Going Green in Uncertain Times

Going green – your planet and wallet will thank you!

By The Singapore Environment Council (www.sec.org)

In these financially uncertain times, everyone is on the lookout for tips and tricks on how to save that extra dollar. Fortunately, there are many small changes that we can make in our daily lives to reduce living costs. Such measures are doubly beneficial, because a lot of these measures also reduce the impact we have on our environment! Read on to find out how we can save money as well as the planet with a few simple changes to our lifestyles.

Transport

- If you haven’t already done so, make the switch to public transport today! There are plenty of reasons to do so – you’ll save on petrol, ERP and parking costs, as well as free up some extra time to catch up on your reading or sleep while commuting!

- If you live close to your office, why not try cycling or walking to work? More and more offices are providing facilities for employees who do so to shower and freshen up before they start their workday.

- If you must drive, consider carpooling with colleagues or friends – you’ll make significant savings in the long term.

- A well-maintained car is beneficial both to your wallet, and the environment. Ensure that your tyre pressure is at the recommended level, for properly inflated tyres can improve fuel economy by up to 10%.

Lifestyle

- Even greener than ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ is the principle of ‘refuse’! Think twice before you go on that next shopping spree.

- Scouring thrift stores or vintage shops for second-hand items like clothes, accessories, books and CDs can be a very fun and rewarding process! You can start at your nearest Salvation Army store or Cash Converters and score some great bargains! Buying second-hand is not only a way to save money, but it’s also more environmentally friendly, as it consumes less resources than buying newly manufactured goods, and reduces the amount of waste going to landfills.

- Cooking at home is often a more economical and eco-friendly option than eating out or buying takeaways. By doing so, you’ll also be reducing the amount of non-biodegradable plastic and Styrofoam that is wasted in the use of disposable takeout containers. As an added bonus, home-cooked food is likely to be healthier and fresher too!

- You can also green you diet by reducing your meat intake. Vegetarian meals are healthier, cheaper and greener than non-vegetarian options. Cutting back on meat consumption even once or twice a week is a good start to saving more money, and the environment!

- Greening your recreational habits can save you money too! Instead of spending money on a movie, or a day at the mall, why not pay a visit to the numerous local parks? There are numerous activities available at these parks, including cycling and nature trails, and open spaces for picnics with family and friends!

- The concept of “DIY” is not limited to home repairs and furniture! A lot of the expensive cosmetics and cleaning products that we spend money on have effective and cheaper home-made alternatives, which also contain less environmentally-unfriendly harmful chemicals. Try out all-natural home-made recipes for cosmetics like face masks and body scrubs, using simple ingredients like honey and sugar. Your skin, wallet and the environment will thank you!

Utilities

- There is a lot of room for savings on water and electricity bills! Installing energy-saving Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs and water-saving devices such as dual-flush cisterns and low-flow showerheads will result in significant cuts in your utility bills! For example, a household can save $66 on electricity bills annually by using 4 energy-saving light bulbs instead of 4 incandescent ones!

- When buying new appliances, look out for the Energy Efficiency Label and Water Efficiency Label on refrigerators, air-conditioners and washing machines.

- It also saves money, water and electricity to run washing machines and dishwashers only when you have a complete load. Choosing a cold wash cycle for your laundry instead of a hot one can also save you up to $150 a year!

Gadgetry

- For desktop computers, switch to an LCD monitor from a CRT one, as they use about 80% less energy than CRT monitors.

- Think twice about whether or not you really need that new laptop or cell phone. While new gadgets are a lot of fun, they are hard on your wallet, and also harmful to the environment, as they are non-biodegradable and contain harmful substances such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Prolong the life of your tech toys as much as possible to save money and the environment!

- When buying new gadgets, look for local recycling schemes that take back old computers and cell phones and recycle their spare parts. Even better, see if you can donate your old gadgets to charitable organizations locally or around the region.