Challenge May - June 2011 by Challenge Online

May/Jun

LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER This c le ver l y designed (and slightly disturbing) sink might make you think twice about water wastage. The water level in the fishbowl drops as the tap is running… but don’t worry about the goldfish, the water returns to the original level after use. tinyurl.com/poorgoldfish

TRIVIA COFFEE VS TEA It takes almost 300 gallons of water to produce one cup of coffee, whereas tea uses only 30 gallons. The next time you’re taking a break, try tea instead – some black teas contain just as much caffeine as coffee. thegogreenblog.com/coffee-vs-tea/

PAPER ALTERNATIVES Canefields Stationery is a local eco-company that reuses sugarcane waste to produce alternative fibre paper products – notebooks, fax rolls, office pads and more – that use less water and energy to manufacture. www.canefields.asia

e 2011

The Go Green Issue

BOTANICALLS Now your plant can remind you when it needs to be watered (or complain when it’s been over-watered). Connect it to the Internet with a special ethernet jack and it’ll send you messages via SMS or Twitter. www.botanicalls.com

pages of tips to save the Earth

19 -26 Want to make a difference but don’t know where to start? Challenge makes it easy with this pullout packed with ideas from bento making to upcycling, and yes, bicycling too. Going green doesn’t have to be painful or boring!

FLIPS Flips is a homegrown, eco-friendly company that makes their flip-flops in Thailand. They’re made of 100 per cent natural, biodegradable rubber that last longer than your average pair, so you don’t have to keep buying new ones. Get them at www.flips.com.sg

eco FRIENDLY FONTS

CHILLY STATS In a recent WWF Singapore poll conducted for Earth Hour 2011:

% % of Singaporeans of Singaporeans think offices think cinemas and schools are too cold are too cold

1 in 4

respondents compared their office/ school to “winter in Siberia”

Century Gothic is actually the most “economical” font when it comes to saving ink, followed by Times New Roman. Garamond saves ink, too. Ecofont is a new software add-on that saves up to 25 per cent of toner by perforating your typeface with tiny holes. You can still use whatever font you like – it’ll just be a lot easier on your ink supplies. www.ecofont.com

TRIVIA GREAT PACIFIC OCEAN GARBAGE PATCH Also known as the Pacific Trash Vortex, this is a freakishly concentrated sea of rubbish that has accumulated in the North Pacific Ocean. Some scientists speculate that it is twice the size of Texas, though there is no way to determine how big it is because it is difficult to decide which pollutants “don’t count” as part of the patch.

Mr Ellie Pooh could work on the name, but it’s basically paper that’s partially made of Sri Lanka elephant dung. It’s all plant material anyway... just don’t think about it too much while you’re writing. store.mrelliepooh.com

Learn more at www.greatgarbagepatch.org

tinyurl.com/wwfsing2011

PACKED LUNCH IDEAS

BYO BENTO BENTO TIPS

Hawker centres make it easy to eat a good, affordable lunch, but it may be kinder to the environment (and your wallet) to make your own meals and cut down packaging at the same time. TRIVIA Singapore produces up to 34 per cent more daily waste in the two weeks before Chinese New Year.

Despite a brief movement in China and Japan to bring your own chopsticks in 2006, many people haven’t been very good at reducing unnecessary waste. Next time you’re at your favourite hawker stall, suggest a small discount if you bring your own container or cutlery along. tinyurl.com/byochopsticks

& CONTAINERS…

Use edible “separators” like lettuce to divide salty and sweet foods.

Use an ice pack to preserve perishables on the way to the office.

tinyurl.com/cny-waste

BYO CUTLERY

Lunchinabox.net has a wealth of ideas on how to make your own bento box. The guideline for a bento meal is 3 parts carbs, 1 part protein, and 2 parts fruit and vegetables – tailor this to suit your own diet.

Use certain herbs and spices for their antibacterial qualities: oregano and cilantro help.

04 Use helpful foods like cherry tomatoes and grapes to fill gaps and “stabilise” the meal so it doesn’t slide around in your bag.

