Kaiser Permanente is living up to its reputation as a global leader in sustainability, which is exemplified by their recent recognition as a Climate Action Leader by the California Climate Action Registry. While Kaiser California is being awarded for its actions to calculate, report, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, the entire national organization has been taking steps to help the environment for years. Kaiser Insurance members are also encouraged to take their own steps toward being ?green.?
One way that Kaiser Insurance is encouraging members to be eco-friendly is with their Community Health Initiatives that help to build parks and bike paths in an effort to promote physical activity and reduce air pollution. Kaiser Permanente also hosts farmers 30 markets in six states to reduce car trips to shops and increase access to locally grown produce. And between 2006 and 2008, Kaiser California used 20 percent less water than the average hospital in the state by converting to digital imaging machines that save water without using harmful chemicals.
The list of energy saving and eco-friendly practices goes on. In 2008, for example, Kaiser Permanente purchased energy-efficient laptops, desktop computers and monitors that earned at least a silver-rating by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. The Kaiser Insurance organization also resold or recycled 74,000 pieces of electronic equipment the same years through a partnership with Redemtech. Recycling is a big deal for Kaiser California, where construction crews recycled 100 percent of the building materials generated during the demolition of two warehouses at the site of a new hospital.
If more organizations can follow the lead of Kaiser Permanente with emission reduction, recycling and various community programs, the impact on the environment could be quite noticeable. In order to see truly evident changes in the environment, however, it requires participation from individuals and organizations on a global scale.
When it comes to your home's ambience, lighting speaks volumes. Soft lighting that infuses your bedroom with a warm glow can envelope you with a sense of comfort and relaxation. Bright fluorescent lighting can lend an industrial air to your kitchen, while track lighting adds drama and flair. Bright outdoor lighting can help secure your home, while more discrete lighting can set the stage for evening gatherings of friends and family.
The wrong type of lighting not only diminishes your home decor, but it can also leave an unwanted environmental footprint and raise your energy bills in the process. Experts agree that you can lower your energy costs by over 25 percent simply by using energy more efficiently, and that switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs means cutting lighting-related energy usage by upwards of 60 percent.
There are several lighting products available that can both reduce your home's environmental impact and enhance your home's decor. They include:
Touch Lamp Dimmers: A touch dimmer converts a regular lamp into a touch light. Essentially, it converts a single-wattage bulb into a three-way bulb, in that with each successive touch, the light cycles from low to medium to high to off. Ideal for table lamps, floor lamps, desk lamps, and multiple bulb lamps, a touch lamp dimmer allows you to set the lighting to suit your mood - from touch & glow to ultra-bright - while saving energy and providing you with extended bulb life.
Touch Switch: A touch switch can instantly convert an electrical outlet without an on/off switch into one that's activated with the touch of your finger. It eliminates the need for rewiring, and works well with compact fluorescent bulbs, incandescent bulbs, and halogen bulbs, as well as holiday lights and under-cabinet lighting. The convenience of the touch switch makes it easy to turn off lights when they're not needed, thereby saving on energy costs.
Dusk-to-Dawn Light Controls: Unless you arise at dawn, chances are good that your outdoor lights are on during daylight hours. Dusk-to-dawn light controls screw into the light sockets and are activated by sunlight, so that the light automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn. Plug-in versions of dusk-to-dawn light controls serve the same purpose inside the house, making them ideal for giving your home a lived-in look while you're away. Plus, these light controls can extend bulb life by up to 500 percent!
Bulb Life Savers: Bulb life savers screw into the bulb socket and extend bulb life by making the filament burn cooler and dimmer. They not only allow you to use less energy, but they are ideal for bulbs that are hard to reach. Bulb life savers are even available for chandelier-sized bulbs.
Touch lamp dimmers, touch switches, dusk-to-dawn light controls, and bulb life savers all help you to save on energy and bulb costs while leaving a smaller environmental footprint. In the process, they add beauty and functionality to your home decor - definitely a winning combination!
Both Grojan Fabiola & Chris 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.