1000 Flowers for the Planet - #240 Easy Brake, Easy Accelerate

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #240 Easy Brake, Easy Accelerate

Once you’ve hopped behind the wheel of your car, being nice and gentle with the feet on the pedals makes a much smoother ride for you and your passengers. More interestingly, it saves on fuel. Driving in an erratic fashion, braking hard and taking off hard from a standing start are all contributing factors to using more fuel and giving you less bang for your buck – or is that drive for your buck. When you take things smoothly you get better fuel economy, saving you dollars at the petrol/gas pump. The planet will also benefit from a reduction in fuel usage, reduced carbon emissions, and probably from a ‘calmer’ driver. It’s one of the small contributions each person can make, which when multiplied by the number of road users can equate to big impacts.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #239 Check Your Tyre Pressure Regularly

 

 1000 Flowers for the Planet - #239 Check Your Tyre Pressure Regularly

Small actions with big impacts seem to be the theme this week. Maintaining your motor vehicle is a sensible way to save in a number of ways. Simply checking your tyre pressure regularly to ensure it is at the recommended level will reward you by contributing to a well-running vehicle that will be as efficient as possible in its fuel consumption. Saving fuel is always a good thing – it puts more money in your pocket and less at the petrol/gas station, and means you are using less of a finite resource, slowing down the pressure we are putting on the environment. Your well-maintained car will also last longer.  

 

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #238 Try a Slow Cooker

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #238 Try a Slow Cooker

Here’s another small but useful electricity saving tip – try cooking in a slow cooker. These kitchen appliances have become quite popular over the past few years as people have looked for ways to provide healthy home-cooked meals for their families, within a very busy schedule. Here in Australia it’s the middle of winter and we are enjoying delicious hearty stews. The northern hemisphere can look forward to this traditional meal in a few months time – don’t forget to put it on your menu. If you have an electric oven, then using a slow cooker, on low, even over ten hours cooking time, you will use about a third of the amount of electricity the conventional oven uses. This will help reduce your electricity usage, save money, and reduce carbon emissions. So many benefits for the planet – and what’s more: you can cook all sorts of meals in a slow cooker. Check it out.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #237 Boil Only What You Need

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #237 Boil Only What You Need

This is a small idea with a big impact. Next time you go to boil the kettle to make a cuppa, think about how much water you are putting into it before boiling it. If you are making one cup of tea or coffee, only put enough water in the kettle for one cup. If you are making two cups, put in enough water for only two cups. Get the picture?

Lots of people absent-mindedly fill the kettle to the top each time they boil water for their hot beverage. This means the kettle takes much longer to boil the water, using a lot of electricity, which could otherwise be saved. Whether you boil an electric kettle or have a kettle on a gas stove, by only boiling the amount of water you require you will save energy which puts more money in your pocket with reduced energy bills. The planet will thank you for reducing your energy requirements, reducing the amount of finite resources being used and reducing carbon emissions. If we count the number of times per day we boil water for beverages, then multiply that by the number of people having cuppas every day, and multiply that again by the number of days in the year, this small act could make one of the biggest impacts of all.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #236 Use Phosphate-Free Dishwashing Powder

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #236 Use Phosphate-Free Dishwashing Powder

Phosphate is a chemical used in cleaning products that aids in stripping food and grease from dishes (and grime and other things from different stuff). But it ALSO causes the growth of algae. When used in household cleaning products it washes into waterways where it causes algae blooms that take oxygen from the water and cause the death of many plants, insects and animals. By taking the phosphate out of the products we will improve the environment for all things that live in the water and this, in my opinion, is far more important than the convenience any dishwashing liquid may provide. If your dishwasher can’t clean properly without using phosphate, then wash your dishes by hand. We need to put pressure on companies that make our products to ensure they don’t harm the environment. In Australia the amazing little creature we know as a platypus is at risk from phosphates that wash into our waterways. Imagine if our platypus was wiped out. Now wouldn’t that be a much bigger loss than maybe having to wash a few dishes by hand?

