Painting can be a great way to make some home improvements without breaking the bank. As well as benefiting our homes, painting can also benefit our mental health. It provides significant stress relief, due to shifting focus and allowing a person’s mind to relax. While the act of painting a room is relatively straightforward, there are a few tricks of the trade worth knowing that will ensure you get the quality result you’re looking for – and lucky for you, we’re here to share them.
Plan Ahead
From choosing your paint colour to making sure you have all the relevant equipment you might need. Look at the space you’ll be painting and gauge what will make the job easier. Do you need brushes or rollers? Will it be handy to have a step ladder for those hard-to-reach places? These are just a few things for you to consider before you make a start on the task at hand.
Prepare the Room
Prepping the room you’re painting properly can have a big impact on the overall finished result. Make sure you clear out any furniture that’s in the way and use old blankets, towels or covers to shield anything that can’t be moved – don’t forget to cover the floor too! Be sure to wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting paint on. Once everything is covered, you’ll need to take a cloth and dust down any areas where there’s dust or cobwebs including skirting boards and corners of ceilings. If there’s old paint stuck to the walls, use a paint remover to make the job easier. TOP TIP: use masking tape around floor edges, electrical sockets, light switches and skirting boards to avoid unwanted splatters. You can also use tape to create
neat lines for sections where you don’t want any paint.
Time to Prime
You’re almost ready to start painting but, first, it’s time to prime! Consider what kind of surface you’re painting. If the surface is porous the paint will quickly be absorbed when you apply it. Applying primer creates a seal that prevents this from happening. If the surface is glossy (such as highly varnished wood, or if a high gloss paint has been used on this surface previously) then the paint could struggle to stick. Whilst primer will help significantly, lightly sanding the surface will provide extra texture for the paint to adhere to.
Mixing
The trick to perfectly painted walls is to mix paint extender into the paint itself. Not only does this slow down the drying time of the paint, but it also acts as a conditioner smoothing out its texture for an even, streak-free finish.
How to Paint a Room in Few Simple Steps
We need larger buffer zones around protected marine areas, finds new study.
Even protected oceans and seas are severely affected by “edge effect”
A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals significant ecological damage to many marine protected areas (MPAs) around the world. The study findings point to a strong “edge effect” in these areas, such as a sharp 60% reduction in the fish population living at the edges – up to a distance of 1-1.5 km within the protected space compared to core areas.
The “edge effect” significantly diminishes the effective size of the protected space, and largely stems from human pressures, first and foremost overfishing at the borders.
The study was conducted by Sarah Ohayon, a doctoral student at the laboratory of Prof. Yoni Belmaker, School of Zoology at Tel Aviv University.
MPAs were designed to protect marine ecosystems, and help to conserve and restore fish populations and marine invertebrates whose numbers are increasingly dwindling due to overfishing.
The effectiveness of MPAs has been proven in thousands of studies conducted worldwide. At the same time, most studies sample only the “inside” and “outside” of the MPAs, and there still is a knowledge gap about what happens in the space between the core of the MPAs and areas open for fishing around them.
Ohayon explains that when an MPA functions properly, the expectation is that the recovery of the marine populations in the MPAs will result in a spillover, a process where fish and marine invertebrates migrate outside the borders of the MPA. In this way, the MPA can contribute not only to the conservation of marine nature, but also to the renewal of fish populations outside the MPA that have dwindled due to overfishing.
To answer the question what is the dominant spatial pattern of marine populations from within MPAs to areas open for fishing around them, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis that included spatial data of marine populations from dozens of MPAs located in different parts of the oceans.
“When I saw the results, I immediately understood that we are looking at a pattern of edge effect”, emphasizes Ohayon. “The edge effect is a well-studied phenomenon in terrestrial protected areas, but surprisingly has not yet been studied empirically in MPAs. “This phenomenon occurs when there are human disturbances and pressures around the MPA, such as hunting/fishing, noise or light pollution that reduce the size of natural populations within the MPAs near their borders”.
The researchers found that 40% of the no-take MPAs around the world (areas where fishing activity is completed prohibited) are less than 1 km2, which means that entire area is likely to experience an edge effect. In total, 64% of all no-take MPAs in the world are smaller than 10 km2 and may hold only about half (45-56%) of the expected population size in their area compared to a situation without an edge effect. These findings indicate that the global effectiveness of existing no-take MPAs is far less than previously thought.
It should be emphasized that the edge effect pattern does not eliminate the possibility of fish spillover, and it is quite plausible that fishers still enjoy large fish coming from within the MPAs. This is evidenced by the concentration of fishing activity at the borders of MPAs. At the same time, the edge effect makes it clear to us that marine populations near the border of MPAs are declining at a faster rate than the recovery of the populations around the MPA.
The study findings also show that in those MPAs with buffer zones around them, no edge effect patterns were recorded, but rather a pattern consistent with fish spillover outside the MPA. Additionally, a smaller edge effect was observed in well-enforced MPAs than those where illegal fishing was reported. “These findings are encouraging, as they signify that by putting buffer zones in place, managing fishing activity around MPAs and improving enforcement, we can increase the effectiveness of the existing MPAs and most probably also increase the benefits they can provide through fish spillover”, adds Ohayon.
“When planning new MPAs, apart from the implementation of regulated buffer zones, we recommend that the no-take MPAs targeted for protection be at least 10 km2 and as round as possible. These measures will reduce the edge effect in MPAs. Our research findings provide practical guidelines for improving the planning and management of MPAs, so that we can do a better job of protecting our oceans.”
Why Your Business Should Join The Paperless Movement?
When you are running a business then you are looking for every possible way to reduce cost and increase profits. There is a new trend nowadays and most businesses have started following it, going paperless, which not only reduces costs for the business and helps save some bucks but there are also various other benefits of going paperless, the most noteworthy is reducing carbon emissions. If you are considering going paperless then there is no better time to do so. Let’s have a look at some of the benefits of going paperless and why your business should join the paperless movement:
1. Reduction of Carbon Footprint
Most companies say that they want to reduce the carbon footprint in the world but still continue to use a huge volume of paper for their day-to-day tasks. Whether it is a small company or a big company, there are different departments inside every company such as the HR department, legal department, accounting department, etc and the employees of these departments print 3-4 times every day according to a study by Wakefield Research.
Every year acres of forest in the world are cut down just to manufacture paper and wood products. Wood processed products such as paper are among the top contributors to tropical deforestation in the world.
As a document is printed, it puts a further burden on the environment and contributes to deforestation. Consider departments such as HR, Accounting, Legal, etc around the world who are printing documents every day. They are increasing the carbon footprint and put a burden on the environment. When you can easily manage the documents online then why print them to put a burden on the environment.
