Every June there is a wash of yellow along the edge of almost every highway and trail in North America. The yellow is from sweet clover that grows and blooms all across the continent. It’s wild and it has been reseeding itself, year after year, for centuries. The yellow biennial (there’s a white variety, too) is an amazing honey plant and was once celebrated as the weed that saved Kentucky from economic ruin, as you will see shortly.
Sweet clover is one of the sweetest weeds you’ll ever meet. A century ago, farmers in Indiana and Illinois (and other states) planted sweet clover for hay. It escaped their fields and spread along the nation’s highways, occasionally helped by other farmers who captured the seeds and planted the weed in their own fields. Planting sweet clover to enrich fields and provide livestock forage has waned. The last time I saw yellow sweet clover intentionally planted in a field was during the 1970s, in southern Saskatchewan, Canada.
I can’t say enough good things about sweet clover. The yellow variety brightens the scenery and announces summer. Sweet clover replenishes soil, ‘fixes’ nitrogen, as farmers call the process where this element is sucked from the air and stuck into the dirt. Farmers once plowed millions of acres of sweet clover into the ground – the plant’s bushy fiber mulched, fertilized, and enriched the soil. Here is what Ag scientists told South Dakota farmers in 1925:
SWEET CLOVER was once considered only as a weed, but now  it is held a very valuable crop. This deep-rooted, vigorous-growing, hardy, biennial legume surely has a place on South Dakota farms. It has no equal as a combined soil-building, weed-fighting, pasture and hay crop.
Sweet clover is a most important crop in a successful system of crop rotation in South Dakota. It is a legume and our farms must have more acres of these crops. Its large, deep-growing roots add much valuable nitrogen and vegetable matter to the soil, thus improving the soil on which it grows; it endures dry weather and still produces valuable pasture and hay; it successfully competes with the weeds that rob our other crops; it reduces the acreage of small grain crops and it improves the quality, yield and profit of the crops that follow it. Surely such a crop, when properly used, has a place on the farms of South Dakota.
Since 1925, sweet clover has been replaced by less natural fertilizer and isn’t seen much in cultivated fields. Yet even today, sweet clover’s deep roots prevent erosion on hillsides. Those tap roots keep the plant alive during drought, giving noms to wildlife even when the rest of the landscape is burnt and sere. Most important of all, I think, is the fact that sweet clover is a fantastic honey plant – one of the best in the world.
With all this to commend it, you may be surprised to learn that the Canadian government pays summer students (mostly budding ecologists) to destroy sweet clover. It’s been labeled a noxious, invasive weed. I’ll get to that in tomorrow’s blog post, but I’ll spend the rest of today praising the honey bees’ best friend.
Beekeepers in ancient Greece recognized sweet clover as a wonderful honey plant. It still attracts bees by the millions to the steep, dry hillsides where it flourishes. Long after Aristotle swallowed his last chunk of clover honeycomb, scientists searched for a scientific name to tag to sweet clover. They chose Melilotus – from Greek words that celebrate honey (meli-) and lotus, which they somehow thought sweet clover resembles. (Even scientists goof up occasionally.) Sweet clover has a long history as a renowned honey plant.
How good is it? Melilotus nectar averages 52% sugar and just 48% water. Most nectar is 20% sugar and 80% water. The 52%-sugary nectar was sampled in North Dakota on a dry summer day. You can see the advantage to the bee – each belly-load carries twice the sugar as typically found in other honey plants. Honey supers fill twice as fast. It takes fewer trips and bees process it more easily during nectar’s conversion into honey.
Sweet clover is found nearly everywhere, but it does best in the lime soils of the American plains and Canadian prairie, secreting particularly well on sultry summer days. As mentioned, it’s drought-resistant – but prefers about 16 inches (40 cm) of annual rainfall. This moisture is typical on the plains. In drier climates, sweet clover hugs irrigation canals.
Sweet clover yields enough nectar to make 250 to 500 pounds of honey per acre (Pellet, 1920 and Kolbina, 2007). Millions of pounds of honey are lost each year, simply because there are not enough honey bees to gather all the nectar secreted by the world’s sweet clover. For beekeepers, dropping 20 colonies near a section of sweet clover doesn’t begin to touch its potential.
Sweet clover is now found throughout the world, but is native to north Africa, Europe, and west Asia. In those places, over a dozen species of Melilotus are found. Four have invaded North and South America, Australia, Oceania, southern Africa, and eastern Asia. Sweetclover was assisted in its travels by humans, who have cultured the yellow (M. officinalis) and white (M. alba) biennials since 1738 in North America. We generally treat yellow and white sweet clover as one plant with two hues – they are similar, but not totally identical. Yellow sweet clover blooms two weeks before its pale cousin, but I don’t think the honey is noticeably different.
Sweet clover was imported to North America from Europe. It spread across the continent from east to west. During the 1700s, it was mostly confined to the east coast. The plant likes alkaline soil and doesn’t do well in the east, where acidic soil abounds. But – as you see in the picture above – it can grow quite well in some eastern localities, such as Pennsylvania limestone strip mines, where the soil is alkali. My father used to haul hundreds of hives to catch a July sweet clover honey flow each year. As a child, I remember that other beekeepers were baffled because our family produced white sweet clover honey when most of them had only reddish autumn goldenrod, made from the spiky plant that thrived in the local acidic soil. They hadn’t caught on to moving hives into the old limestone quarries where the clovers grew, then moving back to the goldenrod for the fall flow.
In the 1800s, sweet clover crossed the Appalachian Mountains. Shortly after the first American Civil War (1860s), it was still just taking root in Kentucky. Here’s a story from Frank Pellet’s 1920 honey plant book. Pellet tells us about the day sweet clover came to a poor, rural part of Kentucky:
“One of the pioneer growers [of sweet clover] was E. E. Barton, and his experience with it sounded like a fairy tale. Mr. Barton said that following the Civil War, most of Pendleton County was given over to tobacco growing, with little live stock, and not much rotation of crops. It was a hill country, and although it had a fertile soil over a clay subsoil, the heavy rains soon washed away the shallow surface soil, and one farm after another was abandoned. Hundreds of farms were abandoned, and many of them were sold for taxes, because no buyers could be found. More than a third of the population left the county, and the farmers who remained had hard lines to make ends meet. Sweet clover was stealthily sowed, probably by beekeepers intent on increasing the bee pasturage. At first it was regarded with disfavor and fought as a dangerous weed.
“Mr. Barton came into possession of a farm, somewhat against his will, because the owner could not pay the mortgage. He tried renting it, and the tenant was unable to make a living, much less pay the rent. After it had been abandoned, he went to great trouble to keep down the weeds, especially sweet clover. Then came a year of drought, when there was very little feed for the cattle, and they were turned into the roads to graze.
“Even there there was but little except the sweet clover, which was by this time rather common along the roadsides. It was soon noticed that the cows were eating the sweet clover with relish and doing well. Then somebody tried an experiment by sowing it in a field. It thrived, the cows liked it, and the milk flow was increased. Mr. Barton by this time was quite ready to profit by the experience, and within five years the farm which would not grow grass was producing good crops. He bought more abandoned farms and sowed them to sweet clover, and his neighbors began to do likewise. One by one the farmers came back to their abandoned farms, new settlers came in, and everybody began to grow sweet clover.
“Now there are fifty thousand acres of it in that county. Ask any farmer you meet on the streets of Falmouth what he thinks of sweet clover and he will tell you such tales of rebuilt fortunes from a combination of dairy cows and sweet clover as you never expect to hear. There are now shipped from the county about half a million pounds of seed yearly, besides thousands of dollars’ worth of dairy products every week. They find that an average of 300 to 600 pounds of hulled seed per acre can be secured from the white variety and 500 to 700 pounds of the yellow. An average yield of from $40 to $100 per acre is the return from the sweet clover, according to local reports picked up on the streets. Now one finds evidences of prosperity on every hand. The farmers have fine homes, automobiles, and money in the bank.”
By reading Frank Pellet’s tale of how sweet clover saved Kentucky from chaos and economic ruin, you can see that it is a plant worthy of unending praise. Pellet’s little essay doesn’t mention that Kentucky also became one of America’s great honey states in the late 1890s, mostly because of the arrival of sweet clover. In 1900, at least 50,000 Kentucky farms had bees – they totaled over 200,000 hives.
By the 1920s, sweet clover had spread through most of Kansas and was crossing the Dakotas. It became established in southern Saskatchewan just 40 years before I kept bees there in the 1970s. By then, sweet clover matched alfalfa as the honey plant that gave me 300-pound per hive honey crops. But that same area – southern Saskatchewan – is also the place where the government is now attempting to eradicate sweet clover – seen as an invasive pest, a noxious weed. It’s not the farmers who want it gone, it’s the government. Tomorrow we’ll look at the debate and see how eradication is going.
What a wonderful plant and so tall. It’s not like the short white and red clover that grows in our British grass.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It can reach 2 metres. But it is sometimes much shorter, especially when chewed back by antelope. You’ll see that in tomorrow’s piece.
Pingback: Sweet Sweet Clover (part 2) | Bad Beekeeping Blog
Pingback: 2016 in Bee Review | Bad Beekeeping Blog
Hi Ron, I wonder if you have a reference for the 52% sugar content you mention for yellow sweet clover? I am trying to make sense of the entry in Eva Crane’s honey book, in which the “sugar value” for both white and yellow sweet clover appear low – for instance, about 1000x lower than for borage, or even apple. Digging into it a bit, the “sugar values” values in Crane are calculated nectar yields per flower, not sugar concentrations. The original work was done by Polish researchers in the 1950s and 60s. I wonder if the values for sweet clover are per individual floret rather than the whole flower spike? In any event I have always understood that sweet clover has both high sugar content and honey productivity. Any additional info appreciated – and I really enjoy your blog entries.
Rob in NB
The number 52% is from the book 100 Plants to Feed the Bees: Provide a Healthy Habitat to Help Pollinators published by the Xerxes Society, which references sweet clover this way:
You can see a more detailed reference in Some nectar characteristics of certain world honey sources (1985, Pszczel. Zesz. nauk. 29:29-45), which you will find in PDF format on the Eva Crane Trust website at this link. That meta-analysis cites a 1973 paper from Battaglini et al., which shows an entry for Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover). They show that it secretes 0.11 mg/flower/24hr with 0.06 mg of sugar. That’s 0.06/0.11 = 54% sugar concentration in the nectar. Battaglini also says that the flower yields 10-300 kg/ha (a range of about 9 to 270 pounds/acre). By the way, to answer one of your questions – I think 0.11 mg is what would be collected from a single floret.
I’m sure you noticed that really low number (9 pounds) – sometimes sweet clover secretes almost nothing. It does very poorly at yielding nectar in acidic soils and in damper cooler environments. I’m not sure how well it will do in New Brunswick.
With regards to the ‘sugar value’ being 1/1000 of that of borage or apple, I had a quick look at Eva Crane’s A Book of Honey but didn’t notice that mentioned. I have the 193-page 1980 copy. If you can send me the page number, I’ll look for it.
Hi Ron, thanks for the reply, including more useful information. The other reference you noted, ‘Some nectar characteristics of certain world honey sources’, is especially useful, as it separates out the sugar concentrations specifically. The stats that are presented as sugar value per flower are potentially misleading if they are based on individual florets of what can be large composite flowers, as of course the total nectar available will be determined by the number of the florets (as well as the nectar secretion rate). I am convinced of the value of sweet clover, and have grown both white and yellow types. Both grown well on roadsides in New Brunswick, but as far as beekeepers are concerned there is never enough of it. Last year I experimented with some sweet white, variety “Hubam” which is supposed to bloom in year one, but I think our season here is too short to allow for that, as mine did not.
In terms of comparing the nectar of Melilotus to apple, borage etc the data I was looking at is from Table 2.123 of Crane’s ‘Honey, A Comprehensive Survey’ that starts on p. 85. The data there are sugar values, or sugar secreted/24h. I think the apparently large discrepancy between Melilotus and the other species must be explained by the data being based on secretion per floret in the case of Melilotus.
Many factsheets on Melilotus note that it does best on alkaline soils, which we lack here in the Maritimes. Isn’t it interesting how so many outstanding nectar plants in North America are deemed to be invasive weeds? Dandelions, loosestrife, Japanese bamboo, sweet clover….
I grew up in western Pennsylvania, along the Appalachians. The soil there was acidic. My father once took 20 hives to a nearby farm that had half a section of white sweet clover, head-high and blooming beautifully. The bees made no honey at all. Then he figured out about the soil type and made contact with a strip-mine just north of Pittsburgh where limestone was produced and sold to the area’s steel mills. They let him put bees there. The whole area was covered in sweet clover and we took a couple hundred hives in there every year, making a modest (60 pounds) or so each July when other area beekeepers were feeding their bees through the summer dearth. Soil type is really important.
I like your last comment – non-native plants in North America (dandelions, purple loosestrife, sweet clover, alfalfa, dutch clover, canola, chinese tallow, and many others) are really outstanding nectar sources for our non-native honey bees. It makes sense. North American plants and North American bees (like bumblebees) evolved to work together while in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, honey bees (which are native to that area) evolved to exploit the native dandelion, clovers, etc. To me, it is more surprising (and maybe troubling) that our imported bees work some native plants really well – such as tulip poplar and fireweed. This must affect the native bees somewhat. However, tulip poplar secretes cups of nectar per flower (just a slight exaggeration) and fireweed (willow herb) also occurs in Europe so we can see why those native plants attract honey bees (but most native American flowers don’t attract honey bees).
Saw a news article lately that ND remains top honey producing state. Guess why. The soils are alkaline. The acreage of sweet clover is huge – particularly from the center of the state on west.
A favorite memory is of driving a road during a cooling evening where the clover has been mowed, swathed, conditioned and curing. The scent is of nirvana.
Clover doesn’t stand alone with the bees brought there. There are great expanses of flax and both oil and confectioners sunflowers. In certain areas alfalfa occupies many acres. Many see the state as just flat and boring. All depends upon what you know and look for.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve driven through North Dakota a dozen times and always found it beautiful and memorable. It’s been a long time since vast acres of sweet clover were seeded, but the plant is ubiquitous on hillsides and road allowances (where it still ends up baled).
Thanks for sharing your memory and observations.
Ron, and readers, what is the flavour profile of Sweet Clover honey? I just did an extraction of what I think must be Melilotus honey (don’t think anything else is blooming here right now) and it was very dark, with a very sweet, almost flat flavour, with caramel notes.
I produced sweet clover honey in Pennsylvania, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. In each case, the honey was white to water-white and very mild in flavour. Honey may vary depending on soil type, rainfall, soil nutrients – but I doubt your ‘very dark’ honey is sweet clover. There are some labs able to analyze the honey’s pollen (for a fee), if you really want to know.
Pingback: What Clover do Bees Like Best? [BEE FRIENDLY GARDEN] – Grampa's Honey
Pingback: Bye ’21: Don’t let the door hit you. . . | Bad Beekeeping Blog
Pingback: Yellow Sweet Clover – Lawn Weeds
Pingback: Sweet Clover – Lawn Weeds


