The Art of Business » Environment

Recycle, Reuse, Reduce

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:57:34 +0000

Recycle, Reduce, Reuse. The three R’s are a good motto to live by especially in these tough economic times. Every family is trying to think of ways they can reduce their cost of living. And doing so might be easier than you thought. The answer to reducing your cost of living a little could be simple as flipping off a light switch or closing a window. Here are some tips.

Turn off lights when you leave a room: This is the oldest tip in the book, but it is effective. If you turn off lights when you leave you won’t be paying for electricity that you are not using. This will be even more effective if you use energy efficient light bulbs (https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls) instead of traditional ones. And really every little bit counts, and living a light on in a room that is not in use is just like throwing your money away.

Clean and replace air filters: Air filters are an important part of an energy efficient home. If you clean or replace them to the recommendations of the manufacturer, you will prolong the life of the heating and cooling systems in your home.

Turn up your thermostat: If you can stand to have the air conditioning just one degree higher in the summer or one degree or two cooler in the winter you will save money and energy. You should especially do this when you are not at your house. Who are you heating or cooling if nobody is home?

Get window coverings: Blinds are a simple way to solve a big energy problem. They will help keep your home cooler in the summer because the sun will not be beating throughout your house. Check out Next Day Blinds for a good selection of window coverings. Next Day Blinds has many options to be stylish in your home and save some cash and energy.

Recycle, Reuse, Reduce is a post from: The Art of Business

From Diamonds to Gold in South Africa

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:00:31 +0000

The mining of gold in South Africa began in 1887, in what is now the cosmopolitan city of Johannesburg. Just a few years previous to the gold rush, the strikes of the diamond miners had taken place. By the end of the first year of mining it had become obvious that the Rand mines were filled with gold. Many of those involved previously in the mining of diamonds, now millionaires, transferred their interests, their investments and their homesteads, to the city of Johannesburg. What was true during the late 1800′s remains true to this day, the fact that Johannesburg became and is, the largest city in the country, filled with skyscrapers, restaurants and boutique hotels. South Africa owes its financial prosperity to these gold mines. More than five hundred people rely in the gold mining industry, from suppliers to the distributors to the miners and merchants. By 1989, almost one half of the gold ever mined, in the world, came from those mines in South Africa. Today, South Africa still produces the largest amount of gold.

The deepest gold mine exists in the country, the East Rand mine. In the past this was one of the most dangerous places to be, and to be working. At such a depth, the heat of the rocks is just about unbearable. But now, air conditioning systems are making the conditions of working at such a depth bearable and much safer. The Harmony Mine is home to one of the biggest ice machines in the world. The ice is used to cool water, much as an evaporative cooler works to cool the air. The gold industry changed throughout time, with prices dropping and rising. Reforms, social and political, have resulted in higher wages and better conditions for those working in the fields and underground. At one time they feared that it would be necessary to close the mines. But today, the mines are running, gold prices are steady, and as was true in the past, the economy and the security of those living and working in South Africa, remains largely reliant on the industry of gold mining.

From Diamonds to Gold in South Africa is a post from: The Art of Business

The Good Turn of the Wind Turbine

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:41:10 +0000

Wind farms are popping up all over the world. Scotland has plans to not only increase the size of the farm in Glasgow, but to build a farm in Shetland as well, which will provide more than 50 percent of the energy to light the homes in the UK by the year 2020. In the United States, the wind farm in the plains and the San Gorgonio Mountain range in California is made up of more than four thousand turbines, and is the source of energy for the city of Palm Springs, as well as the entire valley of Coachella. Many other states in the U.S. are homes to wind farms such as Texas and Wyoming as well as the farms located in other countries throughout the world such as Germany, Denmark, Brazil, China and Australia.

Wind turbine farms have many positive impacts on the environment. There is no water water pollution nor air pollution as a result of their operation as they do not produce any hazardous waste materials. No natural resources such as gas, oil or coal are depleted, and there is not need to transport the energy in big semi trucks or in rail-cars. Not only to they produce no environmental risks, they actually are helping in reducing the damaged caused by other types of plants, in the United States, and in the rest of the world. And while there is energy needed to transport materials to the building site, and the building of the farm, that energy is equal to the amount of energy provided by the farm once it is operation for just a few short months.

