, there’s still hope for them — but as time goes on they do become more fatigued.” Related: Right whales now ranked as critically endangered species While the rescuers are making efforts to save the living whales , the Australian government is working on a plan to clean up the carcasses. The government has to decide the best way of disposing of the perished whales before embarking on the process. In previous cases, carcasses were buried on the shoreline to reduce the cost of transportation. It is still not clear why the whales in Tasmania ended up beached, but investigations are underway. This incident surpasses one of the largest strandings ever recorded in Australia in 1996, when 320 whales were beached. Tasmania is prone to whale strandings, with more than 80% of the continent’s stranding events occurring here. According to Kris Carlyon, Marine Conservation Program wildlife biologist, the latest mass stranding is the largest to occur in Australia in terms of the number of whales stranded and deaths. Carlyon said that the whales might have been lured into the coast for food or misguided adventure. Pilot whales travel in groups. Unfortunately, their bond means that they may get stranded in masses and eventually lead to huge losses, as is currently happening in Tasmania. Via BBC and Huffington Post Image via Ursula Di Chito

Originally posted here:
Record number of pilot whales get stranded, die in Tasmania



* This article was originally published here

Earth911 Inspiration: We Are Part of This Web of Life, Not Its Masters

Today’s Earth911 inspiration is from Pope Francis, who delivered a … The post Earth911 Inspiration: We Are Part of This Web of Life, Not Its Masters appeared first on Earth 911.

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Earth911 Inspiration: We Are Part of This Web of Life, Not Its Masters



* This article was originally published here

Thursday, September 24, 2020

China plans to go carbon-neutral by 2060

China, the world’s biggest source of carbon dioxide , is aiming for carbon-neutrality by 2060. President Xi Jinping announced this goal while speaking to the UN General Assembly by video. Xi took the assembly by surprise. Since world events and political tensions have stalled global climate negotiations, the general assembly had expected little progress on climate change until 2021. “We aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060,” Xi said, according to the official translation. China is currently responsible for about 28% of the planet’s carbon emissions . Related: Google becomes retroactively carbon-neutral Xi and then U.S.-President Barack Obama came to a climate change understanding in 2014, which laid significant groundwork for the 2015 Paris Agreement. President Trump immediately backed out of the Paris Agreement upon taking office. Some experts believe that Xi is making an advantageous statement to the world at a time when the U.S. won’t address climate change. “Xi Jinping’s climate pledge at the UN, minutes after President Donald Trump’s speech, is clearly a bold and well calculated move,” said Li Shuo, a climate policy expert from Greenpeace Asia, according to BBC. “It demonstrates Xi’s consistent interest in leveraging the climate agenda for geopolitical purposes.” While many observers agree that Xi’s pronouncement is a significant step, lots of questions still remain to be answered, such as exactly what he means by carbon-neutrality and how China will get there. “Today’s announcement by President Xi Jinping that China intends to reach carbon neutrality before 2060 is big and important news — the closer to 2050 the better,” said former U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern. Richard Black, director of the U.K.-based think tank Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, is hopeful about Xi’s pronouncement. “China isn’t just the world’s biggest emitter but the biggest energy financier and biggest market, so its decisions play a major role in shaping how the rest of the world progresses with its transition away from the fossil fuels that cause climate change.” Via BBC Image via Ferdinand Feng

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China plans to go carbon-neutral by 2060



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New Tokyo Toilet Project designs public restrooms to foster inclusivity

Japan-based Nippon Foundation has launched its Tokyo Toilet Project to design and build new, inclusive public toilets at 17 different locations throughout the Shibuya district of Tokyo . Starting August 5, 2020, three of the toilets have become available, with the rest to follow. Japan, regardless of its reputation as one of the world’s most hygienic countries, still holds a negative stigma among its residents when it comes to public toilets. The Nippon Foundation hopes to dispel these misconceptions that public bathrooms are always dark, dirty, smelly or scary by actively renovating public toilets in Shibuya, Tokyo in cooperation with the local government. The project is equally engaged in fostering community inclusivity with designs for male, female and nonbinary restrooms. Related: High-tech public toilets proposed for San Francisco can recycle rainwater for reuse The toilets are designed by leading creators with advanced technologies to make them accessible for all people, regardless of gender, age or disability. The company has also arranged for ongoing maintenance so that users feel more comfortable knowing that the public facilities will remain clean. The facilities available starting August 5 include Ebisu Park, Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park. In the case of Haru-no-Ogawa, the designers used a new technology to build the outer walls with a type of glass that becomes opaque when the door is closed. In the evenings once the sun goes down, the structures light up like a lantern, adding to the beautification of the community park. For Ebisu Park, the facilities are meant to mimic early Japanese toilets, or kawaya, that were built over rivers dating back to the prehistoric Jomon period. The construction uses 15 concrete walls to mimic the ambiguous space, appearance and atmosphere of early kawaya. Spaces between the walls lead users to the toilets. + The Nippon Foundation Via ArchDaily Images by Satoshi Nagare courtesy of The Nippon Foundation

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New Tokyo Toilet Project designs public restrooms to foster inclusivity



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Quiz #87: Food Carbon Footprint Challenge

A few simple mental habits such as knowing how to … The post Quiz #87: Food Carbon Footprint Challenge appeared first on Earth 911.

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Quiz #87: Food Carbon Footprint Challenge



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