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Tips for Living Green
By Marisa Wright
You know you should do your bit for the environment, but you're already running flat out just surviving day to day. Where do you get the time to "go green"? And it's all very well for environmentalists to tell you to replace your appliances with energy efficient ones, but where do they think the money is coming from? Don't despair, there are many things you can do to "go green" without breaking the bank and without chewing up the little free time you have. In fact, you'll even save money! The first and most obvious target is the shower. The Body Shop sells inexpensive shower timers - get one for each of the family! Also, put a bucket (or even a watering can) in the shower to catch the water that's wasted while the shower is heating up: you can use it for a toilet flush, or to water the garden, or to wash the car. The shower should be kept just for washing your hair and body. You don't need to have water cascading all over you while you're shaving or brushing your teeth! And when you do shave or brush your teeth at the sink, don't leave the tap running while you do it. On the subject of water, take a look at your hot water heater. Is there an adjustable thermostat? It should be around 50 deg C(120 deg F). That's quite a reduction and may not feel hot enough to begin with, but you will get used to it - trust me! Experiment until you find a temperature you can live with, remembering that for every extra degree of heat, you use up more money and more energy. If the water coming out of your taps is so hot you can't put your hand under it, you're definitely wasting a lot of energy. If you can't find a thermostat on your heater, it should still be possible to adjust the temperature - but you will have to call in a plumber to do it. If you don't have a "half flush" facility on your toilets, either install one or put a brick in the cistern (which permanently reduces the amount of water in each flush). Electricity is another area where it's easy to be green without too much effort. Most people are becoming aware that electrical equipment uses power even when off, unless they are switched off AT THE WALL SOCKET. It's not always practical to turn everything off completely - maybe the socket is behind the appliance where you can't reach, or perhaps you'd lose programming (e.g. on a DVD recorder) - but make it a rule to get as close as you can every time. For instance, even though you can't reach the wall socket for the TV, it will make a difference if you turn it off using the switch on the front instead of just the remote. You may be surprised how much money you'll save by implementing this small step! Another obvious thing is to turn lights off when you leave a room. Yes, even fluorescent or halogen lights. It's a myth that it's cheaper to leave them on: as a rule of thumb, if you're leaving a room for more than 10 minutes, it's cheaper to switch the light off. In the kitchen, don't fill your kettle with more water than you actually need. Do you really need to turn on the extractor fan and light? Don't put hot food in the fridge - let it cool down first. Your clothes dryer is a HUGE consumer of electricity. It's a scandal the way modern home designers don't allow space for clothes to dry naturally, because it's one of the biggest greenhouse culprits in the house! If you can find room for an old-fashioned clothes horse or clothes line, you will save a lot of money and energy. If you dry your clothes naturally indoors, you may find they dry stiff - in that case, pop them in the dryer for just five or ten minutes, and they'll come out soft again. Besides the clothes dryer, your other biggest greenhouse polluter is your car. How much extra time would it take if you walked or took public transport instead of using your car? If it's only five or ten minutes, isn't that worth it to save the planet? Are you driving to the shopping mall because groceries are cheaper than at your corner store? Are you sure it's really cheaper, if you add in the cost of your petrol, wear and tear on the car and damage to the environment? It's surprising how many parents drive their children to school even though it's only 10 or 15 minutes' walk away. As well as saving petrol, taking that short walk would be valuable exercise for them (and you!). It will take a few weeks for these small changes in habits to become a permanent part of your way of life. For the first month or so, draw up a wall chart or stick Post-its around the house to remind yourself and your family! In no time at all, you'll do the right thing without noticing, and your hip pocket and the environment will thank you! |
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