Ways to make your house more eco-friendly

If we look around us, or just listen to our favorite radio station, we will hear one thing over and over. And it will be something about ecology. Our everyday impact on our planet Earth. Modern society’s role in the disaster that is happening all over the world. Ice is melting. Rainforests are burning. Major cities are about to lose clean water. Many animal species are about to disappear from the face of our planet. And maybe the worst thing – it can happen to all of us. Not today. Or tomorrow. But, it is slowly happening. And we have a role in it. That is why we should do everything that is in our power to make things better. To make a change. Even the smallest one. Just focusing on being eco-friendly will make a change. And change is something we all desperately need. In today’s article, we will talk about the ways to make our house move more eco-friendly. Why? Because it is time for us to become a part of that change we all desperately need. And you know what they say – no time like the present!

Ways to make your house move more eco-friendly

Planning and wanting to make a change isn’t the same as actually doing something about it. Relocating our household goods means a lot of waste. Decluttering, throwing away items that we don’t need anymore, using too much packing material… All these things combined – well, they aren’t eco-friendly. At all.

Money does matter

Let’s start with the money. The first thing you’ll need to do in order to make your house move more eco-friendly is to calculate your budget. Why? The answer is pretty simple. Almost every aspect of our everyday lives depends on our financial situation. That is the way things are and always will be. However, we have some good news for you. Making your house move more eco-friendly also means making your house move more budget-friendly. On the other hand, you will still have to do some calculating before making any final decisions. And no, don’t put your finances on a piece of paper. Use an app or spreadsheets. You are already making your relocation greener.

Use an online app instead of writing in your planner

Planning is everything

It really is. Just like preparing for any other huge life change, planning and organizing things accordingly when moving is a step you must take in order for things to go smoothly. Especially since you are trying to make your house move more eco-friendly. Every little detail matters. And that is why planning is so important. It will help you create a much clearer picture of your house relocation, prepare for what’s to come, and even to avoid some of the most common mistakes. Mistakes that won’t only cost you money, but can also be not-so-green.

Decluttering

This part matters. A lot. Why? The answer is pretty obvious, actually. Most people just throw away items that they don’t need or use anymore. However, since you are trying to make your house move more eco-friendly, throwing away unnecessary items won’t make the cut this time. You will have to think through this process.

Give your items a second chance

If you ask moving professionals, such as ones at Japan Relocation Services, almost every item can be saved when moving and trying to downsize. How, you might ask?

Use an online app instead of writing in your planner

Here are some tips and tricks that can and will come in handy when trying to make your house move more eco-friendly:

·        Selling some of your items is something that won’t only give your items a second chance, but it will also allow you to make some money along the way. And money, well, it is always a good idea to save some on the side. Moving or not. Check out a website such as Amazon.com, and we are sure you will find buyers for your items in no time.

·        Donate your items. Not only is it eco-friendly, but helping the ones in need is a real nice thing to do for your community and your fellow countrymen. Something that is completely useless to you might change someone’s life. You can never know.

·        Recycle. Yes. If it can be recycled, it definitely should be. It might take some time to find the right company, or a place to dispose of these unwanted goods, but hey – nobody said that going green was going to be easy.

Packing – a big part of going green when moving house

Choosing the right kind and amount of packing materials when moving is something that can make your home relocation not only budget-, but also eco-friendly. However, packing is something that can bring large amounts of stress into our lives. On the other hand, the packing process can be stress-free. All you need to do is put some effort into it. Think things through. Ask your movers for some advice when choosing your packing materials. And remember to choose the green ones. Even though it seems like going green is going to cost you some extra money when packing, it won’t. Opting for reusable, plastic packing materials saves you money in the long run. You can use these plastic containers for your storage unit or to organize your attic. Just be creative, and you will definitely make your house move more eco-friendly.

Think about the long run when choosing your packing materials

Conclusion

Going green when moving house is something that will require additional effort in order to make things work. On the other hand, the impact we have on our planet is not something we should be proud of at this moment. Every individual should do their best to help preserve our eco system. And making your house move eco-friendly is just a part of it.

Author bio:

Melissa Potter is a freelance writer, ecology enthusiast and a mother of two. Her main goal is reaching as many people as possible, and providing them with all the info they might need in order to organize and make their lives better.

1 Million most hacked passwords

From email to social media or even bank accounts, we all have personal and sensitive data on the cloud. We think that such valuable information is “secure” with a personal user generated password. Unfortunately, passwords are not as strong as we think. For instance, in this post we provide a list with the 1 Million most hacked passwords; Is your passwords in this list? 

