When looking around for new items for your house make sure you check into the environmental credentials and claims that the product's manufacturer and distributors are making. Green, eco and sustainable branding is the new 'in' thing, with many companies using this strategy as their new marketing tool. For those trying to do the right thing, but are time poor, it can be a difficult minefield to navigate and determine which products are those in fact making a positive difference to the environment.
Sure it comes down to personal choice and what you find meets your criteria for an 'environmentally appropriate' product. But there are many products that are blatantly using green branding to highlight themselves without actually making a difference. And in some cases these green branded products are more environmentally detrimental than the 'standard' products. Be wary!
The best thing to do is determine what you are happy to accept in the way of environmental features for your product and then start your research. For example, if you're looking for a white good product, environmental features you might consider important are: cradle-to-grave impacts, ongoing environmental impact(s) and efficiency (water and/or electricity).
There are a number of websites that can assist compare products, their environmental features and tell you whether their environmental claims are accurate or not. Some of these websites are government-owned, whilst others are maintained by the private industry. Some of the ones I have found useful include:
WELS rating (water efficiency)
Ecospecifier
Energy rating
So, if you are planning on investing some of your hard-earned money into new products for your home, try and spend some time researching their environmental impact(s) and their environmental claims.
Pin It
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Are you an active occupant?
Did you know that there can be significant gains in energy efficiencies and cost savings in your house but require a conscious occupancy of your house? Well it is true!
What does this mean? Basically it means that you have to be aware of how you are living in your house and what the environment is doing in and around your home. For example, as a cooler evening begins to set it, you should close your windows, draw your blinds or curtains and put on a jumper (if necessary), instead of continuing your usual activity in shorts and t-shirt and turning on a heater and leaving some of the smaller windows open. The latter results in warmer interior air being drawn out of the house and cool air into your home and potentially requiring you to heat your home for longer period. Overall, resulting in a larger electricity bill for you and a greater environmental impact.
Things that you can do in your home on a daily basis which can make a significant difference to your home's ambient temperature and overall costs include:
These are just a few but will make a difference to your hip pocket and reduce your environmental footprint. If you have other suggestions it would be great to hear them. Pin It
What does this mean? Basically it means that you have to be aware of how you are living in your house and what the environment is doing in and around your home. For example, as a cooler evening begins to set it, you should close your windows, draw your blinds or curtains and put on a jumper (if necessary), instead of continuing your usual activity in shorts and t-shirt and turning on a heater and leaving some of the smaller windows open. The latter results in warmer interior air being drawn out of the house and cool air into your home and potentially requiring you to heat your home for longer period. Overall, resulting in a larger electricity bill for you and a greater environmental impact.
Things that you can do in your home on a daily basis which can make a significant difference to your home's ambient temperature and overall costs include:
- shutting windows/louvres when cooler temperatures set in;
- closing blinds or curtains to avoid westerly sun into your home in the afternoons;
- also closing blinds and curtains in the evenings to keep warmer air in and cooler air out;
- wearing an extra layer of clothing or taking an extra layer off if the temperature requires it;
- using a blanket whilst you sit on the couch instead of turning on a heater;
- using interior fans instead of air conditioning (as a first option) to circulate air in warmer temperatures;
- using interior fans (set on winter mode) to circulate heated air throughout your house rather than having second or third heaters;
- using floor rugs in winter and removing them in summer to maintain appropriate internal temperatures.
These are just a few but will make a difference to your hip pocket and reduce your environmental footprint. If you have other suggestions it would be great to hear them. Pin It
Saturday, August 27, 2011
New garden
I am so daunted. We are about to move into our new home and we have a significant amount of land. Well it seems like it to me who originates from the suburbs. We have a 1.25 acre block which probably has about half of it covered in regrowth and remnant native vegetation and the rest of it planted gardens and open space. Given my passion for both producing my own food and native plants I feel overwhelmed with the ideas that I have for the land. Organising these thoughts and making them work is bringing me to panic. I think I should be taking some of my own advice and just do one step at a time. This surely will be the best plan of attack.
Photos of the blank canvas to come.
Pin It
Photos of the blank canvas to come.
Pin It
Friday, August 26, 2011
How to get involved in science
The lack of science education in the broader community is often considered to be one of the main reasons why people don't believe or trust in matters such as climate change, the level of impact humans are having on habitat and many of the other environmental issues we are currently facing.
I personally think that many people feel unconnected with the scientific process and the research that is being undertaken. But this can change. You can become involved in or participate in research that will directly feed into the scientific literature. This information is then used to drive government policy on matters such as climate change, water quality, vegetation clearing and many environmental issues.
Over the last twenty years or so there has been a proliferation of science education programs in schools aimed at getting kids to participate in environmental management type science, such as the rehabilitation of creeks, water quality monitoring, noise monitoring to name a few. But science participation doesn't have to be restricted to the schools or your children. There are many places and opportunities for you (as a young adult or adult) to participate in such things.
