Every Bit Counts

Cut Down your water & electricity bills, and Save the environment:

Remember that any of those tips will help someone less fortunate

Shorter showers with less pressure

Installing a water saving shower head

Ensuring taps, water pipes and hose connections don’t drip

Checking toilets for leaks. Use a few drops of food colouring in the cistern, wait for a while and check the bowl for signs of colour - be sure to flush afterwards prevent staining.

If you live somewhere where it rains a lot consider Installing rainwater tanks

If you live in a house make sure to use grey water from sinks and washing machines to water the garden

Turning off the tap while brushing our teeth

Turning off the tap while shaving

Washing veggies in a sink partially filled with water instead of under a running tap

Setting washing machines at the lowest possible water level for the load

Watering gardens just after sunrise or just after sunset to reduce evaporation

Installing drip irrigation systems

Reducing the temperature of water heaters which lessens the amount of mixing needed to be done in order to achieve a temperature that won’t scald your skin

Installing dual flush toilets or displacement devices in cisterns.

Fill a dishwasher completely before running it

Saving Electricity:

• Appliances on ‘Standby’ still consume electricity. Unplug whatever appliances you are not currently using. (though one, huh J)

Many of us have the habit of leaving things turned on. This wastes energy, which is a result of burning more fuel. This causes global warming.

Use CFLs. These energy-saving light bulbs are a little more expensive than regular light bulbs, but they last much longer and will lower your power bill in the long run. The habit to develop is to buy a couple of these at a time, instead of the regular incandescent bulbs, and replace your bulbs with CFLs as they burn out. In a few months, your entire house will have energy-saving bulbs. Simple!

Monitors displaying Black consume 25% less energy that monitors displaying white. Adjust your screen brightness to the minimum brightness level that will make you satisfied.

Turn down the heat or air-conditioning a fraction. Do you really need to get around in summer clothes in winter? Even setting your thermostat up or down a degree or two can make a huge difference in electricity consumption.

Redecorate & Save the environment!

Plants not only provide us with oxygen and look nice in the home; keeping plants indoors can also help clear your house of common environmental pollutants.

Beneficial plants include (scientific name followed by common):

Aloe Vera
Aglaonema Modestum - Chinese Evergreen
Chamaedorea Seifritzii - Bamboo Palm
Chlorophytum elatum - Green Spider Plant
Chrysanthemum morifolium - Pot Mum/Florists’ Chrysanthemum
Dracaena Janet Craig - Janet Craig
Dracaena Marginata - Marginata
Dracaena Massangeana - Mass cane/Corn Plant
Dracaena Warneckii - Warneckii
Gerbera Jamesonii - Gerbera Daisy/African daisy
Hedera Helix - English Ivy/Common Ivy
Philodendron Domesticum - Elephant Ear Philodendron
Philodendron Oxycardium - Heart Leaf Philodendron
Philodendron Selloum - Lacy Tree Philodendron
Sansevieria Laurentii - Mother in law’s tongue
Scindapsus aureus - Golden Pothos
Spathiphyllum Mauna Loa - Peace Lily/Mauna Loa

Some of the above are more effective than others at filtering particular chemicals

Make extraordinary use of ordinary things & Save the environment:

Vinegar:

You can reduce the number of environmentally harsh and toxic chemicals used around your home by replacing them with more earth friendly, cheap and common substances such as vinegar. Here are 22 handy vinegar tips to get you started:

To remove calcium buildup on kettles and electric jugs, boil the kettle with half a cup of white vinegar and leave to soak for a while. Rinse with fresh water, re-boil with same and your kettle should now be calcium deposit free.

Place a small container of vinegar in your toilet and bathroom to eliminate odors.

A half cup of vinegar added to a toilet bowl left overnight removes bowl odor. The smell of the vinegar will also dissipate overnight.

A cotton ball soaked in vinegar and applied to bruises for an hour is said to speed up the healing process.

Vinegar on minor burns and many sorts of stings can alleviate pain.

For cleaning your dishwasher, vinegar frozen into ice cubes, then a couple added to the bottom of the dishwasher just prior to a cycle is an effective alternative to using heavy chemical cleaners.

Old, stiff paintbrushes can be revived by dipping them into heated white vinegar for a couple of hours, followed by a rinse in soapy water. Beats using turpentine!