Reconfigurable Self-Assembling Robots: MIT M-Block

Although  Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 is the most iconic Terminator, the different liquid metal terminators are amazing and marked a keystone in movie special effects. The T-1000 from Terminator 2: judgment day, T-X (Kristanna Lokken) from Terminator 3: Rise of the machines, and the recent Rev-9 from Terminator Dark fate, all of them got their special moment.

Since those terminators are made of liquid metal, they can take the shape and appearance of anyone or anything it comes in contact with. Everybody remembers the scenes when T-1000 (terminator 2) melts in the helicopter, or when T-X (Terminator 3) reshapes her boobs. The idea of a robot that automatically reshapes to any shape is great, and it may become reality sooner than expected.

The Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) from the MIT gave an important step towards such goal. However, they are not using any metal liquid. They developed the so called M-block

The M-Block

The M-Blocks are cubes with no external moving parts. Nonetheless, they’re able to climb over and around one another, leap through the air, roll across the ground, and even move while suspended upside down from metallic surfaces.  

Inside each M-Block is a flywheel that can reach speeds of 20,000 revolutions per minute; when the flywheel is braked, it imparts its angular momentum to the cube. On each edge of an M-Block, and on every face, are cleverly arranged permanent magnets that allow any two cubes to attach to each other. Thus, the M-Blocks may be arranged in any shape

Currently the M-Blocks receive commands via a radio signal. Future research will deal with automating such task. The commands and algorithms will be loaded into each M-Block, so that several hundreds of M-Blocks scattered randomly across the floor will be to identify each other, coalesce, and autonomously transform into a chair, or a ladder, or a desk, or any other shape. The following video shows the M-Blocks and an explanation from the developers.

In this video you can see a more detailed explanation.

References & further reading

Surprisingly simple scheme for self-assembling robots

Terminator self-assembling cube robots revealed  by MIT

What is the most eco-friendly packaging? | environmentally-friendly packing

Due to recent climate changes and our ever-changing environment, it has become more obvious than ever that we need to look for eco friendly solutions. Now, when it comes to energy sources and cargo transportation, being green can become quite complicated. It doesn't take much research to realize how complicated our climate problems are and how difficult it will be for us to deal with them. But, the one thing we can do is start small and local. And one of the ways we can do that is by exploring different eco friendly packaging options and seeing how we can use them. Don't underestimate the importance of such small changes, as they often lead to bigger, more impactful ones.

Cardboard eco-friendly packaging

When it comes to packaging, the first thing that people think of is cardboard. After all, the most common type of boxes that we use is made from it. So, it should come as no surprise that cardboard is a great solution for packaging in numerous situations. But, how eco-friendly is cardboard, actually? Most people believe that due to its recyclability and natural materials, it is the most eco friendly packing solution. But, you'd be surprised.

 

Cardboard is not always the best eco friendly packaging choice

Why cardboard is often overrated

In an ideal world, every piece of cardboard would be properly used, saved, and then recycled. Unfortunately, we do not live in such a world. A big percentage of cardboard is simply discarded as it is often the easier, hassle-free solution. Therefore, recycling that cardboard becomes impossible. Now, even if we manage to recycle cardboard, doing so is not energy free. Don't get us wrong, it is far better than making new cardboard. But, it still requires a lot of energy and resources. And, if we continue to use cardboard at the current rate, those resources might not be enough.

Green cardboard packing

So, is there a situation where cardboard packaging is the most eco friendly option? Well, as it turns out, there is. The best situations for cardboard usage are when you can recycle them easily. Even though recycling can be costly, it is still much more preferable to purchasing new packaging or throwing the old ones away. Not to mention that quality boxes can be reused multiple times, which makes them much more eco-friendly. So, cardboard can be a green packaging option. Just as long as you use good quality and you make sure to recycle it afterward.

Plastic eco friendly packaging

Plastic eco friendly packaging may seem like an oxymoron. After all, the biggest contributor to world waste and pollution seems to be plastic. With all those garbage patches in the ocean and the fact that it will take hundreds if not thousands of years for plastic to dissolve, how can one even argue that plastic can be eco-friendly? Well, as it turns out, there are ways in which you can use certain plastic containers for eco friendly packaging.

Eco-friendly plastic

The idea that all plastic is terribly detrimental to our environment is an old one. Once we started mass producing plastic, we made it in the most eco-damaging way possible. With little regard for natural resources, we made countless tons of plastic, and for a long time, we didn't even bother to recycle.

