Plastic, Paper and the Price of Gas | Story
In a world gone “green”, everyone these days seems to be on the re-purpose, re-use and recycle, ban wagon. Yet do we truly understand what works, what does not, what is hype, what is real and just what does “going green” really mean?
We can start with the simplest of questions asked every time we visit almost any store – paper or plastic? Of course, this is a huge debate and has been for quite some time. Lets look at them one at a time.
Plastic bags are made from petroleum. Yep, you guessed it – oil. Now to be fair it must be mentioned that plastic is made of a by-product of oil refining. However, it accounts for approximately 4% of the worlds total oil production. That may not sound like a lot, but when you stop and think about it that is a great deal of oil.
Like paper, plastic bags are recyclable. Unfortunately, it usually is not and simply winds up in a landfill. Plastic does not compost like paper does. It does not breakdown over time and 20 years from now, that plastic bag that you sent to the landfill will still be there. Some stores are actually giving credit to people who re-use their plastic bags, but bottom line is, even if you are recycling your plastic, it can only be remelted and remolded a specific number of times before it winds up in the landfill anyway. And then, yes you guessed it again, it is going to be there for another 20 years.
To be fair, there are down sides to using paper as well. Paper uses a lot of natural resources to make. Not only do we consume vast amounts of fuel to run the trucks that get to and from the trees, the equipment necessary for loggers to fell the trees also uses a lot of fuel. Currently most fuel is still made from non-renewable sources. There is an incredible amount of work and time that goes into taking trees down and processing them into paper.
But looking on the positive side, more and more tree farms are being planted for the sole purpose of eventually using them for paper products and other wood based materials. The environmentalists are also ensuring that here in the U.S. at least, multiple alternatives are being sought for fuel to run the equipment and we are learning everyday about more renewable sources of energy to run the equipment needed to take trees down.
Even more positive, paper is not only recyclable it is 100% biodegradable. If it does make its way to a landfill, it will eventually decompose and be returned to the soil. More people are recycling paper everyday. You can even toss it directly into your own composting bin and next year it will be part of the soil you use in your garden or yard. Nearly every major (and many minor) community nationwide has paper-recycling areas where not nearly as many have those for recycling plastics.
You have made your decision. You are doing the environmentally friendly thing to do and are using paper when checking out at the grocery store rather than plastic. This is wonderful. You have also taken other major steps as well to ensure we have environmentally friendly materials in your home. When redoing those floors, you decided that bamboo flooring or some form of natural stone was the better choice - to man made carpeting. All of the newer appliances you have purchased are energy saving and cost effective.
So I have to ask, why do you still have those fake, plastic based and laminated countertops in the kitchen and the bathroom? Formica may be pretty and they can now make it to actually look almost like granite, which you love, but it is still not natural and is still a man made product that is going to live in the landfill for the next 20 years – not decomposing or helping the environment at all. Isn’t it time for you to change that and make your entire home “green” and environmentally friendly?
Plastic, Paper and the Price of Gas | Story
Published by care on July 15th, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »August 22nd-23th 2008 Stone Repair Class
This two-day boot camp is packed with skills training that can only be learned through a true hands-on experience. One on one tutoring based on your individual skill level. Each student has the opportunity to perform multiple repairs and polish various types of stones. No seats. No stories. No sales pitch. The students will learn how to make repairs and seams look and feel like a natural product, remove scratches, factory blending, chip repairs, color blending and matching, seam repairs, honing, and the widely coveted knowledge of top-polishing.
This class includes some of today’s new trends and finishes. Students will also learn how to deal with and doctor natural stone in a variety of colors, how to perform and maintain the antique finish, and how to remove the flaws of poor cnc tooling.
Successful participants receive not only the knowledge, complete set of tools necessary to perform typical surface repairs, but they are also eligible to join the NSRA.
The NSRA is a nationwide group of independent, natural stone restoration professionals dedicated to quality and the education of the consumer and our members.