One of the concerns with the wind farms is the location, as the wind blowing to turn them must be consistent in order to provide enough energy for the cost effectiveness and the reliability of the electricity sources. In some areas the winds shift rapidly and without warning, just too unpredictable to be viable. On shore, some of the best locations for the farms are too far away from cities to be of any use. Some countries and cities, attend to this problem by building the farms off shore. Careful considerations must be made for the off shore sites as well, to ensure that no harm will be caused to marine life and aquatic bird-life. Companies today are weighing all the options, and within a few short years, one third of the worlds electricity may come from something so simple as the wind blowing across the plains.

The Good Turn of the Wind Turbine is a post from: The Art of Business

Party lights outdoors by the grill

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:52:28 +0000

There are hundreds of options available when planning an outdoor party. Permanent lighting is one way to decorate your backyard which will always be available for any impromptu gathering over at your house. You could also choose to go all out and search for some fun special lighting options that will accent a themed party. You should keep in mind the entire the outdoor space with which you are lighting regardless if the lighting is permanent or not.

If you are planning an outdoor party to show off your new built in grill, consider outdoor party lights that will show off the grill, like Tiki lights or go as far as using Braziers. Or, if you’re planning an outdoor party for a special occasion, consider the guest you have invited, will it be a family event with children and seniors alike? If so, you’ll need to use more lighting to ensure the safety of the elders with poor eyesight and to comfort the small ones who may be afraid of the dark. Also, always put more lighting around the areas where the food will be served.

Now, for a more intimate gathering, a more romantic light might just be a few candles places strategically around the yard. You might string up a strand of lights in a tree to give the effect of fireflies or if you have a pool, use floating tea candles. For special holidays, there a hundreds of special outdoor lights made in the shapes specifically for a particular holiday, like large red, white and blue stars for the 4th of July.

If you have a waterfall or a standing fountain, this can add an whole new dimension to the types of party lights you are able to use. Stringing a few strands of LED lights across the waterfall will only enhance the relaxing effects of falling water. Wrapping a strand around the standing fountain brings forth it’s magic. Just make sure the strands you are using are specifically designed to be in contact with water and keep the extension cords a receptacles either covered up with electrical tape or out of range of the water area.

Planing your lighting in advance will take some research. Look through some magazines or go online. Visit a lighting store or lighting department of Home Depot or Lowes. Any outdoor party your through can only become a place of splendor when you incorporate outdoor lighting.

Party lights outdoors by the grill is a post from: The Art of Business

History of Grilling

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:24:17 +0000

The best thing about summer is that it’s finally time to get grilling! Grilling outside is really one of America’s past times. Grilling has been going on since fire was discovered, but modern grilling started with the Weber Grill. The Weber Grill was invented by a Chicago man named George Stephen. Stephen tinkered with the idea of the flat open grills of the time, to invent a dome shaped grill that is a part of priceless Americana. Stephen was able to start manufacturing the grill after taking controlling interest in the Weber Bros. Metal Spinning Co. At the time the company was known for making buoys and not much else. They updated the buoy and invented the Weber grill.

American barbecue goes back to about the 18th Century in Colonial America. The “American” food barbecues of hot dogs, hamburgers were descended from Eastern Carolina pit barbecue.

Now there are many types of barbecue including: Carolina style, which is split into Eastern, Western and South Carolina style, Memphis barbecue is what most people think of traditional BBQ, Texas barbecue is thought of more of the mesquite barbecue flavor. And of course Kansas City barbecue with a little bit of everything, it sits in the middle of barbecue country.

No matter what type of barbecue you like to eat, surely you have a grill in your backyard if you just love that smoky flavor. Outdoor living areas are becoming increasingly more opulent and luxurious over the years. Steve Barbarich started an outdoor living online internet company because he saw how high the demand is for this type of furniture. His site, chooseoutdoorkitchens.com gives consumers the ultimate outdoor cooking space, which of course includes the ever popular grill.

So get your smoke on and get into the summer barbecue season, there is nothing better than Fourth of July, or really just a Tuesday night meal out on the grill.

History of Grilling is a post from: The Art of Business

Ahmed bin Majid

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:10:38 +0000

In Dubai, UAE, hotel accommodations are fantastically luxurious, and are designed and maintained to compliment the gorgeous surroundings. There are beaches on one side and shopping on the other, and there’s certainly something for everyone. The city is a continuous puzzle, constantly unfolding and revealing new and sudden pockets of interesting happenings, and there’s never an end to it. It is a city that is undergoing fascinating changes, and worth discoveirng the culture for rejuvenation of the spirit, along with the rejuvenation your solitudes here will provide.