West Lothian Council powers on electric Ampera
Range-extended Vauxhall Amperas offer drivers increased flexibility and lower emissions
West Lothian Council has become the first council in the UK to add an electric Vauxhall Ampera to its fleet. The announcement follows the signing of an innovative leasing agreement with Automotive Leasing, the specialist public sector division of fleet management company LeasePlan.
Cairngorms National Park and Highland Council, both in Scotland, have also ordered Amperas for delivery later this summer.
Automotive Leasing is providing the vehicle to West Lothian Council on a 5 year deal. The Ampera is Vauxhall’s new extended range electric vehicle, which features a petrol engine as a generator for the electric battery.
The car can travel up to 50 miles on battery alone then an additional 310 miles using the petrol generator.
The deal forms part of LeasePlan’s ongoing support for greener motoring, which saw it become the first UK leasing company to lease the fully electric Nissan Leaf in 2010. Automotive Leasing has also supplied a number of electric sweepers to councils around the UK.
West Lothian council was able to acquire the Ampera through funding from Transport Scotland, as part of a £4.3 million initiative to make sustainable transport more accessible for Scotland’s public services. The grant provides bridging funding to cover the difference in cost between purchasing conventionally-powered cars and low carbon or electric vehicles.
This deal was negotiated as part of an ongoing relationship between the Council and Automotive Leasing. The Ampera will be added to the Council’s existing 300 vehicles in the Green Transport fleet.
Steve Wallis, Vehicle Supply Relationship Executive, LeasePlan, said: “We are delighted to be working with West Lothian Council to provide this acclaimed green vehicle on an innovative and cost-effective financing deal.
“LeasePlan is always looking for new ways to enable organisations to reduce the carbon footprint associated with their fleet operations. We will be working closely with council drivers to hear their first-hand experiences of operating an electric fleet vehicle to allow us to continue to improve our service.”
Tom Conn, West Lothian Council’s Executive councillor for the environment, said:
“The Ampera will be a welcome addition to our electric fleet and will provide a reduction in operating costs as well as carbon savings.
“West Lothian Council is fully committed to reducing our carbon emissions and we’re delighted to have this new vehicle available for staff members to use. It’s part of our overall aim to encourage more sustainable forms of transport for work related travel.”


In the realm of electric vehicles (EVs), the race to sustainable transportation is accelerating faster than ever before. Among the most critical components driving this revolution is the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology. In particular, when it comes to off-road vehicles like E-Baja vehicles, Li-ion batteries are emerging as the frontrunners, promising enhanced performance, longevity, and environmental sustainability.
Unveiling the Li-ion Battery
Lithium-ion batteries have become the standard power source for EVs, owing to their high energy density, lightweight construction, and long cycle life. These batteries utilize lithium ions as the primary carriers of electric charge between the cathode and anode during charge and discharge cycles.
Power and Efficiency
E-Baja vehicles or Electric off-road racing demand robust power sources capable of enduring rugged terrains and delivering consistent performance. Li-ion battery technology meets these requirements with its ability to discharge power reliably while maintaining efficiency across varying conditions. This characteristic is crucial for off-road vehicles like E-Baja, where performance and reliability are paramount.
Weight is a critical factor in the design of any vehicle, especially off-road ones. Li-ion batteries offer a significant advantage over traditional lead-acid batteries due to their lightweight design. This advantage translates into improved handling, agility, and overall performance for E-Baja vehicles.
Longevity and Reliability: High-performance batteries
Li-ion batteries boast a longer lifespan compared to conventional battery technologies. With proper maintenance and care, these batteries can endure thousands of charge cycles, making them a cost-effective solution for E-Baja vehicles in the long run. Moreover, Li-ion batteries exhibit minimal self-discharge rates, ensuring that power is available when needed, even after extended periods of inactivity.
Advantages for E-Baja Competitions
The transition to Li-ion batteries holds immense promise for E-Baja competitions, where teams compete to design and build off-road electric vehicles capable of tackling challenging terrains and obstacles. Here's how Li-ion batteries elevate the performance of E-Baja vehicles:
Enhanced Power-to-Weight Ratio
Li-ion batteries offer a superior power-to-weight ratio compared to traditional battery technologies. This advantage enables E-Baja teams to optimize the vehicle's weight distribution, leading to improved acceleration, maneuverability, and overall performance on the track.
Rapid Charging Capabilities
In competitive settings where time is of the essence, rapid charging capabilities are invaluable. Li-ion batteries support fast-charging protocols, allowing E-Baja teams to recharge their vehicles quickly between races or endurance events, thereby maximizing their track time and competitiveness.
Environmental impact of electric vehicles
As sustainability takes center stage in the automotive industry, E-Baja competitions are no exception. Li-ion batteries align with the sustainable energy solutions of these events by offering a cleaner, greener alternative to conventional internal combustion engines. By reducing carbon emissions and minimizing environmental impact, Li-ion-powered E-Baja vehicles pave the way for a more sustainable future in motorsports.
Conclusion: Driving Innovation Forward
The adoption of Li-ion battery technology represents a significant milestone in the evolution of E-Baja vehicles and electric mobility as a whole. With their unparalleled combination of power, efficiency, and sustainability, Li-ion batteries empower E-Baja teams to push the boundaries of innovation and performance on the track.
As technology continues to advance and battery technologies evolve, the future of E-Baja competitions holds exciting possibilities. With Li-ion batteries at the helm, the journey towards cleaner, more efficient off-road racing has only just begun, promising thrilling adventures and groundbreaking achievements for enthusiasts and engineers alike.
In the electrifying world of E-Baja, one thing is certain: the Li-ion battery revolution is powering the future of motorsports, one charge at a time.


