Italy Promises To Eliminate Barriers To Renewable Energy Adoption

By 2030, Rome is expected to install an estimated 70 gigawatts of green energy capacity. But due to lengthy permitting duration, Italy is installing 0.8 gigawatts only every year, according to a report by Reuters. Italy is set to implement tight measures to streamline the authorization procedure of clean energy projects.

Italy’s previous energy plan unveiled in 2019 revealed it would generate 65 gigawatts of clean energy capacity within ten years. However, the complex permitting process is slowing down the rollout of renewable energy schemes. It also jeopardizes efforts to obtain the EU’s recovery funds and meet climate goals. Moreover, Brussels has reinforced its targets on carbon emissions since then, forcing many states to reevaluate their climate objectives. Below are ways countries, including Italy, can boost the use of more renewable energy.

clean energy in italy

1. Get rid of fossil fuel subsidies

Subsidy reforms on fossil fuels plus carbon pricing can generate about 2.8 trillion dollars every year in government revenue by 2030. The report by the New Climate Economy also reveals that implementing carbon pricing systems can be effective in supporting just energy transition.

Governments can use the revenue generated from carbon pricing to provide citizens, especially the poor and groups affected by structural changes, with rebates or tax cuts. This step will also help showcase the value of renewables and energy efficiency, thus discouraging investors from investing in fossil fuels.

2. Improve access to greener energy

Typically, government authorities make assumptions of how much households living with low-incomes can afford for clean energy. As a result, they end up settling for subsidized fossil fuel-powered centralized grid systems. Instead, governments should provide clean and better energy to all, as Freedom Solar states, empower everyone to access clean, affordable, and reliable energy.

solar-energy-trends

Solar panels are becoming more accessible, for homeowners and businesses

One way to achieve this goal is by investing more in building markets that provide the poor and small businesses opportunities to utilize renewables more often.

3. Encourage investing in energy efficiency

While innovative financing to enhance energy efficiency in buildings boosts economic growth, countries need to rethink and expand their policies. Doing so will help investment in renewables to flow. Some ways of enhancing energy efficiency investments include establishing standards for appliance and building efficiency, innovative funding options, and improved public procurement.

In recent years, countries worldwide are paying more attention to clean energy. However, fossil fuels still account for about 80% of energy consumption globally and 75% of carbon emissions. That’s because of obstacles, such as complex deployment environments for renewable energy schemes and soft costs. Fortunately, governments can boost the adoption of clean energy by eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, encourage energy efficiency investment, and improve access to green energy.

Can Weighted Blankets Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety?

The increasingly modern busy life has its own benefits, but stress and anxiety are part and parcel of this life. Most adults forget what sound and peaceful sleep look like as stress and anxiety do not leave them unattended. There are rarely a few who go to bed with peace of mind, but most are accompanied by stress and anxiety. For them, the ultimate solution, indeed, is weighted blankets for adults. These are also known as therapeutic blankets weighing between 10 to 20 pounds. Their pressure performs a therapeutic effect known as deep pressure stimulation, which helps relieve pain and stress, reduce anxiety, and enhance mood.

It has been proven through several researches in the past that pressure stimulation reduces autonomic arousal, which actually causes anxiety. Investigators have found in the above study that 33 percent of the stress of 33 people reduced by using these blankets. It is also helpful in recovering from insomnia, sleep disorder, and chronic pain. These blankets may carry health benefits, too. It is best to choose a blanket made of natural fiber, such as 100% cotton. The other blankets made of polyester are typically much hotter.

benefits of weighted blanket

Working

These blankets have a weight that gives relaxing pressure; as mentioned above, the swaddling, snuggling effect provides a soothing feeling while sleeping. These blankets help you in many ways. Let’s have a look at a few:

1. Better sleep

As these blankets have weight, the pressure these blankets will exert may generate nervous system responses that help in reducing your heart rate when you have anxiety issues. This may result in better sleep.

2. Activate natural chemicals – oxytocin and serotonin

Pressure may help the body release the chemical oxytocin, which may improve your immune system response, ease pain and stress, and help you sleep.

The pressure can make your brain ready to release a serotonin chemical, which calms your brain and body because serotonin helps keep food fresh and helps deep sleep.

3. Sensory healing

These blankets may help some people with autism spectrum disorder which is overstimulated by their noise. The pressure of a blanket may help them in taking rest.