Along with all of the very interesting and popular distractions, like festivals, live entertainment, galleries, etc., take the time to investigate the local and specific histories, along with the historical points of interest in the region. You may find traces of the ghost of Ahmed bin Majid, a very famous explorer from the 15th century. He was likely born in 1421, in Ras Al Khaima in the United Arab Emirates, and lived just to the beginning of the 16th century. His great contribution to the history of exploration is the Book of Useful Information on the Principles and Rules of Navigation, an encyclopedic volume that set to print some elemental points that were useful to any navigator at the time. He also set forth on new voyages, of course, and the stories about his travels are immensely fascinating. There are the usual tales that one might expect, stories about the mundane life at sea, but there are also fantastic tales that speak of local monsters, and are simply exquisite and teach very valuable moral lessons.

Very recently, in Al Ghob, there have been excavations to find the history of this explorer. It is believed that Al Ghob is his hometown, and archeologists are working hard to find the secrets of the explorer and the place. There are some interesting findings from here, which reveal some of the characteristics of the houses. It is hoped that much will be revealed about this famous explorer, whose full name was Ahmed bin Majid bin Mohammed bin Omar bin Fadl bin Dowaik bin Yousif bin Hassan bin Hussein bin Abi Ma’alak bin Abi Al Rakayeb Al Najdi.

Ahmed bin Majid is a post from: The Art of Business

The Waterfront Center of Cape Town

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:24:08 +0000

The Cape of Good Hope has offered a beacon for sailors and seafarers throughout History. Those who made their livelihoods on the oceans began looking for Table Mountain as far out as two hundred kilometers, and this is still one of the most famous landmarks in South Africa. Capetown is a melting pot of cultures, steeped in history. There is a rich mix of lifestyles, cultures and customs, landscapes and the natural wildlife and plant life that is just as diverse as the people that make up the population of this coastal city. There are many things to do and see in Capetown, with a variety so as to offer anything for anyone regardless of their financial situations. From the five star Cape Town hotels, to the small beach huts along the coasts. There are hikes through the lush landscapes and along Table Mountain, the location wherein the two oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian, converge, where surfers of the world tend to meet and catch the waves, and grand shopping markets, as stated there is something for everyone, the serene outdoors and the hustling, bustling big city life.

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a center that offers a lot to the traveler, and to the locals as well, as this is still an operating harbor. This is a site rich with history and a gathering place for the city. There are high end shopping markets, artist and farmer’s markets, theaters, and stages that provide outdoor shows and musical events. This Waterfront was constructed by Prince Albert, beginning in 1860 when the first ground was broken, in response to the ever increasing number of ships coming to port in Cape Town. In 1988, the Waterfront expanded to the combination of commerce and tourism, while continuing its operation as a harbor and port. This center is easily accessible by land or by water, as shuttles, buses and cable trains run from the city to the center daily, and ships are constantly docking at the many bays located up and down the coast. This is an exciting and pulsating center for Cape Town and for all those visiting the city at any time during the year.

The Waterfront Center of Cape Town is a post from: The Art of Business

Dog Park or Bite Park

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:26:13 +0000

My first time at taking my dog to a dog park and in a foreign country was pretty scary for me. My dog is disciplined, but most times, if another dogs comes into site my dog can go crazy. So, I didn’t know if other dog would go as crazy as my dog. But, I went anyway and hoped for the best. When I arrived, I let my dog off his leash and he took off running happy as a dog off a leash can be. The Mumbai Bombay Hotel where I’m staying told me where to find this dog park. I take me dog everywhere I go; it’s a hassle because he’s a large and he’s an Akita, but I can’t be without him.

I’ve already lost site of him, so I go looking for him and I see him romping round with another dog that is the size of a breadbox. As I approach, I see the owner of the small dog look totally petrified, but not taking any action to separate the two. They appeared to be getting along very well. I walk over to the owner of the small dog and ask if they would like me to stop my dog from playing with there dog. She told me that it’s okay, but her face said how dare I bring a behemoth to the dog park. Akita’s aren’t that big, but compared to her dog, a Lhasa-Apso, then yes my dog is huge. Surely, she must run into other big dogs here. I look around and see only lap-dogs.

