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CLEAN WATER FOR A HEALTHY WORLD

Pure water drop

Spring has arrived and is inviting us to connect with Mother Nature to reflect on the greatness of its creation. During this month, activists and organizations around the world have been inspired by one of the most precious vital-elements offered by Mother Nature: Water.

During this month, national and international campaigns are creating awareness of the importance of water and its impact on economic development, food and energy security, human health and the environment. Here I share some of their recommendations:

WATER PROTECTION

The National Groundwater Association estimates that 44 percent of the US population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply. The first step toward protecting groundwater is to become aware of how it can be contaminated. The second step is to do your part to keep from contaminating groundwater. Here I give you some suggestions:

  • Properly store hazardous household substances like paints, paint thinners, petroleum products, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and cleaning products.
  • Do not mix hazardous chemicals for home use on the road, where they can be absorbed on the ground.
  • Eliminate toxic substances home use in specialized collection centers.
  • Do not dump hazardous household waste down the drain or toilet.
  • Be very careful not to overuse pesticides and fertilizers.
  • Do not throw cigarette butts down the toilet.
  • Do not throw medicines or pills down the toilet.
  • Do not throw garbage into rivers, lakes or oceans. Help clean up any trash you see on the beaches or in rivers and lakes.

WATER CONSERVATION

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly three-quarters of water used inside our home occurs in the bathroom, with 41% used for toilet flushing and 33% for bathing. The rest of indoor water use is divided between clothes washing and kitchen use, including dish-washing. Moreover, household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water per year across the country, so it is important to immediately fix any leak you make have in your home. You can take the following actions to save water waste:

  • Retrofit household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictions
  • Install toilets with low water consumption labeled WaterSense.
  • Repair leaky faucets; one drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons per year
  • Operate the clothes washers only when full, or set the water level to match the load size.
  • Check your irrigation system, a leak in the water system can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
  • Use rain barrel water collected to irrigate your garden.

In this month of water awareness, I want to leave a message of reflection and an invitation to care for and preserve this valuable natural resource. Share this message with friends and family, so together we can create a sustainable future, ensuring the existence and quality of this precious liquid.

“Remember: All the water, we waste or pollute today might be need it tomorrow”

By: María M. Hernández, Líder en Energía y Diseño Ambiental (LEED AP)

Ciudad Weston Newspaper

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BETTER HOME IMPROVEMENTS, OFFER BENEFITS

Minimalist white bathroom with vertical garden, wooden floor and pebbles, hotel, spa, modern interior design

As a professional of the construction industry, it fills me with joy and optimism to see how the industry has been slowly awakening, boosting our economy and creating new job opportunities. At the same time I have observed several faults in the Residential market that could create a negative effect not consistent with the projection for the coming years.

There is a big trend in remodeling of aesthetic: change in order to increase its value, focused primarily on the selection of flashy materials without knowledge of its composition or origin of manufacture.

Another point is the selection of cheap labor without proper certification and experience or lack of legality of the process in order to reduce the project costs. This has very serious consequences and risks that will depreciate the investment.

Moreover, the owner of the property makes renovations without appropriate professional advice to inform and help them understand new trends and projection of the industry.

Modern construction, interior design and decor are completely changing to adapt to a new era of technology. A focus on sustainability, resilience and energy efficiency will allow us to compete globally with the best construction in the world, with a demanding young market and to thwart the effects of climate change.

PROFESSIONAL TIPS FOR A GREAT INVESTMENT:

The key is to remodel and decorate looking for a return on investment without compromising the beauty and style. Invest your budget in better projects that generate savings through the implementation of efficient technologies and materials that enhance healthy indoor air thus creating spaces comfortable and healthy. This will add value to the property and place it at a competitive level for future buyers.

Interior painting: Paint technology has reached a very high level, being able to recognize their characteristics will bring great benefits. Today there are completely organic paints with no pollutants that cause cancer and other diseases; choosing this type of paints will eliminate toxic levels in the indoor environment. There are also paintings with thermal insulation that will reduce energy consumption, water resistance and fire retardants.

Remodeling kitchens and bathrooms; has been in high demand this year. The smart remodeling will be the one that implement efficient technologies for energy and water conservation. Use cabinets built with recycled materials without toxic emissions and water-mildew repellent. New materials such as bamboo, glass and paper recycled will be of great trend for countertops because they offer excellent features of durability, strength, and zero toxic emissions.

Curtains: It has always been an element of elegance in a house but the best investment will be those that incorporate ecological fabric without chemicals which in turn reduce energy consumption and serve as insulation of sound, creating healthier, comfortable, and more efficient environments.

For more information about remodeling, interior design, decoration and green building please contact me at: floridaleedap@gmail.com

By: Maria Mercedes Hernandez
Leader in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED AP ID +C)

Ciudad Weston Newspaper

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