So you have recycling down pat, you’re using energy-saving light bulbs and keeping candles to hand in every room. But when it comes to the less obvious everyday things, how green is your life really?
Boiling point
Although you should only boil enough water for one cup when you break for tea, when it comes to boiling water for pasta or veggies, the ‘full” mark — or thereabouts — is the limit. Boiling the right quantity of water in a kettle not only saves time, it also saves loads of energy.
Water wise
Here’s something to think about while brushing your teeth this evening, idly staring out the window while the tap continues to run: closing it can save up to 20 litres of water per day. And while you’re at it, get your partner to close the tap while he shaves — it can save up to 45 litres per day.
Water works
Saving water doesn’t mean you have to give up gardening altogether. Just get your green fingers to work a little smarter. For instance, water your plants after dark when it’s cooler. Less water will evaporate, which means you’ll use less to get the same job done.
Size matters
It’s basic physics: a large element heating a small pot wastes energy by heating the surrounding air (and not very efficiently at that). So make sure that the pot and the element are a close fit. Even better, match the pot to the task — you don’t need a big one to cook spaghetti for one.
Green sleeves
It may be pretty, soft and nice to touch, but cotton is reputedly the most environmentally unfriendly crop, requiring huge doses of pesticide. Look out for organic cotton clothing (Woolworths has a range) made from cotton that was grown using natural pesticides and fertilizers that are much kinder to the environment.
War on e-waste
Outdated computers and cellphones often end up in landfills, leaking toxins such as lead, mercury and cadmium into the soil and water. Next time you upgrade, consider donating your old equipment to a worthy cause (a neighbourhood school or church), or visit www.e-waste.org.za for a list of companies that recycle electrical and computer equipment.
The wrap on wrap
If you meticulously separate plastic, glass and other waste at home, don’t stop there. Next time you grab a takeaway, ask for less (or even no) packaging, and refuse the plastic cutlery and all the little sachets of salt and sauce, unless you really, really need them.
read the signs
Drink responsibly by buying only products that carry the ‘recycle” logo. Also, buy South African, where possible. Put simply, it means the product hasn’t travelled halfway around the globe on a gas-guzzling plane or ocean-polluting ship to get here.