en-gb http://groengemak.nl/en/article.html Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:17:09 GMT 1440 Some ways of saving the environment are almost too simple to mention. Like using a back pack. transport waste habitat class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-02-03-23-28.rugzak-gemak.html article/2007-02-03-23-28.rugzak-gemak.rst A fridge is intended to store fruit and vegetables for a longer time than at room temperature. But it is no complete success, because the environment is far too dry. health habitat class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-02-04-13-29.groente-fruit-bewaren.html article/2007-02-04-13-29.groente-fruit-bewaren.rst Do you dislike using chemical agents to clean your home? Would you not prefer to do it differently, without being forced to return to green soap and blattered hands? Thatt's easy. habitat waste health class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-03-05-10-37.schoonmaken-zonder-chemie.html article/2007-03-05-10-37.schoonmaken-zonder-chemie.rst Western citizens eat meat out of habit. The quality of this daily portion of meat is not what it could be. For the same money, it would be possible to buy better meat, while at the same time reducing health risks and social dilemmas. health organic fairtrade class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-03-07-09-29.vlees-luxevoeding.html article/2007-03-07-09-29.vlees-luxevoeding.rst Over the last years, the world has followed the American habit of buying larger cars than ever. With larger cars comes the use of more fuel, more CO2 and more road tax. Are large cars a smart buy? traffic class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-08-07-14-01.auto-klein-charme.html article/2007-08-07-14-01.auto-klein-charme.rst Savings accounts are the simplest way to make your wealth grow a little, even if it is just to stay ahead of inflation. But what does a bank do with your money, once they have their hands on it? money class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-08-07-14-16.spaargeld-stuurt.html article/2007-08-07-14-16.spaargeld-stuurt.rst Many city gardens are largely paved, the intent being to avoid hassle. In reality weeds will grow in any corner between stones or tiles. There is a much easier solution, and that is to have a green garden. garden habitat class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-08-07-21-22.start-een-tuin.html article/2007-08-07-21-22.start-een-tuin.rst Most people agree that we need to care more for the environment, but it must not be too bothersome. Here are a few common reasons to defer your action a bit. class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-08-07-21-50.iedereen-nu.html article/2007-08-07-21-50.iedereen-nu.rst Waste bins and containers are usually smelly, especially in warm wheather. Interestingly, this is not necessary, as long as you recycle your waste properly. waste habitat class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-08-08-09-26.afval-reukloos.html article/2007-08-08-09-26.afval-reukloos.rst Micro fibre cloth enables environmentally sane ways of cleaning properly. And it is simpler and cheaper as well. habitat waste class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-08-08-10-29.microvezel-werking.html article/2007-08-08-10-29.microvezel-werking.rst Transport by train is pleasant, and for destinations in towns it is usually quickest to continue per bicycle. The Dutch Railways NS are active in this area in a very pleasant manner -- and it does not loose track of business users. transport. habitat class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2007-09-02-12-23.trein-plus-fiets.html article/2007-09-02-12-23.trein-plus-fiets.rst In the 1970's we experienced a worldwide energy crisis. Impressive as it appeared then, it is bound to look pale in comparison to what will start in the next 10-20 years: Peak Oil. It is possible to detach from this problem by embracing sustainable forms of energy. energy habitat peak oil class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-02-06-15-37.peak-oil.html article/2008-02-06-15-37.peak-oil.rst We have an enormous craving for exotic food, and often assume that what grows far away from us will taste better. But what about freshly picked brambles and other berries? They come from just around the corner and there's little as good as that. habitat organic class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-02-12-12-20.eet-hier-en-nu.html article/2008-02-12-12-20.eet-hier-en-nu.rst Among our dumped packaging are the juice carton and bottle probably the most prevalant. Is there any hope of ever reusing those? waste cradle to cradle habitat class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-04-08-19-45.bottles-back.html article/2008-04-08-19-45.bottles-back.rst A lot of our eating habits are not sustainable. How will our future diet look? habitat health class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-04-09-07-54.future-food.html article/2008-04-09-07-54.future-food.rst Much of our clothing and other textiles are made of cotton. Unfortunately this is produced in a manner that is harmful to itself. It is an example of the necessity to work with nature, rather than against it. habitat organic class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-04-10-06-53.cotton-blues.html article/2008-04-10-06-53.cotton-blues.rst Computer technology is not just driven for high speeds anymore; there is an increasing concern over energy efficiency. This is due to the desire for mobile gadgets, but all the developments to make these last longer on a battery are also good for desktop PCs. We review the future PC, and perhaps shed some light on your wishes for your next computer. energy habitat computer