outdoors
Environmentally Friendly Patio Heaters Released
Despite the nights getting darker and the weather getting colder, we still want to try and enjoy as much of the outside as possible. Luckily, there has been a brand new range of electric patio heatershave been released that will help you do this.
Chillchaser, a UK based company that was featured on Dragons Den, recently released a new range of patio heaters. The 3 are called Zeus, Neptune and Poseidon, each one coming at different price ranges and with different features.
What makes these patio heaters so much better than others is their new style and great range of features. These new heaters look nothing like any other conventional patio heaters. The design of these new patio heaters is so different because they don’t use the conventional gas heating system that regular heaters use. Each of the heaters use a new carbon fibre heating system which emits more focused heat and emits absolutely no CO2 gasses. Each of the heating tubes are replaceable and offer up to 8,000 hours of heat, pretty impressive.
Other great features that are included in Chillchasers’ patio heaters include an infrared sensor which detects movement and turns the heater on or off. They also come with a safety tip over feature which turns the heater off automatically if it’s knocked over.
The first of the three and the cheapest is the Neptune. Alongside the features named above, the Neptune heater also comes with a dome light fitted to the top which offers 360 degree lighting. This means that you can keep out of the dark while staying warm. At £299, it’s not a bad price for the huge range of features available.
The middle of the range heater is the Zeus. The Zeus patio heater is very similar to the Neptune because it also has a light fitted to the top of the unit. The only difference between the Zues and the Netune is that the Zeus light doesn’t offer 360 degree lighting. Costing £449, I’d rather settle for the Neptune.
The most expensive of the 3 heaters is the Poseidon which isn’t actually waterproof, despite it’s water based name. What makes the Poseidon the most expensive and the coolest is that it has a media player at the top of the unit with a 7 inch screen and built in speakers. With a price tag of £849, you’re paying alot for the entertainment value.
If only they released an indoor version which would replace standard portable heaters or fan heatersas they are pretty clunky.
Sustaining Nature Through Ecotourism
An important leisure activity is recreation. It has a rejuvenating effect on one’s body and mind. This is important for healthy living amidst the stressful modern life. Some of the recreational activities that are popular these days are skiing, snowboarding, bungee jumping, sky diving, hang gliding, canyoning, rock climbing, adventure tourism, backpacking, ecotourism and motor sport. Traveling to the pristine, but fragile, areas is ecotourism. There are two ways ecotourism is practiced. Appreciating nature and learning from its varied life forms as well as the cultures that are embedded in nature is one kind of ecotourism. This requires a deep sensitivity and social consciousness. Reflection on the ecological impact of human activities on nature while appreciating nature is central to it. That is why this is also called responsible ecotourism. The second type of ecotourism has commercial interest at its heart where nature preserves is just another commodity for profit making. Unfortunately, ecotourism continues to be dominated by this category of enterprise.
Neither ecology nor local cultures are the concern for the indiscriminate ecotourism that is practiced. Ecotourism is just a marketing tool. These rich natural habitats are the location for resorts, hotels and lodges with all its luxuries and wasteful lifestyle. These ecologically sensitive areas are neither the focus of conservation nor respect. The ecology deteriorates and the forests degrade when such infrastructure is established in the name of ecotourism. The more is the waste that is generated when more are the facilities. More visitors mean more pollution and generation of garbage. The tourists who frequent such facilities are also not aware or concerned about the impact their visit have on ecology with their lifestyle in such facilities.
Responsible ecotourism on the other hand is in stark contrast to this destructive ecotourism. Typically the visitors come unobtrusively in small groups. They invariably carry their survival needs in their backpacks. These include flashlight, first aid kit, personal care products, utensils and map amongst others. Sleeping bag and the camping tent are the most important for their minimal comforts. There are many camping tent manufacturers such as Black Diamond, Sierra, Kelty, Eureka and MSR who manufacture tents. Camping tents are designed for different seasons and capacity. The features that come along with it can be previewed from each of the reviews of these tents for instance searching the Internet for MSR Hubba Hubba reviews.
As camping has very little impacts on ecology, it is generally considered responsible tourism. It pays attention to recycling and energy efficiency. There is much attention paid to their visit benefiting local communities.
Living Is Learning, Discovering The Natural Self
The ecological crisis is real. These are seriously being discussed. No doubt most of this is a result of human interventions. There are massive oil spills as in Alaska by Exxon in 1989. Toxic wastes from industries are polluting the rivers and ground water. The sea levels are increasing, many islands as Maldives are expecting to go under the sea and so are many islands in the Pacific region. The depletion of ozone layer is permitting the harmful radiation from the sun to reach the earth. This is the result of the emission of green house gases. Global warming is heating up the earth. Many species are getting extinct from desertification and deforestation. Deforestation in the mountains is leading to devastating floods in the plains. Between 17,000 and 100,000 species are reportedly becoming extinct every year. The last 50 years have seen most of the forests estimated at seven million square kilometers have vanished. Just twenty percent of the original forests still remain.
Science teaches us that species are dependent on each other. The species also depend on the non-living things in their habitat. The species could be micro-organism, plants, and animals. The continued inter-dependence between them is the key to their survival. Human beings cannot recreate ecosystems. Scientists agree that it is not humanly possible. The only way is to let the ecosystem survive for species survival. The importance of conservation of nature stems from this realization. This is also the reason that some areas are identified for conservation. But at the same time, the demand for growth and development threaten conservation.
Appreciation of nature and natural reserves in a widespread manner, it is hoped, will ultimately triumph and bear fruits. One way to promote this is by encouraging responsible eco-tourism. A living experience through camping in such sites requires the use of camping tent. You have to choose the tent from amongst a wide variety of tents. Kelty Green River 4 person tent can also be utilized as a base camp tent. It can house four persons. There are tents that easily accommodates up to ten people. The tents also have different features such as in its ability to withstand the winds, rain and the cold.
It is important that visitors to the camping site do not interfere with nature. They should also respect local cultures as well. Appreciating nature for its complexity is vital. Understanding the different roles that nature plays reveals its mystery. What is more important is to recognize the fact that we belong to nature, and nature does not belong to us. We are related to nature as between children to their mother.
