Month: September 2018

Chances are your ideal match is, like you, conscientious and environmentally aware and just waiting to be discovered! Here are earth-friendly steps you can take to put yourself in the right place at the right time to make “the connection.”

Budding love can be found in a community garden.

If you live in a city, spending some time helping out in a community garden or urban farm can be a wonderful way grow both food and a solid relationship. Most groups accept individuals for a one-time gig or regular participation. Non-profit community farms often present opportunities to educate others about food systems and nutritious diets, sustainable farming practices, and giving back to the community by donating fresh, nutritious food to low-income families. This is a great way to meet compassionate, like-minded individuals.

Get involved in a local river cleanup.

Taking an interest in beautifying your local environment certainly makes you more attractive and positions you to make a date. Working together and achieving a common goal with immediate visible impact sets the scene for a meaningful bond. While this might not seem like the most innovative way to bring about environmental change, it can be one of the most rewarding. Since there are generally few government resources dedicated to cleaning trash from local rivers, it usually requires community involvement to make a change. Removing trash can make a river safer for wildlife and humans and improve water quality while protecting aquatic habitats.

Outreach for a cause: Passion.

Outreach and events will help you to meet eco-conscious singles. Look nearby for demonstrations or rallies that support environmental issues that matter to you. There, you’re sure to find others who are equally passionate about giving their time to the cause.

Green job spaces.

Most of us spend the bulk of our waking hours at work. It stands to reason that you may develop deep connections with the people that work with and alongside you. You may consider ways to enlist the help of coworkers in green education initiatives that improve recycling efforts or concentrate on company-wide energy conservation. This is a chance to shine in the eyes of your boss and the cutie from accounting.

Do you work from home? Consider spending some of your time in a local coworking space. You can choose a favourite setup or try several, from which you’ll gain fresh perspective and the chance to meet entrepreneurial singles who are also down with sharing resources.

If you’re looking for employment or considering a career change, note that many online job boards allow you to refine your search for green job opportunities that contribute to a more sustainable world. In this way, the benefits of gainful employment are coupled (pun intended!) with the high probability of meeting other eco-savvy individuals.

At Karunaki, we’re developing our very own natural deodorant, handcrafted and made in Canada.  Smelling good never felt so clean and green. Looking good, smelling good, and living eco is sure to attract anybody.  Be sure to stay tuned and keep a watch out for our product launch!

 

With love and compassion,

Team Karunaki

 

Are you eager to take action on your weight loss goals, and thinking about how to keep it eco-friendly? Here are our 5 top tips to get going!

1. Invest in eco-friendly workout gear.

Special equipment is not required for working out, but when you’re just getting started or your running gear is showing signs of wear and tear, you may need to shop for new gear. When the time comes, you may consider vendors that have a selection of eco-friendly workout clothes made with organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, recycled and even soy fibers, which are usually grown and harvested in a sustainable manner.

2. Eat less meat.

Livestock farming has a vast negative environmental impact, far greater than any other food production. It contributes to land and water degradation, biodiversity loss, acid rain, coral reef degeneration, and deforestation. It accounts for 18% of human-produced greenhouse gas, and contributes to climate change.

Consider making meat less of a staple in your diet. If you are reluctant to give up meat altogether, going meat-free just one day per week will significantly improve your carbon footprint. Can eating less meat help you to lose weight? Research shows that vegetarians and vegans tend to weigh less than people who eat meat. Plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables are generally high in nutrition and low in calories, and are important in a heart-healthy diet.

3. Healthy Hydration

Polycarbonate plastics – used to produce some single-use plastic water bottles – contain chemical additives and manufacturing impurities, such as bisphenol A (BPA), a harmful chemical. Even if you already recycle, it’s best to stay safely hydrated while you workout by making use of a BPA-free reusable water bottle to carry drinks, and invest in a water filter to reduce tap water contaminants. 

