Go Green
Oecophylla sp. Tropical ant. Silhouette of a line of ants on green leaf.
Save Paper
Paper is too valuable to waste - around the world we use 1 million tonnes of paper every day. Too much of this paper usage is wasteful and unnecessary and puts huge pressures on the environment. Here are some easy steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Ask yourself the golden rule of saving paper: Do I really need to print this?
- Use both sides of the paper. Set your printer or copier’s defaults to double sided. Select one-sided printing only when really needed.
- Avoid printing out single line e-mails or unnecessary copies of documents
- Recycle the paper you have and ask for recycled paper products
I can save paper!
Recycle
Recycle everything you can’t reduce or reuse.
Choose Good Wood
One of the main causes of forest lost is illegal logging which is fed by high demand for timber. When you buy tropical timbers without the FSC logo it is likely that you are contributing to forest destruction.
You can help stop this!
Businesses will ultimately listen to their customers. If you stop buying timber that comes from forests that are badly managed, or even perhaps that has been illegally produced, then the suppliers of this timber will have no choice but to change as well.
Make sure you only buy timber products with the FSC label. If you can’t find FSC-certified products in your local store, please ask the store manager to supply them.
You can help stop this!
Businesses will ultimately listen to their customers. If you stop buying timber that comes from forests that are badly managed, or even perhaps that has been illegally produced, then the suppliers of this timber will have no choice but to change as well.
Make sure you only buy timber products with the FSC label. If you can’t find FSC-certified products in your local store, please ask the store manager to supply them.
FSC Logs
Look for the FSC label on wood and timber products, for everything from building materials and furniture to paper and even toilet tissue
Set your Aircon at 24ºC or higher
If you use an air-conditioner, set the temperature at 24oC. The lower you set your aircon temperature, the more energy your air-conditioner uses, and the higher your electricity bill is. But if you can, use the fan to keep cool.
Keep it at 24oC
Buy Energy Efficient Appliances
If you plan on buying a washing machine, refrigerator, dishwasher or oven, choose the most energy-efficient model you can afford. They might be a little more expensive but they pay for themselves through lower energy bills.
Switch your Lighting
Did you know lighting accounts for up to 15% of your electricity bill?
You can reduce the amount of energy to light your home and office by:
You can reduce the amount of energy to light your home and office by:
- Installing energy-efficient light bulbs. A variety of options is available, including compact fluorescent lamps and LED lamps.
- Making light work for you. Clever use of reflectors and directional lamps to get the light where you need it can save another 50% in energy costs and improve the overall lighting of your home or office.
- Switching lights off! Like all electrical items, switch off the lights when they're not in use.
Switching to a low-energy light bulb, Shanghai.
Compact fluorescent lamps use only around 25% of the electricity as traditional light bulbs to provide the same light. And, they can save up to 80% on your next electric bill and last up to 8 times longer.
Switch Off
Turn off televisions, videos, stereos and computers when they are not in use - these appliances still use 10% - 60% of power even when on ‘stand by’. Don’t leave chargers for mobile phones plugged in when you’re not using them.
Use a power strip for your home cinema and office equipment to easily turn multiple devices on and off at the wall, all at once.
Use a power strip for your home cinema and office equipment to easily turn multiple devices on and off at the wall, all at once.
Travel Light
Travelling by any form of transport that uses fossil fuels for energy contributes to climate change. So the best best solution is to avoid such travel where ever possible.
Of course, travel can't always be avoided. Consider your options and choose the most environmentally friendly form of transport you can.
Try to drive less. Could you walk or cycle instead of driving, or use public transport? If you do have to drive, what about car pooling or joining a car-share scheme?
- Instead of popping out every day in the car to run an errand, could you wait and do several errands all at once?
- Could your business meeting could be replaced by talking over the phone or using video conferencing?
- Could you take your vacation closer to home?
Of course, travel can't always be avoided. Consider your options and choose the most environmentally friendly form of transport you can.
Try to drive less. Could you walk or cycle instead of driving, or use public transport? If you do have to drive, what about car pooling or joining a car-share scheme?
Riding a bicycle, Finland. Eco-tip: ride a bicycle when ever you can instead of driving a car - and save the planet. Cycling is an environmentally friendly way to move.