Find out more at www.lunchinabox.net

WHAT’S YOUR BEEF? Eat less beef to save the Earth, cry the greenies. But even if you did avoid animal products, did you know just how many things use cattle parts? BRAIN Anti-ageing cream

BONES Glass

HAIR Felt

FAT Cement

Local retailer Kooldepot.com carries a line of eco-friendly stainless steel containers that do the trick. We especially like:

BUBEE Stainless Steel Insulated Vacuum Food Jar: $65

Lunchbots: $28

ECO-EATS Two food courts at NUS and City Square Mall are the first to be certified as eco-fr iend l y by the S ingapore Environment Council. Their initiatives include recycling cooking oil, and the use of sustainable cartons and cutlery instead of plastic or styrofoam ones. Of course, we still recommend you bring your own containers.

BLOOD Imitation eggs, dyes and inks

HOOVES AND HORNS, SKIN Wallpaper and lamination

INTERNAL ORGANS Instrument strings

THE UNIFORM PROJECT

Monday

Blouse Assemble, $28 Bracelet Terra Plana, $105 Shoes Echo, $229

Tuesday

Cardigan Zhai, $85 Belt Echo, $95 Necklace Dulcetfig, $89 Shoes Terra Plana, $269

Wednesday

Long sleeve top Assemble, $28 Make up bag Terra Plana, $79 Bracelet Terra Plana, $112 Shoes Echo, $199

Cows have notoriously slow d i ge s t i ve s y s t e m s , w h i c h i n turn, produce lots of methane. Methane is also a byproduct of landfills, coal mines, leaky gas pipes – it’s a greenhouse gas that traps heat in our atmosphere 23 times more than carbon dioxide. Feeding cows alfalfa and clover might be one way to reduce methane emissions by 25 per cent.

COW COMPARISONS CO 2 produced from 1kg of

34.6kg 17.4kg 6.35kg 4.57kg

Bolero Terra Plana, $149 Necklace Echo, $65 Skirt Ohm Mani, $39 Shoes Terra Plana, $249

Friday

Scarf Ohm Mani, $45 Top Etrican, $36 Shoes Echo, $179

ONE DRESS FOR A YEAR

COW FARTS

tinyurl.com/cowfarts tinyurl.com/cowmanure

Thursday

Little grey dress DulcetFig, $79

In 2009, Sheena Matheiken l a u n c h e d t h e U n i f o r m Pr o j e c t ( www.theunif or mproject.com ) , pledging to wear one little black dress for 365 days to support the sustainability movement and to raise funds for children in Indian slums. She reinvented her “uniform” using only vintage, handmade, reused or donated accessories. Inspired by her, Challenge has created five looks for one little grey dress with recycled or vintage accessories.

MINERAL MAKEUP Mineral makeup refers to loose powder makeup made of natural, mineral-based ingredients, including mica and zinc oxide. These are also found in regular makeup, but mineral makeup has no fragrances or dyes. There are many opinions as to whether it is actually better for your skin – some people believe it is just clever marketing, others praise how light and natural it is. Read up on your own cosmetics to see what kind of ingredients they contain at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com. Eco-friendly blush compact from Dr. Hauschka, $55, 5g. Eco-friendly mascara from Dr. Hauschka, $60, 10ml. tinyurl.com/minmakeup

TWO WHEELS GOOD, FOUR WHEELS BAD With the increasing popularity of cycling as a cleaner form of transport, it may be a good time to invest in a folding bike. Brompton: One of the oldest folding bike brands from the UK, Bromptons can be rolled along, folded up to store in compact spaces, and you can even get into a taxi with it. Brompton 2-Speed, $1850. Available from www.diginexx.com & Life Cycle at 18, Gemmill Lane (Tel: 62218469)

The Strida LT: A new single-speed folding bike that uses a Kevlar belt instead of a bike chain – this means you won’t get chain grease on your clothes. Folds and unfolds in under seven seconds.

