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August 17, 2022

Keeping Cities Cool: A Sustainable Cooling Handbook

August 17, 2022/ Kelly Pemberton

Global warming is fast becoming the greatest threat to the future of humanity. The threat arises from climatic change and human activities such as urbanization, which accounts for between 71 and 76 percent of final energy consumption around the world, according to the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat). Since cities and urban locations play such a significant role in generating heat and carbon emissions, there is an urgent need to make them more sustainable through different measures provided by organizations such as the United Nations.

June 02, 2021

Understanding the Impact of Recycled Glass on the Environment

June 02, 2021/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Jessica Ellen

Glass is omnipresent. From cookware to buildings to packaging, its applications are manifold. While the hard, brittle substance has many benefits, it also has its fair share of drawbacks.

For example, it takes energy as well as natural resources like sand and lime to produce glass. If you have ever wondered whether glass is really biodegradable, well the answer is no. That's why you need to recycle it as much as possible. This article shares information about the impact of recycled glass on the environment.

April 21, 2021

5 Things to Do with Recyclable Metal after a Home Remodel

April 21, 2021/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Kara Masterson

Even modest home improvement projects can generate a surprising amount of waste. Knowing what to do with recyclable metals can allow you to shrink your carbon footprint, reclaim some of the costs of your renovation, and help to ensure a quick and easy cleanup following your next remodel. Follow these tips to make sure that your home remodel does not negatively impact your carbon footprint. Before embarking upon any home remodeling project, it's also important to check local area codes and make sure all of your permits are up to date.

March 17, 2021

Environmental Benefits of Living in a Studio Apartment

March 17, 2021/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Chloe Taylor

More than ever before, people are moving away from the countryside and into the cities. But, with the population growing rapidly every day, housing has become a real challenge, especially since most people want to live in urban areas. This rise in costs has led many city dwellers to exchange their standard homes for studio apartments, which allow them to adapt to changes, ensure affordable prices and stay at their desired location. Having less space has its cons, but it also has a lot of perks for consumers and the environment. How can living in studio apartments benefit the world around us?

January 27, 2021

The consequences of COVID aren't that good for the environment

January 27, 2021/ Kelly Pemberton

What do you think when you see a used disposable mask lying by the roadside? Some may say that it is not surprising and that the main thing is that the person used it. Others will see that this a sign that masks have become yet another kind of garbage polluting the environment. Whether you see it as an inevitable consequence of the necessity of using masks in this pandemic era, or it sets off alarm bells in your head, it's something we need to think about seriously.

January 20, 2021

What you should know about microplastics and their threat to the environment

January 20, 2021/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Josh Hill

Plastic is a problem; it has penetrated every corner of the globe: the depths of the ocean and even arctic ice. But now we face a new threat, often invisible to the naked eye -- a form of plastic that is in our drinking water, the dirt we walk on and even the air we breathe!

I am talking about microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic that pollute the environment. But, where do they come from? Why are they a problem? And what can we do about them?

September 02, 2020

Anatomy of an Agrihood: 5 Popular Features (Infographic)

September 02, 2020/ Kelly Pemberton

guest post by Karlyn McKell

Farm-to-table living is easier than ever in the new mixed-use developments popping up across the U.S. known as agrihoods! There are at least 200 agrihoods in the U.S. today spanning 28 states, and many more are currently under construction.

So what is an agrihood, exactly? These planned housing developments are built around a working farm. The idea is that residents can get back to the basics by living in a sustainable community that grows food, embraces the outdoors, and promotes communal living.

May 25, 2020

20 Easy Ways to Save Water Around the House While Staying Home

May 25, 2020/ Kelly Pemberton

Most of us are so used to having constant access to fresh and clean water that we take it for granted. While we need water to survive, we also waste a huge amount of it on things we don’t need. It’s estimated that the average American uses about 152 gallons (575 litres) of water a day, while the average European uses around 66 gallons (250 litres) of water. In comparison, people in developing countries have about 5 gallons (19 litres) to use every day – assuming they have any at all.

