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Recycling to Make Our Planet Green

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Extreme weather leading to floods and forest fires, melting polar ice caps, pollution of the air, water and land … sometimes it can feel like our environmental problems are so big that we can’t do anything about them. But as they say, there is no planet B. If we want future generations to still have a place to live in, we should start cleaning up our act now. This requires making good lifestyle choices, being mindful of the impact of our carbon footprint and advocating for movements that help save the earth.

Easier said than done, I know. But do we have a choice? While it may not be possible for us to live a life with zero impact on the environment, we can start by making small changes that in time, may produce big results. To help you out, we would like to suggest some simple efforts that you could do today. Every simple daily actions can make a big difference. These actions we can do to make our lives greener.

Recycle

It could seem a little bit trivial, but recycling both at home and while travelling is an essential habit for the environment. Reduce waste by not buying disposable items. Reuse items like paper, cloth or plastic so they don’t end up in landfills. The majority of cities have already started a recycling program; if the place you’re in hasn’t started it yet, then it’s your turn! And don’t forget to let children know about recycling. According to Legambiente, by recycling half of the waste we produce, we can reduce the level of CO2 and we can also reduce pollution.

Conserve energy

Here are a few simple ways to save energy:

  • Use energy efficient light bulbs. Choose LED (light emitting diode). An eight or nine watt bulb emits as much light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. This saves energy and saves you money too.
  • Turn off lights when not in the room.
  • Turn off your computer at night or when not in use. You will use up less energy to recharge.
  • Use rechargeable batteries whenever possible.
  • Adjust temperature in your home and office.

You will also save some money as your bills will be reduced.

Tiekom can help you save up to 40% on your electricity bill with green energy, send us your bill and we will do a free savings study.

Conserve water

Turning off the tap while brushing teeth is a great example of a little thing that makes a big difference. Doing this saves gallons of water per day. Just imagine the amount of water you save when multiplied by the number of people in your household! You could also consider shortening your shower time (shortening it by two minutes can save more than 10 gallons of water), inspecting and fixing leaky faucets immediately, and using a professional car wash (since they use less water) instead of washing your car yourself.

If you are considering starting a garden this spring, learn about the plants you wish to cultivate first so you can avoid overwatering. Interested in other simple ways to save water? Get more tips here: 100 ways to conserve water by Ground Water Canada.

Eat sustainably

Did you know that the food and drinks you choose to have an impact on the environment? Producing the food that we eat requires resources such as water and soil, energy for processing and packaging, as well as fuel to transport them. Studies have shown that animal-based foods use up more of these resources than plant-based foods. Choosing to eat fruits, whole grains, nuts and vegetables, especially those grown locally, is more sustainable for the environment in the long run. But this does not mean that you have to give up meat for life (but you could if you wanted to)! Even having one meatless day a week counts as a good contribution to the cause.

Food waste is another issue that contributes to pollution. It is estimated that half of all food waste happens at home. Wasted food ends up on landfills and produces methane, a greenhouse gas (greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun, warming the planet. As the volume of these gases increase, more warming occurs, Prairie Climate Centre). This is why proper food storage; meal planning and smart shopping are important for every household. Read Canada’s Food Guide. It has great tips on healthy eating and conserving the environment.

Plant trees

Plant trees in your backyard or join tree-planting drives. It is estimated that a young tree can absorb CO2 at a rate of 13 pounds (5 kilograms) per tree every single year. And when it matures (in about 10 years) it can absorb 48 pounds (21 kilograms) per year. Trees are also capable of removing sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and small particles, making the air we breathe fresh and healthy for us.

You can also help save trees by reducing paper use. Subscribe to an online account or use e-tickets so that you will not need paper bank statements, bills or printouts. Use online directories instead of the bulky book. Recycle newspapers, or better yet, subscribe to an online newspaper. Recycling newspapers even once per week saves half a million trees. Has your office gone paperless yet? Maybe start an initiative to reduce paper use around the office.

Carpool/Use public transport/Bike or walk

In order to reduce your carbon footprint, choose to move by train rather than by car, avoid cruises and if possible, move by bike. Remember to use public transports to avoid air pollution. When you do not have the chance, you could always use the carpooling! Not only will you drive in a greener way, but also in a more enjoyable one.