Where to Get One

Weighted blankets are sold at department stores, drugstores, or online like on Amazon. Weighted blankets are not economical. They often cost between $65 and $200.

Are They Worth Buying?

There’s no concrete proof that these blankets cope with stress and anxiety in adults, but sales of these blankets have soared over the last two years which can help us conclude that it indeed has health benefits.

sleep-improvement-guide

These blankets are the best therapy available at home because it gives benefits like deep pressure therapy. These prove helpful in several conditions such as anxiety and stress, leading to different sleeping disorders if you want to choose one for your family and yourself. Go for the soft option that must be the snug size and is about 9 percent of the weight of your body.

Pay attention to the Instructions

Read the instructions properly for washing. Try to wash at home. Make sure the fabric is soft, and you are comfortable with how much it weighs. Because feeling too hot or trapped by the blanket’s weight will not be suitable for you.

To conclude, a weighted blanket’s pressure creates a soothing effect that helps to sleep better. This makes an anxious person enjoy deep sleep and also helps in reducing pain, stress, and anxiety. People suffering from several painful diseases relax with a weighted blanket. This is an excellent alternative to have sleeping pills at night.

How to Work Faster and More Efficiently on a Mac

Mac computers are developed for performance and durability. They are built with industry-leading hardware to ensure they are of the best quality. The computer only requires regular, moderate care to serve you for many years.

Sometimes Macs tend to be slow, which affects their efficiency. To improve productivity, make sure the computer is free from viruses. Maintain good hardware health for improved productivity. The computer will be more efficient if you learn to use shortcuts. Here are tips for working faster and increasing Mac productivity.

how to improve Mac productivity

Keep your Mac clean from viruses

Many things affect the speed of a Mac and its efficiency, and one of them is viruses. Cleanliness includes issues such as removing viruses and unwanted files. Many people believe in the myth that Macs are immune to viruses. While it is built to resist most viruses, it still gets virus attacks. It could experience a Distributed Denial of Service attack.

Some viruses replicate files until storage fills up. Other types, such as Baron Virus, hijack your browser and change its settings. One of the ways to prevent viruses from accessing your Mac is regular scanning. Use an antivirus to scan and remove viruses. This article provides you with guidance for removing the Baron Virus. This Bing-redirecting virus is a real menace, so you, as a Mac user, act immediately to remove it from your PC.

Learn to use keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts help you to work faster with enhanced efficiency. It helps improve your productivity by allowing you to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Using shortcuts, you can easily switch from one window or app to the next. You will not keep changing focus from the keyboard to the mouse, which lowers efficiency. It increases your precision which means you work with greater accuracy. Here are some simple Mc keyboard shortcuts.

  • Command + X to cut selected text/content
  • Command + v to paste the cut text
  • Command + C to copy items
  • Command + A to select an entire page

Do not stick in too many folders or install too many applications

When you are productive, you can keep creating new documents and folders all the time. Your Mac keeps a sustained speed until a certain point where it becomes slow. The sudden effect on speed is due to limited space in Mac storage. It could be because you have installed too many applications or documents. It is time to clean your Mac and remove excess documents and applications.

Go to File Finder, and then open the Go menu, then select go to the folder. In the field that opens, type /var/log and then tap enter on the keyboard. All your system log files will be displayed. Highlight all the files you want to remove and delete them. Another option is to open the folder where you have saved your files. Next, delete all the folders you want to remove or save them on an external disk.

Use Mac Mission Control

It takes time to switch from one window, app, or desktop space to the next. When you spend more time clicking on tabs, your focus gets distracted. It has an impact on your efficiency and productivity. Eliminate this problem with the use of the Mac Mission Control feature.

It provides you with a bird’s eye view of your open apps, windows, and desktop spaces. It arranges them on your desktop so that you can easily click on the item you want to view in full screen. You may also opt to view several items in the split view. This way, you will use less time to switch between documents.

Keep your Mac hardware healthy

The health of your Mac hardware impacts its speed and efficiency. Hardware can affect efficiency so much that your Mac stops working. Many things affect hardware health, such as overheating, dust pile-up, and age. Overheating can be due to working for many hours or a faulty fan. Liquids can permanently damage your Mac or cause it to work slowly.

Here are a few tips to keep your Mac hardware healthy.