Time: August 22nd-24th 2008, from 9am-5pm
Place: 30 Hilliard Street, Manchester CT, 06040
Cost: $1,800.00 us dollars
Public registration Ended: August 12, 2008
Click HERE to see what others had to say about the class.Click HERE to sign up our comprehensive class
Airport: Bradley International
Hotel: Fairfield Inn & Suites SM by Marriott® Hartford Manchester
121 Pavilions Dr
Manchester, CT 06040
August 22nd-23th 2008 Stone Repair Class | Story
Published by care on June 5th, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »Radon In Granite Causes Cancer
In what seems to be a genuine concern of the effects of radon emissions in residential homes. A certain Webster from a non-profit organization out of Houston has made it a point to imply without scientific proof, that natural stone could be a major contributor of radon in a household.
The allusion that seems to be made, that natural stone installed in your home is dangerous to your health is raised repeatedly on the Webster and in a recent local Houston TV news program.
Read the rest of this entry » Published by care on May 22nd, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »
How To MAKE YOUR NATURAL STONE SURFACES LOOK NEW AGAIN
Is your countertop surface damaged or showing its age? Don’t replace it – repair it! We have restored countertops, sinks, tub surrounds, service bars, and many other surfaces damaged by:
• Cracks
• Chips
• Stains
• Scratches
• Dullness from long term wear. Published by care on May 21st, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »
Granite Countertops Have Become Popular
Home remodelers and builders have experienced a boom in the demand for granite countertops in kitchens and bathrooms. The beauty and warmth of granite makes it an ideal material for aesthetic appeal in home design, and the durability and easy care of granite countertops keeps them a favorite for homeowners who are looking into the future. Though adding granite countertops to any kitchen can be quite costly, they remain the premiere choice in upscale homes, as they retain their value better than most other improvements. Read the rest of this entry »
Published by care on May 20th, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »
Granite is an excellent choice for your home.
Home remodelers and builders have experienced a boom in the demand for granite countertops in kitchens and bathrooms. The beauty and warmth of granite makes it an ideal material for aesthetic appeal in home design, and the durability and easy care of granite countertops keeps them a favorite for homeowners who are looking into the future. Though adding granite countertops to any kitchen can be quite costly, they remain the premiere choice in upscale homes, as they retain their value better than most other improvements.
Read the rest of this entry » Published by care on May 20th, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »
Kitchen Granite Countertops Are Available In Dozens Of Rich And Elegant Textures And Colors
Granite is an igneous rock, once molten and formed and cooled deep inside the earth. Some types of granite can look very similar to marble.
Granite is believed to be second only to diamonds in its hardness. Kitchen granite countertops are becoming increasingly popular because of this unbeatable toughness. Granite is a durable stone that requires little maintenance and can be highly polished or finished in a variety of ways.
Published by care on April 22nd, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »
Natural Stone Protection Plan | Newsflash
We are sure you have heard of companies that offer warranties on natural stone, but when you read the find print they warranty absolutely noting.
We would like to introduce The Opps Factor Plan; finally a plan offered by stone restoration specialists that can accommodate a customers needs. No more struggling to find a stone restoration service in the area. The peace of mind knowing that if the client has an issue, accident or just a basic maintenance plan to protect their investment. Our job is to restore natural stone. We are independent of the fabricators and installers. Read the rest of this entry »
Published by care on April 16th, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »
WHY Choose A NSRA Member For Your Project | Story
MAKE YOUR NATURAL STONE SURFACES LOOK AS GREAT AS INTENDED ONE THE DAY OF INSTALLATION.
Published by care on April 12th, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »
Is your natural stone surface damaged or showing its age? Don’t replace it – repair it! For nearly a decade we have restored countertops, sinks, tub surrounds, service bars, and many other surfaces damaged by:
• Cracks / Breaks
• Chips / Holes
• Stains / Discolorations
• Gouges / Scratches
• Dullness from long term wear. WHY Choose A NSRA Member? Read the rest of this entry »
NSRA web site of the Month (SOTM) - Natural Stone Restoration Alliance
The NSRA is now going to be running a “Website of the Month” contest each month where members can submit their boards to have a chance at winning Website of the Month.
Rules:
*Owner must be an active participant of the forum to submit their site
*User must have 10 are more post to submit their site
*Each user can submit only 1 site per month
*The submitter must own are work for the owner of the website
*All site must promote the use of natural stone over all other surfacesHow Will It Work
Published by care on March 27th, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Comment now »
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