If you are truly interested and have some time to volunteer you could contact your local University. Seek out the department where your interests lie, and find out whether there are any Honours, Masters or PhD students looking for volunteers. For example, one of my passion lies with animals, so I would seek out their Department of Zoology or Environment (or something along those lines) and then just make contact with the general number on their website. Alternatively you could go even further and look into their academic and research staff and see what projects they currently have on and make contact to see whether there is any assistance you can provide.
Other ways to participate could be through community groups and government run research programs. There are always groups researching all manner of things and there is likely to be one or two looking into things that are of interest to you. Just do a web search for your interests and add to your search parameters something along the lines of 'research', 'community group', 'volunteer', 'data collection', etc, etc. Alternatively, if you're lucky enough to have lots of money and looking for a holiday, which could make a difference, there are groups such as Earthwatch that collaborate with researchers and invite community members to be involved in the research (on a payment basis).
So if you're keen and have some time and want to know more about the science behind your interests why not give it a go and become actively involved. Pin It
I personally think that many people feel unconnected with the scientific process and the research that is being undertaken. But this can change. You can become involved in or participate in research that will directly feed into the scientific literature. This information is then used to drive government policy on matters such as climate change, water quality, vegetation clearing and many environmental issues.
Over the last twenty years or so there has been a proliferation of science education programs in schools aimed at getting kids to participate in environmental management type science, such as the rehabilitation of creeks, water quality monitoring, noise monitoring to name a few. But science participation doesn't have to be restricted to the schools or your children. There are many places and opportunities for you (as a young adult or adult) to participate in such things.
If you are truly interested and have some time to volunteer you could contact your local University. Seek out the department where your interests lie, and find out whether there are any Honours, Masters or PhD students looking for volunteers. For example, one of my passion lies with animals, so I would seek out their Department of Zoology or Environment (or something along those lines) and then just make contact with the general number on their website. Alternatively you could go even further and look into their academic and research staff and see what projects they currently have on and make contact to see whether there is any assistance you can provide.
Other ways to participate could be through community groups and government run research programs. There are always groups researching all manner of things and there is likely to be one or two looking into things that are of interest to you. Just do a web search for your interests and add to your search parameters something along the lines of 'research', 'community group', 'volunteer', 'data collection', etc, etc. Alternatively, if you're lucky enough to have lots of money and looking for a holiday, which could make a difference, there are groups such as Earthwatch that collaborate with researchers and invite community members to be involved in the research (on a payment basis).
So if you're keen and have some time and want to know more about the science behind your interests why not give it a go and become actively involved. Pin It
Monday, August 22, 2011
Green waste, where should it go?
What do you do with your left over food (vegetable and fruit) scraps, grass clippings, garden waste? More often than not most suburbanites end up putting this green waste into their domestic rubbish bin. In fact, some Councils and groups estimate that green waste makes up to 30% of our rubbish. This isn't the right place for your green waste!
Putting this material into your bin results in it being lost to the landscape, where it could be utilised over and over again. When green waste is placed in your rubbish bin, it becomes mixed with non-degradable goods and materials and can become contaminated and in fact may become toxic. Quite often this material just adds to the landfill, doesn't ever break down effectively and cannot be utilised by the environment. It is also my understanding the carbon (the major component of this green waste) ends up breaking down, through a typically anaerobic process, that ends up contributing greenhouse gas in our environment by releasing methane.
What alternative options are available to prevent this material entering into your rubbish bin and traditional waste streams? Some options include:
Pin It
Putting this material into your bin results in it being lost to the landscape, where it could be utilised over and over again. When green waste is placed in your rubbish bin, it becomes mixed with non-degradable goods and materials and can become contaminated and in fact may become toxic. Quite often this material just adds to the landfill, doesn't ever break down effectively and cannot be utilised by the environment. It is also my understanding the carbon (the major component of this green waste) ends up breaking down, through a typically anaerobic process, that ends up contributing greenhouse gas in our environment by releasing methane.
What alternative options are available to prevent this material entering into your rubbish bin and traditional waste streams? Some options include:
- a Council provided green waste bin (often for a small surcharge);
- worm farming;
- commercial green waste collectors;
- small compost bin;
- large compost systems;
- mulch for your garden.
Pin It
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Fruit fly trap
I recently built a non-chemical fruit fly trap and I have had some success reducing the number of fruit flies buzzing around my place, so I thought I should share it with you all.
I made the trap because I was suffering from an overload of fruit flies around my worm farm. I have been known to overfeed my worms and give them too many fruit scraps, creating a perfect environment for fruit flies to breed in. This didn't really bother me except for the cloud of fruit flies that would swirl around my head when I opened my worm farm.
