Green Malahide
Here are some simple tips for ways to reduce your impact on the Environment
Saving Energy
Less energy is consumed when computers and monitors are turned on and off (as often as required) than when left on over time. In fact, all electronic devices use more energy when left on, as opposed to being turned on and off as needed.
Tips:
1. Consider energy-efficient computer systems and monitors when you replace a system. Make sure you enable your computer's energy-saving features.
2. Be sure to at least shut off the computer screen, as 60% of the power used by a computer is used by the monitor! (The other 40% is used to keep your hard drive spinning and to power the electronics.)
3. Put your home entertainment systems on a power bar and turn off the bar when you are not using them. (Components without clocks and timers, of course.)
4. Unplug infrequently used TVs, as many continue to draw power even when turned off.
5. Put swimming pool pumps on a timer, or run them only a few hours a day. Keep the filter clean for greater efficiency.
6. Use a solar blanket to keep swimming pool water warm overnight, and use your heater only when necessary.
7. Solar pool heaters (roughly $3,000 to $5,000) can be a cost-effective purchase when you add together equipment, installation and fuel costs for a traditional heater. Check them out.
Saving Water
Of all water on our planet earth, 97% is salt water. Only 3% is fresh water, and most of that is frozen in the polar ice caps. Less than 1% of Earth's water is available for our use. Household usage is about 5% to 10% of total fresh water used worldwide. Most of that is used in North America. On average, each of us consumes nearly 53 gallons of water a day at home. Some citizens of water-poor countries survive on as little as 4 gallons a day.
Tips:
1. Turn the tap on briefly to wet your tooth brush. Turn it off while brushing. If we don't turn the water off, did you know that we could be wasting 2 gallons of water.
2. While cooking, keep a bowl of water in the sink to rinse off your hands instead of constantly turning the water on and off.
3. Keep a bottle or jug of water in the fridge. This prevents you running the tap every time you want a cold glass of water.
4. Take a 2 -5 minute shower instead of a bath. Did you know that the tub can hold between 9-33 gallons (40 to 150 litres) of water. We would have to shower for up to 15 min to use that much water.
5. Turn off the shower while you lather your hair and body.
6. Install a low flow toilet in your house.
7. Use rainbarrels.
8. Use a bucket instead of a hose to wash the car.
9. Only do laundry when the washer can be filled.
Saving Paper
Tips:
1. Use scrap paper whenever possible.
2. Use cloth diapers
3.. Use cloth bags for your groceries and cloth bags for gift wrapping.
4. Use a permanent or reusable coffee filter.
Saving Gas
The average car burns 3 tons of gasoline in its lifetime.
Tips:
1. Walk to work at least once a week if possible. Take a bus or consider carpooling.
2. Organize your day so as not to make many trips out in the car.
3. Plant a tree next to your house to minimize the use of your air conditioner in the summer and keep the cooling winds off your house in the winter. Trees omit oxygen and absorb C02
4. Choose a smaller more fuel-efficient vehicle.
5. Have your tires properly balance to correct uneven weight distribution. If you are vibrating on the road your gas mileage will go down.
6. Check your tire pressure.
7. Add 2 minutes to your trip, slow down to save gas.
8. Reduce your use of the air conditioning in the car to save on gas. 9. Use ethanol blended fuels.
Excess Packaging
Since 1960, the amount of packaging in garbage has increased by 80%. Plastic debris is hazardous to wildlife. According to the World Society for the Protection of Animals, each year more than 2 million birds, turtles, whales, dolphins and seals become entangled in floating plastic debris, or mistake it for food.
Tips:
1. Take less garbage home from the supermarket. Choose those items with the least amount of packaging.
2. Use a permanent razor.
3. Take a moment to mail a wasteful package back to the manufacturer, with a letter telling them we don't need it and don't want it.
4. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
5. Buy bulk foods whenever possible.
6. Keep cloth bags in the car for unplanned purchases.
7. Use a garbage can instead of plastic garbage bags.
8. Pack garbageless lunches for yourself and your kids.
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