August is right around the corner and holidays are approaching. No worries, going on vacation in a heavenly setting without polluting or ruining your health is possible. The secrets for green holidays are still well kept, but here’s what you should know…
First of all, don’t go too far! We keep repeating it, but long commute is extremely polluting, especially by plane. You can use the Ademe comparator to compare the weight of your travel in CO2 depending on different means of transportation. For accommodation, rather settle for eco-friendly housing. You can find such accommodation by looking at the Guide du Routard du tourisme durable or the Petit Futé du tourisme solidaire. Prevent your skin from sunburn with organic sunscreen, always take eco-friendly bags with you and go on expeditions in isolated places. Be careful not to leave any waste behind you. Everybody knows that every gesture counts!

Want to discover preserved countries? Here are the 10 less polluted countries of the world:

1. Iceland
2. Switzerland
3. Costa Rica
4. Sweden
5. Norway
6. Mauritius Island
7. France
8. Austria
9. Cuba
10. Colombia

Now all you have to do is choose!

See other green attitude topics.

Xavier Moraga, manager of the Hotel Gavarni, the first independent hotel winner of the European Ecolabel in Paris, has just bought another hotel : the Hotel Eiffel Trocadéro, formerly Les Jardins du Trocadéro. These two hotels opened the way to the responsible hotel trade in Paris. Xavier Moraga is very involved regarding ecology and his project is to make a hotel as green as it is possible to do, with solar panels on the roof, showers recycling water, an efficient system of lingerie, bio products for the breakfast…

These two hotels are ideally situated if you want to discover Paris. The hotel Gavarni is situated in a street adjacent to the shopping rue de Passy, which is very typical and lively. The Hotel Eiffel Trocadéro overhangs the Place du Trocadéro. Both are just steps from the Eiffel Tower (visible from your room), the Palais de Chaillot, the Cité de l’Architecture, the Musée d’art Moderne, the Palais de Tokyo, the Musée Guimet, and the Musée de la Mode Galliéra.
There are several taxi-ranks, metro and Velib’ stations near the hotel, and lovely strolls to do. The bateaux-mouches (riverboats) are near too! The surroundings are very romantic. These green hotels keep all the Parisian charm, and yet you will feel responsible thanks to them during your stay in Paris!

France may spend winter in the dark. Indeed, on November 2nd France had 18 power stations stoped out of 58 for maintenance, breakdowns or strike. The shadow of a blackout looms over the winter and France in particular on two of its regions: Brittany and Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur. As some are surprised: “France is the country that has the most nuclear reactors and has to beg for electricity to its neighbors.” – Stephane Lhomme / network Sortir du Nucléaire – Source JDD. fr. France will indeed need to find solutions to the growing demand of electricity of French households.

The solutions proposed by the Network of Transmission of Electricity (NTE): “voluntary erasure” (manufacturers agree to reduce their consumption remuneration), shedding of selective consumption, but also a strengthening of interconnections with other countries. Nevertheless, the priority remains the awareness of French in relation to energy savings: “Our initiative in Brittany, Ecowatt, which is to inform in real time when the network is overloaded, shows that more and more French are now ready to mobilize in case of peak consumption. “- Dominique Maillard / NTE – Source Figaro.fr.

The French are encouraged to reduce their energy consumption. But do not forget to remind them that it would be easier to achieve such reductions if their housing was better insulated during construction. Before all these things, government and public buildings must act by making houses, offices and buildings better insulated, keeping energy costs as well as introducing mandatory use energy saving lightbulbs. A long-term task that requires motivation at all times.

Summer is here, even if the clouds are there the temperatures rise. And the heat is more difficult to bear in polluted city like Paris. Here are some tips to cool your home.

First prevent the hot air return

Close shutters, external and internal. If you have the choice, the external aspects are more efficient, like the bright colors that reflect the sun’s rays. Dark colors absorb heat.
Close the windows the day, when the outside temperature exceeds that of your home.

Do not use a dryer, a halogen lamp. They distribute the heat.

… Thereafter, the internal air cooling

Create air traffic at night by opening windows to vent the opposed heat stored in the walls.
Installation of green plants: they moisten the fresh air, especially if you sprinkle in the morning and evening.
Tighten a damp cloth before the window in case of very strong heat: it offers a real freshness.
Use a booster fan or ceiling (very efficient): stirring the air, it gives a feeling of freshness. A turn off when you leave the room!

And why not work on a thermal insulation?

Ask for a double glazing, insulation, ventilation, they considerably improve the thermal comfort of a house and are effective against both heat and cold. For the owners’ existing aid of the National Agency for the improvement of housing as the city of Paris has defined the work of sustainable development can be subsidized.
Install blinds on the windows. Stores Bannes prevent sunlight reaching the windows. Otherwise, the national stores, although less effective, to limit the discomfort caused by heat.
Join the UV films outside the window. They prevent the sun’s rays to heat inside the housing. But be careful in the winter, they will also deprive some of these additional degrees sometimes so appreciated.

Source: Paris.fr
Photo: Dominic’s pics

Hotel Gavarni, un hotel green à Paris

All the major French cities are now concerned: Toulouse, Nantes, Marseille, Paris and others. For some months now, the “ Neon Clan ” has been active all over France with illuminated signs in their sights.
Their objective is to protest against the “excessive” use of stores’ neon advertising signs by switching them off.

Doing so is very straightforward. The power switches for neon signs are located outside stores, so all you need is a suitable pole and/or a leg up to reach up and cut off the juice.
It’s an amusing – and non-violent – way for this masked band to combat energy-wasting and protest against the consumer society all in one go. Even if the means used by these clandestine eco-warriors are very simple, they are nonetheless effective: some retailers have already abandoned their lighting.

The group has a very clear message :
“This is a simple, non-violent act which does no damage to property. Our own neon-lettered logo will be switched off and “clan” disbanded only once stores switch off their signs at night.”