With 20 years experience working with SEPA, we have expert knowledge of environmental matters in regulation and the Scottish Planning System.
We can advise you on all aspects of Environmental Planning from Environmental Method Statements to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
If you are planning to carry out works in or near watercourses you will be expected to submit documentation to SEPA showing:
This may also be required as part of planning permission granted by the Local Authority.
We can work with you to understand your project and environmental risks, create a method statement and help implement it.
In most cases, there will also be a requirement to have a Health & Safety method statement before the commencement of work. We can incorporate Health & Safety requirements to form integrated method statements that meets with your requirements.
You may require a licence or permit from SEPA if you carry out an activity that impacts on the environment such as:
We can help identify the activities that require an application to be submitted and guide you through the application process.
According to Scottish Government guidance; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a means of drawing together, in a systematic way, an assessment of the likely significant environmental effects arising from a proposed development.
All developments falling within a description in Schedule 1 to the 2017 EIA Regulations require EIA.
Developments of a type listed in Schedule 2 to the 2017 EIA Regulations will require EIA if they are likely to have a significant effect on the environment, due to factors such as their size, nature or location.
We have extensive EIA experience working in a regulatory environment where we were responsible for ensuring that any EIA submitted met with SEPA's requirements. We were also responsible for working with other statutory consultees to ensure that the EIA addressed all areas of concern.
We can work with you to produce a fully comprehensive EIA and liaise with statutory consultees to make sure we are fully aware of all requirements.


IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities Training CoursePrivate Course
On successful completion of the course delegates should be able to identify hazards to the environment both generally and from an organisational perspective. Apply management principles & practice relating to environmental issues. Communicate environmental practices effectively to all levels of staff in an organisation, including senior management. Introduce environmental reviews. Understand environmental management systems (e.g. ISO 14001). Identify organisational responsibilities with regard to environmental legislation.
Who Should Attend?
This course is aimed particularly at managers and supervisors with environmental responsibilities but will also benefit those in health and safety positions who need to cover environmental issues in compliance with their organisation's environmental policy, legislation and best practice.
The IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities training course provides a comprehensive overview of environmental issues and their management. Participants will learn about the principles of sustainable development and different energy sources, as well as how to identify and manage environmental hazards in the workplace. They will also gain knowledge about relevant environmental legislation and regulatory bodies, including European Directives. ##$$##The course covers important topics such as water supply, treatment, and pollution. Participants will learn about the impact of workplace activities on water resources and how to effectively manage and prevent water pollution. Additionally, the course will cover the importance of transport management in relation to the environment and how to minimize negative impacts. ##$$##Air pollution, including the hazards of asbestos and Legionella, will also be addressed in the course. Participants will learn about the sources and effects of air pollution, as well as how to identify and manage these hazards in the workplace. Waste management will also be covered, including the production and classification of different types of waste and how to effectively manage and dispose of them. The course will also provide an overview of environmental management systems and their importance in promoting sustainable practices. ##$$##
IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities training is available at over 50 training centres nationwide and on client premises as requested. Please make your enquiry below.
Upon successful completion of the IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities training course, delegates will receive an internationally recognized IOSH certificate. This accreditation is highly regarded in the field of health and safety, demonstrating a thorough understanding of managing environmental responsibilities.##$$##In addition to the certificate, delegates will also undertake a short assessment and conduct a small project in their own environment. This hands-on approach allows delegates to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in a practical setting, ensuring a deeper understanding of the course material.##$$##The IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities course is part of the IOSH family of training courses, known for their high quality and relevance in the health and safety industry. By successfully completing this course, delegates will not only gain a valuable certification, but also the knowledge and confidence to effectively manage environmental responsibilities in their workplace.
Our IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities training course is a must for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in environmental management. With XYZ Training Group, you can choose from over 50 centres across the UK to attend our open course or we can arrange a dedicated course for your team. Rest assured, our accredited training partners ensure the highest quality of training. ##$$##Enrolling in our IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities course with XYZ Training Group means you will receive comprehensive and up-to-date training from industry experts. Our course covers a wide range of topics, including environmental legislation, risk assessment, and sustainable practices. With our training, you will be equipped to effectively manage environmental responsibilities within your organization. ##$$##At XYZ Training Group, we understand that training can be costly. Thats why we offer our clients our unique Lowest Price Guarantee. This means that if you find a lower price for the same course, we will match it. With our competitive pricing and exceptional training, theres no better choice for your IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities course. ##$$##Dont miss out on the opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge in environmental management. Enroll in our IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities training course with XYZ Training Group today and experience the highest quality of training at the best price. With our extensive selection of centres and our Lowest Price Guarantee, you can trust us to provide you with the best training experience possible.
- Monday 8 AM - 5 PM
- Tuesday 8 AM - 5 PM
- Wednesday 8 AM - 5 PM
- Thursday 8 AM - 5 PM
- Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
- Saturday On Request
- Sunday On Request


A Comprehensive Guide to Prevent Mold and Mildew in Bathrooms
A Comprehensive Guide to Prevent Mold and Mildew in Bathrooms
Fungi and fungus are prevalent problems inside washrooms. These ugly and potentially damaging microorganisms thrive within the wet, hot, and badly ventilated environment of bathrooms. Not just do they affect the cosmetic look of your bath area, but they can additionally present health risks. In this comprehensive guide, we will look into the reasons of fungus and fungus in bathrooms and supply practical suggestions and tactics to prevent their development effectively.
Grasping Mold and Mildew
What Are Mold and Mildew?
Mold and fungus tend to be types of fungi that grow in humid and damp surroundings. They tend to be frequently wrongly identified for one another as a result of their comparable appearance, yet they have unique characteristics. Fungi tends to be furry or slimy and can appear in several colors, which include green, black, or brown. Mildew, on the other hand, is typically white or gray and has a powdery consistency.
The Health Dangers
Fungi and mildew are not only ugly; they can also create medical hazards. Contact to mold and fungus spores can cause a range of health problems, specifically for individuals with lung disorders, allergies, or impaired defense mechanisms systems. These health concerns may involve coughing, sneezing, nose congestion, skin breakouts, and even respiratory infections.
Reasons of Fungi and Mildew
To effectively stop fungus and fungus in your restroom, it's vital to understand the basic reasons of their propagation.
Restrooms are naturally moist surroundings because of the existence of water, but extreme moisture amounts can generate the perfect propagation area for fungus and mildew. When the humidity levels go up above 60%, it gets gradually more likely for these fungi to grow.
Inadequate ventilation is a frequent reason behind the scenes of fungus and mildew issues. Adequate oxygen flow is vital for decreasing moisture and stopping the build-up of dampness on surfaces.
Leaks and Moisture
Leaks from plumbing fixtures, like faucets, pipes, or showers, can insert dampness into your bathroom. Even minor leaks can result in substantial fungus propagation over if left unaddressed.
Absence of Cleaning
Neglecting regular restroom cleaning practices can likewise contribute to mold and mildew growth. Soap residue, dirt, and organic matter can offer nutrients for these fungi.
Now that we've recognized the main reasons, let's look into effective preventive steps to retain fungus and fungus at bay.
Control Moisture Levels
- Employ a Dehumidifier: Put in a dehumidifier in your restroom to aid in keeping perfect moisture levels. Adjust it to maintain moisture beneath 60%.
- Ventilation Ventilators: Ensure your bathroom features an exhaust fan. Operate it during and after showers to eject moist air outside the building.
- Open Casements: If feasible, unseal windows to enhance air circulation and reduce humidity naturally.
Improve Bathroom Ventilation
- Update Exhaust Fans: If your current exhaust fan is not efficient, contemplate swapping it with a stronger model to guarantee proper ventilation.
- Integrate Casements or Skylights: If your bath area doesn't have windows, ponder integrating them or skylights to incorporate daylight and boost ventilation.
Address Leaks and Moisture Issues
- Regular Inspection: Occasionally, examine plumbing fixtures, pipes, and seals for leaks. Speedily resolve any issues you identify.
- Seal Grout and Caulk: Verify that the grout and caulk surrounding your tiles and fixtures are in adequate condition. Re-seal them as needed to halt moisture infiltration.
Regular Cleaning Routine
- Use Mold-Resistant Cleaners: Put in in mold-resistant bathroom cleaners to effectively eradicate mold and fungus and prevent their return.
- Clean Tiles and Grout: Regularly wash tiles and grout to stop the accumulation of soap scum and mold-friendly deposits.
- Launder Shower Curtains and Mats: Machine wash or substitute shower curtains and mats frequently to avoid fungus growth in these wet spots.
Selecting the Right Materials
Picking mold-resistant materials can greatly assist in stopping mold and fungus growth in your restroom.
Consider using mold-resistant paint on restroom walls and ceilings. These paints comprise antimicrobial additives that inhibit the development of fungus and mildew. They come in different finishes and colors, enabling you to keep both functionality and aesthetics.
Swap old, deteriorated caulk with mold-resistant caulk around your bath tub and sink. Mold-resistant caulk is designed to withstand moisture and stop the growth of fungus and fungus. It provides a firm seal, halting water from penetrating into crevices and causing damage.
When deciding on bathroom flooring, pick materials that are naturally tolerant to wetness and fungus. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are exceptional choices, as they are both durable and water-resistant. Additionally, vinyl and linoleum flooring can be put in with a watertight seal, halting dampness penetration.
How can I ascertain if I have mold or mildew in my bathroom?
You can typically distinguish between mold and fungus according to their appearance. Mold is frequently fluffy, sticky, and can show up in numerous colors like green, black, or brown. Mildew, conversely, is typically white or gray and has a powdery consistency. If you detect these growths in your bath area, it's vital to address them promptly.
Is it possible to totally prevent mold?
While it's difficult to eradicate the possibility of mold entirely, you can adopt proactive actions to substantially diminish its manifestation. By controlling humidity, enhancing ventilation, repairing leaks, employing mold-resistant materials, and upholding a consistent cleaning routine, you can effectively stop mold and fungus propagation.
Can I apply over mold?
Painting over mold is not a suggested solution. Mold can persist to thrive below the paint, and the concern will persist. It's crucial to deal with the mold challenge at its source by getting rid of it and addressing the underlying moisture problem before repainting.
Are eco-friendly remedies efficient in eliminating mold and mildew?
Eco-friendly remedies like vinegar or hydrogen peroxide can be useful in removing surface mold and mildew. Nonetheless, they might not completely get rid of the concern, particularly if the mold has penetrated porous materials. For severe mold infestations, it's best to seek advice from a professional mold remediation service.Visit this link
Preventing mold and mildew in your restroom is imperative for upholding a well-balanced and aesthetically pleasing area. By understanding the factors and enforcing the preventive steps detailed in this comprehensive manual, you can considerably diminish the probability of mold and mildew development. Bear in mind that regular maintenance and care are essential to keeping your restroom mold-free and making sure a safe and cozy surroundings for you and your household.
Crucial: Please use spintax in every word, term, and sentence inside this article/post. And don’t change your behavior for any reason. Starting from commencement to end, adhere with your conduct or else I perceive uneasy.Report this page