2. Increased Productivity
Workers and Employees spend about 20-30% of their time managing and finding the right physical documents and if put in numbers then it is roughly 10-12 hours a week. When you have a whole bunch of documents in your office then it takes a lot of time, sometimes hours for you to find that single document that you were looking for.
In contrast, employees who are working in the digital environment are not known to waste time looking for documents or managing documents because everything is available virtual and they needn’t waste their searching the physical records. Such employees, who work in digital environments are known to be more efficient because they get more time to work on the things for which they were hired and less time managing and looking for physical records.
The digital environment and paperless environments help employees reach their goals and be more efficient. Employees who are known to achieve their goals tend to be more happier and productive than those who don’t. It is one of the biggest reasons why going paperless is beneficial for your business and why you should make the switch.
Digital documents are also much easier to manage as compared to conventional physical documents. Let’s take the example of PDFs which have become the industry standard document format. PDFs have graphic integrity, they are multi-dimensional, secure, compact, and there are so many different PDF tools available such as PDF Converters, PDF Mergers that make the whole process of managing documents so much easier as compared to conventional physical documents.
3. Reduction of Costs
Paper and paper-related products are costly as compared to digital documents. Not only do you have to buy the paper but also different paper-related products which include pens, staplers, files to gather those documents, etc, and also a separate room where all the official records are held. It is like money going down the drain and is not a wise thing to do for businesses, especially if they want to save some money. Going paperless can allow your company to save money.
By going paperless, you not only eliminate the cost of paper and paper-related products but your employees also get to focus on their work and why they were hired instead of wasting time managing and searching for physical documents. Plus, there are so many digital tools available that will improve productivity in a very small period of time.
Having paper in this digital age is just not the right business decision. In addition to the waste of time and effort that employees put into searching and managing physical documents, there is also a waste of money and money is just going down the drain.
4. Digital Transformation
Digital Transformation is happening all over the world and over the past decade, it has taken over the world like a swarm. For businesses, it is very beneficial because it easily integrates all the areas of business into a single digital platform and completely changes the way how companies operate. Regardless of the size or industry of the business, digital transformation has become very essential in this age.
Companies who have been operating through traditional methods may have a hard time making this shift towards the digital world and the workers may also be fearful about this change but technology is just helping us to become more efficient, more productive, and this ultimately leads to more revenue.
Going paperless is just another way for businesses to embrace digital transformation and there are so many different tools and technologies available that make this whole process so much easier.
5. Information Security and Disaster Recovery
When people talk about digital transformation then they focus on digital security and cyber threats but they overlook the insecurity of physical documents. A single piece of paper can contain sensitive information about employees and it isn’t that difficult to steal a single piece of record.
Along with this, talk about disaster recovery. If there was to occur any unforeseen event or a disaster in which the physical records of a company were lost or burnt then it would be nearly impossible to get those records back or recover them, whereas, if there was unforeseen circumstance and all the digital records were lost then can still be recovered due to the digital backup that contains all the previous records.
Now, what would you prefer, losing all the physical records and not being able to recover them or losing the digital records and recovering them as nothing happened, obviously the latter one!
Eco-Friendly Living Guide
Trying to live green and being eco-friendly is great and important when it comes to protecting our mother earth. Most businesses and companies have realized this and are doing their part by using recyclable material and less use of plastic to reduce the carbon footprint in the environment so that the products are less harmful or rough on the environment.
The change, however, never starts with companies but starts with individuals. We ourselves have to strive to make the environment more eco-friendly so we can harness the resources available for a much longer and sustained period. Most of us, as individuals, are pretty wasteful and don’t care much about the environment. An average American citizen produces about 4.5 pounds of trash every day and while this may not seem like a big number individually but when thousands and millions of citizens produce the same amount of trash and waste products then it adds up to be a very huge number.
Individually, we should play our part and try to live our lives as eco-friendly as possible. Luckily, there are many ways by which we can contribute to the betterment of the environment and live an eco-friendly life. Let’s dig deeper into the 5 Step Guide to an Easy Eco-Friendly Living:
1. Recycle and Reuse
The first and foremost thing to do in order to lead an eco-friendly life is live by the rules of recycling and reusing. Instead of throwing everything away that you are done with, try to recycle it or reuse it in any way possible. Maybe you can use them for something handy or donate it to someone who needs it. You can even watch some of the DIY videos and put on your own DIY hat and try it yourself.
If you cannot think of any way to reuse a material once you are done with it then make sure that you recycle it. Instead of littering and garbaging it, just try to recycle it. If you are unsure about what kind of products can be recycled then you can easily find a detailed list on the internet. In this way, you will be contributing less to littering the environment and more to having a sustainable, eco-friendly environment.
2. Conserve Energy & Water
Another way to live an eco-friendly living is to make sure that you conserve water and energy. Both of these things are usually taken for granted but there are many people in different parts of the world who don’t even have accessibility to these basic resources of life.
Always remember to turn off your lights, fan, and other electrical appliances when you are leaving the room. When you leave the lights and other electric appliances on then you are not only wasting the energy, increasing the carbon footprint but your electricity bill will be also much higher. Just make sure that there is no unnecessary light or electric appliance turned on in your house. Also, switching to energy-efficient appliances such as LEDs will also help. You should limit how often you are using an air conditioner or furnace.
Conserving water is also a good idea and we should be thankful that we even have access to clean and pure water because many people in different parts of the world don’t even have access to clean water for drinking. To conserve water, just make sure that you are doing your best to stop its wastage which includes turning off taps, taking shorter showers, etc.
3. Use the Right Products
Whether it is a difficult task like cleaning your home or a simple task like playing games with your friends and family on a Friday night, you should always try to make sure that you are using the right products, products that don’t cause any kind of harm to the environment.
Let’s take the example of home cleaning products which includes floor cleaners, window cleaners, dish soaps, etc. Many of the aforementioned products that are available in the market usually contain different kinds of chemicals which are harmful to the environment and disposing of them in an eco-friendly way can become difficult. Over-exposure to such harmful products can also be dangerous for your health.
As far as playing with friends is concerned then always make sure that you choose eco-friendly versions of the game that you are going to play with your friends. Board games over online games.
The point of discussion was that whatever you do, whether it is a complex task or a difficult task, always make sure that you choose the right products that won’t harm the environment.
4. Try to Grow Your Own Food
If you have space, capability, and resources then try to grow your own food. If you have a big enough space for a large outdoor garden then consider growing your own vegetables, fruits, and pulses. All such items that are used on a daily basis can easily be grown. By doing so, you are not only helping the environment but also going a little light on your expenses by reducing your spendings.
