Issue No. 09
2 May 2014
Everyday alternatives at home
W
e make choices everyday at home to care for the environment. Whether it’s remembering to flick off the light switch or making a major change like buying a hybrid car, green choices mean a brighter future. Here are some eco-friendly tips to get started and make choices we can feel good about: •
Buy local products. This will help lower carbon dioxide emissions. Your local fresh food market is a good place to start for your food shopping and will make a difference to your climate change impact and help the local economy.
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Buy second-hand items. Consider buying used items. Anything from furniture to fixtures, books to laptops, it can save you a bundle.
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Clean often. Furniture, carpets, and floors can contain allergens like pollen, dust mites, and molds. You breathe these in, and so do your kids. Consider replacing carpeting with wood floors instead of using vacuum weekly.
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Consider greener choices. Look for products that provide the benefits you need with less impact. Some bags use 25% less plastic than regular bags and are produced using wind energy, so the overall environmental footprint of these bags is reduced.
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Ditch old duds. There is someone in your community who needs sweaters you never pull out of the closet. Consider donating them to keep somebody warm especially during cold seasons.
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Read a book. Televisions are an easy way to zone out at the end of the day. But you can have a relaxing and energy-efficient evening if you trade the TVs, laptops, or stereo for a good book.
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Set up a compost bin for kitchen and yard waste. Almost all food scraps left after cooking can be added to the compost, reducing the amount of garbage you throw into landfills. Compost creates a soil topping rich in nutrients for vegetable gardens, flowers, and others.
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Try incentives. Can’t get your kids to turn off the light when they leave their rooms? Tape an incentive bill over the light switch. Tell them if they remember all week, the cash is theirs.
Source: https://www.scjohnson.com/en/green-choices/EverydayAlternatives/Tips-From-Our-Experts.aspx?page=1
Published by the Trade and Industry Information Center (TIIC) for the DTI ENERCON Management Team in support of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program. If you have Enercon tips to share, other suggestions or requested topics, please e-mail us at publications@dti.gov.ph.