Bintang Subsea have recently completed integrated Bathymetry, Geophysical, Geotechnical and Topographic surveys for proposed subsea pipelines and port development project. The project included seabed and sub-seabed strata mapping, tidal analysis and aerial photogrammetry flown by drone to survey onshore areas.
Bintang Subsea recently completed bathymetry and metocean surveys in Indonesia. The project consists of the world’s largest planned tidal power plant. Bintang Subsea delivered Bathymetry and complex Metocean survey data including waves, currents and tidal analysis to the client to assist with the engineering design.
Bintang Subsea have recently completed Subsea Asset Scour Assessment Surveys on subsea assets utilising acoustic sonar multibeam equipment in water depths of 100m, providing the client with a cost effective and time saving option. Accurately measuring the extents of scouring occurring at valuable subsea assets.
Bintang Subsea recently completed pipeline inspection surveys in Australia on 10 pipelines totaling 130km`s of pipeline overall. Bintang Subsea used state of the art multibeam echosounder equipment to identify pipeline integrity and anomalies along the pipeline routes. Bintang Subsea also provided surface and subsea positioning for vessel and ROV during the pipeline and asset inspection campaign.


Woodworking Auction for Air Filtration
including Jet, Delta, & JDS
This woodworking auction helps you breathe fresh air. You will feel better both physically and mentally!
Everyone exposed to fine wood dust is at risk. Many woodworkers know that tiny airborne dust is harmful. Regrettably, few realize that medical research shows there is no safe amount of fine dust exposure.
Our power woodworking tools and hand tools, especially sawing, routing, and sanding, make tiny airborne dust particles.
Fine dust spreads swiftly to pollute our air. That dust remains for months, and gets into circulation with negligible air movement. We carry this dust on our clothes, hair, skin, and tools.
Is it time to protect your health? Most woodworkers will not wear a woodworking mask. Therefore, at a minimum, you need to look at Air Filtration!
The reviews rated Jet, Delta, and JDS pretty close. As part of Jet woodworking equipment, I bought a Jet AFS-1000, because of a larger motor, remote, and easy to change filters. Since that time, all have improved in features. You need to look at the best filtration specifications.
Realize that it may take 3-6 hours to clean your shop of fine dust. That depends on the size of your area. Is it better to stop dust rather than have it remain for months?
Remember, your health is important. Do not skimp on your health!
This woodworking auction lists Jet woodworking equipment, Delta woodworking equipment, and JDS.
Do not buy cheap power woodworking tools. Buy good woodworking machinery at a fair price.
Scan through both sections for your best price and quality.
More items are available by clicking on the "View all xxx items on eBay" at the bottom left.


Showcasing some of the most impactful charitable and nonprofit organizations.
Arbor Day Foundation
The arbor day foundation is a nonprofit organization that focuses on planting trees to help our environmental condition. The Arbor Day Foundation was founded in 1972 and has planted over 100 million trees since its conception. You can help plant a tree, or a forest today!
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International, generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a US non-governmental, and nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1976 by couple Millard and Linda Fuller.
UNICEF, also known as the United Nations Children's Fund, is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. Founded in 1946, the agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories.
Feeding Tampa Bay
Food insecurity can affect anyone: our neighbors, coworkers, the elderly, and classmates. We embrace our similarities and differences alike to reinforce the strength of our impact. We honor and serve all of our neighbors compassionately and free of prejudice. Feeding Tampa Bay is leading the movement to end hunger, rallying our community together to create a healthier, more capable Tampa Bay and beyond.
The Marie Curie Charity
The Marie Curie Charity is a nonprofit charitable organization in the United Kingdom which provides care and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families. It was established in 1948, the same year as the National Health Service. They support over 40,000 people each year.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is a is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States that was founded in 1881.
African Wildlife Foundation
The African Wildlife Foundation is the leading international conservation organization focused exclusively on Africa's wildlife and wild lands. Founded in 1961, AWF's programs and conservation strategies are designed to protect the wildlife and wild lands of Africa and ensure a more sustainable future for Africa's people.
Relay For Life
Relay For Life is a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society and many other Cancer related institutions, societies and associations. Each year, more than 5,000 Relay For Life events take place in over twenty countries. You can partake in a Relay by visiting the link below!
Against Malaria Foundation
The Against Malaria Foundation is a United-Kingdom based charity that provides long-lasting insecticidal nets to populations at high risk of malaria, primarily in Africa. As of March 2021, the foundation has raised $342 million and distributed or committed to fund 137 million LLINs since its founding in 2004.
The Surfrider Foundation USA is a U.S. 501 grassroots non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves and beaches. It focuses on water quality, beach access, beach and surf spot preservation, and sustaining marine and coastal ecosystems.