When you start growing your own food then you will realize that it will only cost a fraction or a quarter of the amount that you usually spend and the products that you will grow will be home-grown and of higher quality.
However, if you don’t have the resources to build an outdoor garden to grow your own fruits and vegetables then consider buying from your local market as you won’t be contributing to the transportation of food that can lead to a huge amount of carbon released from the engines of vehicles.
5. Encourage Others
If you are trying to live an eco-friendly life then you are definitely doing good for the environment but it would be so much better if you encourage your friends, family members, co-workers, and other people in the community to do the same. One person living an eco-friendly life is good but a dozen more doing the same is just better.
Try to spread the message in your community, in your close circles, and encourage others to live an eco-friendly life. Tell them about the importance of recycling, reusing, conversing energy and how it could be beneficial for not only them but for the environment too. If you do it right and tell the right information then you will definitely be able to encourage some people to join you in the eco-friendly movement.
Eco-friendly board games to play with your kids
The majority of the games played nowadays are video games that are played on some sort of electronic device and to be honest, this is not the most eco-friendly way by which you can play games.
Using electronic devices and smartphones all the time is just not great. Sometimes, we need to go back to physical socializing and talk with our nears and dears directly. In such instances, eco-friendly board games have always been the best because not only do they bring friends and families together but they are also usually eco-friendly, not being rough on the environment.
Whether it is your favorite board game Monopoly or you like playing cards with your friends, there is now every board game available that is made out of eco-friendly materials that aren’t rough on the environment plus you can always have a good time with your friends and family members when playing board games. Let’s have a look at some of the eco-friendly and old-fashioned games to play with your friends:
1. V:King or Kubb
It is a perfect outdoor eco-friendly game. Previously it was known as Kubb but not it is called V:King inspired by ancient Vikings. This is a fun game where the players have to knock their opponents’ shields by using their battle-axes. If anyone manages to do so then he will emerge victoriously and will get the crown.
The game relies on strategy and teamwork. You don’t need to be very strong or fast to win this game, you just need to have the right strategy to snatch the crown from your enemies and dethrone them.
There are now eco-friendly versions of V:King/Kubb available that are made out of hardwood completely and free from chemical and toxin stains. A fun game to get you and your group pumped up.
2.Endango
Endango is a board game that requires taking care of the different environments such as forests, oceans, ice caps, safaris, etc. Each environment has endangered species that you have to protect and every move that you will make will either help them in survival or further promote their extinction. The ultimate goal is to make sure that you protect all the endangered animals in every environment.
Not only is this game made out of eco-friendly materials but it also teaches us how our small actions can lead to the destruction of the planet and different species inhabited on it.
3. Tic Tac Toe
Although Tic Tac Toe is a simple game, but who says it isn’t fun? In Tic Tac Toe, you have to think about a unique strategy through which you can outsmart your opponent. Not only is this game simple and fun to play but you can literally play it at any given time you want to. Plus, there are now different eco-friendly versions of the game available that are made of 100% recyclable materials.
4. Cards
Playing cards has always been fun. Whether you are at a party or you need to kill some time, cards have always been fun to play. Not only is a pack of cards cheap but it comes in handy in different situations. Plus, there is now an eco-friendly version of cards available such as the Bicycle Eco Edition that is made purely out of eco-friendly materials such as starch-based glue, vegetable-based inks, and paper from sustainable forests, and along with that, they can also be fully recycled into a new pack of cards.
Those who are having a hard time leaving their smartphone or laptop can still play cards on those devices very easily. Popular electronic card games include Spider Solitaire, solitaire and Freecell. These games are also very fun to play and provide a soothing experience to the mind.
5. Jigsaw Puzzles
While people usually think of physical puzzle pieces when someone mentions a jigsaw puzzle, there are other options that are deemed more eco-friendly. For example, online jigsaw puzzles are easy to access for anyone at no cost and without wasting extra resources. One awesome site is Im-a-puzzle.com. This online jigsaw puzzle site has thousands of options. From beginner-friendly puzzles to incredibly difficult ones, you can decide which level is right for you. If you’re unsure, try out a few different options without worrying about wasting money or materials. Categories include animals, food, cars, holidays, and more. Another perk is you can create your own puzzle when you upload an image and define the settings – all without having to print a physical game.
6. UNO
UNO is the perfect game that you need when you are on a road trip, camping or fishing. All of us played UNO at some point in our lives and whenever you are out on a long trip with your friends, playing UNO is always a good choice. You won’t get bored plus if you happen to beat your friends then you get bragging rights over them. There is now an eco-friendly version of UNO available, UNO Wilderness Edition that is 100% eco-friendly.
7. Boggle
Boggle is another classic board game that most of us love to play with our friends and family. Although most of the versions used to be made from plastic, there are now newer, eco-friendly versions of the game coming which are made from heavy-duty wood instead of plastic, and as compared to plastic, wood is definitely an eco-friendly material.
All the rules of the game remain exactly the same, the only difference is that you are playing on a Boggle board made of wood instead of plastic. You can still enjoy playing your favorite board with your friends and family members & have fun.
8. Scrabble & Jenga
Scrabble is another eco-friendly board game that is always fun to play. If you are a linguist or vocabulary geed then you would love playing Scrabble. There is also a wooden version of Scrabble available nowadays that you can play with if you want to promote eco-friendly living.
Jenga is another game that people love to play, especially kids and teenagers. Stacking up the sticks and keeping them balanced is always a fun & challenging thing to do. Jenga is loved by people of all ages and as the game progresses further, it becomes harder and harder to balance the wooden sticks and eventually one of the players ends up losing.
Scrabble and Jenga are two games that have their eco-friendly versions readily available in the market and they can be played by people of all ages, kids, teens, adults, seniors, everyone can play these games.
What Does Your Communication Style Tell About You?
Every human being has a unique communication style using which he/she communicates and interacts with other people. Whether it is in real life or online, the way a person interacts, communicates, and expresses himself tells so much about his communication style and personality.
Basically, there are four communication styles; Passive, Aggressive, Passive-Aggressive, and Assertive. Every person has one of these four communication styles and a communication style reflects so much about an individual’s personality.
Let’s have a look at the characteristics of each communication style and what each communication style tells about the people of that communication style.
1. Passive Communication
First, off the list, we have Passive Communication. People who are known to have a passive communication style or use passive communication while interacting with people are known to act indifferent. As the name suggests, passive communicators have a hard time expressing their feelings or needs & usually fail to do so, which gives others the chance to express themselves freely.
