We are all hearing about Green this and Green that, but how will it affect us and how can we implement these changes effectively in our homes? Here are some tips on how to go Green.
- One tip we are all aware of is to install solar panels on our home instead of relying on Eskom and the coal burning that they practice. They may seem expensive to install but they should pay for themselves over the years.
- Don’t waste water! This means fix all your leaky taps and pipes.More water is lost by a slowly dripping tap than you would think. Some people will go so far as to advise you to urinate outside in your garden so as to save water by not flushing the toilet. But I think very few people would actually go that far.
- Choose finishes in your home carefully. Bamboo grows incredibly fast and is easily renewable. Many homeowners and designers are using it alot as flooring because of this and it is actually pretty fashionable at the moment. Don’t choose rare woods or species that take hundreds of years to grow
- Select carpeting that is made from natural fibres, like cotton or wool, that have not been chemically treated by things like pesticides.
- Insulate your geyser to decrease your electricity consumption.
- Plant water wise plants in your garden instead of those that need alot of water. Also choose to plant indigenous species instead of alien species from other countries. Plants that evolved for our climate should be easier to maintain and they usually use less water.
If we start building these ideas into homes from the beginning rather than ripping out all the old stuff and installing new eco-friendly products it will be easier to live with. It is a new era where we are encouraged to think about how every action we take and every product we buy is going to effect future generations.
Many of us may feel as though we don’t have a choice in the matter and all this Green stuff is a bunch of nonsense, but if we make a decision to accept that change does happen and that we don’t want to be left behind it may make the transition easier.