Many people don’t realize that water is a finite resource, and our supply is running out as the population is increasing. The United Nations has already warned us that five billion people could be affected by water shortages by 2050, so it’s crucial that we change the way we use water and find ways of cutting down our consumption.

March 11, 2020

The Future is Green—3 Inspiring Business Stories About Making a Difference

March 11, 2020/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Francesca Moretti

March is B-Corp month, and to celebrate, B Lab is pushing its Vote Every Day campaign to exciting new heights. That means that B-Corps around the world are gearing up to highlight all the fantastic ways they are making a difference both socially and environmentally, while engaging consumers in forward-thinking plans to build a greener future.

January 23, 2019

3 Small Ways We Can Prevent the Next Mass Extinction Event

January 23, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Rebecca Pryor

For the majority of us out there, the question of mass extinctions through time is hardly a priority in our minds. After all, we have our own busy hectic lives to manage on a daily basis. We may have had a cursory look at them in our Geography class several years ago, but that is about the extent of it. It is a phrase that has been buried in the deep recesses of our minds for a while now, but we need to bring it out to the consciousness of most people out there. Why so? The main reason is to ensure that people are aware of the sheer possibilities of such a colossal disaster taking place in the world of today. The question of mass extinctions over time is especially relevant in a period when we have a renewed focus and added urgency to address the question of global climate change before it’s too late to prevent the next mass extinction event.

January 10, 2019

Why you should think beyond organic for a bigger impact on the environment

January 10, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Globally, the way people think about food has shifted dramatically over the past few decades. With major changes to the food industry (including the introduction of GMO, the mainstreaming of organic foods, a growing awareness of the problems with factory farming, and the growing number of documentaries about our eating habits) more people now think that eating healthy is important. Along with that, many people have turned to the organic market to create healthier diets for themselves and their families.

Organic is hyped, let’s be real for a minute here. While I would never tell you not to eat organic (for reasons I have explained in previous posts), the fact is that there are lots of problems with organic farming that most people don’t know, or just choose not to think about. And eating organic will not help save the planet. That last thought is an important one, so I’ll repeat it once more.

Eating organic foods will not help save the planet.

January 01, 2019

Why going green might ultimately be pointless

January 01, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

It’s hard to ignore the expanding “green living” industry, even if you don’t particularly follow it or practice any of its tenets. Globally, more and more people – particularly those who are middle to upper-middle class, urban and peri-urban dwelling – are pursuing healthy living options, buying more organic and non-GMO foods, raising awareness about the presence of harmful and toxic chemicals in the water, the air, and the personal care products we consume, and investing in renewable energy sources.

Yet ultimately, going green may be pointless. Here’s why, and what you can do to make sure that your efforts to go green are actually helpful…

December 12, 2018

A Homeowner’s Guide to Environmentally Conscious Water Use

December 12, 2018/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Jason Baldauf

It’s almost impossible to imagine modern living without the convenience of running water. We take it for granted that we can cook, clean, wash and bathe with it. As such, we may not think about how imperative it is to conserve and protect it. Despite being readily available with a turn of the spigot, it is not an unlimited resource.

December 04, 2018

How small-scale farming can help reduce the effects of climate change

December 04, 2018/ Kelly Pemberton

This past summer was terrible for my crops. I eagerly started the process of sowing seeds and transferring seedlings and cuttings into their permanent homes and looked forward to the day I could begin harvesting the results of my hard labor. I was also in the process of renovating my home for sale and purchasing another, so working in the garden was a welcome relief from the stress and uncertainty of that process. At least it was supposed to be…

June 15, 2018

Addressing the Global Water Inequality Crisis – Infographic

June 15, 2018/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Tom Murphy

In a planet that’s 70% water, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there was more than enough of this precious resource to comfortably sustain its population. However, when you think through how much of this water is fit for human consumption, you realize that maybe there isn’t a whole lot to go around for more than 7 billion inhabitants. In the Western world, water scarcity certainly isn’t a problem for most (with some exceptions in pockets of the US, the EU, and Australia ), but delve deeper into impoverished Third World/Global South nations and it will soon dawn on you just how shocking the disparity of water availability is on this planet.