4. Go green with your transportation.

Consider ways get to your workout location of choice in an earth-friendly manner. Instead of driving to the gym, bike trail or park across town where you may carpool with friends, use public transit, or choose a nearby destination to decrease your carbon footprint even further.

5. Opt for eco-friendly exercise.

It’s possible to get moving in ways that improve your general well-being and slim your waistline while also reducing your carbon footprint! Some suggestions: 

Walking is considered one of the best ways to incorporate physical activity into your day. Experts recommend the average adult aim for 10,000 steps each day. Commit to walking to your destination at least one day a week if you can reasonably do so – you’ll be doing yourself and the environment some good.

Running, like walking, can be done almost anywhere with little to no equipment needed. This eco-friendly activity burns more calories in less time than almost any other form of continuous exercise.

Regular yoga practice improves flexibility and core strength, while enhancing your overall body awareness. It also helps in focusing the mind and deepens your connection to the environment around you. This is a great way to open your mind and spirit to the possibilities of further action to take in achieving your personal fitness and environmental goals! 

With love and compassion,

Team Karunaki

 

Photocred: Filip Mroz on Unsplash 

For many years, scientists have warned that a hole in the layer of ozone surrounding the earth will contribute to global warming, and could have serious negative effects on human and environment health. This problem is being addressed through global agreements to stop the use of ozone-depleting chemicals that damage the ozone layer.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, along with other greenhouse gases such as methane and ozone. When calculating an individual’s carbon footprint, methane and ozone are usually converted into the amount of CO₂ that would have the same impact on global warming (the equivalent is called a CO₂ amount).

Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support your activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide. For example, a car burns fuel and creates a quantity of CO₂ calculated by its fuel consumption and the driving distance. When you heat your house with oil, gas, or coal, then you also generate CO₂. Even a home heated with electricity emit a certain amount of CO₂. When you buy food and goods, the production of the food and goods also emit surprisingly large quantities of CO₂.

Your carbon footprint is the sum of all CO₂ emissions and CO₂ equivalents of other greenhouse gases – all of which were induced by your activities during a given time frame. Usually, a carbon footprint is calculated for the time period of one year.

What is a “good” carbon footprint? 

As individuals on varying paths, most agree that life is meant to be enjoyed responsibly. For this reason, there is no perfect number when it comes to carbon footprint. Realistically, the best carbon footprint you can strive for is the lowest one you can personally achieve. It’s a fact that most aspects of everyday life will have some impact on increasing your carbon footprint. In general, carbon emissions rise steeply as people’s income increases, yet there are steps we can all take to minimize our negative impact on the environment we share.

The first step is a fun and insightful one: start by using an online calculator to determine your current carbon footprint. From there, consider making lifestyle changes – big and small – that will create a measurable improvement on your carbon footprint score.

1. Food

As much as possible, buy locally sourced, organic, plant-based, unprocessed foods, and do your best to minimize and/or compost food waste.

2. Home Heating and Cooling

Buy energy efficient space heating/cooling and water heating. Take time (and save money!) by sealing your heating and cooling ducts.

3. Other Home Energy Use

Home owners and renters alike can take steps to:

• Buy energy efficient appliances and equipment
• Switch to LED lightbulbs
• Wash clothes in cold water and hang them to dry
• Turn off lights and appliances when not in use

4. Transportation

Minimize driving. Choose to walk, bike, carpool, and use public transit as much as possible. When appropriate, aim and plan to walk or bike anywhere within 2 miles of your home.

5. Purchases

Think before you buy new products, especially resource-intensive or heavily-packaged products.

It’s not possible to stop emitting all carbon dioxide today as total worldwide demand for energy accelerates and carbon dioxide emissions increase. The climate is already changing rapidly. Yet, if that pace is slowed, nature and human beings can adapt more readily. The total amount of change, including sea-level rise, can be limited. While some degree of climate change is inevitable at this point, there is hope and so much that we can do, both collectively and as individuals, to secure the best possible future.

 

With love and compassion,

Team Karunaki

Photocred: Sam Bark on Unsplash