Then I heard the all too familiar yipe of a dog being bit. At first, I’m sure if was my dog doing the biting, but it was the Lhasa-apso biting my dog and trying to rip my dogs floppy lips right off of him. I take action to separate the two, but the Lhasa-apso wouldn’t let go. I looked over at it’s owner and she just stood there with a look of satisfaction on her face. I yelled at her to command her dog to stop and she finally did. I took my dog as far away from her and her dog and began to check the damage done to my dog. There was no blood and i found two puncture wounds. My dog was whining in pain, but he was okay. I put his leash on and proceeded to head back to the hotel. I think I’ll stick with regular parks stay away from Bite Parks.

Dog Park or Bite Park is a post from: The Art of Business

The Environment of Singapore

admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:43:20 +0000

The Constitution of Singapore does not state any legal provisions on the protection of the environment. There are no acts or laws set into a framework for this protection nor the management of resources to provide it. Many countries have mandatory regulations that citizens must adhere to, such as vehicle emission controls. No legislation has made those accountable to assess the impact that actions of citizens and big businesses have on the environment. There have been rules that have not been enforced. Legal responsibility for those committing large acts of pollution has never been followed through by any judicial means. There are administrators, but what they actually do, remains in question. Any progress, or rescue, has not been provided by the constitution, which leaves the environment of the small island in jeopardy. Smaller, more independent government agencies have done what they are able to do with regards to waste management and zoning to ensure proper usage of the limited land, but more is needed to be accomplished and these small agencies need help. The tourism industry depends on it, as well as the local businesses and luxury hotels Singapore businesses support.

The island is small and the population is dense. Which affords the city state one less concern as in larger urban cities, mining and large scale farming and agriculture industries are virtually non-existent. There just is not enough room, which for Singapore, is a blessing in disguise as these industries have been known over and over, to pollute the air, the surrounding land and the waters by which the operate. There is industry in Singapore however, and vehicle emissions and hospital bio-hazards that have not been controlled. And the dire need for some kind of legislation exists as the island is a rain forest. Recently there has been progress made in that the government offers rebates to those who chose to install such energy saving devices as solar panels and water conservation mechanisms. A governmental rebate is now available, as well, to those who chose to purchase the new electric scooters that are being put on the market this month. However, critics claim that the programs are too scattered and need a cohesive and decisive structure and plan to conserve the energy and protect the environment on the island.

The Environment of Singapore is a post from: The Art of Business

Environmental Challenges in the Mediterranean

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:08:51 +0000

Many environmental aspects of current life and the state of the world are affecting the islands off the coast of Spain. One of these is the island of Ibiza, long known as a party destination for the jet setters and celebrities, and also as a beautiful escape to crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean and the pure, pristine coasts. Unfortunately for 5 star Ibiza hotels and resorts is that the waters are being negatively affected through global warming and the ignoring of the effects the human impact has on the rest of the natural world. One problem of late, is an insurgence of jellyfish, literally tons of them taking over the waters and creating havoc for the life of the ocean as well as for the humans on land. Due to the disappearance of their natural predators, the sea turtle and tuna, due to the over-fishing, the population of various species has exploded. The high density of the jellyfish threaten the local marine life as well as the safety of the people traveling to the island and the people who live there and spend time on the beaches and in the water. Reports of jellyfish stings have doubled over the last few years, and the danger is that some of the stings are deadly. Resorts and beaches are doing what they can to warn the tourists and to educate them on the stings, and more life guards have been hired, along with first aid workers who are on the beaches at all times. The tourism companies, hotels, restaurants, and local businesses are worried about the effects that this will have in the coming tourist season.

Another problem for the beaches and cities along the shores of the Mediterranean and, well for all coastal communities throughout the world is just simply pollution. Ocean liners quite often dump their trash into the middle of the sea, thinking that it is so far out from shore and that the oceans are so big, but the trash is adding up and destroying the marine life of fish and the oceans plants. Ironically, many of the species in the sea do feed on jellyfish, plastic bags resemble jellyfish and many of those species are dying from starvation as their stomachs fill up with plastic bags. Many cities around the world have banned the use of these bags in grocery stores, requiring people to bring their own canvas bags with them on shopping trips, however, according to the organization Greenpeace, not enough is being done. Many of the resorts on the coasts of mainland Spain, and the Balearic Islands surrounded by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea find their livelihood and their means of conducting business from the sea and from the booming tourism industry, and many, such as the Island of Mallorca, have taken steps to be more environmentally aware.

Environmental Challenges in the Mediterranean is a post from: The Art of Business