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #235 Choose a Laptop

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #235 Choose a Laptop

Sorry, I’m not talking about a particular type of dance here! This is about laptop computer versus desktop computer, and as these Flowers are meant to give you ideas for saving the planet, this one is solely about electricity usage. Laptop or notebook computers use a lot less electricity than a desktop computer, therefore reducing the amount of finite resources being used to generate that electricity in the first place. Furthermore this reduces carbon emissions. Using a laptop isn’t feasible for everyone or for every situation, but if you have a choice between turning on a desktop or quickly performing your task on a laptop and then turning it off again, choose the laptop. We all seem to be in that mindset that the computer must always be turned ‘on’ and accessible every minute of the day, but ultimately it’s a tool, and when we use it as a tool we can save lots of energy. This will help the planet breathe a little easier.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #234 Clean the Dryer Filter

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #234 Clean the Dryer Filter

We choose to rarely use our dryer, opting to use the clothesline instead and using the dryer only to finish things off in winter if needed, but some people need to use theirs a lot more, so some simple maintenance tips won’t go astray. We all know our dryers have a filter to get out all that lint that floats around. But do we all clean it out regularly? Here are some reasons why you should:

Cleaning the lint filter means that the dryer doesn’t work as hard when it’s on, and this means it uses less electricity – and that means more dollars in your pocket! There is a very technical reason why this is the case, but I’ll keep it simple here. If you use dryer sheets to eliminate static, add fragrance and soften clothes, they can really clog up your lint filter. The filter usually tends to have a mesh-like cover over the top of it, and you may find that if you use dryer sheets, if you try to run water through this mesh it won’t run through. The remedy is simple – just use an old toothbrush and some soapy water to clean the mesh and it should be good as new. By keeping the dryer filter clean we ensure that the dryer runs at full capacity therefore saving electricity, money and many finite resources.
Finally, there is the small risk that if your dryer becomes too overloaded from a clogged lint filter or mesh, it could cause a fire. Nobody wants that. So let’s all keep our lint filters clean!

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #233 Fly with an E-Ticket

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #233 Fly with an E-Ticket

Here’s another paper saving idea – fly with an electronic ticket and avoid using paper at all. The ticket is emailed to you and on arrival at the airport you merely need to show appropriate identification, such as a passport or credit card, and your booking will be confirmed on the airline’s computer system. No need to worry about losing a paper ticket or struggling to find it at the bottom of your bag.

Meanwhile the planet's resources are saved as no trees are cut down to produce paper, saving energy, fuel, carbon emissions and waste. 

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #232 Clean Your Car with Enjo

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #232 Clean Your Car with Enjo

When we went through ten years of drought here in Australia we had to change the way we used water. Car wash businesses popped up on every major corner and people who used to wash their cars at home started to take them to the car wash. But I found a better way to wash my car that uses even less water than the car wash. With an Enjo® mitt made specifically for cleaning the car, I can get the job done with half a bucket of water. And to make an even bigger statement – I only wash my car with plain ordinary water that I have collected in my rainwater tank. I do not use soap or any cleaning products – the Enjo glove does the work for me. It’s designed to do the work. I recommend them because using this method means saving water, reducing energy use as no pressure cleaners are used, prevents solvents and other chemicals from being used, does not require the car to travel anywhere which saves fuel, can be achieved quickly and efficiently and looks after your car and the planet.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #231 Shut Your Damper

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #231 Shut Your Damper

No, I’m not talking about Aussie bush bread or telling you rudely to ‘be quiet’. A damper is a valve or plate that regulates air flow in a chimney or duct. If you leave this open when the fireplace is not being used it will allow air to travel up the chimney, thus you will be losing a great deal of warm air that you might be producing through a central heating system, and that would be incredibly wasteful. If you shut the damper you will save a lot of money in energy costs apart from saving the energy. Check your ducted system has dampers allowing you to control which rooms are being heated/cooled and block off any unused rooms to conserve energy. You have the control – remember to use it.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #230 Work from Home

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #230 Work from Home

Obviously this is not an option for everybody, but if you can work from home, why not? Some people are able to employ themselves and work from home full time, others can manage a few days away from the office to work remotely from home. The benefits are many. On a personal level, being at home means no commute, saving lots of valuable time and providing opportunities for spending that time in various ways, as you choose – more time with the kids, a few extra hours of work, a sleep in. Not commuting means savings in terms of travel expenses, either saving petrol for your car, or the cost of public transport. It reduces congestion on the roads or in public transport. Working from home may even be better for your health as you avoid the stress of rush hours, cranky drivers in bumper to bumper traffic or maybe even the office bully. You may be more productive working in the comfort of home where you can contemplate complex issues in your cosy chair or go for a walk in the fresh air to clear your head. The planet benefits too with reduced fuel usage, lower carbon emissions and less pollution. And guess what? You can go to work in your pyjamas!

