Five Ways to Create a Healthy Home

Have you ever thought of your home as being healthy or unhealthy? While the concept of a healthy home may be new to some of us, it is steadily gaining popularity with homeowners. A healthy home can include a number of elements from building materials used to construct your home to using non-toxic cleaning products. Below is a list of five ways to assist you in creating a healthy home environment.

1. Clean Air and Circulation:

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How Trees Can Protect Your Home from Heat

We stay at home because we want to rest and be comfortable. However, we cannot achieve this if it is blazing hot. It is a great thing that we have air conditioning unit. Aside from the AC, we can also rely on trees to moderate the temperature. They will not only protect our home from heat, but they will also help reduce the temperature in the surroundings.

They are also our home's protector from the different environmental hazards such strong winds, rains and rays of the sun. Aside from providing us comfort, they can also help us in many ways. They clean the air we breathe and they provide us with sufficient supply of oxygen. Deciduous trees are among the best because they can reduce excruciating heat. These trees can also help warm you up in the winter.

Trees are the best forms of protection from the sun and more, here is why:

1. The trees reduce the level of heat in the environment. The trees have leaves that which shields its surroundings from the strong rays of the sun. This is better than man-made sheds. If you will try to compare it, the shade from the tree feels cooler than the artificial shades. You also have to keep in mind that there are several aspects that can contribute to heighten the heat. Among them are the different structures like buildings. Trees can help regulate the heat circulating in the area.

2. Aside from buildings, there are other things that can trap the heat such as asphalt and concrete. These are two of the widely used materials in most neighborhoods. This is more reason for residents and homeowners to plant trees in their backyard. With more trees around, the effect of trapped heat in these materials will not be felt.

3. Trees do not only deal with the heat. They also deal with the different pollutants. Trees clean the air by filtering the dust and other pollutants. They also give off oxygen that we all use to breathe. In addition to that, trees and other plants absorb Carbon Dioxide, one of the main pollutants in our environment. CO2 forms part of their food. Without trees, such pollutants will contribute in damaging our surroundings as well as contribute to the greenhouse gas.

4. More trees also reduce the use of artificial freshener, air and shade. This means that the environment becomes healthier for us. If the air is clean. We do not have to use air filters and fresheners. If we have a cooler environment, we will be able to reduce the use of air conditioning. This will lower our utility bills and will reduce the emission of pollutants into the environment.

5. Trees can also improve your home value. Trees are among the best tools to improve the curb appeal of your property. There are cultured trees you can use. They can provide beauty and the other elements that the regular trees provide. They come in different forms and sizes. The color of the leaves vary too.

Trees do not only provide shade, they clean air and add aesthetic beauty as well.

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Energy Saving Tips - 7 Home Conservation Ideas - Heating And Cooling

There are so many home energy saving tips and conservation ideas offered these days and all with good intention. However in order to know where to start and to ensure the best possible results, you must first identify the areas of greatest concern.

Addressing your homes heating and cooling costs is the ideal place to start. Why you ask? Because heating and cooling alone can account for nearly half of your total monthly utility bills and if you live in a temperate climate region with both long summer and winter seasons (such as the Midwest and Northeast) these costs can exceed half of your total annual utility bills. Here are 7 energy saving tips and conservation ideas that if adopted can significantly reduce your homes heating and cooling costs.

7 Home Energy Tips To Lower Heating And Cooling Costs

1: If your home has a central heating and cooling system, then periodically check all of the vents (especially floor vents) for possible obstructions such as furniture or rugs.

2: If your home doesn't have central heating, then make a habit of letting out or "bleeding" any possible air pockets from all of your hot water radiators. The U.S Department of Energy recommends doing this at least once every heating season.

3: Also all hot water radiators, baseboard heaters as well as floor and ceiling vents should be cleaned on a seasonal basis. In homes with central HVAC systems, cleaning of floor and ceiling vents should also be preformed every season.

4: In homes with central HVAC systems, it's incredibly important to change the air filter every 4 to 6 weeks, not months. Many homeowners often overlook this simple and inexpensive maintenance procedure. In the summer a dirty filter will force your AC unit to work harder to push cool air through your ducts and likewise during the winter months. Many homeowners overlook their a/c and furnace filter simply because they (like me) are prone to forgetting. There are several great websites that offer automatic email reminders.

5: Consider purchasing a ventilated outdoor cover for your a/c unit. These covers are inexpensive and will provide your unit some much needed shade during the summer months. An a/c unit operating in the shade consumes 10% to 15% less electricity than a unit that's exposed to the scorching sun.

6: Within your comfort level, manually turn down or "setback" your thermostat during the winter and manually and turn up or "set up" during the cooling season. Every degree that a thermostat is set back or up translates into energy savings. However keep your families comfort well in mind.

7: Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat. There relatively inexpensive, easy to install and more importantly allow for automatic and pre scheduled temperature set backs and set ups. This allows homeowners to effortlessly take advantage of the scheduled or habitual time periods that there often not home.