Wear reflective strips and invest in some good lights, especially when biking at night. In heavy rain, it might be hard to see cyclists even during the day.

Self-confessed “bicycle commuting geek” mrbrown (and owner of seven bicycles) shares how we can cycle to work safely. How can we improve bike safety on roads?

Strida LT, $1099. Available from www.diginexx.com

TIP

Too scared to cycle?

Dahon: One of the most popular models from Dahon, the Curve D3 folds down in 15 seconds and can be tucked neatly under your desk. Cycling to work has never been cooler. Dahon Curve D3, From $765. Available from Life Cycle

BIKE ROUTE Try tinyurl.com/nparkconnect for National Parks’ Park Connector Network, which gives a helpful list of cycling routes from the heartlands to the city.

BIKELODGING The Bike Boutique, previously housed on Amoy Street, will be reopening in the second half of this year in the CBD with space to store 400 bicycles. Find out about the new facilities – including a pool and gym – and more about “bikelodging” and commuter cycling at www.thebikeboutique.com and www.iwant2bike2work.org

Riders need to ride safely, defensively, and to ride with the flow of traffic, not against it. We call it “salmoning”. Drivers have to give 1.5m space to cyclists when passing. It’s the law. I’ve lost count of the number of times a motorist has overtaken me with less than 1.5cm, while in front of a police officer and nothing was done. The government needs to take cycling seriously and stop treating it as a sport and for leisure only. Ever had an awkward altercation with a motorist? Ever y. Single. Day. But I’ve learnt to let things slide more often now. I prefer to focus on enjoying my ride. If it was dangerous driving, especially by a bus, I report the driver quietly. Three tips for new bikers? 1. Ride assertively and take the lane if you have to. 2. Be aware of your surroundings and anticipate driver behaviour. Every side road is a danger zone. Every bus stop is a death trap created by bus drivers who try to cut in front of you. 3. Allow room for manoeuvre if you need to avoid a bad driver (so please don’t ride too close to the kerb).

NEA’s 10% ENERGY CHALLENGE In late 2008, the NEA announced a nationwide challenge for households to reduce their electricity usage by 10 per cent. Tips on the website encourage people to set their airconditioning temperature to 25 degrees Celsius, or even better, use a fan instead. tinyurl.com/nea-ec

GADGETS SAVE $ AND THE EARTH Turning off your computer (at the power outlet, too) when it is not in use can shave off $240 from your annual electricity bill.

‘Your Survival Guide’ by Central Singapore Community Development Council

With perfectly drinkable water from our taps, we really should have few reasons to reach for bottled water.

98.3

80 %

$ million spent on bottled water in S ingapore in 2007

in expediture of bottled water over last 10 years in Singapore

Fiji water travels up to

Every square mile of the ocean has

10,000

kilometres before being drunk

46,000

pieces of floating plastic in it

1.5million

Turn your phone into a mobile bar code scanner with this free app. Learn which consumer products are safe and eco-friendly while shopping. www.goodguide. com/about/mobile

365 Ways to Live Green

Receive practical tips on green choices in clothes, technology and stocks, and food. bit.ly/365green

T h i s c on c e p t b r a i s n’t e x ac t l y practical because of the obvious need to wear clothes, but Triumph Japan unveiled this curious gadget in 2008 along with other green lingerie to raise environmental awareness – one bra actually turns into a reusable shopping bag. bit.ly/solarbra

THE PROBLEM WITH BOTTLED WATER The SOLUTION

barrels of oil are used in the US each year to make bottles for the water industry – enough to power 100,000 cars for a year

10 % of plastics produced

Invest in water filters There are many types available in department stores like Robinsons and Tangs. Local firm Hyflux sells a range from water pitchers ($60) to tap filters ($499). We like:

each year worldwide winds up in the ocean, 70% of which finds its way to the ocean floor

GREEN APPS

GoodGuide

SOLARPOWERED BRA

3M Filtrete Water Station 3M and design thinking company IDEO came up with this clever and sharplooking home system that filters water into four reusable bottles all at once. Greenpeace Tissue Guide