  • When working, ensure nothing blocks the ventilation
  • Do not place heavy items on the keyboard
  • Ensure the fun is always working well
  • Avoid placing liquids near your Mac. Accidents happen, and they could spill on the computer and damage it.
  • Always place your Mac in a stable, flat workspace.
  • Avoid working in a room where temperatures are too high
  • Blow off dust from your Mac often.
  • Avoid storing your Mac in hibernation/sleep mode. Instead, shut it down completely when it is not in use.

Keep your files organized

File organization is crucial if you want to achieve improved efficiency and work faster. To have file efficiency means you can find applications and files quickly. It also means they open faster and save time. You cannot be productive on Mac if you spend several minutes locating documents. The solution is to keep your desktop organized.

You might want to designate space in the hard disk for storing your folders. Create several folders and name them according to their content. You may have a folder for invoices, designs, music, leads, contacts, and so on. It becomes easy to locate a document every time you need it. You will easily notice files or documents you no longer need and remove them.

Make sure you have enough memory

The RAM is the main CPU memory. It is the unit responsible for instructing the computer on what to do. When the CPU is up to date, it completes instructions faster. The RAM is housed in the CPU to provide temporary storage for apps and documents. It stores the recently accessed data for ease of access and speed.

Just like the hard drive, RAM storage fills up with apps and documents. Clean up the RAM to allow more temporary storage space. You may want to upgrade the RAM by adding an extra chip to increase the amount of memory.

Limit the number of browser plugins/extensions

Plugins help expand the functionality of browsers and allow a developer to add new features. Regardless of their benefits, too many plugins disrupt Mac performance. They become potential attack vectors that create further risk to your Mac. Due to an extended number of plugins, more of your Mac’s system resources are consumed. The solution is to limit the volume of plugins that you allow. Your Mac will work faster and more efficiently.

Conclusion

Mac is built to work with optimized speed and efficiency. However, this benefit is affected if you do not take proper care of the computer. To improve Mac productivity, learn to use keyboard shortcuts. Keep the hardware healthy by ensuring each component is working smoothly. Browser extensions help improve functionality and increase features. However, do not allow too many extensions because they reduce speed. Keep your files organized to make access and retrieval easier. Learn to use macOS features such as Mission Control, media, iCloud, organization, and creativity-based features.

Choose the Budget-Friendly Energy System for Your New Home

Newly arrived at your new home, the first thing is to make sure that you are going to pay the bill for the area that is in your use. That’s why the first day in your new home is advisable to take the meter reading of your energy system. Good time to introduce yourself to the president of the community or whoever wants to keep the keys of the accounting room.

This advice also applies to gas, water, and other supplies whether it’s new construction or used housing, you should take a meter reading.  Look for iselect energy website! When moving, the first thing is to take note of the different counters (light, water, gas) in order to take responsibility only for what you are going to consume.

energy-conservation-students

Your freedom of choice is sacred

It is very important that you know that you are always entitled to choose your electric company freely. You decide you send.  You have bought a house, or you are renting, this is a right of every consumer to choose the budget-friendly ways for electricity consumption. It is so legitimate that you are interested in changing or continuing with the electric company that you are hired.

What can you choose?

 The company that will send your electricity bill, that is, the electric energy trader.

What can you not choose?

The company that is responsible for providing the energy to your home, that is, the distributor. You do not choose it because you have to choose the one that corresponds to your place of residence.

When you arrive at a new house, it may happen that:

1. The light is discharged, and both the power and the rate seem appropriate:

If so, and if you want to continue being a client of the same marketer, all you have to do is change the owner of the contract. This procedure is simple, fast and free.

2. The light is discharged, but the power seems excessive or insufficient

You will have to make a change of power. This procedure costs money, although lowering the power can save a lot on your bill.

3. The electricity connection is registered, but you want to change the tariff

When you arrive, you can “inherit” a contract with a certain company and a certain rate. If what you find does not convince you, you are free to change your electric energy provider. It is your choice, which service you want to choose for your home.

4. The light has no connection to the electricity network

If your supply point has not been used for more than 3 years, this procedure costs money. The contract of registration is processed with the distributor, but it is the distributor that installs the meter and activates the supply. For this reason, the payment of this procedure will be made to the distributor in the first invoice.