Give up plastics

It is estimated that eight million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. This amount accumulates year after year because it is non-biodegradable, meaning it does not break down. It is instead eaten by sea life, making them sick or killing them. This also means that plastic has become part of our food chain; we may inevitably eat contaminated seafood.

Avoiding plastic will not only divert a ton of waste from the oceans but from landfills as well. Start by using reusable/recycled bags for your groceries and when shopping for clothes and other items. Do your best not to buy items that are packaged with a lot of plastic materials, and don’t use disposable plates, spoons, stirrers, cups, straws and napkins. Stop buying bottled water! Having a reusable tumbler (preferably glass) on hand and refilling it with filtered tap water will be good for the environment, not to mention healthier and more economical for you.

Educate yourself and other

Learn more about climate change, conservation, recycling and the environment. Be involved and join discussions about environmental efforts and help others understand the value of our natural resources. Be a good role model to the youth, especially your kids, by walking the talk in your everyday life. You can also share this list with others and help make the world a better place!

Tiekom helps you stay connected to your loved ones wherever they are

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Staying connected with your loved ones is important for maintaining family ties and for personal well-being. But how can you keep those connections thriving under challenging circumstances, such as living too far away to visit or when social distancing measures are put into place to protect health?

Although 2020 has been a challenge for all of us, it also made us rely more heavily on technology to reach one another. That means that more options have become more commonplace to stay connected with family from abroad.

In other words, we are finding better, more creative ways to stay in touch!

Below, you will find a list of what we believe are the best ways to stay connected with family and friends from abroad. These are tried and true ideas that we have been putting in practice to reach our loved ones.

The Tech Connection

Fortunately, technology can bridge the physical distance to bring emotional comfort.

One of the simplest ways to stay in touch with family long-distance is with your phone, tablet or computer.

•         Phone calls just to chat are a simple way to stay connected. Try to set up a regular time to talk, so you both have something to look forward to.

•         If your loved one has not quite gotten the hang of texting, it might be a good time to let them practice. A quick daily text to check in, say hi, or share a picture lets you both know you are on someone’s mind – and not alone.

•         Video calls can make you feel a little closer together. Make sure your loved one’s device has a video app such as FaceTime, Skype, Google Duo, Facebook Messenger, Viber or WhatsApp. If you have an Echo Show, you can use Amazon Alexa to set up a video call as well.

Families and friends are getting creative about what they are doing on video calls with loved ones in senior living communities:

•         Story time with the grandkids. Take turns reading to each other from favorite books. If the kids are older, turn it into a family book club and discuss the latest reads.

•         Virtual meals. Put the phone or other device on a stand and gather around a virtual table as you enjoy chatting over lunch or dinner.

•         Watch parties. Streaming services such as Netflix let you set up viewing parties so you can watch your favorite shows together.

•         Virtual services. If your loved one cannot get to a religious service or study, find out if their house of worship is streaming services. You can also help them set up a prayer meeting or devotional session with their friends via video. It is a meaningful way to help them nurture their spiritual wellness.

No matter how many miles or what circumstances keep you physically apart, there are plenty of ways to keep the love lines open wherever you are.

A more affordable phone plan

The most common way of keeping in touch with friends and family is calling and texting, but if your phone plan limits your talk minutes, you might not be able to chat with as many people as you would like. To save money and stay connected with loved ones, you may want to consider switching to Tiekom, see our mobile plans here.

Remember important events

Each culture has different celebrations, and it might be hard to keep track of yours if you have moved abroad. However, a surefire way to stay connected to your family, your friends, and your roots is to keep upholding and celebrating the traditions that were once dear to you. The same goes for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, etc. Just because you cannot be there in person, does not mean you can’t be present for these important events.

Prioritize the family group chat

Life gets busy, especially when we are trying to make our way in a new environment. So, it is normal that we will struggle to find time to stay in touch with each and every family member. That is when family group chats come in handy. Everyone is in one place, and so are all the new pictures and updates. Think of it as your digital home.

Monitor your home through Tiekom Home Security System

We relieve you of your stress in constantly checking if your home in Spain is safe while you’re away. With our advanced home security system, you can check your home anytime and anywhere, using your mobile devices. And if there’s an attempt of intrusion, we will alert the police, simultaneously sending you a notification. Check out these home security options for you

We hope these tips help you stay connected with your loved ones so that you can enjoy them as if you were by their side.

