Hints and tips on going green

Today I would like to share some of the hints and tips from Wikaniko to create a greener world.

Wikaniko Hints and Tips

• Shower instead of having baths 

• Using a low flow shower head a family of four can cut water usage by as 

much as 280 gallons a month — and yet not feel much difference in water 

pressure. 

• Install a water butt for watering gardens and flowers, 

• Get a device that that transfers your sink water etc. to a water butt 

• Use rechargeable batteries where possible 

• If you need to throw batteries away make sure to recycle them 

• As your light bulbs go replace them with energy saving light bulbs. This 

will greatly reduce your electric costs and they last much longer. 

• Fit electricity regulating plugs on all appliances especially on fridge and freezer as these are energy guzzlers, this will regulate the amount of electricity they use.   

• Don’t leave doors open on fridges and freezers
• Defrost your freezer as often as possible to ensure it remains as efficient as possible 

• Don’t replace white goods unnecessarily.  If you need to though make sure to recycle the old and when you get your new make sure it is as energy efficient as possible. 

• You don’t have to buy new! Before you hit the shops to buy your new item of furniture, have a look at web sites such as freecycle 

• Using solar panels is a great way to save electricity. You don’t have to kit your whole house out with them, using them for your outside lighting is one way, and you can get portable solar chargers for things like your mobiles and mp3 players, which not only save electricity but are incredibly handy!  

• Remove yourself from junk mail lists. This will take a few months to kick in but will reduce the amount of paper waste you have significantly.  

• When you go food shopping take your own bags with you. There are a great range of re-useable bags available from net to recycled juice cartons.  Or you can use biodegradable bags. 

• When you go shopping don’t buy produce that has unnecessary wrapping, like polystyrene trays. Buy as much loose fruit and veg as you can. 

• Buy fruit and veg that is seasonal. Try to avoid food that has travelled long distances, and been flown in as this adds to pollution, and buying from your area supports your local farmers. 

• Get a rain harvester to catch the rain, this then goes through a small filter system and can be used to flush the toilet, shave etc 

• To save water you can fit spray taps to your sinks you can either fit new taps, install metal screw-in adapters or buy cheap rubber versions to push on to the end of your taps. 

More hints and tips coming soon . Information can be found at Lyn's Green Biz or join me at facebook http://www.facebook.com/LynsWikanikoBiz