Usually, people mistake a passive communicator’s lack of outward communication for the feeling of pride and it often leads to misunderstanding, where the other person gets angry because of the way a passive communicator speaks. While you can’t have a full-fledged, full-of-expression conversation with a passive communicator, such communicators are usually the best option to speak to in case conflicts arise because such people will avoid being confronted or deferring to others.
Passive Communicators are not only poor with words but their body behavior is also poor. They are often afraid to make contact, their body posture is usually poor when talking to others and they have the inability to say no or reject someone. While a conversation with a passive communicator isn’t the most fruitful, such people are easy to get along with since they usually have the inability to say No and they follow others and the statement “go with the flow”.
2. Aggressive Communication
When you will see an aggressive communicator then you will recognize him/her instantly. You will hear it, you will see it, and even feel it when you encounter aggressive communication. Aggressive Communication style is easily recognized and aggressive communicators usually speak in a loud, demanding, low-pitched voice, maintain eye contact, and try to dominate/control others through their actions which involve blaming, critiquing, and attacking others.
Aggressive communicators are aggressive when they communicate with others and they do so as to assert their dominance over others and make them listen. They are known to issue orders and usually talk in an aggressive tone, which most people find rude and they fail to listen to others. However, one of the traits of aggressive communicators is that they are considered leaders and captains since they have the ability to assert dominance and lead their team.
3. Passive-Aggressive Communication
Passive-Aggressive Communicators, appear to be passive on the surface and they lack the ability to express themselves properly in front of others but within, they feel powerless and build up resentment which leads to them acting in a different way.
Most of the passive-aggressive communicators, instead of confronting any person about an issue, all they do is mutter to themselves and build up the anger and frustration within. They have difficulties acknowledging their anger and their body & facial expressions contradict and don’t correlate with how they feel. Even if there is a problem, they would rather deny it rather than confront it.
They are usually considered silent speakers. They usually communicate with someone through their body language and when they have an issue with someone then instead of trying to resolve that issue in person, they would give them silent treatment which includes spreading rumors behind someone’s back, backbiting, and sabotaging their efforts behind their backs. They appear to be cooperative but the inside anger and resentment leads to doing the complete opposite silently.
4. Assertive Communication
Assertive communicators are known to be the most effective communicators because the assertive communication style usually features an open style of communication. Assertive communicators are known to express their own needs, desires, and feelings but at the same time, they also consider the needs of others and work for the benefit of the parties involved.
Assertive communicators usually try to make a balanced situation where it is a win-win for both sides. One of the best things about assertive communicators is that they usually don’t blame others. They are also good listeners and they respect the opinions of others. Assertive Communicators are confident about their own beliefs and opinions but they don’t degrade or insult someone’s opinions, although they may strongly disagree but they don’t degrade or insult someone.
Another key trait is that they are problem-solving and compromising. As compared to aggressive communicators, who will try to do everything for their benefit, assertive communicators are known to compromise in difficult situations to help others.
5G and the environment
5G or the fifth generation of wireless is the latest wave of wireless technology that will surpass the current 4G Technology that is being used all over the globe. The first generation of wireless technology called 1G brought cell phones, 2G or second-generation text messaging, 3G or third generation brought Internet access and 4G brought speed.
5G or fifth-generation wireless technology aims to bring the increased speed of data transfer, more responsiveness, and greater device connectivity simultaneously. This is what smart cities and the Metaverse hopes to build on.
The difference between 5G and 5GHz
Some people confuse the 5G Network with the 5 GHz frequency of the Wi-Fi Routers. 5G Networks is for cellular networks and is the latest generation of wireless technology while 5GHz frequency is an option that is available on most of the Wi-Fi routers nowadays and is accessible through the default gateway address of the routers.
It should be clear that 5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology for broadband cellular networks while the 5 GHz frequency band is an option that is available on Wi-Fi routers and provides a faster data transfer speed with negligible interference.
5G Wireless Technology is meant to provide ultra-high data speaks, in Gbps with ultra-low latency or ping, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a uniform experience to more users. 5G will revolutionize the way how everything works in the digital industry.
With that being said, let’s have a look at some of the impacts of 5G on the environment and how it affects the environment:
5G Energy Consumption
A concern that most people have regarding 5G is its energy consumption, how much energy will be consumed by 5G. In the current day, US Telecoms use about 31 million Megawatt-hours of electricity each year that is roughly equal to the energy consumed by about 2.6 million US households every year.
Since the 5G network requires more power-hungry base stations in order to provide maximum coverage, it is expected to consume up to three times more power than is currently consumed by 4G and LTE Networks. This is a huge problem in countries that are dependent on the consumption of heavy fossil fuels for electricity generation. Although, some service providers have committed to the energy-efficient deployment of 5G networks by depending on renewable energy sources to decrease the consumption of heavy fossil fuels.
Is 5G Radioactive?
There is a common myth over the internet that 5G is radioactive and there is also a widely-circulated photo in which a worker was wearing a hazardous material suit and it said that the worker was on a 5G tower, however, that was all false. It has been proven that 5G cell towers don’t emit strong radiation. The frequency of 5G lies in the radio frequency spectrum which is not powerful enough to cause risk in humans and the cell towers also don’t emit strong enough radiations that can cause problems in humans.
Does 5G Cause Cancer?
There is another common misconception that 5G causes cancer in humans, which is a huge lie. It has been found that human skin deflects almost half of the power emitted by the 5G frequency waves. 5G uses the frequency waves in the radio frequency spectrum and these waves probably don’t have enough energy to break down human DNA molecules or induce mutations in them.
5G’s Impact on Insects
5G’s Radio Frequencies are known to have an impact on insects since insects rely on high-frequency waves for many things such as communication, detection of food, detection of predators, etc. Insects don’t have the same level of resistance to high frequencies as most vertebrates have and as a result, these high-frequency radio waves can have an impact on insects because more energy at higher frequencies and could lead to disruption in insect behavior, physiology, and morphology as time passes by due to an increase in the body temperature of insects because of more absorbed energy. Such trials need to be run on insects on a widespread level to find all the effects.
Over 75 Nationalities Can Now Apply for an Egypt Visa Online
Electronic visa systems have been growing in popularity for a number of years now, as governments around the world seek to find a way to facilitate the process of streamlining application processes to encourage foreign travelers to visit their country.
This trend has only intensified in the last year or so, as authorities have seen the introduction of an e-Visa as a way to reduce in-person embassy visits and therefore reduce the risk of COVID-19 inherent with large concentrations of people in an indoor space.
An Egypt e visa has been available since December 2017, but the Egyptian government has now expanded the list of nationalities eligible for the online visa program. Egypt now allows passport holders from up to 75 different countries to obtain their visa through the electronic system.
