Entrepreneurial Businesses You Never Thought to Start

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

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There are countless opportunities out there for the creative entrepreneur. In fact, according to Forbes, approximately 543,000 businesses are started every month. 

With so many small businesses opening all the time, it can be hard to think of an idea that hasn't been driven into the ground. Here are just a few interesting entrepreneurial businesses that you might not have thought of.

Food Truck

Food trucks are springing up all over the country, and for a good reason. A study by Intuit and Emergent Research states that the total revenue from food trucks is predicted to reach as high as $2.7 billion in 2017. Why are food trucks such a great opportunity? They are much less expensive to operate and own than a traditional restaurant and can go where the crowds are instead of being a slave to location. With the right skills and knowledge, as well as a small starting investment, an entrepreneurial restaurateur can make his way on four wheels.

Photo by David Stanley via Wikimedia Commons

Gunsmithing

Gunsmithing is the noble art of designing, repairing, modifying and building guns and other firearms. Gunsmiths are skilled craftsmen who offer a service that cannot be done by untrained hands. They often do custom work for clients based on their specific needs. While gunsmithing does require special education, many school offer career diplomas in gunsmithing, and Penn Foster even offers a program that can be completed in just three months. Making money as a gunsmith requires drive, dedication and knowledge— and it doesn't hurt to have previous training in metal or plastic fabrication.

Electronics Recycling

While most homes have a recycling bin that can be used for papers, plastics and glass, they do not have curbside recycling for used electronics. Used batteries and electronics can be dangerous to the environment if they aren't disposed of correctly, and most people do not want to drive to the electronic recycling facilities. By offering your services as a private recycler, you can charge to pick up customers electronics and drive them to local recycling facilities. Chances are, you won't run out of business any time soon — Investopedia reports that we generate more than 2 million pounds of electronics waste every year in the form of discarded computers, cell phones and other devices.

Photo by Bluedisk via Wikimedia Commons

Translation Services

We are living in a global marketplace and one of the best ways to take advantage of the now-international business community is to offer your skills as a translator. Obviously, working as a translator requires that you speak at least two languages fluently and requires that you have a good grasp of cultural ideas so that idioms and turns of phrase aren't lost on you. Interpreting for two speakers in the same room requires a focus to attention and swift wits, but translating the written word for overseas businesses is also a viable form of translation services. If you've ever used an automated translator program to decode a webpage in another language, you can see how valuable the services of a real-life thinking, adaptive human translator are. 

SEE ALSO: 3 Best Tools For Construction Project Management

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How Engineering Helps Society

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

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Engineering is one of those areas that most people take for granted and don’t give much thought to. 

The valuable work that these engineers undertake is all around us, in all areas of our lives. Engineering makes our lives better, helps us to enjoy life, saves lives and keeps us safe from harm.

So just how does engineering help society?

Once a person has trained as an engineer, their skills can then be used in many different ways. For instance, medical innovations need engineers to develop the necessary equipment and components in order to save lives. However, the medical world is not the only way that engineers benefit our society.

Engineers work in so many areas, they help to build roads, construct bridges and bypasses, they develop ways of producing more environmentally friendly power or ways in which we can recycle more. Electrical engineers develop safety devices and engineers help develop our cars to protect us from crash and injuries.

Put quite simply, engineers are involved in every stage of a process from the design, through the manufacture, development and implementation. There are so many different fields in which an engineer might work, but here we will just explore the role of an Energy Engineer.

Energy Engineering

Energy engineering covers a broad spectrum of areas which deal with energy efficiency, services, facility management, alternative energy and environmental compliance. Due to the Government legislation and carbon reduction targets, energy minimisation is a growing industry. To reduce our energy consumption, consideration must be given to lighting, refrigeration and eco-friendly ways of generating power such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Energy technology is a term used which refers to the skills, knowledge and equipment required for the production, distribution and use of energy. By the end of this decade, 15% of all energy consumed within the UK will have to come from renewable sources and for this reason there is a growing demand for Renewable Energy Engineers.

What does a Renewable Energy Engineer Do?

A renewable energy engineer is responsible for the design, development and implementation of renewable energy sources. These include wind, marine, biomass and solar technologies and an energy engineer’s job is to solve existing problems and develop creative solutions to capture, convert, store and manage renewable energy.