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #229 Recycle Aluminium Cans

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #229 Recycle Aluminium Cans

I've been on annual leave so the daily flower post has has a little hiatus, but let's get going again ...

 

Recycling just one aluminium can saves enough electricity to power a TV for 3 hours! Wow. Furthermore, making cans from recycled aluminium uses 95% less energy than making them from scratch. [source: http://cans.planetark.org/recycling-info/] That’s major stuff! If we recycle all our aluminium cans we will be reducing carbon emissions, reducing landfill, reducing litter and saving so much energy. Even better news, 100% of the aluminium can is recyclable. And it all comes in one piece – so long as you don’t pull off the tab. So here’s another idea – don’t pull of the tab. When participating in Clean Up Australia Day I discovered so many ring pulls on the ground. They become a huge litter problem, yet they are completely recyclable. It’s a wasted opportunity to toss them on the ground. Make life simpler by leaving the tab on the can and put the whole can in the recycling bin. If you really can’t manage that, hold onto the ring pull until you’ve finished drinking and put the ring inside the can. Let’s keep aluminium going round and round – recycle it.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #228 Recycle Wire Hangers

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #228 Recycle Wire Hangers

Wire hangers have been used for a multitude of purposes since they were first invented, including the good old fashioned aerial for the car (no longer required though), often shaped into a map of Australia or something fun. They are made of steel, so if you have a local recycler that takes steel, there’s one avenue. Otherwise, the simplest thing to do is return them to your dry cleaners, which may be very glad to receive them. Check if the nearest charity shop needs them for hanging and displaying clothes. Wire can often come in very handy, so if they’re dreadfully out of shape, cut them into sections to make hooks for cleaning out hair from the drains or hanging bits and pieces in the garage. Check online for more ideas or share ones you have come up with yourself. Every bit of recycling is important.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #227 Recycle Your Mobile/Cell Phone

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #227 Recycle Your Mobile/Cell Phone

If you’re an Aussie it’s a mobile, if you’re an American it’s a cell – whatever you call it, recycle it when you’re done. Personally I’m never happy to change my phone. I get comfortable with what I have and really hate having to learn how a new phone works, so I resist the change. But even a low-level phone user such as me goes through phones every few years. It’s a sad fact that phone companies encourage the constant upgrade of phones at least every two years when contracts are up for renewal, and of course, everyone wants the latest technology. But this comes at a price.

Apparently, in Australia there are 23 million mobile phones tucked away in people’s drawers, not being used. That’s one each folks! Where will they end up? And imagine how many are hoarded throughout the world! Too many.

Mobile/cell phones contain toxic substances that we really don’t want to put back into the land, but as the phones go to landfill, so does the hazardous waste. Over 90% of your mobile phone can be recycled. This is a much better option for the planet. Recycle your old phone and help reduce carbon emissions, reduce landfill, protect the environment, save energy and conserve precious resources. In Oz you can check out  http://www.mobilemuster.com.au/ for more information, or search for a recycler in your own country.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #226 Make a Draft Stopper

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #226 Make a Draft Stopper

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Some houses are not good at keeping out annoying drafts, particularly under the doors. Draft stoppers might seem old fashioned but they make perfect sense and prevent your expensive hot air from escaping out into the cold. A draft stopper at the door, front and back, will keep your hot air where you need it to be: inside keeping you warm. It will also lower your energy bills, save natural resources and reduce carbon emissions.