 

We still have a big, worldwide problem with non-recycled plastic, which is why we need to be careful when using it

But, that time is long gone. Now we have eco-friendly, biodegradable plastic that is great for packaging. Whether you want to store your possessions safely or transport them over long distances, there are plastic packaging solutions that you can use. Not to mention that plastic containers are sometimes the only solution for packaging, especially when we are talking about fragile items or liquid ones.

Cardboard VS plastic

When it comes to comparing the safety and sturdiness of materials, plastic will almost always be better than cardboard. There is not a type of cardboard that you can use, no matter the quality, that can ever compare to a mediocre plastic container. When it comes to packing and preparing your items for transport, plastic will always come out on top. You can argue that, in certain situations, cardboard can be better for gathering moisture. But you can easily deal with that by using proper padding with plastic containers. The possible downside to plastic containers is that they are more expensive and harder to recycle. It is much easier to find a company that recycles cardboard than plastic, as recycling plastic is more demanding and complicated. But there is a way around this.

 

It takes much more knowledge and energy to properly recycle plastic then cardboard

Renting plastic

As it turns out, the best way to use plastic for packaging is to rent it. Numerous companies offer plastic container rental, and it can easily be one of the eco-friendliest ways to deal with the packing. By doing so, you are reducing your carbon footprint effectively to zero (at least when it comes to packaging). Now, you can try renting cardboard boxes, but this is rarely feasible. Even the best cardboard boxes will become unusable after a couple of uses. Meanwhile, plastic containers can remain in pristine condition for years. Now, renting plastic is not the best solution for long-term storage, for obvious reasons. But when it comes to eco-friendly cargo transportation, plastic containers are the way to go.

Natural packaging

Finally, we come to the newest ways in which companies deal with eco friendly packaging. Namely, numerous Asian companies have started using completely natural packaging for their products. Materials made out of hemp, or even banana leaves are great, especially when used properly. With any luck, these eco-friendly packing trends will catch some wind and spread to the western nations. So, if you are running a company and are thinking of different ways in which to pack your products, consider being ahead of the curve. With some simple designs, you can make all-natural packaging quite possible.

Acknowledgment
We thank the contribution of Lisa Roberts 

All you should know before shipping your automobile

Shipping your car to another city, state or continent isn't as easy as it sounds. Even if you hire the right shipping professional, there are still some aspects you'll have to take care of all by yourself. And especially if you are trying to go green and pick a company that satisfies that criteria. There are just so many things that require your attention, and staying fully focused at all times isn't as simple as it looks. But, what is it that you should know before shipping your automobile?

Do your homework before shipping your vehicle

Yes. This is something you could and definitely should do prior to making any final calls. Auto shipping isn’t cheap or risk-free process, and that is why you need to be fully prepared. Simply do your homework. Explore your options. Calculate your budget. Learn everything there is to learn before shipping your automobile. No matter the distance. It doesn’t really matter if you are planning on leaving NY and moving to another state, or thinking about lending your automobile to your little brother. The shipping process stays the same no matter the distance, your reasons or the season; and the more you learn about the process itself, the more you’ll be able to save. Money, time and energy.

No matter the distance, you should always calculate your budget in advance.

Seamless door to door transportation is an option

Even if you are trying to go green with this project. And all you need to do is to find yourself a company that can provide you with the right type of vehicle transportation assistance. But, what are your options?

·        Open carry

·        Enclosed transportation

The first thing you’ll need to do is to think about your needs. Do you need to transport your car locally, to another city or state, and does your vehicle require some additional protection and care? All these factors combined will give you an answer that will help you choose the right service option for you. Also, this might be the right time for you to consider your budget. Cutting some costs is definitely a possibility, but only in the early stages.

Open carry vehicle transportation

Open carry transportation stands for an open trailer used for auto shipping. Shipping your vehicle this way is the most common and also the most affordable way to handle this task of yours. On the other hand, this type of transportation isn’t always a possibility. Why? Well, using this type of service also means that your vehicle will be exposed to all the elements of travel, and in some cases, that won’t be an option. Especially if your automobile requires additional protection.

Extra tip: ground clearance is important. It is advised that automobiles with ground clearance below four inches be transported using enclosed vehicle transportation.

Enclosed vehicle transpiration

If you need to transport a luxury, vintage or irregularly shaped vehicle, you should consider enclosed vehicle transportation as your go-to method. Enclosed automobile transportation will not only protect your precious vehicle from damage due to road debris and bad weather, it will also safeguard it from prying eyes and provide you with maximum privacy.

