Going Beyond Green
April 6, 2009 by green team
Filed under Green Tips
Tips from the Singapore Environmental Council (www.sec.org)
Adopting a more environmentally friendly lifestyle has probably been a popular New Year’s resolution in 2009. Thanks to local awareness initiatives stressing the importance of reusing, reducing and recycling, most Singaporeans have already successfully adopted green practices in their day to day lives. But truly committing to a green lifestyle involves going beyond these simple steps, and turning eco-friendliness into a way of life. Here are five simple tips to get your new year off to an evergreen start!
1. Fix it yourself.
Extending the use of old appliances by making minor repairs ourselves is much greener than throwing them away and replacing them with new appliances, even if they are ‘green’, eco-labelled products. We can reduce the waste we generate by knowing how to do simple repairs ourselves.
2. Get involved
From beach cleanups to tree-planting to awareness campaigns, there are many ways in which we can help improve the environment we live, play and work in. To get started, pick an organization whose cause you believe in, and approach them to discuss the best way in which you can help them out.
3. Spread the word
While measures like riding bicycles to work, refusing to take plastic bags or bringing your own tumblers to buy takeaway coffee go a long way in promoting the environmental cause, friendly discussions about these practices help raise awareness, and generate new eco-friendly ideas.
4. Stay informed
Just as our environment is dynamic and constantly changing, so are the innovations and technologies being developed to mitigate its degradation. It’s important to stay updated about these changes, so that we may expedite their development or adoption – always knowing what’s going on in the green movement globally and locally maximises our potential to spread eco-friendly ideas and solutions.
5. Lead by Example
Raising green children is one of the most important long-term contributions we can make to the environmental cause. By inculcating a love for nature from a young age, we can ensure that we are leaving behind a truly green legacy, for the planet and for future generations. Weekend picnics in the park, visits to zoos and wildlife sanctuaries are an excellent way to foster an affinity for the environment in young children, ensuring that they will protect it in years to come.
THE TIPS ARE SO USEFUL ,THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I have been going around Singapore educating and persuading companies and public in adopting natural ways and products for the plants , landscape industry, plant nurseries and farms as the soil is the basis of the Earth which is directly link to the “blue” problems. I encourage adopting the principles of ecological system which now eventually broke by the usage of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides into the botanical environment. I also know that there is a local company which recollect waste fruits and vegetables to recycle and manufacture into useful products with the objective on Back-to-nature solution. How wonderful would it be to apply natural fertilizer which makes the plants around us to be an “air filter” for the Earth and drain into the ground without harmful substances where we can mitigate the risk of toxic water and process to treat it back?
Safety and health will be better with the reduction in chemical usage which most of the growers, be it farmers or public, have been spraying around us where the molecules from the chemical airborne to some distance and inhale which causing problems in health.eg. asthma.
In addition to these suggestions… If you would like to contribute and waste less water, you can reduce your water consumption with between 25 and 50% with faucet aerators, which is a unique water saving technique – with increased comfort and water flow. Save up to 70% with water saving showers and hoses as well.
We have tried them at home and it’s really amazing. So simple and at a minimal cost.
Why hesitate to contribute to the environment? We save both on water consumption and energy cost of heating the water up.
We should all try to do as much as we can.
I’m real pleased the efforts you have been doing to make our Earth free of pollution! Thank you!
I think there is a need to define the impact of each pro-green practices for each one to realize how much contribution he makes to better the environment.
Sanysue53