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Eco-Friendly Car Washing

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:07:32 +0000

Few people realize that washing our cars in our driveways is one of the most environmentally un-friendly chores we can do around the house. Unlike household waste water that enters sewers or septic systems and undergoes treatment before it is discharged into the environment, what runs off from your car goes right into storm drains — and eventually into rivers, streams, creeks and wetlands where it poisons aquatic life and wreaks other ecosystem havoc. After all, that water is loaded with a witch’s brew of gasoline, oil and residues from exhaust fumes — as well as the harsh detergents being used for the washing itself.

Commercial Car Washes Treat Waste Water
On the other hand, federal laws in both the U.S. and Canada require commercial carwash facilities to drain their wastewater into sewer systems, so it gets treated before it is discharged back into the great outdoors. And commercial car washes use computer controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps that minimize water usage. Many also recycle and re-use the rinse water.

The International Carwash Association, an industry group representing commercial car wash companies, reports that automatic car washes use less than half the water of even the most careful home car washer. According to one report, washing a car at home typically uses between 80 and 140 gallons of water, while a commercial car wash averages less than 45 gallons per car.

Think Green When Washing Your Car
If you must wash your car at home, choose a biodegradable soap specifically formulated for automotive parts, such as Simple Green’s Car Wash or Gliptone’s Wash ‘n Glow. Or you can make your own biodegradable car wash by mixing one cup of liquid dishwashing detergent and 3/4 cup of powdered laundry detergent (each should be chlorine- and phosphate-free and non-petroleum-based) with three gallons of water. This concentrate can then be used sparingly with water over exterior car surfaces.

Even when using green-friendly cleaners, it is better to avoid the driveway and instead wash your car on your lawn or over dirt so that the toxic waste water can be absorbed and neutralized in soil instead of flowing directly into storm drains or open water bodies. Also, try to sop up or disperse those sudsy puddles that remain after you’re done. They contain toxic residues and can tempt thirsty animals.

Waterless Car Wash Products are Good for Small Jobs
One way to avoid such problems altogether is to wash your car using any number of waterless formulas available, which are especially handy for spot cleaning and are applied via spray bottle and then wiped off with a cloth. Freedom Waterless Car Wash is a leading product in this growing field.

A Better Car Wash Option for Fundraising
One last caution: Kids and parents planning a fundraising car wash event should know that they might be violating clean water laws if run-off is not contained and disposed of properly. Washington’s Puget Sound Carwash Association, for one, allows fund-raisers to sell tickets redeemable at local car washes, enabling the organizations to still make money while keeping dry and keeping local waterways clean.

Source: About.com: environmental issues

Contractor washing construction vehicle in the Komati River

Washing vehicles is a necessary part of maintenance. However, some people go to extremes and waste f a r too much water just to remove superficial dirt. Generally, using a bucket as opposed to running water from a hose , will save water. Eco-friendly cleaning products allow you to wash your car on your lawn- thus saving irrigation water. As an added bonus, many eco friendly cleaning formulas are better for your car’s paintwork. In many parts of rural Africa, vehicles are parked in or on the edges of rivers and washed. This is a normal activity for many with no thought of water contamination from carwash soap and oil and grease from the vehicle. During c onstruction projects, contractors can be heavily fined if any of there vehicles are washed outside of a proper washbay that has oil traps installed. Many aquatic organisms are super-sensitive to even minute amounts of contaminants. Edu cation at school level is required to put an end to this environmentally damaging habit. A clean, shiny car is often a source of pride to the owner but it’s not acceptable if the environment is harmed to keep it that way. Use waterless washing formulas to clear away light dirt and when a major wash is required, try to use an automated car wash that recycles water. Water Rhapsody have developed a special water recycling system for automated car wash machines; and have begun installing these around southern Africa. Contact us for all your water conservation needs (we supply and install water tanks too!).

Eco-Friendly Camping Tips

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:27:03 +0000

For both the expert and the novice, camping is an amazing adventure vacation—living in nature, observing and exploring a pristine world so apart from the busy, modern lifestyle that many are accustomed to. In order to preserve the ecosystem that is being enjoyed, it is important to follow these simple green camping tips. Make the effort to have an environmentally-friendly vacation, which benefits everyone.

Green Camping Guidelines for Building Fires

Campfires are an important part of the camping experience. They can also pose a risk to the environment.

Be sure to only use twigs and branches which have already fallen — do not cut fresh branches from existing trees.
Try to use an area previously used to build a fire, as opposed to clearing new space.
Only make small fires, minimizing the impact.
Burn wood or coal completely; never leave embers behind.
Do not burn plastics, and other man-made materials, as they will pollute the air.

How to Dispose of Waste on a Sustainable Camping Trip

The first basic rule of green camping is waste removal. Never leave anything behind. This includes garbage of any form; do not leave food packaging, bottles, tissues, paper, or any other material no matter how biodegradable it may seem. When leaving a campsite or area, be sure to do a thorough search for any trash, even if it was left by previous campers.

