Friday 26 April 2013

Interesting facts about Trees

Trees are the essential elements of Nature that continue to nurture 'life' on planet Earth. The massive contribution of trees in maintaining the natural life cycle is unmatchable. It is only through their existence that amidst such rapid development and modernization, we get to breathe some pure and fresh air to keep fit and healthy. Talking about trees and their importance, here are some interesting facts that you might not be aware of. Read on to grow your insight about Trees:

1.      Atmosphere feeds the trees more than soil. They get 90% of their nutrition from the atmosphere and 10% from below the ground.
2.      Old age does not lead to a tree's death. Insects, diseases or humans can kill them!
3.      There are about 20,000 different species of trees in the world.
4.      Trees in the street help in reducing noise pollution by lowering traffic noise.
5.      Trees are natural pollution filters.
6.      Trees can induce rainfall by cooling the land and transpiring water into the sky from their leaves.
7.      Arbor Day is a public holiday in United States in which individuals are encouraged to plant trees and care for them.
8.      Knocking on wood for good luck originated from primitive tree worship when rapping on trees was believed to summon protective spirits in the trees.
9.      The older the tree, the more beneficial it is for the community. Large trees can hold and store more CO2.
10.  An interesting study has shown that households with trees in the vicinity have significantly less violence in their homes than those with no trees!
11.  Trees increase concentration power! People can make better choices and be more successful.

These known and unknown facts about trees can help you understand their significant importance in fostering healthy and successful living. So, plant a tree...save a life!



Thursday 11 April 2013

How to keep your house cool naturally

Worried about your electricity bills raising higher than the mercury levels in the summer season? Want to adopt some natural techniques to keep your house cool without much electricity consumption? Here are some tips to help protect your house from the heat in an energy-efficient way. Read on to bring some innovation in convention:

1.   Keep your house close tight during the warm season. Avoid letting unnecessary heat seep into the house. Ventilate in late evenings or during night.
2.      Plant trees around the house to reduce incoming heat.
3.      Replace your old air conditioner with a modern and high-efficiency unit to get the best value of both power and money.
4.    Buy a high-efficiency air conditioner: for room air conditioners, the energy efficiency ratio (EER) rating should be above 10; for central air conditioners, look for a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating above 12.
5.      Put all curtains facing the south and west directions during the days as they get you direct sunlight.
6.    Cover your house windows with bamboo shaded or woven screens to block 60-80% of the sun's heat enter the home.
7.      Install white window shades or mini-blinds. Mini-blinds can reduce solar heat gain by 40-50 percent.

The above techniques can help you maintain a cool house during hot summer season without disturbing the environment or increasing electricity bills. Keep the above factors in mind and enjoy a Cool Summer the natural and energy-saving way!