Making one can be as simple as stuffing an old pair of tights – only one leg required, or make two from the one pair and have both front and back doors covered. With a bit more effort you can make something a little fancier. I have a terrific sewer for a mum who made one for me using velvet fabric, in fact it has the head of a dog at one end with floppy ears and a fancy collar, and a tail sticking up at the other end – very cute. The Internet will give you lots of options: snakes, dogs, cats, patchwork, giant bonbon, row of houses, crocheted, knitted, fabric – there’s a draft stopper to suit you. Have fun with it and help the planet with this small idea.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #225 Carry Your Own Coffee Cup

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #225 Carry Your Own Coffee Cup

If you really are that addicted to coffee that you have to purchase one at every stop along the way as you go about your day, tally how many disposable coffee cups you use and throw away each day / week / year. If that number is considerably high then start carrying your own coffee cup with you. Most coffee shops are happy to fill your private cup and some even offer a discount – if they don’t, then encourage them to consider the option for their business and thereby attract more trade. Together, the benefits mount up when less landfill is created; fewer natural resources are used to manufacture single use cups; the coffee retailer decreases overheads and creates a marketing point; and you both look after the planet that little bit more.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #224 Adjust Your Thermostat

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #224 Adjust Your Thermostat

Reduce the thermostat on your heating system to make big savings on your energy bill. It’s not necessary to make a huge change all at once; rather you can turn it down by one degree and live with that for a week or two while you adjust to the new temperature. Keep lowering by one degree and allowing your body to adjust until you have reduced it by three or four degrees and you will find you can actually adjust to living in a slightly cooler environment. At night when you’re sleeping you can adjustment the thermostat down by five to ten degrees. Also remember to turn down the thermostat when you are away for a weekend or longer. All of these things will make a huge difference to your energy bill. You will be doing the planet a big favour by using less energy (gas/oil/uranium/electricity), saving finite resources, reducing transportation costs to get that energy to your house and reducing carbon emissions. It’s actually quite do-able.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - # 223 Buy Second-Hand

1000 Flowers for the Planet - # 223 Buy Second-Hand

It’s not always necessary to buy things brand new. People everywhere are learning the art of buying second-hand for several reasons. In financially difficult times, it saves money to buy second-hand. It prevents items from being sent to landfill for no good reason other than they are surplus to requirements. People often want to get rid of some of their possessions either because they don’t use them anymore or their needs have changed and these items can be bought by someone else and given a new purpose. Shopping at a charity shop has the dual benefit of finding things at really good prices and supporting the charity the shop exists to aid.

By moving things around the community for use and re-use we avoid putting them into landfill where they do no one any good and the planet a great deal of harm. Buying second hand goods ensures the resources that went into making those items are put to further use and not wasted mindlessly. By valuing our resources and ensuring we maximise their use we reduce the need for more and more energy being used to produce goods from scratch. Second hand doesn’t mean second-rate – it just means someone doesn’t need it anymore. But you might.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #222 Protect the Great Barrier Reef

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #222 Protect the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on the planet, stretching 2,300 kilometres along the north-east coast of Australia. It is one of the seven wonders of the natural world. It is home to thousands of marine species. And it is under threat.

The major concern for the reef is climate change. Rising temperatures can easily affect the balance of the reef if coral is subjected to warmer water. Changes in sea levels also affect the reef when species that have adapted to certain conditions find themselves in altered conditions: if levels drop and coral is closer to the water surface it becomes bleached by the sun and if levels rise they are put under pressure by deeper water levels. Man’s constant intervention adds to the reefs concerns. Tourism is a big trade and vital to the economy but puts pressure on the reef, as does fishing, urban runoff and coastal development. Shipping accidents and oil spills pose serious threats. The Australian Government has recently agreed to the dumping of dredge spoil in the marine park, which could be considered a significant blow to the future of the reef.

The Great Barrier Reef could be looked upon as an indicator of how well we are managing the beauty that surrounds us, and if we fail to protect it and preserve it for the future, we do ourselves and this planet a great injustice.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #221 Educate Yourself

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #221 Educate Yourself

Too many people like to go around with their heads buried in the sand. It’s time to lift your head out of the sand and take stock. Have a look at what is happening around you and educate yourself. Find out how your household waste affects the planet; learn about the environment; question what’s in your food and where and how it was produced; discover the beauty around you and find out how you can keep it safe; understand how you use water and don’t waste it; learn how many animals are becoming endangered daily and why – learn as much as you can about your affect on this planet and do something positive before you die and leave the problems to the next generation. Even if you only learn one new thing, that’s a plus, because if everyone learned on new thing and acted upon it, we’d all be better off. Don’t leave everything to someone else – take responsibility for your own education, then take action with your new-found knowledge.