The payment procedure for the efficient electricity providers is very simple and easy for the consumers. You can pay your bills and others online via credit and debit card.

كل ما يجب معرفته حول إعادة تدوير المحولات الحفازة

إذا كنت تمتلك سيارة، فلديك قطعة معدنية ذات قيمة مدهشة في نظام العادم الخاص بك. تؤدي المحولات الحفازة وظيفة مهمة لسيارتك وتحتوي على بعض المكونات الثمينة للغاية التي يمكن أن تستحق سعرًا جيدًا

بطبيعة الحال، فإن أفضل طريقة لضمان حصولك على سعر جيد للمحول الحفاز المستخدم الخاص بك، وأن يتم التعامل معه بالطريقة الأكثر مراعاة للبيئة، هي من خلال إعادة التدوير.

catalytic-converter

ما المقصود بالمحول الحفاز؟

تعد المحولات الحفازة جزءًا من النظام العادم في المركبات الحديثة التي تساعد على تقليل التأثير البيئي السلبي للسيارات. تقوم مجموعة المحفزات بتحويل الغازات الخطرة التي تنتجها السيارات إلى مواد أقل ضررًا.

فعلى سبيل المثال، يتم تحويل أول أكسيد الكربون والهيدروكربونات (التي تنتج الضباب الدخاني) إلى ثاني أكسيد الكربون والماء. تُستخدم المعادن الثمينة، مثل البلاتين، داخل المحولات الحفازة وتشجع التفاعلات عندما تتدفق أبخرة العادم.

يجب أن تدوم المحولات الحفازة طوال عمر السيارة؛ ومع ذلك، قد يحتاجون إلى الاستبدال في وقت مبكر إذا كانت السيارة تأتي بنتائج عكسية في كثير من الأحيان. يمكن أن تكون البدائل باهظة الثمن بسبب تركيبتها المعدنية.

تحتوي المحولات الحفازة على مجموعة من المعادن الثمينة مثل النحاس والنيكل، والسيريوم، والحديد، والمنغنيز. لاكن الأهم من ذلك، أن المحولات الحفازة تحتوي على الروديوم والبلاتين والبلاديوم. هذه المعادن الثلاثة ذات قيمة خاصة وتستخدم للمجوهرات والإلكترونيات والأغراض الصناعية.

لماذا يجب إعادة تدوير المحولات الحفازة؟

أولاً، يمكن أن يكون تعدين خام المعادن وتصنيع المعادن عملية كثيفة العمالة والطاقة، وتتطلب تعدينًا مكثفًا وعمليات مكلفة ومعالجات كيميائية ضارة. على سبيل المثال، يجب استخراج خام البلاتين من الأنفاق العميقة، مما يتطلب الكثير من طاقة الحفر، وهناك حاجة إلى كمية كبيرة من الخام لكمية كبيرة من البلاتين المنتج النهائي (1 طن من الخام مقابل 1 أونصة من البلاتين). بمجرد استخلاصه، يجب معالجة خام البلاتين بالمواد الكيميائية للحصول على المعدن. ليس هذا ملوثًا للبيئة فحسب، بل إنه سلبي أيضًا لعمال المناجم الذين يتقاضون أجورًا منخفضة عادةً ويجبرون على العمل في ظروف قاسية.

ثانيًا، وهو أمر مهم لعملائنا، يمكنك الحصول على المال مقابل المحول الحفاز عند بيعه لتجار الخردة أو شركات إعادة التدوير. نظرًا لمكوناتها القيمة، فمن الشائع إعادة تدوير المحولات الحفازة مقابل المال، مما يساعد البيئة عن غير قصد … الاستفادة والفوز.

كيف يتم إعادة تدوير المحولات الحفازة؟

كما هو الحال مع معظم المواد، بمجرد قبولها في منشأة استرداد المواد، يتم تصنيف المحول الحفاز، وفصل المكونات القابلة لإعادة التدوير فبمجرد فصل المعادن، يمكن نقلها إلى مرافق إعادة التدوير لإعادة استخدامها.

من المهم أنه لا يجب عليك محاولة إزالة المحول الحفاز ومحتوياته بنفسك. حتى لو كانت سيارتك خردة، فإن المكونات المعدنية الفعلية داخل المحول الحفاز يصعب إزالتها ويمكن أن تكون خطيرة للغاية.