Since “all tissue is not created equal”, find out more about which brands of tissue, toilet paper, napkins and paper towels are easiest on the environment. www.3rdwhale.com/ apps

Eco Buzz Widget

tinyurl.com/3mfiltrete

Keep up with the latest eco-news around the globe and share with friends. mippin.com/ ecobuzz

Bobble UK Designer Karim Rashid designed these bottles with built-in water filters. Available in delicious colours, the filters can go through 300 refills. www.waterbobble.com

100 THING CHALLENGE

Joel Henriques is an Oregon-based American artist who makes his own toys out of paper products, felt and boxes. He also provides printable D-I-Y templates on his blog. Try this Woodpecker Toy at tinyurl.com/ joel woodpecker o r fi n d m o re a t madebyjoel.blogspot.com

GROUNDS FOR YOUR GARDEN Starbucks may not be the most ecofriendly company on the planet, but they have had a socially responsible gardening programme since 1995 that gives customers used coffee grounds to be used as gardening compost. www.starbucks.com/responsibility

365 DAYS OF TRASH One man’s quest to live a waste-free life seems pretty extreme, but devout environmentalists might want to adapt a few principles to suit their own lifestyles. Find out how he “recycled” and saved waste in his own basement for an entire year.

• Shop at the wet market and support local sellers

LIM

MAKE YOUR OWN TOYS

– Dave Bruno

• Try ordering a vegetable delivery from Green Circle Farm: www.greencircle.com.sg

www.vampirepowersucks.com

• Volunteer at the GroundUp Initiative: www.groundupinitiative.org

365daysoftrash.blogspot.com

• Invest in Energy Star qualified devices when buying new electronics.

• Try and shop at Sheng Siong, which labels produce by origin

LIM

• Unplug mobile phone/laptop chargers when not in use. Invest in “smart” power strips that automatically turn off when devices have finished charging.

Tips from locavore.com.sg

PROJECT

WINDOWFARMS Windowfarms are hydroponic vertical gardens for urban dwellers. Online kits allow city residents to use plastic bottles and other recyclables to grow their own leafy greens and herbs, including cilantro, parsley, sugar peas, snow peas, sage, collards and camomile. Read more at www.windowfarms.org Windowfarms kits can be purchased and ordered via www.vpost.com.sg as they do not ship outside the US.

• Use the on/off switch on the power outlet, not just the device.

• Unplug devices when not in use.

I totally believe that living without an abundance of personal possessions for an extended period of time is the first step we ought to take in order to realise that we don’t need ever-more stuff.

No, we don’t mean Twilight… “vampire power” refers to electricity consumed by appliances that are plugged in, but switched off. Some devices keep trying to recharge themselves despite being fully charged – a major culprit is the cordless phone. These four tips can reduce energy wastage:

The “locavore” movement is concerned with sustainable f ood pr actices, whic h means eating locally produced food. This includes produce from home gardens and local farms, that don’t require intensive transport to market (therefore, a smaller carbon footprint).

VAMPIRE POWER

Dave Bruno created the 100 Thing Challenge as a personal project against mass consumerism, and thanks to the Internet, it quickly became a grassroots movement to reduce clutter, live simply, and reassess personal priorities. Find out more about the “rules” and read his blog at www.guynameddave.com

TOP PICKS

Hay Dairies Farm

Don’t miss the only goat farm in Singapore, and get your hands “dirty” with its residents. You can also order fresh goat milk online.

If you’re taking the shuttle bus, here are our highlights for the stops:

Address: 3 Lim Chu Kang Agrotech Park Tel: 6792 0931 www.haydairies.com.sg

WHAT: The Kranji Countryside Association was formed in 2005 to promote local produce, green “agritainment” and a greater appreciation for the environment. With almost a dozen farms open to the public, orchid gardens and fish breeders, these “farmpreneurs” arrange visits and outdoor recreation, sell local produce and even offer resort farm stays. WHERE: Ta k e t h e M R T t o K r a n j i a n d g e t o n t h e K r a n j i Express shuttle bus, which runs from 9am to 4:30pm. Tickets are available from the driver. Find out more at www.kranjicountryside.com

Hausmann Marketing Aquarium This interactive fish farm has giant arapaimas, exotic catfish, koi, tortoises, and a ‘fish spa’. There’s even prawn fishing – kids can also bring home “longkang fish” as a souvenir.

