Cut down on your waste and your energy bills with a Log Maker
The latest gadget for those who have a slow-combustion stove or wood burner, is a newspaper Log Maker. This fantastic eco product, retailing at under £20, could provide you with an hour’s worth of heat, per newspaper!
Not for the faint hearted, or more specifically, those afraid of putting in some effort, the Log Maker is a superb way to recycle your old newspapers to generate heat for your home, in an environmentally friendly way. Yes, of course burning paper does release some Carbon Dioxide, but let’s face it, it is going to be a much smaller footprint than having logs imported from some far flung country! (Or maybe even driving to your local Log Supplier!).
The Log Maker works as such – get around twelve newspapers, tear into strips, put them in a big bucket (or bin), mix with water and leave for two days. Stir occasionally! Then, when it is all a nice pulpy mess, fill the log maker with the pulp, let the excess water drain out, then hey presto, you have a log. Well, sort of. They need about a week to dry off sufficiently (obviously, they will dry out quicker in the sunshine). Mixed with conventional fire fillings (i.e. wood logs), these Newspaper Logs should burn for around one hour each. They solve the problem of what to do with your old newspapers (and your neighbours and friends papers as well!) and they should help save you money, whilst doing your bit to save the environment.
Environmental Awareness Starts at Home
Helping to reverse the damage caused to the Earth by human life is one of the most difficult challenges facing humanity. Indeed, modern living hinges upon key services and industries such as travel, motoring, transport, tourism and agriculture, all of which are intrinsically damaging to the planet. Cars, vans, lorries, motorbikes, trains and planes all leave a high carbon footprint, which refers to the emission of harmful carbon dioxide gases, into the Earth’s atmosphere. Moreover, agriculture is a key contributor to the so-called greenhouse gas effect, which describes damage to the planet’s protective o-zone layer caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Thus, even grazing cows are increasing the damage inflicted upon the Earth.
But how can this be reversed?
Every aspect of modern life is potentially harmful to the planet, from flicking on a light switch (if the energy source used to produce electricity is acquired from the burning of fossil fuels) to throwing batteries into the
normal rubbish bin (heavy metal components can prove toxic to the surrounding environment if not disposed of correctly). So, the only viable way of ensuring that this planet has a future for sustaining human life is by teaching children how to lead greener, more eco-friendly lives.
This is why it is crucial that children of a young age are encouraged to consider the effects upon the environment. Recycling is a good starting point for children, who can learn how to distinguish between different types of recyclable materials and why it is important to re-use rather than discard. Ultimately, it is how people think that will change the world.