لا تشكل المحولات الحفازة تهديدًا عند تركها دون إزعاج، ولكن بمجرد فتحها وتعرض الطوب الخزفي للهواء، فإنها تعتبر نفايات خطرة. لذلك من الأهمية ترك مجال للتدبير من قبل الخبراء الذين لديهم الخبرة ذات الصلة ومعدات السلامة.

إذا كنت تبحث عن طريقة آمنة ومربحة لإعادة تدوير المحولات الحفازة، فيمكنك التواصل مع مجموعة ايكوتراد التي ستتيح لك الرجوع إلى دليل التسعير لتحديد المواد وبيعها بسهولة بالغة.

Termite Infestation: Essential Steps on Eliminating Termites

Getting professional termite control services can be very expensive, as termites as well as fire ants are hard to control. Because of this, many people out there are beginning to wonder whether they can eliminate termites by themselves and whether choosing this route will be effective or not. If killing termites are something you’re considering then you happen to be exactly where you need to be right now.

Out of the numerous rodents, critters, insects and other pests, the termite is arguably among the most dangerous of them all. Getting professional termite control services can be very expensive, that goes without saying.

termite-infestation

Termite is a pest that has the ability to completely destroy the foundation of your house in just a couple of years or so. And that’s not even the worst part, which is for the first few years they’re basically unnoticeable. What this means is that they attack with no warning at all. Horrible no? Anyway, let’s take a look at a few ways you can get rid of termites and eliminate infestation.

1. Poisoned Bait

If you happen to be the type that’s a bit cautious of having large amounts of pesticides being sprayed all over your home then you might want to consider trying out this technique. With poison bait, you won’t have the need to use pesticides. The bait you set will attract termites that are foraging around and these termites will eventually carry this bait back to where the colony resides. You can place this bait in and around the whole house.

Some products go as far as having a detecting system as well aside from the bait itself. When installed, these types of bait systems will alert you when the bait is consumed. You can do this yourself or hire a professional. The costs of professional services vary and mytermitetreatmentcosts.com can help you determine the different costs available to you. Oh, and pest control professionals also employ the use of bait systems sometimes.

2. Liquid Termite Barrier

This method may not have the ability to kill the termites already infesting your home, however, it happens to be a fantastic way of preventing them from getting in. The idea behind this technique is to surround your home completely in a pesticide barrier that’ll poison any termites upon contact. While many commonly use it around the foundation of the house, you can also use it around certain wooden structures, tree stumps and wood piles.

Termidor happens to be one of the most effective of them all when it comes to products of this nature. Termites can’t detect it at all and it is very hard for them to avoid something they can not see nor smell.

3. Direct Chemical Treatment

While both poisoned bait and liquid barrier treatment are very effective when handling the outside of the house, there use isn’t really practical for the inside of the house itself. Yes, they can kill termites but they can’t be used directly within the house.

When you spot termites inside crevices found in your walls, rafters or attic, you’ll probably need something that can handle these annoying little critters right there and then. In such cases, direct chemicals will usually be your best bet. Most of these products come in a foam or spray, sprays being the ones that are most commonly used around the globe. With this method, all you need to do is locate the crevices and voids where the termites are and then spray the chemical or apply the foam.

4. Boric Acid

An ‘in-between’ solution that many people consider to be the best when it comes to the debate of natural solutions vs pesticides in pest control is boric acid. This method works on a number of insects, including the termite, It is theorized that this acid attacks the insect’s metabolic and digestive system. After the initial contact, it is known to take from around three to seven days before the exposed termite dies. And while it’s not exactly a natural solution, it happens to have much lower toxicity levels as compared to most of the other pesticides found on the market.

Borax, as it’s also commonly referred to, is widely available and is often found in powder form. However, you can also find it as a borate solution. When in powder form all you need is a good quality powder duster and then apply it by dusting the affected areas.

Your home is undoubtedly a very precious thing and pests should in no way be the cause for you to re-investment in it. They shouldn’t be the ones to decide for you whether you need to put in money into fixing it up again. Hopefully, these few methods highlighted in this article will help you ensure that this does not happen to you.