If you are planning oh shipping your vintage automobile, you should definitely consider enclosed vehicle transportation.

How much does it cost to ship a car?

The average cost of car shipping varies; however, there are some factors that can help you plan your budget.

·        Distance

·        Pick up and delivery locations

·        Vehicle height and length

·        Vehicle model

·        Vehicle condition

·        Auto shipping service type

Distance, pick up and delivery locations

Where are you planning on shipping your automobile? Transporting your car locally will cost less overall, but will be a higher cost per mile. Urban city areas have many possible stops on a shipping lane, require less fuel and time, resulting in the lower auto shipping rate. On the other hand, shipping your car to a rural area will increase your auto shipping quote.

Vehicle height and length

These two factors matter a lot when it comes to shipping. SUVs are usually more expensive to transport than sedans due to height and length difference because they are trickier to fit inside a transport vehicle, resulting in shipping companies increasing their rates.

Vehicle make and model

Some car models are cheaper to ship than the others. Why? It all comes to the size and weight of your automobile. Logically, the larger and heavier your vehicle, the higher the shipping rate gets.

Vehicle condition

Automobiles in working condition are cheaper to ship, and the reason is quite easy to understand. Non-working vehicles are harder to move, hence require additional work that results in higher shipping rates.

Auto shipping service type

As mentioned above, you can choose two different types of auto transport services. An open carrier is always a cheaper option, but if your automobile needs some additional care or protection – enclosed transport is definitely something you should consider.

How to prepare your automobile for shipping?

Here are five steps you should take before shipping your vehicle:

1.      Check all fluids in your automobile and leave only 1/4 of gas in the tank.

2.      Clean your automobile, inside and out.

3.      Check your battery charge.

4.      Check your tire pressure and leave behind a spare tire.

5.      Remove your personal belongings and everything else that can be damaged during transportation (antenna, spoilers and other ornaments).

Prepare your automobile for shipping properly and avoid common problems. 

And there it is – everything you should know before shipping your automobile. We hope that this guide has helped you get organized!

 Acknowledgment

We thank the contribution of Lisa Roberts 

Environmental impact of shipping in Canada

Environmental impact of shipping in Canada

A couple of decades ago, the industrial effects on the environment were a far-away topic. Certainly, something to be talked about and considered; but definitely not an urgent issue. However, as 2020 draws near, we are in an entirely different situation. These days, climate change and the industrial impacts on the environment are an extremely contemporary topic. Examining things like the environmental impact of shipping in Canada, and other countries and regions near the Arctic circle is more important than ever. With that in mind, we’ll take a look at the recent findings below!

Eco-friendly cargo transportation solutions

Traditional cargo transportation solutions didn't have the environment at the top of their priority lists. However, things are changing for the better. The environmental issue is something that many industries are tackling now, and the transportation industry is no different. That makes sense since transportation is among the biggest culprits for various sorts of pollution, CO2 and other hazardous substances emission. Luckily, people are becoming more aware of the impact they are having on the environment and they know that something has to change. Read on to find out more about some eco-friendly cargo transportation solutions.

Transportation industry needs to be more environmentally aware

What are the options for cargo transportation?

Every successful company depends tremendously on their logistics. The goods and services have to be delivered in a timely manner, and that used to be all that the customers cared about. Nowadays, these customers are becoming more environmentally aware and they want to know that the transportation of their goods was done with the least possible impact to the nature around us. They are also more aware of energy consumption and global warming. With that in mind, let's take a look at the options for cargo transportation: 

• Maritime cargo transportation - It accounts for 90 percent of all goods shipped from and to all parts of the world. Its advantages are that it is rather safe and cost-effective. The cargo ships can carry large volumes of goods too. One of the disadvantages of maritime shipping is that such transport is time-consuming. Even though maritime transportation is the least polluting mode of transport (per tonne of cargo transported over long distances), the sound and oil pollutions are still an issue.
• Airfreight - The main advantages of this transportation mode are speed and global reach. On the other hand, it is quite expensive and not environmentally friendly. 
• Railway cargo transport - The trains can carry large quantities of goods and they are a much greener option than road transport. However, they can't carry abnormal cargo. Plus, there might be additional costs to move the goods from the rail station to the final destination.
• Road transport - This is the most practical option for short-distance cargo transportation. But, this mode of transport is highly dependent on road conditions and it is not one of the eco-friendly cargo transportation solutions (with the exception of the trucks running on bio-diesel and energy from renewable sources).