class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-05-19-10-05.toekomst-computer.html article/2008-05-19-10-05.toekomst-computer.rst It is possible to run a computer smoothly on broken memory, thanks to a Dutch invention: the BadRAM patch for Linux. A patch with a future. waste energy class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-06-02-10-08.badram.html article/2008-06-02-10-08.badram.rst A laptop consumes less energy than a full-blown desktop PC, which usually means it is overall cheaper, if not just wiser to use a laptop. In addition, laptops are the perfect alternative for a computer corner in the living room. energy habitat class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-06-10-11-50.liever-laptop.html article/2008-06-10-11-50.liever-laptop.rst Economists want us to keep buying things "to allow the economy to grow". But such growth is mainly interesting for governments and manufacturers; a consumer can literally buy nothing for it. habitat waste class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-06-12-10-04.consuminderen.html article/2008-06-12-10-04.consuminderen.rst Many consumers are negative about commercial flyers and brochures, while others tend to appreciate them. The solution is not to charge a tax fee on them, but to produce and spread them sustainably. waste habitat class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-06-12-11-44.duurzaam-folderen.html article/2008-06-12-11-44.duurzaam-folderen.rst As a consumer you seem to be subjected to the wild west world of big commerce. Or is there an escape? Is it possible to distantiate from the craze of takeovers? Can you avoid being lured into artificial products of low quality? It turns out to be possible. habitat money class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2008-09-30-08-51.ontketen-jezelf.html article/2008-09-30-08-51.ontketen-jezelf.rst Current farming methods show more and more cracks, and turn out to be a dead end. It is possible to grow our food in another manner, and the sooner we move to it, the gentler the transitiont will be. food habitat permaculture peak oil. class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2009-03-30-11-34.voedsel-beleid.html article/2009-03-30-11-34.voedsel-beleid.rst Theoretically we can all imagine an office, or household, without any paper. In practice though, we turn out to be highly dependent on paper as a carrier for information. But modern developments may change all that! habitat waste class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2009-05-12-21-06.paperless-office.html article/2009-05-12-21-06.paperless-office.rst The adaption of genetic DNA-material in plants and animals has strong proponents and opponents, and the different views on the topic usually leads to a tough battle. Nature itself could provide us with a solution to this insolluble debate. health class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2009-06-07-21-50.dna-rassen.html article/2009-06-07-21-50.dna-rassen.rst Occasionally we hear distress-calls about reducing numbers of bees. This is an immense problem because bees are useful pollinators of numerous crops on which we depend. Are there too few beekeepers, or are we all doing something horribly wrong to bees? garden habitat health class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2009-07-13-20-54.bijen.html article/2009-07-13-20-54.bijen.rst This is a product comparison of meat replacers on the Dutch market. food habitat class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2009-08-17-12-14.vergelijking-vleesvervangers.html article/2009-08-17-12-14.vergelijking-vleesvervangers.rst To govern, is to look ahead. In spite of that, a lot of government policy turns out opposite to how it was intended. How can you plot a fair, dependable course for a country? If you look at nature, you can see a mechanism that always works well: Finding a balance. habitat politics class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2009-10-07-21-22.balans-regeren.html article/2009-10-07-21-22.balans-regeren.rst A country that continues to be dependent on fossil fuels faces the upcoming problem of Peak Oil. The economic stability in such countries can be torn apart as a result of the market mechanism itself. Thankfully, policies can be crafted to avoid that problem. peak oil co2 energy class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2009-12-27-15-19.co2-afstapje-consumer.html article/2009-12-27-15-19.co2-afstapje-consumer.rst Producers of fossil fuels are facing an uncertain future; Peak Oil and global warming make it necessary to switch from fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives, but at what pace? And inhowfar are countries prepared to go to war for the last few drops? Luckily, there is a way out. energy peak oil co2 class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2009-12-27-15-19.co2-afstapje-producer.html article/2009-12-27-15-19.co2-afstapje-producer.rst The thoughts that spring to mind with recycling are overloaded boxes with flies and a funny smell. This may happen if you don't put much thought into recycling your waste, but with a bit of care and planning it is fairly easy to setup a recycling system that only has benefits. waste habitat health class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2010-05-16-11-16.recycle-netjes.html article/2010-05-16-11-16.recycle-netjes.rst When an advisory board for sustainability is setup in south Enschede, I will be happy to add my knowledge and ideas. I did a quick brainstorm to see if I could find ten ideas that would have potential for our community, and easily made it. habitat economy energy class:article http://groengemak.nl/en/article/2011-04-26-06-13.enschede-10x-knalgroen.html article/2011-04-26-06-13.enschede-10x-knalgroen.rst