5 Easy Ways Businesses Can Reduce Their Carbon Emissions

As businesses continue to feel the pressure to operate more environmentally friendly, many are looking for ways to reduce their carbon emissions. Here are five easy ways that businesses can make a difference:

Ways Businesses Can Reduce Carbon Emissions

Increase Energy Efficiency

Lighting businesses and offices are bulky, expensive, and incredibly difficult to manage, particularly in the long run. Not only do bulbs require frequent, if not downright constant replacing, but they also generate a considerable amount of heat and suck up enormous amounts of energy. Utilizing LED lighting also has many benefits, ranging from improved utility bills to greater health and safety benefits for employees.

Promote Sustainable Practices Among Employees

Sustainable practices can include recycling work materials, turning off lights and electronics when unused, and unplugging devices from the wall. It would be best if you also considered donating or repurposing office furniture, electronics, and other materials that still have some life. You can also avoid using disposable products or single-use plastics whenever possible. Instead, opt for reusable items and consider investing in a recycling program for your business.

green entrepreneurship

Additionally, consider creating a green team to promote environmentally-friendly initiatives within your business. This can be a great way to get employees involved and build company culture as you strive for sustainable practices. By encouraging your employees to adopt sustainable practices, you can reduce your business’s carbon emissions, save money, increase efficiency, and boost morale in the long run.

Switch to Renewable Energy Sources

Installing solar panels is one of the most effective ways to reduce your business’s carbon footprint and contribute to the fight against climate change. Not only does it reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and traditional electricity sources, but it also allows you to take advantage of available tax credits, which can end up saving you money in the long run.

Additionally, since solar power uses energy from the sun rather than power grids or other non-renewable resources, you won’t be subject to price hikes and other fluctuations associated with traditional electricity providers. If you are considering switching to renewable energy sources, explore local providers and their available options. Working with an experienced Commercial Solar Installer can help you get the most out of your solar panels and the peace of mind that comes with a worry-free energy solution.

Implement Green Transportation Solutions

Encouraging public transportation, cycling, and walking are all great ways to reduce CO2 emissions in your business. Additionally, consider transitioning to electric or hybrid cars if you have a fleet of vehicles for deliveries or other purposes. This switch can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and save money on fuel costs over time. If you organize business trips, encouraging carpooling is also a great way to save money and reduce emissions.

Reduce Risk of Injury When Cycling

Support Eco-Friendly Initiatives in the Community

This can include sponsoring green events, volunteering with environmental organizations, and donating to make a difference. In addition, consider offering incentives or discounts for customers participating in sustainable activities. This can be a great way to reduce your business’s carbon footprint, engage with the community, and create a positive public image.

By taking these proactive steps and promoting sustainable practices, you can play an essential role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping preserve our planet’s resources. Not only will this benefit the environment, but it will also give you a competitive edge in the market.

The Global Green Economy Index 2016 – Key Findings

green-economyThe 5th edition of the Global Green Economy Index (GGEI) is a data-driven analysis of how 80 countries perform in the global green economy, as well as how expert practitioners rank this performance. Since its launch in 2010, the GGEI has signaled which countries are making progress towards greener economies, and which ones are not. The comparison of national green performance and perceptions of it revealed through the GGEI framework is more important than ever today.

Top Performers

Sweden is again the top performing country in the 2016 GGEI, followed by the other “Nordics” and Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Amidst these strong results, the GGEI identified areas where these countries can improve their green performance further. These opportunities – focused around innovation, green branding and carbon efficiency – could propel their national green performance forward even more in the future.

Developing countries in Africa and Latin America–including Ethiopia, Zambia, Brazil, and Costa Rica– also perform well in this new GGEI edition, ranking in the top fifteen for performance. While Brazil and Costa Rica receive similarly strong results on our perception survey, Ethiopia and Zambia do not, suggesting a need for better green branding and communications in these two African countries.

Like in 2014, Copenhagen is the top green city, followed by Stockholm, Vancouver, Oslo and Singapore. This new GGEI only collected perception values for green cities as lack of data availability continues to impede our efforts to develop a comprehensive green city performance index. Given the significant role of cities in the global green economy, city-level data development is an urgent priority.

Laggards

No country in Asia ranks well for performance on this new GGEI, with the exception of Cambodia, which was the most improved country as compared to the last edition, rising 22 spots to 20th overall. China, India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea do better on the perception side of the GGEI, but continue to register concerning performance results.