All food must be removed as well. Many people assume that it is alright to leave behind leftovers, or to poor out liquids onto the ground. Any foreign substance, from moldy bread to stale coffee, can have a negative impact on a fragile ecosystem. Plan ahead and bring enough bags and containers to be able to take all food refuse away from the campground to be disposed of properly.

Human waste is another concern of sustainable camping. If there are no facilities available on site, it is important to be responsible for personal waste. A simple solution is to dig a hole, six to eight inches deep and two hundred feet away from any water source or other camp area. Cover the hole well when finished. Never leave toilet paper or other hygiene products, even beneath the ground, as animals may dig them up.

Another solution is to use a camping toilet. Either a commercial, eco-friendly model, or a homemade toilet made from lining a five gallon bucket with a biodegradable bag, and then sealing the bucket with a snap on toilet seat and lid. Scoop wood chips or sawdust into the bag before and after use. When full, this bag can be sealed, contained within the bucket, and removed from the campsite.

Washing on Environmentally-Friendly Adventures

While staying in nature, it may not be practical to keep up with normal hygiene practices. It is possible to stay clean and to wash what is necessary. For dental hygiene, bring a container for toothpaste and mouthwash refuse. Do not wash in rivers or lakes, even with natural soaps and shampoos. This will pollute the water, potentially harming wildlife. For cleaning cooking materials, simply use water; do not introduce any cleaning products into the ecosystem.

Green camping ultimately means leaving nature as it was, if not better than how it was found. Following these guidelines is so important to ensure the preservation of the natural environment. Everyone will benefit from an attitude of gratitude for nature, rather than disregard.

Source: greenliving

Environmentally Friendly Products for Camping

Use soaps that are one-hundred percent biodegradable. Non-environmentally friendly soaps harm wildlife and contaminate lakes, ponds, streams, and underground water sources. There are soaps designed for camping that do not contaminate water sources. Burt’s Bees sells a product for camping called “Outdoor All-In-One Wash” that is available in many retail stores.

Steer away from using chemical bug repellents and use a natural herbal product instead. Avoid using fly and wasp traps by using citronella candles, covering food, and using netted outdoor tents. It is better to deter insects while camping than to kill them. Each species of insect has an important function in the wild and contributes to a natural environmental balance.

Wildlife

Resist the urge to feed wildlife. Feeding wildlife accustoms wild animals to human contact and weakens their natural caution of humans, which could put them in danger when around unfriendly humans. In addition, wild animals who are frequently fed by humans can become reliant on obtaining easy food and discontinue hunting or gathering. Wildlife whose diets consist of a significant portion of human food, often are not getting the proper nutrients they need to maintain optimum health.

Don’t allow pets to harass wildlife. Keep an eye on your pets at all times during your camping trip. Don’t allow them to chase wildlife or dig in wildlife burrows. Harassment by pets can cause wildlife to relocate out of fear.

Off Road Parking

Whenever possible, avoid parking off road. The heavy weight of automobiles can compact dirt making it hard for new plant life to grow and the weight can smash existing fragile tree roots.

If you must park off road, make sure to evaluate the ground area before parking, to make sure that you will not be parking on top of plants or an animal’s home.

Trees

Don’t drive stakes into trees or hang hammocks from trees. Stakes driven into trees can injure or kill the trees. Hammocks tied around trees may not seem like they are doing damage, but they often are. The weight from a person lying in the hammock can cause the rope used to tie the hammock onto the tree, to dig into the tree and injure it. Hammocks using a self supporting stand are a tree friendlier option.

Lion at a water hole

Source: excerpts from brighthub.com

Great tips that can be applied worldwide when camping. Water can be limited on a camping trip; ‘waterless ‘ hand cleaners are useful. There are also certain forbs and shrubs whose leaves and fruit can be used as soap, e.g. the Dune Soap-berry (Deinbollia oblongifolia) commonly found in Mozambique and the extreme eastern parts of Mpumalanga, South Africa. When camping in Africa, there are a few other things to consider. If you are camping in a ‘Big 5′ area, i.e. where dangerous game roams freely, make sure you know how to deal with any possible confrontations. Confrontations can end unhappily for one or both sides which is not ‘eco-friendly’! Avoid confrontations by reading and learning about the habits of potentially dangerous animals that you may encounter. Do not camp near waterholes or on game paths. Try to camp in an area where the bush is naturally open (especially to see approaching predators at night). Take a powerful torch with you (preferably an LED wind-up or rechargeable type) and pay careful attention to storing fresh meat out of reach (and preferably enclosed to limit scent). Noise pollution must be minimized while camping. You are there to enjoy the sounds of nature so keep artificial sounds down and speak softly. Sound carries incredibly far at night. A noisy camping party can spoil other peoples’ camping experience even if they are a few kilometers away! Light pollution is another issue- don’t light up your camp with more lights than necessary; rather use small LED headlights. Be mindful when shining powerful torches into the sky and toward camping neighbours. Excessive noise and light at night can also attract unwanted attention from two-legged predators in some areas. Be aware and prepared to defend yourself at all times without being paranoid. Camping in the wilds brings alive senses that have lain dormant in many people for a long time. Respect Nature and she’ll respect you.