There are many areas to the job and becoming an energy engineer is a very rewarding career. A renewable energy engineer will be responsible for evaluating current sources of energy before designing and developing alternative solutions. The engineer may also wish to specialise in a certain area such as heating, lighting, air conditioning or energy procurement.

Renewable Energy Engineering as a Career

Due to Government targets, unique opportunities are being created in renewable energy. As an energy engineer you will be involved in the research, development and production of energy through renewable sources. You will be responsible for solving problems and developing ways to extract usable energy from sustainable sources such as bio fuels, hydro power, wind turbines and solar power.

For more information and careers advice you will find all you need to know on the web or speak to your careers advisor for further details.

*by andreascy*

The Newest Eco-Friendly Apartment Building Trends

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

The importance of conserving the Earth's limited resources finally seems like it's gotten through to mainstream culture in recent years. People are beginning to understand how crucial it is to find more efficient energy alternatives.

As of late, the use of environmentally friendly construction materials is on the rise. Many of these "green-living" ideas are implemented in today's modern apartments. When looking for a new apartment, here are some of the most popular ones to look for:

1. Strategic Orientation of a Home to Maximize Sunlight

Building an apartment in a location that receives a lot of sunlight is an ingenious way to save money on heating and lighting. Many engineers and architects are figuring out ways to design buildings that can take advantage of sunlight as much as possible. The orientation of the building makes a huge impact on how natural light is able to come through the windows, so strategic positioning is definitely an eco-friendly way to light up and heat up a place.

2. Exclusive Use of LED Lights

LED lights are a great choice for any apartment, house, business, or any situation where lighting is needed. Why? LED lights are not only brighter than the typical incandescent light bulbs, they are far more energy efficient too. Most LED lights give off a pleasant, white glow and only use about 20% of the energy that standard bulbs use. Renters can easily cut their electric bills in half after replacing all incandescent bulbs with LEDs.

3. Roofs Made from Copper

Metal roofs, especially copper roofs, are becoming a stylish choice in the world of apartments. First, they are quite inexpensive to purchase and install, and they also require very little maintenance. Secondly, they look great when paired with the right architecture. Copper roofs have a very long life span, with up to a century of use. Finally, they can be recycled with ease. What's not to like?

4. Rainwater Collection Units

If people have survived on rainwater for countless years, why can't we make use of it today? Rainwater collection units are set up in strategic locations around the apartment to collect the runoff. This water can then be used for watering the lawn and garden and general cleaning use.

5. Counter Tops Made from Easily Accessible Wood Sources

Granite counter tops have been popular for many years, but it seems that cheap, wood counters are spreading like wildfire through many apartment complexes. What's the appeal of wooden counter tops? Aesthetically, they obviously look good. More importantly, wooden counter tops that come from rapid growing trees like bamboo do much less harm to our forests and environment. When slow-growing trees are used for wood, the environment takes a much bigger hit because animal homes are lost and oxygen production is halted for a much longer amount of time.

6. Water-Saving Toilets

Using the restroom is something that all civilized people must do, flushing the toilet is an unavoidable consequence. Compared to standard toilets, those designed to conserve water can cut water consumption by 20%. These efficient systems can significantly decrease your water bill and put more money in your pocket.

7. Electric Stove Tops

Induction stovetops are much more eco-friendly than gas versions because far less energy is lost when turned on. Heat transfer through physical contact is a better alternative to turning on a flame that burns your money away with every use.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: Tips On Making Your Office Greener

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Tips On Making Your Office Greener

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

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As we are all members of this planet, it is our duty to do our part to keep it looking beautiful. In an office setting, it could be difficult to keep this in mind while completing your daily tasks.

License: Creative Commons

But being a little bit greener is not difficult and should not have to inconvenience you or your workers at all. Simple changes, like conserving electricity, using recycled office supplies, and cutting waste, are just a few ways you can do your part in healing the Earth.

Conserve Energy When Possible

One way to make an office greener is to conserve the use of energy when possible. Obviously, with computers as part of our every day lives, electricity is vital, but it can be minimized. Installing motion sensors on the lights in offices is a great way to cut electricity uses. This way, if someone forgets to turn off a light in their office, after a while, it will automatically shut off. Furthermore, urging everyone to turn off their computers at night could drastically reduce energy consumption. If possible, installing solar panels will substantially reduce energy use and also save money.