While many European Union (EU) members perform near the top of this GGEI edition, others including the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia rank near the bottom. These results are worrisome and suggest uneven national green performance across the EU.

Many of the countries with high annual GDP growth today rank poorly on the GGEI, further highlighting the limits to GDP as a growth indicator. These countries are mostly in Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines) and Africa (Nigeria, Tanzania).

The top green economy performers worldwide

The top green economy performers worldwide

Countries with a high reliance on fossil fuel extraction and export generally perform poorly on the GGEI, with a few exceptions. Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Russia all perform poorly while Norway and Canada do much better.

Continuing Trends

Rapidly growing economies, China and India continue to show performance weakness on the GGEI Markets & Investment dimension. Given the large investment required to achieve their climate targets, green investment promotion, cleantech innovation, and corporate sustainability should be developed further.

The United States ranks near the top of the GGEI perception survey and it is widely viewed as a vital market for green investment and innovation, yet overall the U.S. continues to have mediocre performance results, ranking 30th of the 80 countries covered. However, the GGEI found that U.S. company-level initiatives to green supply chains and reduce carbon footprints are accelerating.

Despite having a new prime minister, Australia continues to register a poor result on this new GGEI, ranking 55th of the 80 countries covered for performance. While green markets there are showing some strength, the overall carbon intensity of the Australian economy remains extremely high.

Hosting the annual Conference of Parties (COP) can positively impact the host country’s green brand. Yet this short-term image boost does not always translate to improved green performance in the longer-term, as demonstrated by the low GGEI performance results for Poland (COP19), Qatar (COP18) and South Africa (COP17).

The United Kingdom’s GGEI performance continues to lag behind its EU peers, ranking 25th of the 80 countries covered. While the UK does very well on both the perception and performance side of the Markets & Investment dimension, inconsistent policies supporting renewable energy and green growth continue to hurt the UK on other parts of the GGEI.

Note: The full report can be accessed here

3 Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Choices That Won’t Alter Your Life

While everyone is fully aware of the true extent of the global environmental crisis, not everyone is entirely willing to make changes that will slow the destruction of our planet simply because some are a massive inconvenience. However, affordable green living doesn’t have to be disruptive or expensive. There are a multitude of small lifestyle changes you can make that are both favourable to the environment and won’t drastically alter your daily life.

These could include practices such as composting food waste, using reusable shopping bags and water bottles, and opting for energy-efficient appliances. Cycling or walking instead of driving for short distances is another affordable green living idea that not only reduces your carbon footprint but also promotes physical health. Furthermore, installing energy-efficient light bulbs and making a conscious effort to reduce, reuse, and recycle can make a significant difference over time.

Switching to a plant-based diet, at least partially, can also contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle, as the meat and dairy industry is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Buying local and seasonal produce not only supports your local economy, but it also reduces the carbon emissions associated with long-distance transportation of goods.

Incorporating renewable energy sources, like solar panels, into your home might require an initial investment, but they can significantly reduce your energy bills in the long run and provide you with a clean, green source of power.

Remember, affordable green living is not about making one big change, but about making many small changes that add up. By adopting eco-friendly habits, we can all play a part in preserving our environment without making drastic changes to our lifestyles. The following eco-friendly decisions are highly recommended changes that will also save you a fortune.

1. Invest in Solar Power

Taking measures to lower your power bill will likely inconvenience your day as you try to reduce your power consumption through means that will essentially reduce your quality of life. Although, you can invest in solar power and enjoy the same power consumption as you currently are without actually harming the world around us. What’s more, you will be able to save a large amount of money as your power bill will ultimately be removed from your monthly budget completely.

The initial solar cost will be a notable investment and while many homeowners shun from the idea as installing solar panels is not entirely the cheapest decision, although, when considering that your monthly power bill will no longer be an aspect of your budget, you will be able to save in the long-run. The investment will continue to enhance your savings for years to come.

2. Switch To Glass

If you are currently making use of plastic products such as containers and other kitchenware products, you should consider the health benefits of switching to glass. Plastic has left a massive mark on our environment and by switching to glass you won’t just be reducing your own carbon footprint, but you will also be improving the health of your family as plastic products contain harmful chemicals. Therefore, the switch won’t change your daily life whatsoever, although, the environment will be thankful for the change and so will your family.

