Borax is a substance commonly found as a component in cosmetics, detergents, pesticides, enamel glazes and other household cleaners.  It is also known as sodium borate or sodium tetra borate.  It appears as a soft white powdery substance which is colorless and can easily be dissolved in water.  Borax is naturally produced mineral sediments as a result of evaporation.  They can be found in Turkey, Chile, Tibet, Romania, Boron, California and other Southwestern regions of the United States.  Borax can be produced synthetically using boron compounds. Many people question if borax is really safe for the environment.  The answer is “YES”.  Since borax is a naturally produced mineral that is comprised of water, sodium, oxygen and boron.  This is even recommended by the FDA as a safe kind of pesticide, fungicide and cleaner but still classified as dangerous because of its level of toxicity.  This product must not be ingested or inhaled for it can give out severe symptoms of death.  It can cause respiratory problems, gastrointestinal distress or serious skin rashes.  It is highly recommended for borax users to wear gloves as to protect their skin from any irritation. As an insecticide, it is known as a repellent for fleas, ants, ...

Promoting greener image in the community is a way of creating awareness for the environment.  But by helping create a greener product, you initiate the steps of actually saving it from gradual damage.  Graphic designers can also make this step in saving the environment.  Small business owners and freelance designers can make simple changes to the way they deliver their services to establish a more environment-friendly operation.  Also, establishing eco-friendly graphic designing operations helps save money both for the client and the designer. Eco-friendly graphic designing is all about practicing more sustainable designs.  This move goes beyond converting to non-toxic and recyclable materials.  It also involves the use of energy saving means.  The primary aim of practicing a sustainable design is to reduce the use of available resources, as a way of reducing waste.  Preferring and using re-usable and recyclable materials definitely have positive impacts to the environment. The main job of a graphic designer is to produce creative ideas that will effectively send the client's message across.  By working a greener image, you also get to involve your client and add value to your relationship with him.  More and more consumers are turning a new page in preferring greener products and ...

Preserving and maintaining a clean and healthy environment to live on is an investment we can make for ourselves and the future generations to come.  There are so many methods wherein we can contribute to a cleaner and greener world.  Recycling, waste management, or energy conservation is just some ways wherein we can protect our environment. Cars can spell convenience for many or can also be an extra luxury.  Maintaining it can be a bit of a predicament especially for some who just doesn’t have the time.  This would mean trips to the car wash or for the man- on- the- go; this would mean hosing down that car immediately to get rid of all the dust and dirt on it.  This could be a serious problem.  You are not only wasting water, this can also cause harmful wash water that contains dirt, grime, oil, soap and other car wash residuals to enter the drainage system.  The water flows to the storm drain system directly to the lakes, rivers or oceans.  This is a harmful pollutant for wildlife and for our own drinking water supplies.  There is a safer and more environment- friendly alternative for this that we can consider, Green ...

The term organic was once a desirable word to hear when paired with food produce, healing products and cosmetic items, to name a few combinations.  Unfortunately, it has been abused and misused to varying degrees that just about any manufacturer can slap on the label and take advantage of the organic bandwagon.  And so, organic now may be losing its sheen, also no thanks to an increasing use of imported fertilizers to produce greater yields to answer the demand. Fortunately, there is the trademarked biodynamic agriculture that provides a better way to go beyond organic farming.  The trademark belongs to Demeter International - Demeter being the Greek goddess of the harvest - which is composed of over 50 member nations including the United States. Demeter International is the largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture, of which the certification issued must be renewed annually under the strictest of standards.  The criteria for certification include but are not limited to biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, livestock integration, soil husbandry, and the prohibition of GMOs in the farm.  Basically, the farm where the produce bearing the Demeter logo must be treated as holistic organism from the littlest of microorganisms to the farmers themselves. With such stringent criteria, ...

Did you know that a standard desktop personal computer can use 60-300 watts in normal operating mode while it can consume as much as 750 watts when used to play video games?  Yes, said energy consumption is equivalent to a standard-sized refrigerator. Personal computers leave their marks on the environment due to their use of electricity that, in turn, produces coal-generated carbon emissions.  And that does not include the environmental costs in their manufacture and disposal.  However, you just cannot abandon the use of personal computers for the sake of the environment, not when the world depends on computers for making life easier on Earth. The trick then is to use your desktop or laptop in more eco-friendly ways.  You can start with these green tips in mind. Buy Green Of course, the first step is to buy greener computer models.  You may use the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool, which uses 28 sustainability and efficiency criteria, to evaluate the eco-friendliness of the computers.  You will find that computers are graded by said tool by awarding gold, silver or bronze for overall performance.  Look to Dell and Hewlett Packard for inspiration. Usually, these green computers will contain operating software that provides users with the choice ...