Rail is the most eco-friendly option

Environmental sustainability is a crucial issue nowadays. The experts from transportation and the logistics sector are constantly searching for ways to improve the efficiency of the transport while reducing the emission and leaving the minimal carbon footprint. They also need to find options that are cost-efficient for service providers and service users. Railway turned out to be one such solution. Since the cost of fuel is constantly rising, more and more companies are choosing this sort of transport for their goods.

Railway transport is the fastest and the least expensive option for long distances

Trains can move their freight much faster and they are more eco-friendly too. As a matter of fact, the emissions of Carbon dioxide (CO2) are eight times less for rail transport than trucking. Also, trains can avoid congestions so they do not depend on traffic jams. The greatest advantage of rail is that it is able to transport large quantities of goods over long distances. In addition, the cargo train only needs two people to operate it (and it can even pull a hundred rail cars). We would need 300 trucks which means at least 300 truck drivers to transfer the same amount of goods by trucks.

The transition from trucks to trains is taking place at the moment, and we will see the results in the years to come. Let's add one more to the list of railway advantages - if you need temperature-controlled environment for your items you will most certainly find the solution in railway transport. 

Short sea shipping is also one of eco-friendly cargo transport solutions

When you can afford to be flexible about the time of your shipment's arrival, you should use the short-sea shipping option. The cost of this service is significantly lower than the same cargo transportation done by an airline. Besides cost-efficiency, short-sea shipping also prioritizes eco-friendliness over shipment time. That means that your shipment might not arrive ASAP, but the means of transport carrying it will not have a tremendous negative effect on the environment.

The roads in all urbanized areas are becoming more crowdy by the day. That causes delays in cargo transport and the increase in the emission of  CO2. The solution is in replacing at least some parts of the road with short-sea routes. Actually, that is what some carriers have already started doing.

Maritime transport is the most reliable, yet one of the most eco-friendly cargo transportation solutions

The good news is that even some smaller ports have started overtaking the shipments. That will shorten the times of delivery and decrease the impact on the environment. It means that some distances that are handled by trucks at the moment, could be conquered by ships.

FCL and LCL

Short-sea shipping used to be connected to Full Container Load (FCL). However, the option named Less than Container Load (LCL) is becoming more and more popular. This is perfect for smaller quantities of goods. If you want to send something that doesn't take up as much space, you don't need the FCL service. LCL is about sharing the capacity, so this option is both cost-efficient and eco-friendly. This can reduce the strain on roads which is one of the biggest benefits of LCL.

Choosing vehicles that use eco-friendly fuels is a step in the right direction

The vast majority of the vehicles used for cargo transport (some 90 percent of them) still use the oil-based fuels. But, there is an alternative and it is called liquid natural gas (LNG). This type of fuel is perfect for larger vehicles since the smaller ones do not have the capacity for storage. The recent studies have shown that the heavy-duty trucks using LNG emit 20% fewer greenhouse gases than those using oil-based fuels. As you probably know the greenhouse effect is to be blamed for longer and colder winters that we have all over the world.

The future lies in solar and wind power

Some more eco-friendly cargo transportation solutions are the vehicles using solar power (trucks with solar panels) or energy produced from renewable sources (bio-diesel and wind power). And that is the direction the road cargo transport should be going in. 

Acknowledgment
We thank the contribution of Lisa Roberts

How freight forwarders can lower their carbon footprint

As it is today, freight forwarding makes up about 7% of the world’s total carbon emissions. Now, this may not seem like a lot. But, if we are going to tackle the problem of climate change properly, we need to address it in every way possible. So, are there any ways in which freight forwarders can lower their carbon footprint? And if there are, how viable is it that they will be implemented? Well, let us take a closer look at this rather complicated question.

Fuel alternatives

The easiest way in which freight forwarders can lower their carbon footprint is to use better fuels. Now, this may sound easy on paper. But it gets really complicated, really fast, once you put it into practice. As it turns out, using eco-friendly fuel is not always cost-effective. Actually, it is almost never cost-effective. But, seeing as oil-based fuel is limited and it is bound to run out eventually, any responsible freight forwarder should be looking into fuel alternatives. So, what fuel alternatives are actually viable for a freight forwarder?

Image 1. We need to find green alternatives to oil-based fuel in order to reduce carbon footprint.

Guidelines for green warehousing and distribution

When it comes to using green warehousing and distribution, many people are not aware of its benefits and the easy ways to maintain it. We have prepared simple guidelines when it comes going green so you can easily start your green project and understand the ways you can do it without investing a lot of money and time. 

Figure 1. It's true that green warehousing and distribution is the future of doing business. (Photo source: unsplash)