Some plastic products, such as shopping bags and drinking straws can be switched to other materials and as many retailers have noted the damage, shops are switching to paper straws and paper or material tote bags as zero waste trends are becoming more popular around the world. Once again, this effort will actually save you a small fortune over time as disposable items can become costly. Click here to learn about transition to zero-waste lifestyle. If you are a tea aficionado, you may consider switching to eco-friendly tea bags.

3. Adjust Your Transport Methods

Not everyone is prepared to walk or cycle to work simply to save the planet and this is often plausible as not everyone lives close enough to their workplace. However, there are other ways of being eco-friendly when travelling. You could consider investing in an electric or hybrid vehicle as the initial spend would also save you a fortune over time and when considering that using solar power means you won’t have to spend money to run your vehicle, your travel budget will be chopped in half.

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Alternatively, you could also consider starting a carpool to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads as this is also making a conscious eco effort to save the environment and save money in the process.

Recommended Reading: How to Level-Up Your Eco Efforts

Counseling Resources for Stressed Scientists

Professionals who work in fast-paced, high-stress jobs often find themselves struggling to keep up with their mental health. Scientists, engineers, and physicians dedicate themselves to careers of science without always managing the personal ramifications of a demanding work life. While it benefits all of society when scientists are dedicated to their work, it is also extremely important that they take care of their own mental health both for their personal development as well as long-term, lasting professional success.

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Resources for Stress Management

If you experience struggles with your mental health, it may help to read self-help articles written by mental health professionals. For scientists, this is much akin to reading research papers and then applying the findings to your own research. After reading such articles, reflect upon their value and delve into an analysis of how their advice can be applied in your own life.

As a scientist, you may be able to think linearly and analytically, and this thought process can actually be applied to the analysis of your mental health. Try searching MyTherapist for online resources, tips, and advice on finding qualified therapists who are ready to work with you.

When available academic resources do not adequately treat your mental health, the next step in the progression of addressing mental health issues may be to talk with a friend, colleague, or significant other. It is very helpful to discuss feelings and concerns with people you trust. It may even be worthwhile to read the self-help articles with another person so that you can each brainstorm ways in which the information included in the articles can be integrated into your life.

These articles may contain actionable advice, like instructions for meditation, journaling, or deep breathing that could begin your journey to improved mental wellness.

Therapy and Counseling

If your mental state does not improve after reading articles and having discussions with trusted companions, it is likely time to pursue therapy. Therapy can help when mental health issues loom with no apparent end to the symptoms in sight.

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The stigmas surrounding therapy have fortunately been shrinking. Therapy works well for those experiencing a diagnosed mental illness, but it can work wonders for anyone. Especially for those bright-minded scientists who regard their mental strength as impressive, it may feel demoralizing to need to speak with someone to regain control of your mind. Just remember that experiencing troubles with mental health is a very common occurrence.

Just because a person is very smart, it does not mean that they can control all mental processes and emotions. Addressing and improving any existing mental health struggles through therapy could actually benefit your thought process and therefore your work.

Online Therapy

Virtual therapy is a great resource that is only growing in popularity and availability. It provides patients with a convenient and confidential way to work through issues with a licensed therapist.

For busy scientific professionals, it may be difficult to find the time to schedule therapy sessions, drive to the therapist’s office, spend an hour in therapy, and then drive home. Thanks to virtual therapy, sessions may be more flexible and can involve less commuting and associated stress.

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Scheduling therapy sessions online is a simple, quick task that provides great flexibility in scheduling. And, since everything is online, the patient need not leave the comfort of their home or office to engage in therapy sessions.

Another benefit of virtual therapy is that the cost of online sessions is typically lower than in-office visits. While some health insurance companies may not cover virtual therapy as much as in-person therapy, the overall cost is still often much lower.

In-person therapy can cost between $65 and $200+ per session, depending upon the therapist and the type of therapy needed. Luckily, there are different types of online mental health services available to patients that represent a range of price points.

On some sites, text or email options can be available for around $40 per week. Sessions with online therapists are less expensive than in-office sessions and typically run between $75 and $120 per session. This is a moderately priced therapy option that provides virtual face-to-face treatment at a lower cost.

Remember to choose the treatment options that are appropriate for your mental condition and fit well with your lifestyle. The life of a scientist is tough enough, and caring for your mental health is a vital and valuable part of one’s personal and professional success.