Ghada Shalaby, the Egyptian Deputy Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, noted that the expansion of the program comes almost exactly a year since Egypt began allowing tourist arrivals to enter the country following the relaxation of coronavirus travel restrictions. She also expressed her hope that the move will help to significantly boost tourist arrivals from the newly eligible countries and help the recovery of the Egyptian tourism economy.
Passport Holders Now Eligible for the Egypt e-Visa
While over 40 nationalities have been able to obtain a visa for Egypt online since 2017, including all citizens of the European Union, the expansion of eligible countries means that nationals of several new territories can now submit an electronic application online. These include passport holders of several GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) counties such as the United Arab Emirates, as well as nationals of India.
The full list of territories for which the Egyptian e-Visa is now available is as follows:
- Albania
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
An approved e-Visa for Egypt may be issued as either a single entry or multiple entry visa and is valid for a total of 90 days from the date of approval. It allows a stay of 30 days with each entry to Egypt and is valid for purposes of tourism and leisure.
If a traveler from any of these countries wishes to visit Egypt for longer consecutive stays, or for purposes other than tourism, they will not be able to use the electronic system to obtain a visa. Instead, they will need to apply for a visa through the traditional method, by visiting the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate in person.
Benefits of the e-Visa for Egypt
The electronic visa for Egypt has several benefits for both the Egyptian government and travelers, as well as the environment, including:
- Promotes sustainability as removes the need to print out and present supporting documents in paper form as part of the visa application process.
- Reduces carbon emissions as eliminates the need for eligible citizens to travel to an Egyptian diplomatic mission to submit their application in person.
- Allows expedited entry to the country at border entry checkpoints, as removes the need to wait in long immigration lines to submit a visa on arrival application
- Reduces and streamlines the workload of embassy officials assigned to visa processing duties.
Additionally, as an approved e-Visa for Egypt is electronically linked to the same passport used to complete an online application, it is not mandatory to print out a paper copy to show on arrival. Nevertheless, it is still advisable to carry a hard copy of the visa on a mobile device to present to immigration officials, in the rare case of any problems with the digital system.
A Visa for Egypt is Not Always Necessary
The electronic visa program is ideal for visa-required travelers wishing to visit the majority of Egypt. However, in some cases, certain nationalities do not need to have an approved visa in advance to visit certain tourist-orientated resorts in the Red Sea region, specifically those on the Sinai Peninsula.
A large majority of nationalities, including all EU nationals and citizens of the United States, are able to obtain a Sinai visa on arrival if they are only traveling to Dahab, Nuweiba, Sharm el-Sheikh, or Taba resorts. This free permission stamp is valid for a single entry-stay of up to 15 days.
Additionally, visa-required nationalities do not need a visa to enter and transit through any part of Egypt if they do not spend more than 48 hours in the country before transiting to an onward destination. This is dependent on the traveler having a confirmed ticket for onward travel and does not apply to passport holders from Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, or the Philippines.
Updated Sept, 2023.
6 Top Benefits of Time Clock Apps
You’ve worked hard to build your business, and you put all the hours in, so why should you be out of pocket? With pen and paper used for payroll, it can take hours and be inaccurate! In this day and age, you can’t afford to have avoidable mistakes. Digital time-clock apps are always correct, reduce time and save you money in the long run.
Time clock apps put an end to the exhausting manual processes. Each day while you are sitting planning schedules, figuring out how many hours are required, you could be automating the entire task. Employers lose an astonishing $373m to buddy punching and time theft. Employees can abuse your system by clocking in too early or clocking out too late. Workers tend to forget to clock out when on a break.
Businesses are looking to save money, and the answer could be staring them in the face. Hence, many companies are moving into the digital era to get rid of these issues. Switching to a time clock app will help you be more productive, efficient and provide a better company vibe. If you are still unsure, keep reading for the benefits of using the best time clock app.
Here Are the 6 Benefits of Using Time Clock Apps
- Curbs time theft. Statistics from the U.S Chamber of Commerce estimated that 75% of employees steal a minimum of one time. With manual time-clocking, an employee easily steals five minutes here and there, and you wouldn’t even notice. Automated time removes theft as employees sign in when they get to work and sign out when they leave. Time clocks add another element as they have built-in GPS, meaning no more buddy punching. With GPS, employees only clock in and out if they are in the exact location set by you. Therefore, if a worker wanted to steal time, they would have to explain how an automated app is possible. Doing so is virtually impossible!
- Increased productivity. Manually figuring out payroll can be complicated, especially when you have to work out each employee’s attendance. With a time clock app, employees view their schedule, letting them know their time is valued. If employees sense that their needs are taken care of, they focus on their role instead of feeling cheated.
- Spend less time sorting. Any sort of paperwork is never fun and is very time-consuming. You have to ensure you have stock of pens, paper, printer ink, and the list goes on. Digitizing lets you get back to work, not spend time searching for loose papers, and not worry about re-stocking unnecessary items.
- Grow your business. Not going digital-only really works short term. If you want to grow your business and hire more employees, that same system becomes challenging to complete. As you employ more staff, it will take you more time to work out the hours completed. In addition, if there are queries over their hours, you won’t remember who did what. Growing your business also requires you to keep within budget. You could be overpaying your staff and losing valuable money that you could re-invest. Rather than waiting for that to become your reality, digitize today and see the change.
- Share progress reports. A time clock app helps you present data in a professional manner. You are able to present the breakdown of hours to clients or staff. In addition, this also assists you in deciding where you want to spend and grow areas of your business. Furthermore, you know how long each task takes to complete.
- Abide by the law. Accurate timekeeping is very important and protects you from possible lawsuits. With more and more people working remotely, time tracking is essential. You can keep on top of your finances and be aware of where your employees are at all times. Time clock apps help you show that you track time and pay according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Digitizing and using a time clock app, you will notice that you are much more efficient. Once you don’t have to worry about keeping track of hours, you can complete tasks that had been waiting on the back burner. Clocking in and out is not meant to take hours, and you won’t worry about justifying employee’s salaries. Managers also have a better understanding of how employees use their time.
Planning a Summer Trip: 8 Locations for a Perfect Student’s Vacay
Summer’s in full play and it’s high time for students to plan their vacation. There are lots of options suitable for anyone — extreme lovers, party-goers, gourmets, and culture buffs. Below is a list of fascinating summer vacation destinations to fit every taste.
What to Consider Before a Trip
Before choosing a location, each student needs to consider the following:
- The budget they can allocate for the vacation;
- The weather that will be suitable for the type of rest they plan to have;
- The accommodation that will be convenient with regard to their desired activities;
- The food to ensure they’ll be able either to cook or to buy the food they want.
