Sherpa Bag Small
Sherpa Bag Small What's the cheapest way to travel from NYC to Boston with a small dog? Hi! I have an 18-lb French Bulldog who fits nicely in a Sherpa duffel bag. We will need to travel between N...
Sherpa Bag Small
 What's the cheapest way to travel from NYC to Boston with a small dog? Hi! I have an 18-lb French Bulldog who fits nicely in a Sherpa duffel bag. We will need to travel between NYC and Boston around the holiday. I have kind of a tight budget... renting a car is pretty steep. Any other ideas? Thanks! Amtrak and bus companies won't let you bring your dog with you on board. And, if they catch you smuggling your dog on board, they'll kick you off. However, local train services might let you take your dog and you would have to call them to find out. Otherwise, you're left with two options: drive or fly. If these options are too expensive, the only alternative is to board the dog while you're gone or have someone stay at your house to take care of him. And, the cost of boarding the dog every day is probably more than the daily cost of renting a car. |
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The Debate On Whole House Air Purification Systems Vs. The Good Old Fashioned Open Window!
I recently heard that my city is one of the worst in the nation when it comes to air quality. (A good excuse not to get out for a jog…right?) Well, it got me thinking about what simple things that I could do in my own environment to improve the quality of air. Here is some debatable information that may blow your mind! Sorry to all you “Green Design” Lovers out there. Sometimes I don't think that we realize the ramifications that “new-to-the market” building materials may have on our health.
As it turns out, indoor air quality has become one of the major concerns of the Environmental Protection Agency. Strangely enough, air inside homes and offices is more toxic than the worst outdoor air – possibly two to five times worse, especially in newer, energy efficient houses. Insulating properties designed to keep winter's cold air out and summer's air conditioning in are not assisting you in improving the air quality in your home. The old fashioned exchange of indoor/outdoor air doesn't happen often enough in the newer energy efficient homes to keep interior air safe to breathe. It is times like these that I am glad I live in an 80 year old home! LEAD RULES!
The reality is that the implementation of new materials that can reduce your overall utility bill may also result in higher health costs. Allergies are on the rise. One study determined that 54% of our body's energy comes from the air we breathe, so the stuffy air indoors – where most of us spend 90% of our time – are depleting our body's natural resource for defense on every level while it attacks our immune systems with an overload of used air.
The traditional solution of “opening a window” isn't always possible in office buildings.
Studies show that air filtration and purification systems can correct the problem. As I began to search for systems, I saw a mind-boggling assortment of options in a wide price range to improve the quality of the air we breathe. Not one filter or purification system can meet all needs in all areas, so it's important to know what you are shopping for in an air cleaning system for your home.
Here are some pros and cons highlighted in pursuing a system, if you choose to at all:
These are key words that you will find on packaging or labels in the specifications of various systems
• Ionizers: This is a process used in conjunction with other kinds of filters. It emits a small electric charge to the air stream which draws air through it; this creates a magnetic-like attraction for pollution particles and causes them to adhere to the filter.
• Electrostatic Precipitators: Filters the air by creating opposite charges on metal wires or plates; this attracts and holds dust, pollen, smoke and other particles as small as .0001 microns on a metal, glass or fiberglass assembly that can be washed and re-used.
• Ultraviolet Light Purification: Passes the air through a UV system that destroys bacteria, viruses, and dust mites of any size.
• Ozone Releasing: Destroys all bacteria that comes in contact with the ozone, and leaves a “fresh” smell in the air. We associate this with the clean smell following rain, because some ozone, carried from the outer atmosphere where it protects us from harmful sun rays, remains in the lower atmosphere after a storm.
The safety of ozone gas in interiors, however, is questionable; it can irritate the lining of lungs and exacerbate breathing problems. The US federal government has set standards depending on the rate of filtration and room size recommendations. The Canadian government has banned the sale of ozone releasing air purification systems.
• High Efficiency Particulate Air (hepa) cleaners capture airborne pollutants .3 microns or larger; this includes some tobacco smoke, household dust, and pollens. The are designed to remove 99.97% of the particulates that pass through the filters, which cannot be cleaned and re-used; they must be replaced. They have no effect on fumes, viruses, bacteria, smaller mold spores, and some tobacco particulates.
• Ultra Hepa: A more efficient version of the hepa, the makers of these filters claim that they remove out 99.999% of the particulates that pass through them.
I often wonder if we are getting too smart for our own good. What does “environmentally friendly” really mean? What is “All Natural”? Did you know that you can buy a bag of “All Natural Doritos” at the grocery store now? We live in a society that has managed to put a label on everything, making us all believers in better ways to live our lives. Mother Nature is our oldest and most natural cleaning process. I think that our bodies adapt to our surroundings. Sure, some of us may feel that we will live longer than others due to the air quality around us, but in the end, we all have to “live” somewhere. Even if the Amazon was noted as having the best air around…what would happen if we ALL moved there? Not so great anymore…right?
Through all of my searching, I find myself laughing…just crack a window and live your life! Get outside for awhile. I have decided that instead of investing in an air purification system, I think a nice outdoor breeze sounds much better than recycling used indoor air.
What are your favorite outdoor activities? How do you feel about this green living trend? Share your thoughts and pastimes on here!
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