So many products that we use in every day life are derived from petro chemicals. Look around you and see how many products include plastic. Even your clothes! But did you notice the paint on the walls? An acrylic emulsion, which is almost certainly what is on your walls, is made from petro chemicals and also contains many other noxious chemicals that are sourced from unsustainable resources.
The use of unsustainable resources has become a huge issue for everyone worldwide. It's resulting in serious natural resource depletion, climate change and biodiversity depletion to name but a few consequences. In order to try and ensure a viable world for our children, it is beholden on us all to try and rely on more sustainable products and materials wherever we can.
Housing is increasingly seen as a major environmental issue. Much attention is being paid to the energy usage of our homes and the contribution that this is making to climate change. But perhaps less attention is being paid to the materials that our homes are made from.
Modern acrylic paints are derived from mineral oil and petro chemicals. Oil, as we all know, is a finite and therefore unsustainable resource. The world also happens to be starting to run rather short of it. Furthermore, these paints off gas poisonous fumes which contribute to low level atmospheric ozone and therefore to global warming.
The sustainable alternative is to use what are termed 'natural' paints?those made from plant oils and plentiful natural minerals rather tan mineral oil and synthetic chemicals.
Not only do these create far less pollution and waste in their manufacture, but many of the by products of manufacture are actually compostable! They also fit in with the natural 'carbon cycle' whereby carbon emitted in the course of production is reabsorbed by the next crop of plants.
And it's not just paint that we rarely think of when considering the sustainability of our homes. Making anything uses energy and resources. The energy component is termed 'embodied energy'. This refers to amount of power required in the various manufacturing processes that result in the final product.
There's a paradox here'we are all realising how important it is to insulate our homes better. And yet the embodied energy in, say, fibreglass insulation is very significant. Whilst it is still outweighed by the energy savings in using insulation in the first place, it is possible to get insulation that works even better and which contains a fraction of the embodied energy'it's natural insulation made from wool or hemp.
This not only insulates as well or better but it has unique properties that cause it to absorb and desorb moisture from the air which help to proactively regulate the air temperature by as much as 6 degrees either way. It's also blessed with an ability to absorb formaldehyde, given off by processed roof timbers, and other airborne pollutants.
To make anything, we inevitably cause pollution and use requires. But given that we can hardly stop making things, we can at least choose to use products which minimise waste and pollution in their production, rather than those which, as is increasingly apparent, are doing so much to harm the world and to jeopardise our children's future.
Nature already offers us the benefits we need, work with her, not against her.
Environmental Benefits Of Recycling
What is Fractional Ownership
For those not familiar with the concept, fractional ownership involves a group of people purchasing an asset that they do not want or need to use all of the time. They buy a ?fraction? of the asset that entitles them to the amount of time that they need to use it. This is typically used for leisure assets such as second homes, yachts, cars etc. although it finds another application for functional items such as expensive business equipment or tools.
What Are the Environmental Impacts of Owning Leisure Assets
This varies depending on the type of asset you are considering. Second homes occupy valuable land, sports cars consume scarce natural resources, and yachts put pressure on the limited and fragile coastal environment through the construction of marinas and associated service. All assets consume energy and resources as part of their manufacture.
Second homes can also cause resentment in local communities especially if they are left empty for much of the year. They are seen to be driving up the cost of local real estate whilst contributing little to the local economy.
How Can Fractional Ownership Help
It is estimated that the average second home is only occupied for 4-5 weeks in a year. Sometimes owners will fill up the remaining weeks by renting the real estate out but the difficulties of arranging changeovers and keeping the home in a state that is suitable to rent discourage many. The use statistics for yachts and boats are the same if not worse. The desire to own a sports vehicle may result in it being used on a regular basis. It might be preferable to own something more practical and economic for regular use, and keep the fractionally-owned sports vehicle for occasional trips.
There is obviously the potential for more than one person/family to own the typical leisure asset. Most people (excluding the retired) would be able to share the use of a leisure asset with 3 others without significantly impacting on the opportunities to use it. A degree of compromise is required on use at very popular times, but the upside is more flexibility to have other holiday experiences or even buy additional fractional leisure assets. One problem with outright ownership of leisure assets can be the pressure to use them whenever you can, when you might want to do something different.
Fractional ownership also helps with pressure on local communities from second home ownership. As more people can share a smaller number of homes the affect on the local real estate market should be less. A fractional ownership second home will typically be occupied more frequently and will therefore contribute more to the local shops, restaurants, leisure facilities etc.
A Word of Warning
This article takes the view that fractional ownership will result in fewer leisure assets overall. It is possible if the concept really takes off that the increased number of people able to afford fractional leisure assets will actually increase the number of second homes, yachts etc. that are purchased. In this case the environmental benefits won't have been achieved but there will be a lot of happy people!
Both David Kitching & Neil Robertson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
David Kitching has sinced written about articles on various topics from . David Kitching is the owner of Natural Deco who supply a wide range of Eco Friendly and .. David Kitching's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.
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