Vinegar can be used as a nappy soak; simply add half a cup of white vinegar to the water in the nappy bucket

Use it as a broad leaf weed killer - spray it neat onto the leaves of weeds, being careful to avoid plants you wish to keep. A mix of vinegar and salt can be used to keep weeks and grass out of driveway cement joins.

Vinegar can be used as a bench top disinfectant; but it’s a good idea to wipe over at night in order that the smell dissipates.

For pet owners, white vinegar poured onto pet urine mishaps on carpets, then blotted up with paper towel will prevent staining and odor.

Save money on washing pre-spray by spraying neat vinegar on deodorant and other stains on garments just prior to washing.

Spray a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water onto soap scum on shower screens, leave sit then wipe or rinse off.

Neat vinegar sprayed onto mould affected bathroom/shower tiles will kill the mould.

Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener by adding half the amount of vinegar as you would of your usual softening agent.

I’ve seen many suggestions that a tablespoon of vinegar can be used as a replacement for hair conditioner.

Vinegar can also be used as a glass cleaner either mixed with water or used neat in a spray bottle.

Use full strength vinegar to polish chrome and stainless steel

Use a 50/50 vinegar and water mix to clean your iron. Add the mixture to your iron and allow it steam itself clean

Pour boiling white vinegar down a clogged drain to remove the obstruction

Used in an fine atomizer, vinegar is effective as room deodorizer

Ants hate vinegar; so spray it around doorways and other areas they frequent to repel them

Treat your car right & Save the environment!

The following are some gas saving tips that can help lessen your consumption and impact on the environment, not to mention save you some serious money!

Driving habits: Erratic and irresponsible driving chews through gas at a phenomenal rate. Poor driving practices can lower your mileage by up to a third. Aggressive practices include speeding, heavy braking, rapid acceleration and “jackrabbiting”.

Proper engine tuning: Like a piano, a car’s engine becomes out of tune over a period of time and this seriously impacts on fuel economy. Tuning is a separate process to basic servicing and usually consists of adjustment to idling speed, fuel/air mixture, carburetor balance or injector maintenance, spark plug and distributor gap setting and ignition timing. While having your car tuned can cost a little, you can recoup those costs and then some by having a more efficient running engine.

Air filters: A clean air filter can save you up to 15% in gas usage. Old or worn filters allow dirt into the engine which not only impacts on the amount of fuel you use, but can also cause other engine faults that are expensive to repair.

Keep Tires Properly Inflated: Poorly inflated tires cause drag that negatively impacts on fuel economy, safety and also wear of on the tire itself. I’ve seen all sorts of varying figures as to how much you can save through proper inflation, but the point is that tires should be inflated to at *least* the manufacturers specifications. Often, over-inflating tires can provide even better economy, but check with your mechanic or tire dealer before doing so.

Quality motor oil: Oil in an engine is all about reducing friction - less friction also means less gas being used. Using the wrong grade of motor oil in your engine can cause overheating and wear problems, plus knock a couple of percent off your fuel economy.

Avoid excessive short trips: Try to plan out your day so that you’ll need to use the car as little as possible. Making lists before you head out on shopping expeditions can save you added trips throughout the week. Engines use more fuel when they are cold and most short trips you make will be run purely in “cold” mode. Fuel tends not to be burned efficiently which also results in more toxic/greenhouse emissions that are harmful to our environment.

Warming up engines: I was always taught that older vehicles must be warmed up for a couple of minutes before driving off; but it appears this is a myth. 30 - 45 seconds maximum warm up time is the figure I’ve seen recommended. Again, check with your mechanic.

Automatic choke sticking: Automatic chokes have a terrible habit of sticking after an engine has warmed up; causing poor burning of fuel. You’ll usually be able to tell if your choke is still on as the car will be idling faster after it has reached the usual running temperature or you can smell exhaust in the car. Usually a tap on the gas pedal will unstick it, but it’s a point that should be raised with your mechanic on the next servicing.

Use the right gear: Staying in the upper rev range in each gear for extended periods can consume massive amounts of gasoline.

Open windows and external items: When traveling on the highway, open windows can cause a substantial amount of drag. The car has to work harder to sustain the same speed. The same applies in situations where you are pulling a trailer or have items on a roof rack.