Use Recycled Office Supplies

As the world has yet to go completely paperless, it's impossible to stop your office from using natural resources, but things can be done to reduce the collective carbon footprint of the office. The easiest way is to use recycled office products, namely, recycled printer paper. But it does not have to stop there. There are other recyclable office materials that can not only save you money, but also, help save Mother Earth. For example, aftermarket toner is a recycled form of toner that is cheaper and greener, and it is an easy change to implement in your office.

Cut Waste

Cutting waste is an important part of going green, but sometimes waste can sneak up on you in aspects that you wouldn’t think about. Does your company have a water cooler? If it does, consider making the switch away from disposable cups. Instead, persuade your employees to switch to refillable plastic or metal bottles, maybe even hand them out as a gift. It would also be helpful to educate them on what can and cannot be recycled. Some times, the greatest ally you can have in trying to be conservative is knowledge, so a quick seminar about where to put certain materials could save time, money, and especially, the environment in the long run.

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How Climate Change Is Destroying The Earth

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

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Climate Change Is Real 

Thanks to new studies and noticeable changes in weather and storm prevalence, it’s getting harder to turn a blind eye to the reality of climate change. Since the Industrial Age spurred the increasing usage of fossil fuels for energy production, the weather has been warming slowly. In fact, since 1880, the temperature of the earth has increased by 1 degree Celsius.

Although 72% of media outlets report on global warming with a skeptical air, the overwhelming majority of scientists believe that the extreme weather of the last decade is at least partially caused by global warming.

Some examples of climate calamities caused partly by global warming include:

•  Hurricane Katrina 

•  Drought in desert countries 

•  Hurricane Sandy 

•  Tornadoes in the Midwest 

These storms, droughts, and floods are causing death and economic issues for people all over the world - many of whom cannot afford to rebuild their lives from the ground up after being wiped out by a tsunami or other disaster. 

Evidence also indicates that the face of the Earth is changing because of warming trends. The ice caps of the Arctic are noticeably shrinking, the ice cap of Mt. Kilimanjaro alone has shrunk by 85% in the last hundred years, and the sea levels are rising at the rate of about 3 millimeters per year because of all the melting ice. Climate change is also affecting wildlife - for instance, Arctic polar bears are at risk of losing their environment; the Golden Toad has gone extinct; and the most adaptable species are evolving into new versions capable of withstanding warmer water. 

Despite some naysayers with alternative theories about why global temperatures are rising - including the idea that the earth goes through natural temperature cycles every few millennia - the dramatic changes in the earth’s atmospheric makeup suggests humans are to blame. In fact, 97% of scientists agree humans are responsible for climate change. Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide levels increased 38% because of humans, methane levels have increased 148%, nitrous oxide is up 15% - and the list goes on and on, all because of human-instigated production, manufacturing, and organizations and individuals work hard to promote an Earth-friendly existence, resistance to change is rampant and actions are slow. 

For instance, while the US Environmental Protection Agency is still working on collecting data to support development of greenhouse gas reduction expectations for businesses, most of their efforts feel more like pre-research than actual change. Other countries have made efforts - such as signing to Kyoto Protocol to reduce their 1990 emission levels by 18% by 2020 - but the only solution will require the whole world band together. 

Steps Anyone Can Take To Reduce Global Warming

1. Driving a car with good gas mileage, or investing in a hybrid or electric car 

2. Switching from incandescent light bulbs to CFL or LED 

3. Insulating your home and stocking it with energy efficient appliances 

4. Recycling 

5. Using green power available in your area

Check out the infographic below to see what else the gender wage gap affects.

There is a ton of information available on our website. If you liked this infographic, follow the recommended link below and enjoy.

WHAT TO READ NEXT: Urban Farming is a Green Way to Improving Cities 

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How Are Plastic Bags Suffocating The World?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

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You’re standing in line at the grocery store when you realize that you don’t have your reusable bag. You’ll have to get a plastic bag. Again. You feel bad for a moment and then think that it’s just one bag. But it isn’t… 

In the U.S. alone, 280 billion plastic bags are used each year, which is enough to stretch around the earth nearly 30,000 times. Making and using plastic bags has more repercussions than you might think. Check out the following infographic to see how exactly plastic bags affect our cities, our environment and even our economy.