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Safety Is High Priority in Selecting a Tour Bus Company

Whenever travel on the highways is involved safety should be a top priority. That is no less so when selecting a bus company for your tour. Several elements are involved in the issue of safety when bus tour companies are concerned. They are: The condition of the bus itself The driver The length of time a tour bus company has been in business and that company’s safety record A bus tour company’s understanding of laws and regulations A company’s involvement in such organizations as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Its compliance to U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of Defence regulations

The Bus

One issue that is up front for you to actually see is the tour bus itself.

The age of the fleet of buses used by a tour bus company should be considered. It should be obvious that the latest models of buses should be in the fleet. The latest, the better. Many companies like USA Bus Charter says that they replace their buses after 10 years of service. They also point out that there are bus companies that own buses that are as old as 25 years. In short, you don’t want the transportation you will be using to be too old. Inquire with the bus tour company about the age of their fleet.

If at all possible, go to the tour bus company and inspect their buses. Check the interior, the exterior and underneath. Look at the tires including the tread depth and examine the seat covers, dents, bumps, scratches and cleanliness. If all of that is not up to your standards, then it is possible that the company is not concerned with safety and appearance as a top priority.

If things look good after a visual inspection, don’t be afraid to ask questions concerning things you don’t see.

And that would be how often the buses are analyzed by the company’s mechanics. It is not uncommon for well managed tour bus companies to have their mechanics inspect things every time a bus returns to the garage.

The Driver

The driver of a tour bus, not the president of the tour bus company, is probably the most important employee.

When push comes to shove, it is the skills of the driver that assures that the bus gets to its destination on time and that the trip is safe.

Of course, you would expect that the driver has experience. Industry standards call for the driver to have at least three years experience. Some companies are stricter than that and call for them to have a little more.

This could be as much as five years or more. Of course, the more experience they have, the more skilled they are in driving the bus. But they are also knowledgeable of the routes they are expected to drive and would be well seasoned to be able to find alternative routes should the need arise.

An important element in assuring that you get to the destination on time.

You will want the driver to be emotionally balanced. It’s been said that there are three types of drivers (not necessarily bus drivers): the passive, the aggressive and the hostile. Of course, you want a driver who is passive. You would expect him to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, not speed, slows down when it is raining, drive with caution at night, etc.

You also want the driver to be alert when he is driving and drug free. To assure that drugs are not an issue there are laws the require companies test prospective drivers during the hiring process and then to administer random drug tests.

You want the driver’s schedule to be such that it doesn’t change his sleep patterns.

Commonly, drivers are expected to drive 10 hours. A driver who has a schedule of sleeping at night should stick to that. He should not be expected to drive all night. It is better to be safe and permit the driver to either share the duties with some one who could drive at night or allow him to pull the coach into a motel where he and the passengers can get a good night’s sleep before proceeding on a gruelling trip of let’s say 1,000 miles without rest.

Making certain that the passengers of the bus – that means you -- stays on their best behaviour is another perhaps overlooked responsibility of the driver. How you act can be a safety issue. It is not a bad thing for the driver to pleasantly remind passengers of such etiquette as remaining seated when the bus is in motion, move to the restroom by holding on to overhead racks,

handrails or headrests to assure good footing, never stand up before the bus has come to a stop, and activity that could prove to be distracting to the driver be minimized if not totally avoided.

A Company’s Record

The longer a company has been in business the better chance that it will be well managed and have a good safety record. The companies that don’t have a good safety record won’t be in business for any length of time.

One entity that assists you in the research of a company’s record is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov).

The organization’s website includes a safety and security page that provides you with all sorts of information including a safety database, a snapshot or profile of particular companies and safety initiatives.

Moreover, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Defence have regulations that tour bus companies are expected to follow. For example, the Department of Transportation requires tour bus companies to assure that their drivers are fully qualified. Companies that comply urge that their drivers have a current commercial driver’s license with a passenger endorsement, undergo a thorough physical and hold a valid medical certificate.

You can find out more by visiting the U.S. Department of Transportation website at http://www.ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/Passenger/home.asp.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is involved in regulating motor coach safety because these companies are often used by military personnel and the DOD wants to make certain that their troops are safe. The DOD monitors the bus industry through the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC). This part of the DOD implements and maintains a “pre-qualification” process.

The DOD will not allow any bus company to transport military personnel until its buses have been inspected by the MTMC. The MTMC also analyze a carrier’s performance, reliability and responsiveness. The MTMC has a rating system using a scale of 1 to 5.The best rating is 1 and the worst is 5. Companies rated from 1 to 3 are approved to transport military personnel. More on the MTMC can be found at their website.

Finally, nothing is perfect. Things go wrong. The best companies, however, provide a mechanism to make the wrong right. To assure that such a remedy can take place, you should find out who to contact in the company when something does go wrong. Some companies equip their drivers with cell phones that permit them to call the company to help solve a problem that the driver can’t. Later, if you have a complaint or a comment you can call the designated employee who you can alert to a problem and who work with you to solve it.