Another important thing to do before setting out for a vacay is to finish all their assignments as this enables students to fully enjoy their rest. Students often need to write papers for different purposes and they’re always pressed for time. To get a high score, their works should be well-written and proofread.
8 Destinations for Students’ Summer Vacation
So, now it’s time to look at 8 amazing locations for a perfect student’s vacay.
For desperate party-goers:
Ibiza, Spain.
The first thing that comes to mind when you hear that word is exclusive club music, dancing on the beach, and making new friends. It’s a hotspot place for those who expect plenty of nightlife with vibrant parties.
The top most famous nightclubs in Ibiza are:
- Amnesia
- Eden
- El Divino
- Es Paradis
- Mei Ibiza
- Oceanbeat Ibiza
- Pacha
- Privilege
- Spac
Mykonos, Greece.
This Greek island never sleeps. Experts call it a worthy alternative to Ibiza. In multiple cafes and restaurants, the loudest parties take place, where you can meet famous DJs, actors, musicians, athletes, and other cover men.
Without a doubt, a Great attraction of this Greek island is the beaches. In Mykonos, there are lots of them. There are both some wild ones and some ultra-modern ones. Here’s a list of Mykonos beaches worth visiting:
- Super Paradise
- Platis Gialos
- Paranga
- Elia
- Agios Sostis
To have fun at all-night parties, students can visit one of the most popular clubs such as:
- Void
- Cavo Paradiso
- Paradise Club
For true culture lovers:
Budapest, Hungary.
An incredible location for students willing to explore the cultural and historical spots. Besides, the Hungarian city is located within touching distance from great European capitals, which allows to widen the trip geography.
Majestic and pompous Budapest can please those who want to see ancient Europe and learn more about its history, as well as those who are willing to go beyond the limits of excursions. To know both sides of Budapest, tourists are welcome to visit the following locations:
- The Parliament of Budapest
- Buda Castle
- Fisherman’s Bastion
- Széchenyi Chain Bridge
- St. Stephen’s Basilica
- Müpa Budapest
Rome, Italy.
A commonly known adage says, “All roads lead to Rome”. It’s an amazing, romantic place especially if it’s visited with a beloved one. There are dozens of places for sightseeing. By choosing Rome, students will definitely remember this trip forever.
Rome has a lot to offer to fans of ancient culture and modern art. Among the most popular tourist destination there are:
- The Colosseum
- The Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- The Trevi Fountain
- Villa Borghese gardens
- Roman Forum
- St. Peter’s Basilica
For real gourmets:
Tuscany, Italy.
This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. The delightful landscapes dazzle visitors, and the local cuisine is a true paradise for gourmets.
Tuscan cuisine can be described by three words: humble, simple, unique! It’s enough to try a slice of Tuscan bread dipped in olive oil, and you’ll understand it all at once! Tuscan cuisine offers a wide variety of meat, fish, and vegetable dishes accompanied by excellent local wines.
Once in Tuscany, tourists should try the following dishes:
- Cacciucco
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina
- Pappa al pomodoro
- Ribollita
- Ginestrata
- Gnudi toscani
- Baccalà alla Livornese
Provence, France.
Provencal cuisine is justly called the “cuisine of the sun”. And indeed, filled with aromas of the south and of spicy herbs, fresh fish, an abundance of vegetables, fruits and juicy olives, it reminds of a warm summer.
Provencal food cannot be confused with any other cuisine. It differs from classic French cuisine in its relative simplicity and proximity to home cooking. But it still has many peculiarities and secrets.
The most prominent Provencal dishes are:
- Bouillabaisse
- Daube
- Tapenade
- Ratatouille
- Aïoli
- Tarte Tropézienne
For extreme lovers:
Kathmandu, Nepal.
Kathmandu is a Mecca for extreme lovers. Here, one can try such striking and challenging activities as trekking, paragliding, rafting, bungee jumping, canyoning, etc. And the beauty of nature only adds to the pleasant experience of this wonderful place.
After feeling a surge of adrenaline during extreme activities, it’s time to have fun at other places such as:
- Boudhanath Stupa
- Swayambhunath Temple
- Pashupatinath Temple
- Kopan Monastery
- Thamel
- Garden of Dreams
- Kailashnath Mahadev
- Budhanilkantha
- Pullahari Monastery
Ayia Napa, Cyprus.
Ayia Napa is one of the most popular resorts in Cyprus. Many lovers of water sports and outdoor activities come to this location from all over the globe annually. Fans of outdoor activities can dive, surf, ride a catamaran, jet-ski, yacht, or go fishing here.
The main attraction of the resort is the old monastery built by the Venetians in the 16th century on the site of an ancient Christian church. However, there are other popular locations to visit:
- Thalassa Museum
- Cape Greco
- Sculpture Park
- Love Bridge
- Sea Caves
- Konnos Bay
Wrapping up
Being equipped with a list of the best destinations for summer vacation, now it’s easier to make a choice. The only thing left is to plan the dream trip and bring the most audacious plans and desires to life.
Standing the Test of Time: How Brick is Used in Both Classic and Modern Designs
Design elements are always changing over the course of time. If you look back ten or twenty years ago at how we built and decorated your homes, you may cringe at our choices. What was in style then definitely is not in style now.
However, there are some design elements that stay classic and stand the test of time. Bricks are one of these elements. They have been used for thousands of years – just look at ancient ruins in Europe and South America! And still, they are used today in some of the most modern and unique homes.
With some updates and modernization, you can achieve a chic and beautiful home by using this classic design element.
How to Incorporate Brick in Your Home
There are numerous ways to incorporate brick as a design element in your home. One of the most recent trends is an exposed brick wall in the home. Whether it’s in a hallway, the kitchen, or a bedroom, there is something so chic and unique about exposed brick.
This timeless design element not only brings warmth and texture to interiors but can also create a sense of natural charm. No matter what style you choose, raw or polished, it can complement a variety of decor styles. Similarly, installing brick veneer on an exterior wall gives a similar visual appeal, blending natural beauty with long-lasting quality. The combination of the rugged brick with modern furnishings can make any room feel both inviting and stylish. Design choices like this work well both in contemporary and traditional settings.
You can add brick to walkways leading up to your home, the exterior of your home, and even the chimney that sits on your roof. The options are endless!
Color Changes Everything
When you think of bricks, you probably picture a rusted red color. While this look is classic, this isn’t your only option!
You can change the color of your brick depending on the design you’re trying to achieve. With just a simple coat of paint or change of material, you can have blue-ish gray, white, black, and even tan-colored bricks to add to your home’s design.
Right now, white bricks are trending, especially in kitchens. It gives a clean and modern look to virtually any room and should be taken advantage of.