SUGGESTED INFOGRAPHIC: Public Health Threats that Could Devastate Society

 

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High Tech Future, Science Fiction & The Machining Power of Pisa Laboratories

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

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Today's our topic is powered by AFP a Global News Agency delivering fast, in-depth coverage of the events shaping our world from wars and conflicts to Politics, Sports, Entertainment and the latest breakthroughs in Health, Science and Technology. 

At Italy's Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies - a special - statute public University in the Historic Town of Pisa in Tuscany (Italian: Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento Sant'Anna), a Bionic Arm commanded by the human brain or a limb extension that allows rescuers to lift rubble after earthquakes are just some of the futuristic innovations in the pipeline. 

Marco Controzzi, who is working on the bionic arm, says it will operate by using electrodes attached to the skin or implanted in your head. 

"It will move only according to your intentions," he said, adding that powering it would be easy as it can run on just two mobile phone batteries. 

The exoskeleton or "body extender", a prototype costing a million Euros, meanwhile, is a kind of armor weighing 160 kilos which multiplies the strength of its human user by 20. 

"The idea is to use this type of instrument for emergency workers in disasters like an earthquake," said Engineer Marco Fontana. 

"You can innovate here. Whoever has a project gets help, ideas are not blocked. We are investing in individuals," the rector of Sant'Anna, Maria Chiara Carrozza, a professor of Bio-Robotics said in an interview. 

See it in Action

As one of Europe's most Advanced Research Centers that designs Futuristic and Cutting edge Technology & Robotics, they are working also on projects ranging from a robot that can come to your door to collect your recycling to tomatoes that slow the effects of ageing and plants that survive underwater to help flood-prone regions of the world. It's actually a veritable Factory of ideas and badass innovations. 

"The idea is to get robots out of factories where they have shown their worth and to transform them into household machines which can live together with humans," says Professor Paolo Dario, director of the college's Bio-Robotics Department. 

On the picture above the dustcart looks like the famous R2-D2 from Star Wars with it's laser scanner and location sensors. The idea is that it can work through phone bookings to come to your street at a fixed time to collect your waste.

"We tested it for two months with 15 families living in one of the towns near here. Everything worked well but there are still some problems to sort out," said Pericle Salvini, a member of the team behind the project. 

"First of all it is slow for security reasons and it sometimes blocks the traffic. Also it cannot legally be on the road since there is no type of insurance for this type of robot in case of an accident," he said. 

Professor Dario also heads up a project entitled "The Robot Companions for Citizens" which is one of six contestants for a European Union prize of one billion Euros ($1.2 billion) in funding spread out over a decade.

CHECK ALSO: General Motors and Nasa : Developing a robotic glove - Making a human hand stronger

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New Efficient Way to Recycle Carbon Dioxide Pollution

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

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Scientists in the United States have discovered a new, inexpensive way to remove excess Carbon Dioxide (or CO2), from the atmosphere, as well as from large industrial exhaust sources, such as factory smokestacks. Researchers at the University of Southern California's Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute say their new CO2 extraction method achieved some of the highest rates ever reported for removing the potentially climate-changing greenhouse gas from the air under humid conditions. 

Most scientists believe that industrial carbon dioxide emissions are major contributors to global warming. The accelerating increase in the Earth’s average surface temperatures also is believed to be triggering significant changes in climate, including more intense storms, more severe floods and droughts, and major shifts in rainfall patterns. 

Study co-author and Loker Institute director Professor Surya Prakash said the CO2 extraction technique involves a plastic-like substance dispersed in a sandy material called fumed silica.

Prakash says the goal of the research was to create an efficient way to capture excess CO2 from the air and recycle it for use in the production of all the fuels and carbon-based products now made from refined petroleum. He adds that the extracted carbon dioxide also can be permanently isolated from the environment. 

Prakash says he expects to see his team’s CO2 recycling technology in commercial use within three to five years. The USC researchers say the fumed silica materials they developed for the CO2 extractor are much cheaper, more energy efficient and more chemically stable than existing extraction devices. They also report that the new materials can be used multiple times without losing their efficiency.

Prakash said he and his colleagues tested the new materials in humid air because capturing CO2 in humid conditions is especially difficult, and provided realistic conditions for the experiment since most air contains moisture. A report on the new USC study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. 

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