Eskom energy is shaky. First you have it, then you don’t. In the bigger scheme of things this is a good thing. We need to shift off fossil fuels anyway to save the climate. The more they charge us for energy, the better our motivation to take the plunge and do the sideways jump to renewables – essentially free power. Barring your installation of course. There is only one way … [Read more...]
6 Ways to beat plastic pollution this World Environment Day
5 June marks World Environment Day, a day recognised by over 143 countries who are concerned with the protection of our environment. First held in 1974, World Environment Day has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution, human overpopulation, and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife … [Read more...]
Turn your home into a green zone, one room at a time
Often the thought of recycling or being more energy efficient makes one think of expensive contraptions, modern interiors or fittings, and a lot of extra work to make the home more eco-friendly. While the results may not be physically visible all the time, doing your bit in the home on a daily basis is not as difficult or expensive as you may think, and can even save you money … [Read more...]
Finding smart insulation for a hot house
Another summer almost over … hope to goodness the worst heat is over. How clueless was the building industry about energy efficiency when most of our houses were built! Who does not want to save energy now – and it is indeed all our duty to relieve the pressure on the national energy supply. Our double storey really cooks upstairs, where we work. Ancient traces of insulation … [Read more...]
HOW TO SERIES PART 2: Going off the grid with solar
In Part 2 we get to grips with the different types of currents and how to install your batteries to store your solar energy. Alternating current (AC) is what you find in the power mains from a power utility. AC has a positive and neutral. Direct current (DC) has a positive and negative and is the power we find in a battery. In AC, the positive and neutral alternates 50 times … [Read more...]
Ensure your e-waste is responsibly recycled
Now that the e-waste collection day is over, there is no reason to stop ensuring that your electronic waste is always recycled in a responsible manner. This is NOT placing it outsideyour home for some curb collectors to pick up. Those items are often roughly stripped, exposing people to toxic chemicals, then dumped in nature. On Saturday the Electronic Waste Association of … [Read more...]
Step 1: measure your energy usage
Step one in reducing our harmful footprints on the earth, is knowing how big they are. So the first dragon to be slayed on our heroic journey towards a greener planet is Ignorance himself. He blocks our path with his soft and cushy body and flirts with us in sweet voices of 'it's OK, it's not so bad' or 'just keep going, things will right themselves' or 'it's better than my … [Read more...]
LG Electronics shows support for world environment day
An electronics giant has reaffirmed its commitment to more energy efficient products and manufacturing practices, by supporting World Environment Day on 5 June 2010 with an appropriate new advert. The advert, conceptualised by advertising agency, Young & Rubicon and produced by production house, Masters & Savant, aims to show consumers that when using LG products, … [Read more...]
Eco gadgets for the home
Are you about to set up home for the first time, perhaps finally get your dream home, or retiring and down-scaling? Perhaps your washing machine just died, or you realise it's chomping more than its share of power? If so, then there's never been a better time to find out what's new on the green scene, so that you can make the eco-friendly choice this time round. It'll save … [Read more...]
Save energy with Philips’ smart consumer products
As part of its EcoVision plan, Philips South Africa is launching its range of energy efficient consumer lifestyle products that enable consumers to save energy. The strategy, which aims to generate 30% of Philips' revenue through environmentally friendly products by the year 2012, highlights the company's commitment to contributing towards a greener environment. The launch … [Read more...]