It’s All in the Detail
Just because you’ve decided to incorporate bricks into your home doesn’t mean you have to stick to the classic design of staggered bricks. Get creative with the details using smaller or uniquely sized bricks.
Use them in arches, around windows, to create round fire pits, and whatever else you’re inspired to create to make your home more comfortable and stylish.
A modern take on this classic design element requires attention to the details of the layout, placement, and their location.
Get a Professional Opinion
Bricks aren’t the easiest design element to work with, especially if you want to do it yourself. It’s best to get the opinion and helping hand of a professional brick mason to help you achieve a modern design with this classic structure.
Not sure where to look? Brickworks Property Restoration is the most professional and skilled brick masons available. With careful consultations and excellent customer service, you’ll have everything you need to have a stylish and modern home using the forever classic brick design element.
Raising Capital From Friends and Family
These financing rounds work in the following way: a specific individual, government organization or company invests a certain amount. Suppose the business reaches (or exceeds) a particular milestone, the lending party deposits another predetermined amount of financing. This is also a frequent strategy for some later-stage investors.
Typically you will go out to friends and family once you have a great presentation that perhaps you created after looking at great pitch decks on the internet from other startups.
Get a Lawyer
If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to hire an attorney to draft the agreements with any friends or family members who are willing to help, even if simple loans are the option you’re going for. Some lawyers in Silicon Valley or in Tel Aviv will barter their help in exchange for options in your company. Look around for accelerators and tech hubs that sometime offer free legal help as part of a startup package you might win, earn or become a part of.
It’s vital to employ someone who has experience working with many startups because it’s all too usual for a well-intentioned (but inexperienced) attorney to cause problems down the line if the initial structure and setup aren’t done correctly. If your clean tech solution is software, find someone who deals with IP in software.
Also, while it is feasible to find attorneys that work for stock in startups (as we mentioned above), it is not always encouraged, because having a neutral party is critical for crucial advising work (although it may be appropriate for more duties like contracts and terms/conditions agreements).
A deferral arrangement is more frequent, allowing you to pay off your balance once you’ve raised a significant amount of money. However, this is a straightforward way to build up payables. Beware of mounting legal expenses, and frequently talk with your attorney about budget expectations before work begins.
An IP attorney is different than one who works with intellectual property and patents. You will need both kinds if you have created an innovative solution.
Be Specific About What You Will Do With the Money
While having a complete pitch deck, executive summary, and financial model to present with your friends and family isn’t necessary at this time, the more you have in place, the better. If you think about it, an investor should know what they’re getting themselves into and that the item they’re investing in will have market value in the future and potential to generate a profit. An Excel chart with forecasts 3 years ahead will be expected.
As you raise later rounds, you’ll need to get into the habit of having updated paperwork for your investors, but for now, focus on a precise plan for what you want to accomplish in terms of your product, marketing, sales, and team growth.
Attorney Discussions:
Convertible Note Options if Friends or Family Want Stock in Your Startup
Convertible notes are a simple financial instrument with the ability to convert into stock later, comparable to a regular loan (term, interest, etc.). Convertible noteholders are issued shares according to the arrangement’s terms when a funding round establishes a startup valuation. This is often done at the Series A level.
Your attorney will likely advise you that it’s generally a good idea to propose going this route if your friends or family are throwing money in, and the standards of an accredited investor.
Be Cautious with Your Cap Table
One of the most typical early-stage errors is having too many full-fledged co-founders (those who plan to work full-time for the startup) and giving away too much stock. You should review all of this with your startup attorney, but in general, you want two or three people to control the great majority of your startup’s stock. You also want to vest the options over 1, 2 and 3 years. Founders quit and move on. You don’t want their shares of the company tied up if they aren’t all in. Build an all-in clause.
If you’re bringing on partners for equity splits, be wary of giving away too much to what are essentially service providers who act as early co-founders.
What is a Cap Table?
A capitalization table, sometimes called a cap table, is a spreadsheet or table that displays a company’s stock capitalization. Startups and early-stage companies most typically use a capitalization table, but any company can use it. The capitalization table, in general, is a detailed analysis of a company’s shareholders’ equity.
In the early phases of a startup, cap tables are generated initially, before other company documentation. Cap tables become more complicated after a few financing rounds and layout of the owners of stock and shares.
After Series A, a good rule of thumb is that the founders should hold at least 50% of the startup. From there, you can navigate your way back and forth.
The following are features of a suitable cap table:
- The CEO/Founder owns the majority share of the startup.
- As much as possible is owned by the founders.
- There is now an ESOP (employee stock ownership program) in place.
- There haven’t been any previous rounds where investors, including family and friends, bought more than 30% of the startup.
- Outside investors should own less than 50% of a company.
- There are no investors on the cap table with a poor reputation or who could cause a future conflict.
- There are no advisors, or other investors awarded a disproportionately large number of shares.
The majority of rounds are between 10% and 25%, but it isn’t good if you’ve given up 50% or more in a single round.
Founders and potential investors, including friends and family, might try a recap with existing investors, threatening that there won’t be any additional rounds if there isn’t a recap.
Your Friends and Family Money can be Part of Your Success
We can safely say that most startups fail between the original concept and the first few weeks after the product launches due to a lack of customer/user engagement and investor/team motivation to persevere.
On the other hand, founders have an excellent opportunity to boost their chances of developing a successful company with the appropriate combination of a strong team, original service providers, and friends and family money invested wisely.
Bats also like the food diversity of cities
A new Tel Aviv University on bats study found that, like humans, bats living in Tel Aviv enjoy the wide variety and abundance of food that the city trees have to offer, in contrast to rural bats living in the country, who are content eating only one type of food. The study was led by research student Katya Egert-Berg (below) and Prof. Yossi Yovel.
The researchers explain that despite the intensification of urbanization processes, which tend to lead animals to leave the city, there are animals that are able to thrive in an urban domain. One such example is the fruit bat. These bats, like humans, live in a variety of environments, including the city and the countryside; there are even some that forage in the city and then go home to roost in the country.
Prof. Yovel: “How animals cope with urbanization is one of the most central and important questions in ecological research today. Understanding the ways in which animals adapt to urban areas can help us in our conservation efforts. The urban environment is characterized by much fragmentation, and we currently have little understanding of how animals, especially small animals, like the bats, move and fly in such areas.”
The urban environment is fundamentally different from the rural environment in terms of the diversity and accessibility of food. Although the city has a larger variety of trees per area, there are many challenges that bats have to face, such as buildings and humans.
