10 Tips For Green Living

Green living has been a hot topic of discussion across South Africa recently, following the country’s energy crisis. There are several benefits that come with being more environmentally conscious, the most prominent of which, is the reduction in costs. Changing a few things at home is hassle-free and can significantly reduce your expenditure as going green is a great way to save money on electricity costs, fuel consumption and various daily expenses.

Therefore, here are 10 tips to help you get started with green living:

1. Light Bulbs.

Ensure that you replace high power indoor lights with compact fluorescents or LEDs. These may be more expensive than regular light bulbs but due to their longer lifespans and energy savings, they quickly pay for themselves by saving costs in the long term.

2. Washing Machines.

Only run the dishwashers and washing machines when they're full. Clothes washers are huge energy and water users, so make sure you're doing full loads whenever possible. Also, investing in a high efficiency dishwasher can save you money in the long term. How? Well, we tend to use more soap and water than is actually needed when hand washing clothes. So save your time, water and power by putting those dishes directly in the dishwasher after a meal and only switch it on when it is at full capacity.

3. Walk more.

A home's location directly affects the owner's ecological footprint. Look for a house close to work and shopping, minimizing the need for transport. Thus, when possible, try walking to the shop or other close by destinations as opposed to driving. This will not only save you fuel, but reduce your carbon emissions and improve your health.

4. Drive better.

Changing your driving habits could have a major impact on fuel efficiency and reduce your costs significantly. Poor driving habits not only impact you financially, but have a substantial environmental cost. By driving at the speed limit, keeping your oil and air filters clean and stepping on the brakes and exhilarator carefully, you could see large improvements to your fuel consumption.

5. Separate your waste.

It is easier to reduce your household waste and recycle, by sorting your waste as you dispose of it. A colour coded waste system does the trick by offering a bin for a specific waste category. More so, materials such as paper, cans, plastic and glass can usually be recycled. Therefore the key is to change waste disposal habits by taking the time to place waste material into the correct bin so that it can be recycled accordingly.

6. Reduce waste.

Take your own shopping bag to the shop as this will reduce your daily costs as well as your impact on the environment. Plastic bags offered by grocery stores increase your daily shopping bill and end up cluttering up the pantry until they are eventually thrown away. More so, when these plastic bags are disposed of, they end up in landfill sites and become a large health risk to wildlife.  

7. Recycle Water.

Keep a bucket by the shower or the bathtub and fill it with the cold water that comes out before the hot water kicks in. Then take the bucket outside and use it to water your plants or lawn.

8. Switch off the Geyser/Water heater.

Although solar water heaters are the best choice for conserving energy, simple changes to your existing setup can cut your electricity bills drastically. It is therefore beneficial to switch off your water heater during the day while you are at work, particularly during hot summer months when hot showers and baths become less frequent.

9. Upgrade Your Insulation.

The addition of insulation to prevent leaky ducts, doors, walls and windows can improve your home’s energy usage by over 20 percent. If revamping your insulation is not feasible, try thermal shades which will block the sun in summer and retain heat in the winter. This will help avoid the use of the aircon during those hot summer months, thereby minimizing electricity costs.  

10. Support local farmers.

Purchasing groceries from local farmers and small businesses is environmentally ethical and can be cheaper as these products are brought directly to you, no long-distance transportation and no harmful gassing to simulate the ripening process.

Following these little lifestyle changes can have a monumental impact on your wallet and the future of world we live in. Walk that extra distance, turn off that extra appliance and keep green living in mind with regards to your home and work choices.