After a quick internet search, I discovered vinegar is a solution that fruit flies are attracted to. Makes sense really, since vinegar is similar smelling to the rotting fruit in my worm farm. I then just had to find a suitable container to hold the vinegar, whilst also not attracting my toddler to tip the vinegar everywhere or minimise the amount spilt if she did decide to tip the container upside. My solution was an old plastic "jar". I filled the bottom of the container with white vinegar (about 1/10) and then drilled some holes in the lid. The holes were large enough for the fruit flies to fly in. I then just sat this container on top of my worm farm. Voila!
With this solution I have definitely managed to reduce the number of fruit flies in and around my worm farm. There are still some fruit flies floating around, which is just because I still have rotting fruit in my worm farm, but certainly numbers have decreased significantly and not worrying me at all.
This system does require some maintenance, but not very much though. I have to replace the vinegar every 2-3 weeks. I just chuck out all of the old vinegar and dead fruit flies and then add new white vinegar in the bottom of the container. This is cheap solution and has minimised my environmental footprint, as I have used products around my house (old container), will require very little input over time (just the new white vinegar) and uses no harsh chemicals. No off the shelf product required for me. Hope this solution works for you as well! Pin It
I made the trap because I was suffering from an overload of fruit flies around my worm farm. I have been known to overfeed my worms and give them too many fruit scraps, creating a perfect environment for fruit flies to breed in. This didn't really bother me except for the cloud of fruit flies that would swirl around my head when I opened my worm farm.
After a quick internet search, I discovered vinegar is a solution that fruit flies are attracted to. Makes sense really, since vinegar is similar smelling to the rotting fruit in my worm farm. I then just had to find a suitable container to hold the vinegar, whilst also not attracting my toddler to tip the vinegar everywhere or minimise the amount spilt if she did decide to tip the container upside. My solution was an old plastic "jar". I filled the bottom of the container with white vinegar (about 1/10) and then drilled some holes in the lid. The holes were large enough for the fruit flies to fly in. I then just sat this container on top of my worm farm. Voila!
With this solution I have definitely managed to reduce the number of fruit flies in and around my worm farm. There are still some fruit flies floating around, which is just because I still have rotting fruit in my worm farm, but certainly numbers have decreased significantly and not worrying me at all.
This system does require some maintenance, but not very much though. I have to replace the vinegar every 2-3 weeks. I just chuck out all of the old vinegar and dead fruit flies and then add new white vinegar in the bottom of the container. This is cheap solution and has minimised my environmental footprint, as I have used products around my house (old container), will require very little input over time (just the new white vinegar) and uses no harsh chemicals. No off the shelf product required for me. Hope this solution works for you as well! Pin It
Monday, August 15, 2011
Native Bees
Native bees here in Australia have a significant role in our native ecosystems and presently with the overall world decline of pollinators they have a very important place in our backyards. There are apparently over one thousand native bee species here in Australia, with the honey bees, that we typically associate as honey providers, being an introduced species. Native bees are generally solitary with only about 10 of our native species being communal or social, with these occupying a variety of habitats, but a primarily hollows in trees.
There are many reasons for the reduction in the number of native bee species and other pollinators here in Australia but some of the primary reasons are the reduction of their habitat and the widespread use of insecticides throughout the community.
Native bee hives in tree hollows are not visually prominent and as a result are often destroyed when areas of native vegetation are cleared. If these nests are identified prior to clearing activities, they can be salvaged, as has been done with this one that is now located in the Mt-Cootha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane, Queensland.
Native bees provide an important ecosystem service for humans, with these insects acting as pollinators for many of our food crops and also native vegetation. If these species are lost, overall food is likely to become more difficult to produce and in the long-run more expensive due to higher production costs and increased scarcity.
Things that you can do to encourage and maintain these species in your garden:
There are many reasons for the reduction in the number of native bee species and other pollinators here in Australia but some of the primary reasons are the reduction of their habitat and the widespread use of insecticides throughout the community.
Native bee hives in tree hollows are not visually prominent and as a result are often destroyed when areas of native vegetation are cleared. If these nests are identified prior to clearing activities, they can be salvaged, as has been done with this one that is now located in the Mt-Cootha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane, Queensland.
Native bees provide an important ecosystem service for humans, with these insects acting as pollinators for many of our food crops and also native vegetation. If these species are lost, overall food is likely to become more difficult to produce and in the long-run more expensive due to higher production costs and increased scarcity.
Things that you can do to encourage and maintain these species in your garden:
- Become aware of their plight (including increased competition for food resources from the European honey bee) and their physiology (they are stingless and therefore don't pose any threat to people with allergies);
- maintain their habitat;
- alternatively if clearing is necessary salvage a native bee nest; or
- invest in a salvaged nest to include in your garden.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)