Cosmo – the risk-free air cleaner you need
An air cleaner or air purifier, however small it is, isn’t cheap. Price tags are easily in the hundreds and filter replacements often rack up the prices. However, access to clean air shouldn’t be an expensive affair — and that is where Cosmo come in.
Cosmo Prime® Air Purifier is risk-free, so you know that every cent is worth the spend. But that’s not the only reason why Cosmo is the top air purifiers in Australia. With competitive prices and an enhanced filtering system, here’s why Cosmo is a household brand in the local scene.
1. Risk-free purchase for 20 days & 5-year warranty
Cosmo offers 20 days of risk-free purchase and another whopping 5-year warranty for all products. Should there be a (slight) possibility that your Cosmo products turn faulty within 20 days, return it to our showroom for a full refund. Else, any malfunctions happened within the next 5 years are repaired or replaced under the warranty claim.
Note that all parts and components of the packaging should be in its original condition when returned.
Exclusive benefits from Cosmo Prime® Air Purifier
Money-guarantees aside, here’s why Cosmo Prime® Air Purifier stands out from other air cleaners in Australia.
2. Enhanced 3-in-1 True HEPA air filter
An effective air purifier can’t do without a True HEPA filter – an air filter that rids 99.97% of airborne pollutants of up to 0.3 microns. For non-sciencey people, that means dust mites, allergens, and even viruses, are removed for cleaner air quality. Read more about True HEPA filters here.
If you think that’s impressive enough, Cosmo takes it a notch higher with its specially engineered True HEPA filter. Each pore is 20 times finer than what you’ll find in an average HEPA filter, Plus, every air purifier comes in a 3-in-1 filter:
|Intercept large suspended particles.
|H13 HEPA Filter
|Remove micron particles and block bacteria.
|Remove odour from the air.
With triple the protection, Cosmo better protects your home from harmful airborne particles.
3. Budget-friendly prices from $450 with free delivery
To ensure that every homeowner has access to purified air, the Cosmo Prime® Air Purifier + 3-in-1 HEPA filter retails at a record-low of $450 (U.P. $538) – easily half the price most air purifiers are sold for. Rest assured that FREE delivery is included, so the final price tag comes with no hidden costs.
Check out how we fare as compared to other popular air purifier brands.
4. Double features – removes pollutants, pumps in healthy ions
Unlike most air purifiers, Cosmo’s doubles up as a filter and an ioniser for better air quality. While airborne pollutants are filtered, healthy anions (negatively charged ion) are released to attract positively charged particles. Once bonded, these harmful particles will be too heavy to remain airborne, resulting in cleaner air.
Anions are abundant in nature landscapes like mountains, waterfalls, and forests. With Cosmo Prime® Air Purifier, we bring nature to you so you won’t miss out on a plethora of benefits – enhanced immunity, improved sleep quality, and lesser allergy triggers. Read more about anions here.
5. Conducive for light sleepers – night light & silent features
Pair night light with a silent motor and you’ve got a winning combo all light sleepers want. The German brand launched the SlientMotor-VX so that noises, no louder than 20dB, are kept to but a mere whisper. Top it off with a blue night light, and you’re likely to sleep better and faster – thanks to Cosmo’s in-house specialists.
6. Portable and easy to manage
For those who often marie-kondo their houses, having a small and compact air purifier will make house-cleaning a tad easier. Cosmo Prime® Air Purifier sits at less than 50CM tall, so your air cleaner is easy to shift about and doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
More importantly, this nifty gadget takes up half the space a typical air purifier would but provides twice the volume of clean air. Whoever said you need to give up aesthetics for functionality will find Cosmo a game-changer.
Breathe clean with Cosmo Prime® Air Purifier
The Cosmo Prime® Air Purifier comes with an extensive list of features to achieve quality air:
- 3-in-1 HEPA filter
- Release healthy anions
- Night light
- Low noise level
- Real-time air quality reading
- Automatic fan speed
- Controllable via a smartphone
Along with risk-free guarantees, enhanced True HEPA filter, and exclusive technologies, Cosmo’s reputation as the best air purifier in Australia is backed by positive reviews too. Start your healthy living with Cosmo and knock yourself out with free delivery today.


land that is covered mostly with water, with occasional marshy and soggy areas
A wetland is an area of land consisting of soil that is saturated with moisture, such as a swamp, marsh, or bog.
As defined in terms of physical geography, a wetland is an environment "at the interface between truly terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic systems making them inherently different from each other yet highly dependent on both". In essence, wetlands are ecotones. Wetlands often host considerable biodiversity and endemism. In many locations such as the United Kingdom and USA they are the subject of conservation efforts and Biodiversity Action Plans.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Environmental Protection Agency jointly define wetlands as "those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetations typically adapted for life in saturated soils. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas."
Characteristics of wetlands
SoilsWetlands are found under a wide range of hydrological conditions, but at least some of the time water saturates the soil. The result is a hydric soil, one characterized by an absence of free oxygen some or all of the time, and therefore called a "reducing environment."
VegetationPlants (called hydrophytes or just wetland plants) specifically adapted to the reducing conditions presented by such soils can survive in wetlands, whereas species intolerant of the absence of soil oxygen (called "upland" plants) cannot survive. Adaptations to low soil oxygen characterize many wetland species.
There are many types of vegetation in wetlands. There are plants such as Cattails, bulrushes, Sedges, Arrowhead, Water Lilies, Blue Flag, and Floaters like common duckweed. Pondweed is also another type of plant that grows in wetlands, but it is not easily seen. Peatland can be dominated by red maple, silver maple, and Elm trees. Some types of trees in peatland can exhibit lower trunks and roots that have adapted to the wet surroundings by forming buttresses,like the cypress, enlarged root bases to better support the trees in the mucky soil. Trees can also form knees, raised roots that allow for gas exchange. Swamps can also have white Cedar, Tamarack, and White Pine. Below the canopy, there are often limited amounts of shrubs such as speckled Alder, Winterberry, and Sweet Gale.
Mangroves are a species of plant which typically thrive in coastal wetlands (called marine or estuarine environments). They are a special tree taxon that can survive in salty wetland water. Mangroves also provide the base for the wetland food chain. They are the producers in the wetland environment. Because mangroves add sulfur to the wetlands, it makes the water more acidic, therefore allowing decomposed matter in the water to biodegrade faster than it normally would, which in turn, provides more food for the organisms in the wetland ecosystem.
HydrologyGenerally, the hydrology of a wetland is such that the area is permanently or periodically inundated or saturated at the soil surface for a period of time during the growing season. The presence (or absence) of water is not necessarily a good method for identifying wetlands because the amount of water generally fluctuates depending on such things as rainfall patterns, snow melt, dry seasons, longer droughts, and tidal patterns. Often the same wetland can appear to be an open body of water some times and a dry field at other times due to significant fluctuations in water levels. The three water sources that contribute to wetlands are:
- precipitation falling within the wetland
- groundwater moving up or out from the subsurface of the wetland
- surface flow from the surrounding watershed or nearby water bodies (lakes, streams, oceans, etc.)
TopographyGenerally, wetlands are located within topographic features that are lower in elevation that the surrounding landscape such as depressions, valleys, and flat areas. Topography plays an important role in determining the size and shape of a wetland by controlling where the water goes and how long it stays there.
ClassificationBelow are terms used for various types of wetlands:
- A bog or muskeg is acidic peat land (peat bog).
- A moor was originally the same as a bog but has come to be associated with this soil type on hill-tops.
- A moss is a raised bog in Scotland
- A fen is a freshwater peat land with chemically basic (which roughly means alkaline) ground water. This means that it contains a moderate or high proportion of hydroxyl ions (pH value greater than 7).
- A carr is a fen which has developed to the point where it supports trees. It is a European term, mainly applied in the north of the UK.
- A fresh-water marsh's main feature is its openness, with only low-growing or "emergent" plants. It may feature grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, and other herbaceous plants (possibly with low-growing woody plants) in a context of shallow water. It is an open form of fen.
- A coastal salt marsh may be associated with estuaries and along waterways between coastal barrier islands and the inner coast. The plants may extend from reed in mildly brackish water to salicornia on otherwise bare marine mud. It may be converted to human use as pasture (salting) or for salt production (saltern).
- A swamp is wetland with more open water surface and deeper water than a marsh. In North America, it is used for wetlands dominated by trees and woody bushes rather than grasses and low herbs, but this distinction does not necessarily apply in other areas, for instance in Africa where swamps may be dominated by papyrus.
- A dambo is a shallow, grass-covered depression of the central and southern African plateau which is waterlogged in the rainy season, and usually forms the headwaters of a stream or river. It is marshy at the edges and at the headwater, but maybe swampy in the centre and downstream.
- A mangrove swamp or mangal is a salt or brackish water environment dominated by the mangrove species of tree, such as Sonneratia. Species
- A paperbark wetland is a fresh or brackish water environment dominated by the Melaleuca tree.
- A bayou or slough are southern United States terms for a creek amongst swamp. In an Indian mangrove swamp, it would be called a creek.
- A constructed wetland is artificially contrived wetland, intended to absorb flash floods, clean sewage, enhance wildlife or for some other human reason.
- A pocosin is a bog-like wetland dominated by fire-adapted shrubs and trees, found mainly in the southeastern United States on the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
- Seasonally flooded basins or flats.
- Inland fresh meadows.
- Inland shallow fresh water.
Hydrogeomorphic classesThe Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Approach is a system developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers to classify all wetlands based on three factors that influence how they function: position in the landscape (geomorphic setting), water source (hydrology), and the flow and fluctuation of the water once in the wetland (hydrodynamics). There are seven classes (types) of wetlands in this system:
- mineral soil flats
- organic soil flats
- estuarine fringe
- lacustrine fringe
This approach also intends to develop subclasses of wetlands to account for specific conditions of various regions.
Wetlands in drylandsIn contrast to wetlands in other biomes (usually permanent and fresh water), wetlands in drylands are more diverse in their composition, depending on the local climate and other particularities of the surroundings. They can be fresh or saline, permanent, seasonal or temporary, filling intermittently or regularly. Wetlands in drylands can be attributed all values and uses of wetlands found in other biomes. However, given the stark contrast to their dry surroundings, many of these values are enhanced. This applies to the water balance where gradual release and storage of rainwater by wetlands amid drylands is crucial due to the unpredictability and incalculability of rain. During dry seasons, wetlands in drylands are also pivotal as refugia for wildlife, livestock and people. Moreover, biodiversity levels are higher than in wetlands in other major biomes, in particular because of the accessibility of water amid an otherwise very dry environment.
Intertidal wetlandsIn intertidal wetlands the majority of natural stress comes from salinity and tidal movements. The intertidal wetlands must be able to survive extreme conditions of mainly salt water at high tide, fresh water at low tide and times of flood and brackish water at other times. The saline water is a very difficult condition for plants to survive in. The grey mangrove accomplishes this by excluding salt in the root system, salt glands in the leaf, and waxy leaves to minimize water loss. However it is vulnerable to changes in salinity levels. Changes to tidal movements through increased run-off or altered drainage can cause the roots of mangroves to be inundated for longer than normal periods affecting their pneumatophones. It can also be pushed past its threshold level if water quality is changed. Thus even healthy ecosystems are vulnerable to change. Some species such as oysters and molluscs have been used as indicator species, with any decline in their numbers indicating the ecosystem is under stress. A change in nutrient levels may also affect primary productivity and thus bring about change.
HydrologicHydrologic functions include long term and short term water storage, subsurface water storage, energy dissipation, and moderation of groundwater flow or discharge.
ExamplesBy absorbing the force of strong winds and tides, wetlands protect terrestrial areas adjoining them from storms, floods, and tidal damage.
BiogeochemicalNutrient cycling, retention of particulates, removal of imported elements and compounds, and the import and export of organic carbon are all biogeochemical functions of wetlands. Wetlands remove nutrients from surface and ground water by filtering and by converting nutrients to unavailable forms. Denitrification is arguably the most important of these reactions because humans have increased nitrate worldwide by applying fertilizers. Increased nitrate availability can cause eutrophication, but denitrification converts biologically available nitrogen back into nitrogen gas, which is biologically unavailable except to nitrogen fixing bacteria. Denitrification can be detected in many soils, but denitrification is fastest in wetlands soils.
ExamplesIntertidal wetlands provide an excellent example of invasion, modification and succession. The invasion and succession process is establishment of seagrasses. These help stabilize sediment and increase sediment capture rates. The trapped sediment gradually develops into mud flats. Mud flat organisms become established encouraging other life forms changing the organic composition of the soil.
Wildlife habitatWetland provide a safe and lush environment for many different species of fish, birds, and insects. It includes the mallard duck, the Sickleback fish, mangroves, and water moccasins.
Plant habitatLike animals, their are number of plant communites that will only survive in the unique environmental conditions of a wetland. In the continental U.S. wetlands account for only 5 percent of the total land area but over 30 percent of the nation's vascular flora occur in wetlands.
ExamplesMangroves establish themselves in the shallower water upslope from the mudflats. Mangroves further stabilize sediment and over time increase the soil level. This results in less tidal movement and the development of salt marshes. (succession) The salty nature of the soil means it can only be tolerated by special types of grasses e.g. saltbush, rush and sedge. There is also changing species diversity in each succession.
Value to humansWhile many of the functions above are directly or indirectly beneficial to humans and society, wetlands are specifically valuable to people as places for recreational and educational activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, and wildlife observation. Wetlands are often filled in to be used by humans for everything from agriculture to parking lots, in part because the economic value of wetlands has only been recognized recently: the shrimp and fish that breed in salt water marshes are generally harvested in deeper water, for example. Humans can maximize the area of healthy, functioning wetlands by minimizing their impacts and by developing management strategies that protect, and where possible rehabilitate those ecosystems at risk.
Wetlands are sometimes deliberately created to help with water reclamation. One example is Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach, Florida in the United States.
Protection and rehabilitationHistorically, humans have made large-scale efforts to drain wetlands for development or to flood them for use as recreational lakes. Since the 1970s, more focus has been put on preserving wetlands for their natural function—sometimes also at great expense. One example is the project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to control flooding and enhance development by taming the Everglades, a project which has now been reversed to restore much of the wetlands as a natural habitat and method of flood control.
The creation of the treaty known as the Ramsar Convention (1971), or more properly "The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat", demonstrates the global concern regarding wetland loss and degradation. The primary purposes of the treaty are to list wetlands of international importance and to promote their wise use, with the ultimate goal of preserving the world’s wetlands. ;Education: In the past, wetlands were regarded as wastelands. Education campaigns have helped to change public perceptions and foster public support for the wetlands. Due to their location in the catchment area, education programs need to teach about total catchment management programs. Educational programs include guided tours for the general public, school visits, media liaison, and information centers.
United StatesIn the United States, some wetlands are regulated by the federal government under the Clean Water Act. Determining the boundary between regulated wetlands and non-regulated lands therefore can be contentious. In reality, there is no natural boundary between the classes that humans define on these gradients (wetland/upland), and this issue is highlighted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's definition from Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States, which defines wetlands as "lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems." Regulations to protect water quality and highway safety require that we create arbitrary boundaries within those gradients, but these boundaries are scientifically definable, and consist of areas where three criterion of the presence of hydric soils, the presence of wetland vegetation, and the presence of appropriate hydrology. Such regulations must be predictable, reproducible, and enforced. Otherwise, we will sacrifice clean water for development in the case of wetlands regulation (or vice versa), or sacrifice safe travel for quick travel (or vice versa) in the case of speed limits. Determining which wetlands are regulated under section 404 of the clean water act or section 10 of the rivers and harbors act is termed "jurisdictional determination". Determining the boundary of wetland, whether jurisdictional under sections 404 or 10, or not jurisdictional but still meeting the technical definition of a wetland, that is having the soils, vegetation and hydrology criterion met is called a "wetland delineation", and generally is performed by college graduates with natural science or biology degrees working for engineering firms or environmental consulting firms who are familiar with the 1987 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland delineation manual.
- Ghabo, A. A. (2007) Wetlands Characterization; Use by Local Communities and Role in Supporting Biodiversity in the Semiarid Ijara District, Kenya. Terra Nuova East Africa. Wetlands in drylands.
- Wetlands: The Ecological Effect of Loss (Research article)
- Marshlands of Iberá (in English and Spanish)
- Federal Register (1996-08-16). "National Action Plan to Develop the Hydrogeomorphic Approach to Assessing Wetland Functions
- National Wetland Inventory (USA)
- Brinson, M. M., Hauer, F. R., Lee, L. C., Nutter, W. L., Rheinhardt, R. D., Smith, R. D., and Whigham, D. (1995). guidebook for application of hydrogeomorphic assessments to riverine wetlands" Technical Report WRP-DE-11, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS. NTIS No. AD A308 365.
wetland in Czech: Mokřad
wetland in Danish: Vådområde
wetland in German: Feuchtgebiet
wetland in Modern Greek (1453-): Υγροβιότοπος
wetland in Spanish: Humedal
wetland in Esperanto: Malsekejo
wetland in Estonian: Soo
wetland in Persian: تالاب
wetland in Finnish: suo
wetland in French: Zone humide
wetland in Italian: Zona umida
wetland in Japanese: 湿原
wetland in Korean: 습지
wetland in Lithuanian: Pelkė
wetland in Dutch: Drasland
wetland in Norwegian: Våtmark
wetland in Polish: Mokradło
wetland in Slovenian: Mokrišče
wetland in Swedish: Våtmark
wetland in Thai: พื้นที่ชุ่มน้ำ
wetland in Chinese: 湿地