Aero-Green Farm NT

L earn about aeroponics and its significance to urban farming. Enjoy a bottle of lettuce juice and pick up some fresh greens.

Address: 291 Neo Tiew Crescent Tel: 6792 3695

Address: 260 Neo Tiew Crescent Tel: 6792 4298

www.hausmann-aqua.com

www.aerogreentech.com.sg

Fireflies Health Farm

KR AN JI WAY

This organic farm uses natural fertilisers like rock dust, molasses and seaweed to grow leafy greens and a range of local fruits and herbs. Address: 75 Lim Chu Kang Lane 2 Tel: 6793 7875 www.fireflies.sg

RO EW TI KAN

MC HU

ANE NG L A K CHU

GL ANE 1

LOCAVORE

KRANJI FARMS

Bollywood Veggies This “planet friendly” farm has its own bistro and cooking school. For adventurous types, they also claim to have the island’s hottest chilli padi. Address: 100 Neo Tiew Rd Tel: 6869 5001

www.bollywoodveggies.com

Kin Yan Agrotech Just down the road from Hausmann and Aero-Green is Singapore’s largest wheatgrass farm. The shuttle doesn’t actually stop here, but it’s worth visiting for edible cacti, aloe vera, mushrooms and roselle fruits. Address: 220 Neo Tiew Crescent Tel: 6794 8368 www.kinyan.biz

GARDEN TIPS If you have a flower garden, find out which plants are acid-lovers and feed them coffee grounds for nutrients. Green tea leaves are high in nitrogen and keep insects away. Used coffee grounds reportedly deter ants, snails and slugs. Cleaned egg shells can be used as a pest deterrent and add nutrients to the soil.

1 TONNE CO2

start recycling TRIVIA

Singapore’s top three waste materials in 2009:

1 TONNE OF CO 2 Denmark is building a new waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen, ready in 2016, designed to emit 1-tonne smoke rings of exhaust so viewers can see how much CO 2 is generated. The plant’s roof will double as an artificial ski slope.

Plastic

Paper

Food Waste

tinyurl.com/1tonnecarbon

READ

THE LITTLE BOOK OF SHOCKING ECO FACTS

This beautifully designed book was published just last year and features interesting, if rather depressing, tidbits on the environment. It ’s a mere US$10 on Amazon.

Singapore is a microcosm of ecological collapse: Since it was first colonised, it has lost 99.8% of its forest cover, and 26% of its natural species. tinyurl.com/ecoshock

JUNK MAIL Junk mail is often a nuisance for everyone, since it is an opt-out service. Write to SingPost to reduce unnecessary mail. www.singpost.com

up CYCLING TIPS Instead of recycling, try and repurpose ordinary household “waste” or junk: Tip: Try www. instructables.com for more ideas

Recycled

• Appoint a recycling representative • Generate interest and awareness among staff and encourage them to separate their trash • Provide separate receptacles for waste paper at the appropriate locations • Inform cleaners of your new programme and tell them to remove waste paper and store it

new cuffs

• Arrange for a recycling collector to collect your waste paper • Monitor the programme and chart your progress for everyone to see • Learn about “take back” programmes managed by major manufacturers like Canon, Nokia and Dell – companies like these often take back used ink cartridges and old computers to recycle

new bag tinyurl.com/booktobag

old bottles old shirt

13%

Recycled

If you’re keen to start a recycling programme or get a recycling collector in your office, follow these steps as outlined by the Singapore Environment Council:

new cloth bag new light fixtures

48%

Recycled

old

new wire cables

a bo c a rb e s d l o tu

old book