The mission of a tour bus company is to provide you with a service that will make your tour as pleasant as possible.

Safety Precautions You Need To Keep In Mind When Using Industrial Fire Fighting Equipment

Fire accidents can happen anywhere. That is why all establishments should have fire fighting equipment installation. The occurrence of uncontrolled fire happens due to several causes. If only fire prevention were properly implemented, no accidental fire that destroys lives and property would result. However, as we see, even with utmost efforts, such disasters still take place. So, we resort to early fire detection whenever the unfortunate event cannot be avoided. The earlier a fire is discovered, the easier it can be dealt with. Smoke alarms are imperative in high risk areas. Even homes should have fire alarms.



In the event a fire is discovered, keep in mind that the safety of all the people in the affected place must be preserved. Evacuation of these people should be done as soon as possible. While it is true that only professionals and well-trained individuals should put out the fire, anybody who knows how to use installed industrial fire fighting equipment can smother the flames provided the blaze has not yet consumed a huge portion of an area, a room, an office, or a compartment. Do not hesitate. Do not wait for the flame to grow bigger before attempting to kill it. However, be reminded that this is only applicable for Class A fire or general fire.



Calling for fire brigade should not be delayed and keep in mind that you should not attempt to smother the blaze if in case you don't know what is causing it in the first place. Different materials can be fueling the flames. Fire that originates from wooden materials may be easily put out using water. But those caused by electrical equipment or explosive chemical reactions may be worsened by the spraying of water. Hence, it is imperative to call for immediate help. Nonetheless, supposing you are sure of the origin or the culprit of the blaze, be sure to be able to smother it using the appropriate type of fire extinguisher. Factories and laboratories should have trained personnel who know how to deal with such incidents. Also people working in these risky areas should learn how to put out fire before it spreads and grows bigger. Chemical laboratories and production areas with combustible and flammable materials are extremely susceptible to fire mishaps and so strict and stringent measures and precautions must be observed at all times. Fire could easily spread in these areas to consume any combustible material.



With fire smothering equipment at hand, make sure it works, as you cannot risk running to a blazing room only to discover you're carrying an old, dysfunctional extinguisher. Even with appropriate fire extinguisher, any person should not hurry to the affected area if the blaze has grown uncontrollably or spreading too fast. Keep in mind that the smoke can be stifling and you can be trapped in an area filled with toxic fumes and gases. This is one reason firefighters wear self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). You certainly don't want to be included in the casualty list.



Jo is an author and publisher for 'Resmar Ltd' (http://www.resmar.co.uk), the number one Marine safety Equipment provider among the world's biggest shipping industries and other top companies. If your firm is looking for superior quality yet fairly priced industrial fire fighting equipment then you ought to have a look at Resmar Ltd.

Take the Personal Out of the Workplace: Leave Your Troubles at the Door!

Bringing your emotional baggage into the work place is inappropriate for all the reasons you may imagine. Yet employees, managers and business owners do it all the time.

The question is, how do you handle it? How do you look at your manager and think, "No one is going to tell me what to do!" What if a client, peer or prospect gets you on a Bad Day?

How do you take the personal out of the workplace?

It requires discrimination and distinction. If you are having communication problems at work, look at how you view your manager, boss or employee. Does he or she represent a parent, mate or partner? Are your frustrations about what is and is not working in your life manifested on the job? Learn to leave your troubles at the door. Decide that what you do in the workplace is your contribution – to yourself, your peers and the community. This is your opportunity to commit to what you are best at doing and get paid for it.

Examine your values. Values are how you live your life, about what is important to you. Choose values that help make you what you truly are. Your personal values and professional values can be the same.

Warning! Many businesses like to say they are like a family. Be cautious if you are enticed by this. Employees, managers and business owners may manifest characteristics found in your personal family.

Why is this important?

What can happen is, you may take on the role that you do in your own family. If you are passive at home and come to work as a manager, what does that look like? Confusing at best. When a passive person has to function in a different role on the job, they may revert and act like the aggressive parent. Potential can best be realized under a thoughtful and caring leader. Attempt to facilitate, to make it easy for everyone to achieve their best.

As a manager or business owner, you have to know what your values are; what the values of your company are, as well as the values of the people you manage. The basic rules of respect and acceptance apply. The Golden Rule is: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", not: "Do it to them before they do it to you".

People who bring emotional baggage into the workplace can be temperamental, grasping and neglectful. Even more frustrating is that they act out all their pent-up, misplaced emotions on the job without consideration for others. Employees and co-workers react to this, work efforts and results go by the wayside, and profit and productivity go down.

Leave your unexpressed feelings at the door. Take a break if you become frustrated. Know that you are at work to provide results.

Heal yourself first, determine your values, then you will be a better employee, manager or business owner.

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A Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace

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