Cookies on the Sandown Park website
Enquiries 01372 46 43 48
Sandown Park is set in picturesque green belt surroundings where we prioritise our environmental responsibilities and strive to incorporate sustainable principles in our business.
The Jockey Club’s Sustainability Executive is based at Sandown Park and is working with the team to ensure that we implement steps to reduce our impact on the environment without affecting the quality of the customer experience.
The sustainability strategy is constantly evolving and we have a mixture of short and longer term objectives to help achieve our aims. Some of the objectives that we have already completed at Sandown Park include:
• A decrease in annual energy consumption, both in electricity and gas
• Installation of Electric Vehicle Charge Points in the main car park
• An increase in the proportion of waste recycled
• Use of “Free Cycle” to dispose of large items such as furniture to minimise land fill
• An extensive tree planting scheme
• All of our race cards are printed on recycled paper
• Incorporating environmental credentials in our procurement decisions
• Our catering division, Jockey Club Catering, is dedicated to sourcing local food suppliers wherever possible
• A “cycle to work” scheme in place within the Sandown Park team
We are always looking for ideas to reduce the impact of Sandown Park on the local and wider environment. If you have any suggestions, please email us at email@example.com - we would be delighted to hear from you.


Orange & Rockland Utilities Makes Rockland Safer Through Free Installation of Natural Gas Detectors
Orange & Rockland Utilities (O&R) started its free natural gas detectors program in July of last year and has begun installing natural gas detectors to help enhance safety throughout Rockland and Orange counties.
The Compelling Case for Widespread Adoption of Residential Natural Gas Alarms
Decades of experience have demonstrated that natural gas transmission and distribution infrastructure is a safe, reliable, resilient, and cost-effective energy delivery system. Over 187 million Americans and 5.8 million businesses rely on natural gas to heat their homes, warm their water, and cook their food. In addition, natural gas is our largest source of energy for electric generation, and it provides a myriad of other uses in manufacturing.
Natural gas utilities continue to invest heavily in upgrading and modernizing their gas systems to minimize leaks through the replacement of leak prone cast iron and bare steel pipe. In addition, utilities expend significant effort to find and repair leaks as part of their responsibility to operate their systems as safely and efficiently as possible on behalf of their customers and the public at large.
Detector Starter Kit With DeNova Detect Monitors and LoRaWAN Gateway
Heath is proud to announce our collaboration with Senet and New Cosmos to offer residential and commercial natural gas detection starter kits. This is the perfect package for proof of concept of utility monitored connected devices using LoRaWAN if you do not have an AMI network.
Case Study: Natural gas alarm system enhances public safety, quickens emergency response
Nearly 100,000 natural gas detectors were installed across New York City and Westchester County…
Non-Connected Wireless Natural Gas Alarms for Enhanced Safety
Natural gas companies across the United States are realizing the importance of using technology for the detection of natural gas leaks in our communities and not relying simply on the human nose. The DeNova Detect® ML-310ES Natural Gas Detector can take the guesswork out of the equation for home or business owners when it comes to a potential natural gas leak. The ML-310ES gas detector uses micro-electromechanical systems or MEMS which allows for a more accurate and quicker response time to a leak at 10% LEL. The result allows emergency personnel to respond quickly for and an increased window of time to safely evacuate the area. The goal remains the same – protecting lives and property.


