IT'S TIME TO GO GREEN!

It’s not enough to just recycle – homeowners are now making their homes as sustainable as they are beautiful. More and more people are trying to “play nice” with Earth by turning their houses into eco-friendly homes.

We’ve put together some easy, cost-effective tips to help save the planet: 

Replace bulbs
Energy efficient LEDs use up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescents while producing the same beautiful warm light you are used to. An LED bulb can last for up to 15,000 hours, which is equal to 15 incandescents. So not only will you have to change fewer bulbs, there will be less waste as a result.

Unplug
TVs are typically left on standby for approximately 17 hours per day. Unplug your TV when it’s not in use to save electricity.

Shady fridges
One thing that should not be in the sun is your fridge. A fridge is one of the biggest power consumers in many households as nearly all homes have at least one fridge and they run for 24 hours a day. Having your fridge in sunlight will force it to work harder to keep cool, and in turn use more energy – move it to a cool, shady spot. 

Avoid hot food
When putting food in your fridge or freezer, allow it to cool down naturally first. The less work your fridge has to do, the less energy it will use.

Quit fridge gazing
Peeking in the fridge can cost up to R600 per year. Don’t leave the door open when taking food out. The longer the door is open, the more cold air escapes, and the more energy is needed to reduce the temperature again once the door is closed. So, decide what you want before you open the fridge.

Use frozen food to your advantage
If you are thawing food from the freezer, put it in the fridge. This helps keep the fridge cool without using energy to do it.

Compost kitchen scraps
Separating and composting kitchen scraps not only reduces the amount of household waste in landfills but also makes the best compost for your own veggie garden. 

Clean with vinegar
Using harmful chemicals to clean is very bad for the environment. When you wash them away you are simply putting them into the water supply. For most day-to-day cleaning tasks, natural products like vinegar, citric acid from citrus fruits and bicarbonate of soda can be used in place of caustic chemicals to great effect.

Keep it closed
Your oven temperature can drop by up to 65°C when opening the door for 30 seconds. Don’t be tempted to keep on unnecessarily chicking in on your cooking. 

Clear the air
Be literally green and improve the air quality in your house when you grow houseplants. 

Clean up your recycling habit
Be diligent about throwing paper, plastic, glass, tins, garden refuse, and general waste into separate bags. Remember that each type of waste has a different type of bag: Paper and plastic are orange bags (you can put both into one bag), glass and tins go into a clear bag, garden refuse belongs in a blue bag, and everything left over goes into a black bag.

Turn it off
When brushing your teeth, make sure you turn off the tap. By leaving the tap running while brushing, you can waste up to 15 litres of water.

Power shower
Shower instead of bathing. Showering only uses about 14% of the water used to fill up a bath. And remember to keep those showers as short as possible.

Keep it cool
85% - 90% of energy goes to heating water when washing clothes. Switch to cold water, and start saving instantly.

Cover up
Put a cover on your pool when you're not using it. Not only will it keep the water cleaner, but it will keep it from evaporating, saving you refills.

Follow these simple tips, and you’ll be well on your way to living a greener, cleaner life.