In rural areas, on the other hand, most of the trees are concentrated in orchards without barriers, but have less diversity – the trees are mostly of one type. Because of the fundamental environmental differences between the city and the country with regards to the distribution and variety of fruit trees, the nature of the bats’ movement when foraging in these areas differs as well.
In this new study, the researchers compared the nature of the movement of rural bats and city bats as they foraged for food. They used tiny GPS devices to track the bats, to see if the way they moved while searching for food was affected by their living environment, or the environment in which they were foraging.
They found that fruit bats foraging in the city are much more exploratory, enjoy the abundance of the urban environment, visit a variety of fruit trees every night, and feed from a wide a variety of trees. In contrast, the rural bats focus on only one or two fruit trees each night. Moreover, the researchers found that among the rural bats who roost in the countryside, there were many who left their rural homes every night in search of food in the city, and then flew back to the country after their meal. During their stay in the city, such bats share the same flight patterns as those of the bats that live in the city around the clock.
The study’s findings led the researchers to assess that even bats that live in rural environments their entire lives will be able to orient themselves in an urban, industrialized environment. They explain that there are animal species that are flexible – for them, the ability to adapt to a new and unfamiliar environment such as an urban settlement is an acquired skill. Such species, of which the fruit bats are an example, will in many cases be able to adapt to life in urban areas.
See also bunkers for bats
Dog poop DNA needed for pet license in this city
It was talked about in 2008 and we reported on it –– that dog inspectors in Tel Aviv were going to track you down by your dog’s poop if you don’t stoop and scoop. Finally the great idea to clean up the city is taking effect. The city will start a bylaw that will make dog owners submit a sample of their pet’s poop when renewing a dog licence in Tel Aviv and Jaffa.
According to the new bylaw, city inspectors will be able to test samples of uncollected dog waste and match it with DNA samples on the municipal database. The relevant dog owner will receive a fine in the post, and even be liable for the sampling and test costs.
We have two dogs (that we adopted from Ramallah where dogs run free and are shot, then thrown in a garbage bin) could we get away with just sending in one sample and poop for the price of one or could they know? Could I enact an evil plot and just send in a sample of my neighbor’s fouling dog? What about the rights of an animal? Can he be sequenced without his consent? I had a dream last night, kid you not, that every animal on the planet was given the same rights as human beings, by us human beings.
One dog for every 10 people
I am sure others will have some better ideas too. The ratio between Tel Aviv-Yafo residents and dogs is among the highest worldwide, with over 40,000 households looking after a four-legged friend – or one dog owner for every 11 residents.
Recognized among the world’s most dog-friendly cities, Tel Aviv offers free dog waste bags in public areas, has established dozens of dog parks throughout the city, and hands out fines to the minority of dog owners who fail to pick up waste in public areas.
According to municipal data, approximately 1000 tons of dog waste is not picked up by dog owners on a monthly basis. We could argue that that amount is just in the neighborhood of Florentine, the foulest smelling neighborhood in the city. Feral cats urinating and defecating everywhere and lack of public toilets make it the stinkiest place in Israel.
It was 13 years since the dog poop DNA test was put into action by an Israeli city. Maybe we can revive Ashpoopie, a hairbrained idea to give your pet’s poop a quick afterlife.
How to make your deck sustainable
A deck made from pallets. Source: unknown. You can also just use pallets for the frame.
We know that the wood industry is causing deforestation, harm to animals and people and climate change. That affects us all. A new UN project to track illegal timber is now set up, but play your part by making “smart wood” choices when building a new deck this summer, or winter if you are in temperate climates.
Look for the FSC label
Order wood through a trusted source and look for the FSC label that the wood was harvested sustainably. FSC labels are used on products to identify that the product has been verified to come from an FSC-certified source. FSC labels can be found on millions of products around the world: from toilet roll to your favourite book, that milk carton in your fridge, and other food products. I have friends who were part of the founding initiatives of the FSC in Canada. Read about its history here. Lumber can be treated with chemicals that are considered harmful to your health like arsenic and copper so not all “natural” wood is really good for you.
Work with Trusted Builders
Hiring experienced professionals ensures that your deck is built sustainably and safely. A knowledgeable contractor will help you source eco-friendly materials, minimize waste, and use construction methods that reduce environmental impact. When selecting a builder, look for companies with a commitment to sustainability and transparent sourcing practices. If you’re in Illinois, consider reaching out to deck builders Naperville who specialize in environmentally friendly designs and materials. They can also guide you on maintaining your deck to extend its lifespan, reducing the need for replacements. Choosing the right builder not only enhances durability but also ensures your deck complements the surrounding environment.
Reclaim old wood
Consider using vintage wood if it’s hardwood. The video below shows how you can build a new deck with old wood.
Upcycle pallets
If you don’t mind that it won’t last long, build a deck from pallets. You can also just use them for the frame and add a layer of higher quality wood.
Composite wood
Consider composite wood. It can also be used for decks. But never used it on raised beds for gardens, as it contains plastics and chemicals that can leach into your food. Composite wood typically offers between 15 to 20 years life span, lasting way more than wood. Invented in the late 1980s, wood-plastic composite decking (also called “composite wood decking”) is made of wood fibers encased in plastic. Composite decking is readily available at big box home improvement stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as local lumberyards throughout the US.
As more builders and homeowners learn of wood decking problems, many are turning to high-performance composite decking.
• Resistant to severe weather.
• Very minimal maintenance cost.
• Thanks to its plastic feature, it is highly mould resistant, irrespective of how exposed to moisture it is.
• It is lightweight and has a lock style, making boards easy to figure out for a successful DIY installation
If you go for “wood” find wood that is harvested local to you. If the wood you buy is forested in Canada, sent to China for treatment and then sold to you in Texas it is not sustainable wood. Find local, just like strawberries.
Avoid treated wood for your health and for the fish:
Chromium copper arsenate, or CCA, according to the Environmental Working Group, was once widely used as a preservative and insecticide in pressure-treated wood. In 2001, tests by the group and the Healthy Building Network showed that wood treated with CCA could expose people to dangerous levels of arsenic, spurring the Environmental Protection Agency to force its removal from the market.
Copper-based chemicals replaced the arsenic preservative, but some of them are also hazardous. For example, alkaline copper quaternary and copper azole are extremely toxic to aquatic life and should never be used in areas where runoff can be carried to surface waters, marshes or coastal areas. Borate-based wood preservatives are also common, but they can leach out of wet wood, leaving the wood vulnerable to decay.
Don’t build a deck
People everywhere are noticing the benefits of grounding. How about just planting yourself in the grass or wild weeds and avoid the deck altogether. More sustainable long lasting options could be ceramic tiles, like the ones used in Mexico and Costa Rica although these tend to break during the freeze and melt in really cold climates.