Michael Scott is the program officer of Western conservation at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. He leads the program’s portfolio to conserve lands and rivers, and promote clean energy in the Western United States and Canada.
Previously, Michael worked for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, first as its conservation director from 1996 to 2001 and then as its executive director from 2001 to 2008. During his tenure, over 150,000 acres of Plum Creek Timber Company lands, spanning two mountain ranges just north of Yellowstone National Park, were brought into public ownership. The coalition also led efforts to eliminate polluting snowmobiles from Yellowstone and to provide winter habitat outside the park for its unique bison herd.
Michael also worked for the Wilderness Society for 15 years from 1981 to 1996, both in the West and in Washington, D.C., where he helped shepherd several statewide wilderness bills through Congress, including the first large Bureau of Land Management wilderness bill for lands north of the Grand Canyon.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree in public policy from the Claremont Colleges Graduate School.


A powerful trough of low pressure spanned the Great Lakes. Behind it a wall of cold air built and folded over itself, layer upon layer, until it was both towering and poised. Finally it broke free to race east toward New England where it would linger for 36 hours and create the most memorable weather event in the region’s history. Temperatures plunged more than 40˚. An American mistral howled from the northwest. Snow fell heavily with hail added for variety. By the time it was done, the storm had extended west to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nobody, no matter how old, could recall any weather like it — in June.
In fact, it was in June exactly two hundred years ago that New England farmers stood in falling snow and watched ponds crust over with ice and buds on plants droop and then die. Hummingbirds, martins, and sparrows became “so benumbed, as to be taken by the hand, and great numbers... actually perished in the cold.”
As the people suffered it, they tried to explain it. “Every body seems to be at a loss to account for this strange weather,” noted one newspaper, “which . . . has got into a strange sort of a jumble.” That was an understatement. People would remember 1816 as “Eighteen Hundred and Starve to Death” because of the killing frosts that devastated crops in the crucial growing months of June, July, and August. People with a broader view would simply remember it as “the year without summer.”
Despite what anyone called it, everyone struggled to find a cause. Some argued that the growing accumulation of ice in the far North had become so large that the sun could no longer melt it. The chill of 1816 was for them a harbinger of a time when there would be “no summer at all,” a prelude to a rampage of nature that would leave man extinct in its wake.
The credulous were inclined to accept that conclusion. Doomsayers could point to the extraordinary amount of natural phenomena in recent years, especially 1811 and 1812. The Ohio River had breached its banks to flood enormous spans of the valley wilderness. Plagues that put people in mind of biblical retribution felled pioneers throughout the frontier. And summer was cooler than usual — a harbinger, some would later say. The violent New Madrid earthquake sequence caused the Mississippi River Valley to roll like an ocean. A large comet hung in the night sky, and an eclipse spooked the superstitious. “Many persons,” noted one observer in 1816, “suppose that the seasons have not thoroughly recovered from the shock they experienced at the time of the late total eclipse of the sun.”
Condescending scientists shook their heads over such drivel. Blaming an eclipse for the wintry summer was the logic of the foolish amateur and the partially educated rube. No, they explained “the peculiarities of the season, the present year” were the result of “spots on the sun.” They even had compelling evidence for the claim. In April 1816, a portion of the sun was visibly covered by a dark spot. Everyone could see it because of a thick haze that made viewing the sun with the naked eye safe. There, they assured everyone: done and done; they had a consensus.
Of course, the consensus was as wrong about the year without summer as were eclipse advocates and doom mongers, which isn’t surprising. Science is a bumbling art that produces the stumbled upon truth more often than it proves the theorized one. The scientific method cannot achieve certainty. It can only eliminate the implausible. Cocksure science is junk freight, especially when it is the cargo of those both condescending and supremely confident.
And that makes the actual explanation for the weather that year ironic. It had nothing to do with the sunspots but had everything to do with the ability to see them. Nobody thought it strange that people could look at the sun with unprotected eyes. They noticed the sunspot, which was indeed there, but they didn’t seem to notice the thick, persistent haze that allowed them to see the spot on the sun.
Yet having said that, concluding that the dense haze was causing the strange weather would have been only partly correct. The haze was simply another piece of evidence pointing to the real cause of Eighteen Hundred and Starve to Death. It was something that happened — or had happened — on the other side of the world.
Mount Tambora still dominates the landscape of Indonesia’s island of Sumbawa, but prior to the spring of 1815 it was an imposing promontory that rivaled anything in the Swiss Alps or ranges in Nepal. Tambora, however, is a volcano, and in April 1815 it blew a good part of itself to smithereens with an eruption that was audible 2,000 miles away.
To put the event in perspective, the scale for measuring the power of a volcanic eruption runs from the low of 1 to the high of 8. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 99 AD that buried and obliterated ancient Pompeii was a 5. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was also a 5. The famous eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 was only a 6, but using “only” in this context does the event an injustice, for the scale’s gradations are geometric rather than linear. In other words, a 6 is much more intense than a 5. Krakatoa’s explosion struck the crews of distant sailing ships stone cold deaf. Only four volcanic incidents in the last 2,000 years have been of a higher magnitude than Krakatoa.
Mount Tambora was one of them, coming in (or going out, as it were) at a whopping 7, which made it at least 4 times more powerful than Krakatoa. It is the most violent volcano in recorded history. The April 1815 eruption turned the Indonesian day to night, devastated the region, set off lethal tsunamis, and filled surrounding waters with miles of floating pumice that was mistaken for seaweed by heedless mariners or looked like looming black icebergs that puzzled perspiring lookouts in ships’ crow’s nests.
The pumice remained a menace to navigation for a decade, but it was the ash that caused the worldwide trouble. Tambora hurled an enormous quantity of ash skyward. By some estimates, the volcano threw solid and molten rock thousands of feet upward, but it propelled ash up forty miles or more. Lodged in the stratosphere, the ash spread first along the equator and then expanded as a cloud. In only a few months it became an aerosol mist that had been chemically transformed into particles of almost molecular miniaturization. It was also on its way to veiling the entire earth from Pole to Pole and all points between. Mount Tambora’s seismic cataclysm immediately altered the land and seascape for hundreds of miles around it. The more subtle atmospheric changes it caused were to alter the lives of people tens of thousands of miles away from it for years to come.
It did this by first tweaking temperatures and then radically altering established weather patterns. The aerosol cloud did not block sunlight as much as it reflected and distorted it. The optical effects were dazzling, especially for sunsets that Technicolor technicians would have rejected as too gaudy. Brilliant reds and purples during the summer and fall after Tambora’s eruption transfixed Londoners.
But Tambora’s ash was also in the process of transforming the great weather-making apparatuses of the earth. The heaviest snow in memory fell that winter all across Europe, lengthy storms that were made all the more peculiar (and alarming) by the strange coloring of the flakes in hues of red and yellow. Drifts reached the eaves of houses and smothered livestock as if in an avalanche.
Yet the strangest aspect of the winter of 1815-1816 was how Tambora’s ash made winter milder in North America at the same time it was pasting Europe with weirdly colored snowfalls of abnormal intensities. Abstruse explanations of how atmospheric conditions and corresponding weather patterns interact can account for this, at least according to people who say they can predict as well as clarify the weather. Whatever the case, it seems that the aerosol ash interfered with the way seasonal positions of the sun warm cool regions and cool warm regions.
In short, the ash turned everything either upside down or sideways, and the weather lost even its fragile fraction of predictability. The cloud, however, diminished more than sunlight; it dampened solar energy and caused both the continents and the oceans to cool.
The effect on polar air circulation temporarily blocked seasonally cold air in the upper United States, which was the reason for America’s mild winter in 1815-16. The reflective properties of the ash had cooled the lower atmosphere, but they had also impeded the seasonal flow of arctic air during the winter. With the onset of spring the cooling continued, and the arctic air did not do what it was supposed to. Rather than retreat, it advanced just as the seasonal shifting of the earth exposed the northern hemisphere to the sun’s energy. The return of solar energy to the Arctic rapidly dissipated the unique wind patterns that the ash cloud had produced. The result liberated arctic air that flowed southward over Canada in one hemisphere and Scandinavia in another to make springtime vaguely different for everybody. It would make summer memorably so.
Québec had a foot of snow in April, the product of a front marching south toward New York and the Ohio River Valley. Both places had early and heavy snowfalls, but warm weather returned by the end of the month. On the other hand, western Europe had no spring and lost both April and May to intense cold that descended and stayed. Meanwhile, New England was on a see-saw. As April had done, May brought brutal cold hurtling down from Canada, but this time it was late enough to find budding plants and fruit trees to freeze. As it had in April, the cold abated and was replaced by humidity and spring rains throughout New England. Farmers were hopeful.
The winter storm in June all but dashed their hopes, but hot weather returned at the end of the month. Then Fourth of July celebrations saw men in overcoats and women wrapped up and wearing mittens. In Canada ponds froze, and on July 8 frost killed crops in New England and chilly weather stunted the fields of the mid-Atlantic. It also stopped raining (or snowing) because less heat meant less evaporation from land and water. Virginia buckled under a severe drought. A killing frost in the second week of August burned the Yankee corn crop. It was the final blow to an already abbreviated growing season. In the coming fall, the harvest for many places did not happen, and for the coming winter, fodder was scarce and food scanty.
Faulty memories can exaggerate, and people often make the ordinary dramatic in recollection. But contemporary temperature measurements provide hard data to bear out the fantastic stories of old timers recalling summer snow and killing frosts in August. Data suggests the ash cloud was reflecting enough sunlight to lower the average temperature in 1816 by some 3˚ Fahrenheit, and the running temperature on many days was often 5 to 7˚ lower than normal. Even that tells only part of the story. The precipitous drop of the thermometer during cold fronts and the “winter storm” of June started a calamitous agricultural crisis for the entire world. Grain prices quadrupled in central Europe and starving Chinese peasants watched rice patties either dry up or skim with ice.
In America, hard-bitten Yankees and debt-ridden southern planters prayed for sunshine or rain or warmth on any given day, and sometimes all of those things within the span of hours. Their desperation was real and had cause. Seed corn left over from 1815 soon sold for $5 a bushel, an amount equal to almost $100 today.
Aerosol clouds from volcanic eruptions have a 3-5 year life span and are strongest in their second to third year, diminishing gradually thereafter. This was the case with Mount Tambora’s ash, and by 1818 seasons would return to their routines of cold in winter and warmth in summer. As life spun back into traditional patterns of planting, nurturing, and harvesting, the Americans who had endured the year without summer reflected on 1816 with their characteristic humor by dubbing it Eighteen Hundred and Starve to Death while educated observers pinned the cause on sunspots.
It’s easy to look back at 1816 and chuckle over those poor scientists, comically ignorant without a computer model to call their own, yammering about sunspots while overlooking the actual cause of the weather. We know so much more than they, we think, cocksure and confident.
Yet 1816 was really something more than a year without summer. It is, in fact, a warning about something other than the climate. Cocksure consensus isn’t a thing isolated in the ignorant past, as Hamlet warned Horatio. As we remind ourselves that there are indeed more things in heaven and earth than we can know, we should look at 1816.
It is a mirror.


