Green Tip #12 – Select refurbished, recycled or eco-friendly furniture and building materials

Buy refurbished or second-hand furniture that are repaired and cleaned to look like new furniture. This helps to reduce the amount of old furniture sent for disposal. Or choose furniture and building materials made from recycled wood such as tables, chairs, doors and flooring.

You can also select furniture and building materials made of eco-friendly bamboo or wood sourced from sustainable forests such as those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which helps to reduce the rate of deforestation.

Green Tip #11 – Use a microfibre cloth for cleaning sensitive surfaces

A microfibre cloth is effective for cleaning sensitive surfaces such as television, handphone and computer screens, spectacles and mirrors. It does not scratch the surface and can remove dirt easily, thus reducing the need for water and chemical cleaners. Try using a microfibre cloth instead of using tissue paper or paper towels for cleaning. You can reduce the need to use disposable paper since the cloth can be washed and reused many times.

Green Tip #10 – Avoid changing your handphone frequently

In 2006, the number of handphone subscribers in Singapore is about 4.6 million. This means that each person in Singapore probably own at least one handphone (the population in Singapore is about 4.5 million). The rate of change of handphones is fast and we know of people who change their handphones every few months so that they can have the latest model with better functions and features. If each person change their handphone once a year, we would end up with 4.6 million old handphones that are usually sold as secondhand phones locally and overseas, or disposed of.

We think that there is no need to keep changing your handphone to the latest model if your current one is still working fine. The frequent changing of handphones results in more resources being used to make new ones and also increases the disposal of the old ones.

Image credit: Chance Agrella via freerangestock.com.

Green Tip #9 – Participate in the National Recycling Programme

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has implemented the National Recycling Programme for several years, where recycling bags or containers are given to residents living in housing estates and landed properties. These recycling bags or containers are given by appointed recycling contractors and are collected fortnightly. You can make use of the recycling programme to recycle items such as paper, plastic and glass bottles, metal cans and old clothing, instead of throwing them away.

In addition, there are recycling bins placed at housing estates (one set of recycling bins placed for every five blocks), and also public recycling bins placed at train stations and high traffic locations. Check out the locations of the nearest recycling bins at the NEA website. The government has also recently announced that it will make it mandatory for condominiums and private apartments to provide recycling facilities in phases.

With all these recycling facilities in place, it’s easy to recycle and there’s no more excuses not to.

Green Tip #8 – Use rechargeable batteries instead of normal single-use batteries

Rechargeable AA and AAA alkaline batteries can be reused many times and this will help to reduce the disposal of normal single-use batteries. If 5% of the local population switched to rechargeable batteries, this would prevent the annual disposal of more one million single-use batteries (assuming each person throws away five batteries a year).

Switching to rechargeable batteries also helps to save money. A pack of four AA alkaline batteries costs about S$2 and can be used once, whereas a pack of four rechargeable batteries and a charger costs about S$20, and the batteries can be reused about 500 to 1,000 times. If you switch to rechargeable batteries and reuse them 10 times, the purchase cost between normal and rechargeable batteries would breakeven.

Image credit: PublicDomainPictures.net.

Green Tip #7 – Collect rainwater for flushing toilets and watering plants

When it rains, you can bring out the pails or other storage containers for collecting rainwater. The rainwater collected can be used for flushing the toilets, watering the plants and even for washing your car. There is no need to use clean drinking water for those purposes. By using rainwater, it would help you save water and money.

If you stay in a flat and do not have space outside your corridor to collect rainwater, you can consider making a simple rainwater collection system. Tie some funnels to a bamboo pole and connect the outlet of each funnel to a plastic hose that leads to your pail. When it rains, put out your bamboo pole and close your windows (leaving a slight opening for the hose). The funnels collect the rainwater and channel it through the hose to the pail. Explore other possible ways to collect rainwater. Be creative and have fun.

Photo credit: Chance Agrella via freerangestock.com.

Green Tip #6 – Avoid printing ATM receipts

The printing of ATM receipts not only wastes paper but also creates a litter problem. There are about 1,416 ATM locations provided by the three local banks (DBS/POSB – 676; UOB – 385; OCBC – 355). If there are two people printing receipts from each ATM machine daily, we would end up with more than one million paper receipts annually.

And this is not taking into account the fact that there can be more than one ATM machine at each location and that there are more than five other banks with ATM machines. Imagine the paper wasted if we take all these into account.

In addition, the receipts are often found as litter around the ATM machines. So, choose not to print receipts and check your bank account online or update your bank book regularly to ensure that there is no discrepancy.

Image attribution: padday.

Green Tip #5 – Reduce your refrigerator’s energy consumption

There is a refrigerator in most homes, and they are always running and consuming significant energy. According to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources website, “a typical 4-room air-conditioned HDB flat spends 30% of its energy bills on air-conditioning, 17% on its refrigerator, 10% on lighting, and 9% on its water heater.” Since the refrigerator is the second highest energy consumer in our house, we should aim to reduce its energy consumption.  Read more

Green Tip #4 – Don’t be a slave to the latest fashion

We have a choice. We can choose what we want. There is no need to follow the latest fashion and keep on changing our clothing and accessories to suit the new style. Read more

Green Tip #3 – It’s not necessary to be always clean and spotless

We feel that it’s not necessary to be clean and spotless at all times. It’s ok to be slightly dirty, and help save water and energy or reduce the use of chemicals. You may not agree with us but we think cleanliness can be overlooked at times. Read more

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