Friends of Trinity River Refuge

Preservation of Nature and Wildlife

Wildlife can be found in all environments, whether deserts, jungles, the countryside, or even urban towns and cities. Nature has learned to adapt and live alongside its human counterparts, not just animals, but flora as well, including trees, flowers, and consumable crops. However, man's intervention can be both a blessing and a curse. Deforestation has led to the loss of many species, and many wildlife trusts and nature charities are working hard to ensure the balance in the ecosystem is retained. Habitats must be preserved for ongoing conservation, whether that be in the Arctic or the Amazon.

Animals are Adaptable

11 Apr 2021

The growing number of people and the cities constantly being built forces animals to live in ever smaller spaces and adapt to new habitats. Smaller animals and birds, in particular, have made their home in cities taking advantage of the man-made habitats and new food sources.

New Species Discovered Every Year

8 Mar 2021

There are over 15 million different plants and animals in the world. It is estimated that at least five million are yet to be discovered. Most of the mammals and birds have already been found. In 2020, scientists found 502 new species that included snakes, frogs and even a monkey.

Switching to Online Is Better for the Environment

23 Nov 2020

The digital times we live in are ideal for remote connections, like working from home, online learning, or virtual meetings. It can also impact the environment.

In this piece, we'll explore how switching to online is better for the planet. We'll look specifically at how this happens with gaming and when you play slots online.

Gaming and the Environment

You may wonder how igaming and online slots can impact the environment. One part has to do with how it's packaged, and the other has to do with your carbon footprint.

Plastic Packaging

In the past, the gaming industry relied on plastic to encase each component. These were often shrink-wrapped too. Most of these boxes were made from substances that can't be recycled and would end up in a landfill. On top of this, they also had instruction manuals, printed on paper, and are therefore not eco-friendly.

While manufacturers of physical entertainment sets are far more environmentally aware these days, a digital game requires no discs, hardware, or cartridges. There's also no hard copy instructions, so it's a win for not having to worry about recycling its components.

Many online games use cloud storage and internet-based access, so there's no need for tangible material.

Transportation

On top of the game itself, the supply chain involves transporting the items from the manufacturer and eventually to your home. You remove all of this when downloading games.

When it comes to visiting an actual land-based casino to play, you're also adding a trip in your car or another form of transport. By traveling to and from the location, you're adding to the industry's carbon footprint with greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Saving

Modern consoles and gaming computers have a power-saving mode to reduce energy consumption when not in use. LCD screens also use fewer watts than CRT monitors, and it's a popular option for 'greener' gaming.

How can you help? Tips to reduce your usage includes using the 'sleep' or hibernate function or unplugging the device completely when you're not playing.

It's also advisable to exit and close other programs running in the background. When you custom build or upgrade, ensure you're adding energy-efficient hardware to manage best how much electricity you use.

Compared to energy used by an actual brick-and-mortar casino, online requires far less. One of the primary energy zappers is the flashing lights and neon signs to create an exciting ambiance. Add to that the power bill to keep everything running, and online gaming in the comfort of your home is far more energy-efficient.

Key Takeaways

Online gaming or gambling using your laptop at home has a much smaller impact on the environment than going to an actual casino. There's also nothing to add to the trash or landfill as these have no packaging or instruction booklet to worry about.

If you're sensible about how much energy or electricity you consume at home, you won't have to worry about harming the environment.

Arctic Species are Survivalists

22 Oct 2020

Animal species living in the Arctic have adapted to the barren conditions and freezing climate. The Arctic animals usually have warm fur and an insulating coat of fat under their skin. There are mammals, sea creatures and birds that survive the up to -58 F temperatures of the Arctic.