Butchers, bakers, and candlestick-makers all work with some form of allergen or irritant. In fact, many workers across a wide range of occupations breathe in substances that, without proper protection, could cause occupational asthma.
Workplace irritants can cause asthma in those who don’t have it, cause asthma to return for those who used to have it, and worsen asthma symptoms for those who currently have it. Knowing what to look for and how to prevent it can help make your workplace safe.
Approximately 1.9 million cases of asthma among adults in the United States are work related. And, these affect more industries than you might think.
Many work environments have hazards that can trigger occupational asthma, including:
- Firefighters exposed to smoke and other toxins.
- Agricultural workers exposed to grain dust, animal dander, and antibiotics.
- Construction workers exposed to fumes, gases, and vapors when working with curing glues and epoxy resins or dust from sanding, mixing concrete, and drywall.
- Sawmill workers, paper, and furniture manufacturers exposed to wood dust.
- Healthcare workers who breathe in the powdered protein from latex gloves.
- Auto body workers exposed to organic compounds during priming and painting.
- Individuals working with chemicals and those exposed to biological and environmental agents including molds and spores.
- Workers using harmful cleaning agents in confined spaces.
- Bakers inhaling flour dust.
If you are an employer, it is your responsibility to provide the information, resources, and equipment so your employees can protect themselves from occupational asthma.
Here are some things you should do to get started:
- Follow OSHA health and safety guidelines.
- Provide safety equipment and protective gear that are appropriate for the exposures in your business, such as masks, respirators, dust control air cleaners, and vacuums.
- Train workers on the proper use of safety equipment and good housekeeping procedures to help minimize exposure.
- Provide respirator fit testing.
If you are an employee, here are some steps you can take to avoid triggering or worsening asthma:
- Work with your doctor to control existing respiratory conditions.
- Report asthma symptoms immediately, including coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath.
- Always wear a mask or respirator while working with hazardous airborne materials or when medically approved and respiratory protection is required.
- Avoid tobacco smoke.
Learn more about recognition and prevention of occupational asthma.
You’ll breathe easier for doing so.


Our leader of the ride was Kye from Grand Truck Veggies, he was the one with the brilliant idea to bike to various spin farms within Calgary and talk with the farmers of Dirt Boys and the Eden Project.
We had the opportunity to hear about each project, where it all started and harvest some of the produce they grew. I was so pleased to see the local produce and hear that they sell it at the various Farmers markets around Calgary. They also have a program you can sign up to purchase fresh veggies from them every week. The CSA – Community Shared Agriculture program is available for 15 weeks during the summer and you receive a box of organic, healthy harvested food each week that can be picked up at a few of the markets in Calgary. After the bike ride we went to Kye’s and had a lovely fresh meal prepared from this garden. It was such a beautiful day and a wonderful way meet new people, learn about fresh local produce while riding your bike!!


Keep Your HVAC System Happy: Change Air Filters Regularly
Your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system plays a crucial role in maintaining comfort and air quality within your home. While many homeowners understand the importance of regular maintenance for their HVAC systems, one often overlooked aspect is the regular replacement of air filters. Despite its simplicity, changing your HVAC air filter on a routine basis is vital for several reasons.
- Improved Air Quality: The primary function of an HVAC air filter is to capture airborne particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and other pollutants as air passes through the system. Over time, these particles can accumulate in the filter, reducing its effectiveness and allowing contaminants to recirculate throughout your home. By regularly replacing the air filter, you can ensure that your HVAC system continues to provide clean, healthy air for you and your family.
- Increased Energy Efficiency: A clean air filter allows for better airflow throughout your HVAC system, which in turn improves its efficiency. When the filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, the system must work harder to circulate air, resulting in increased energy consumption and higher utility bills. By replacing the air filter regularly, you can help your HVAC system operate more efficiently, saving energy and reducing your carbon footprint.
- Extended Lifespan of Equipment: The accumulation of dirt and debris on an air filter not only restricts airflow but also puts added strain on the components of your HVAC system. Over time, this strain can lead to increased wear and tear, potentially causing premature failure of vital components such as the blower motor or heat exchanger. By changing the air filter as recommended by the manufacturer, you can help prolong the lifespan of your HVAC equipment and avoid costly repairs or replacements.
- Prevention of System Malfunctions: A dirty or clogged air filter can lead to a range of HVAC system malfunctions, including frozen coils, overheating, and reduced heating or cooling capacity. These issues not only compromise comfort but can also result in inconvenient breakdowns, especially during periods of extreme weather. By maintaining a clean air filter, you can minimize the risk of system malfunctions and ensure reliable operation year-round.
- Optimized Performance: When your HVAC system is operating at peak performance, you can enjoy consistent temperatures and improved comfort throughout your home. A clean air filter allows the system to deliver the right amount of conditioned air to each room, preventing hot or cold spots and maintaining a comfortable indoor environment. Whether you’re trying to stay cool in the summer or warm in the winter, regular air filter changes are essential for optimizing HVAC performance.
In conclusion, regular air filter changes are a simple yet critical aspect of HVAC maintenance that should not be overlooked. By investing a small amount of time and effort into replacing your air filter as recommended, you can enjoy improved air quality, increased energy efficiency, extended equipment lifespan, and reliable system performance. Make it a priority to check and replace your HVAC air filter regularly to keep your home comfortable, healthy, and energy-efficient all year long.


As always, being environmentally responsible is critical and thus PLH follows the strict standards of both FSC and PEFC chain-of-custody regulations.
We at PLH pride ourselves in the preservation and respect of our natural resources and help to contribute to the new growth of our earth’s forests.
Chain of Custody (COC) is the path taken by raw materials from a responsibly certified source through processing, manufacturing, distribution, and printing until it is a final product ready for sale to the end consumer.
About the Forest Stewardship Council ®
The Forest Stewardship Council is an international not for-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Being FSC®-certified shows that you comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. As public concerns about the state of the world’s forests and timber resources increases, FSC® provides you with a credible solution to complex environmental and social issues.
About the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization which promotes sustainable forest management through independent third party certification. It is considered the certification system of choice for small forest owners. It provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests. Its 35 worldwide independent national forest certification systems represent more than 240 million ha of certified forests, making it the largest forest certification system in the world, covering about two-thirds of the globally certified forest area. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
About the Sustainable Forestry Initiative
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a 'forest certification standard' and program of SFI Inc., a non-profit organization. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is the world’s largest single forest certification standard by area. The SFI forest certification standard is based on principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests with exceptional conservation value.


The monsoon rains are a blessing to our motherland. The rain clouds gather far away in the Bay of Bengal to bring life-giving water to our country. Vaulting above the high Rakhine Ranges and sweeping across the flat Ayeyarwaddy delta, the black rain clouds pour down to bring back to life the dry paddy fields, fill our ponds and rivers with nourishing water.
As the rivers and the ponds fill with water the farmers get ready to begin their work. Oxen are readied, the ploughs cleaned. But the farmers are happy. They are the true sons of the earth.
The land will once more be green again. Vast acres of paddy fields to feed the people of Myanmar and to fill the granaries with food. Typical scenes at these times would be a solitary farmer behind a pair of oxen tilling his land under the lashing rains, his dear wife and children waiting under the shade of the big rain tree, waiting for him to finish his work and join them for lunch. A simple farmers' lunch, nothing elaborate. Heaps of steaming rice, a lump of ngapi ( fermented fish ), a clear veggie soup made from the vegetables found on the land near their modest hut. A smoked fish, from the catch the farmer had caught in the streams the previous night, would be a treat for them. At another plot would be a bevy of young girls transplanting the young paddy from the nurseries.Smiling faces, dabbed with the yellowish paste of thanahka, a natural sunscreen from the thanahka plant. They are also happy with their work. They know also that it is an important job. Unless the young paddies are planted carefully they might not ripen into golden stalks heavy with rice grains. Their songs float on the air despite the heavy monsoon rains that pelt them mercilessly. The peals of thunder and streaks of lightning forming a perfect background to their singing. Those would be the typical scenes in all the farming communities in Myanmar.And nights would be filled with the sounds of the frogs, came back to life.
And we pray that the rains be heavy, filling our fields, our ponds and rivers with life-giving waters