Some tips on helping the environment
As with all new initiatives that have a macro impact we all search around for things to do, especially if we believe in the vision of the initiative, like LeadSA. So I thought about some of the items that have been mentioned in these and other columns and compiled a list to consider.
Some are obviously more effective than others, and some a lot cheaper. But this is only one list. Make your own. Make a neighbourhood list. Make it fun.
- The myth that bottled water is better than tap water: There is no proof of this. With the new national rating system that evaluates the quality of the water from the tap on a regular basis, tap water is much more subject to proper regulation than bottled water is. Tap water is much more environmentally friendly than bottled water.
- Cars are not the only emitters of toxic gases. Livestock make up a significant component of the gases emitted. Cattle emit methane which is more toxic than CO2 – another very good reason to limit the amount of red meat you eat, apart from the health considerations.
- Organic foods are not necessarily produced without pesticides and other harmful chemicals. The truth is that many pesticides and other chemicals are used in “organic” farming. The thing to do is to be very aware of the source and contents of all the food you eat, and the toxins produced or emitted in their production.
- Be very careful of plastic containers especially those that contain BPA, bisphenol A. Be especially careful of using them in the microwave oven. The BPA leaches out and can affect your hormonal system. In addition, enormous amounts of energy are used in the manufacture of plastic products and most plastics take centuries to decompose.
- Use low-energy compact fluorescent light bulbs. They are more energy efficient and release less mercury into the atmosphere compared to the incandescent bulbs. Eskom is handing out these CFL bulbs free at many shopping centres around the country. Make the swop now.
- Christmas is not far off. Buy real trees, preferably local indigenous trees rather than plastic artificial trees, for all the reasons mentioned above. And, when Christmas is over, you can plant your tree and in so doing offset some of your own carbon footprint.
- Be aware that as nice as it is to wear clothes made of “organically” grown cotton, it is a huge consumer of water. South Africa, and countries like India and China are also desperately water-stressed. It may be better, environmentally speaking, to buy clothes made of recycled polyester.
- Packaging is a big killer. Avoid it wherever possible. Refuse to take plastic bags in the shops; take your own bag made of recycled material. Ask your grocer to use paper bags made of recycled paper, or paper from certified forests. But stop the bags and avoid packaging. You will save money and the planet doing so.
- Just like a running engine, if an appliance has a light glowing, it is using energy. It is said that a microwave on stand-by will use as much energy on standby as it will in its life-time energy usage for cooking. Switch off all unused appliances at the wall. You will save money and reduce your electricity consumption.
- Try to use alternative sources of energy whenever possible. Solar enjoys much better subsidy support from Eskom now than previously and is a cost-effective way to go. About 35 % of the average household energy consumption is used to heat water.
- Try to avoid using your car. If you must, buy a diesel car, or a hybrid. Their emissions are lower and they are much more economical. But use public transport wherever possible. The World Cup taught us that it is not only possible but also fun and economical.
- Plant a tree for every 400 kilometres that you drive. They are aesthetically pleasing and they consume CO2.
- Dump your air conditioners. They are really big consumers of energy.
- Cycle, walk or run. It is good for your health and for the environment.
- Buy food and products that are locally grown and produced. The further they have to be transported the more carbon intensive is the footprint that they, and you, will generate.
These are a few random, not necessarily revolutionary, new ideas. But they will help in our quest to leave our children a living and vibrantly alive planet in which to enjoy a good quality of life.
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Written by Tony Frost You are reading Some tips on helping the environment articles