The most common Wi-Fi problems and how to fix them

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We no longer have to disconnect from the Internet to make a phone call, Streaming television shows, sending emails, gaming tournaments, and connecting with your loved ones, it only requires a strong internet connection which is everywhere nowadays.

Internet and Wi-Fi speeds have improved significantly in recent years, and wireless connections are more reliable than ever before. But with these activities, WiFi issues persists.

When the inevitable happens and your internet connection wanes or fails to connect completely, you do not have to panic. There are a few simple, tried-and-tested methods for reconnecting your system and getting back to your day as quickly as possible.

Most of the time, a lag in your system is an indicator of a problem in your home’s system, and not with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The only way to make sure that it’s not an ISP issue is to tackle the troubleshooting and see if you can get your internet connection back up to speed.

These are some of the most common difficulties and how to fix them.

Slow connection

Despite this increase in connection speed that we talked about, wireless networks (and often those connected by cable) can lose speed. If your internet connection works, but is slower than normal, there is usually a logical explanation.

Cause: The most obvious problem with slow Wi-Fi networks is that the router is too far away. The further you are, the slower the connection and the transmission capacity.

Solution: Get a little closer. If the router is in another room, try taking your device into that room and see if that fixes the problem. If the difficulty persists, try to place the router higher, away from other devices, which can interfere, and place it in a place more in the center of the house.

You can also check if the cables if they are properly plugged-in. Check the back of the router, switch it off and disconnect and re-attach the cables, and switch it on afterwards (please see the image).

If that doesn’t work, consider purchasing a second router and a set of network adapters across the power lines to extend the range of the network.

Cause: The bandwidth. If there are multiple people in the house using their computers, phones and televisions with applications that demand a lot from a Wi-Fi connection, the Internet speed has to be divided between all those devices.

Solution: Disconnect any device you are not using. If several people are trying to watch videos on YouTube or Netflix, while another is having fun playing an online video game, try connecting one or more devices directly to the router with a Cat-5 ethernet cable to free up some of the bandwidth. But the problem could be that you simply don’t have enough internet speed for all those devices to work well at the same time.

There is also the possibility that someone nearby is stealing your signal. To avoid this, make sure you configure your network security well and do not give the password to anyone.

Other things to check to fix the problem are:

Check your Power: We have all done it. Slammed, poked at, and jabbed our computer’s keyboard and wondered why it wasn’t working, without ever checking to see if they power is on. If your internet is out, step one is definitely to make sure that your router has not gotten unplugged or is half-in, half-out.

Check the router’s LED status indicator lights. If you see no lights at all, your router is probably unplugged or not getting any power at all. The fix here is as simple as it gets: disconnect the power supply and reconnect it.

If your router still won’t turn on, it’s time to check your outlet and your power strip to see if they are getting power. If your outlet or power strip is to blame, problem solved.

Check your network connection: If you are not getting an internet connection on only one device, like your phone or your laptop, but you are getting an internet connection on others, check your Wi-Fi connection. If you are connected to a network, but you still do not have internet, it is time check your computer’s Network via the System Preferences -> Network (on a Mac) or Right-click on the Network Icon -> select Trouble Shooting to run a diagnostic check (on a PC).

If you do not have Wi-Fi, but use Ethernet, check your Ethernet connection. Confirm that you are getting an internet connection. If you have one on hand, plug in your spare Ethernet cable directly you’re your computer.

Check your router: Physically examine your router and make sure that everything is connected where it should be. Check all your router’s lights and look out for any problem colors like orange or red lights, and whether or not any of your lights are blinking.

If you are using an older router, you may be experiencing lag from having multiple devices fighting for a bandwidth. It may be time to upgrade to a newer router that can handle the workload of your devices.

If all else fails, call your ISP: When you have done all the basic troubleshooting to tried and resolve your connection issues, but nothing has worked, it may be time to contact your Internet Service Provider. Over the phone, your ISP will be able to ping your equipment and check your system on their end to see if there are any identifiable connection issues.

Should the problem persist beyond what can be handled over the phone, a service technician will come to your home and perform an inspection to ensure that all cables and equipment, both indoors and outs, are in working order.

Once the problem has been identified, your service technician should have you up and browsing the internet again in no time flat.

Check out our variety of Fiber Optic Plans

And if you’re still having problem with your wifi, please feel free to contact Tiekom technical support at +34 910 630 890, or email us at support@tiekom.com, Mondays to Fridays from 9am – 5pm.

Image: http://www.cwims.com/