1000 Flowers for the Planet - #250 Ban the SUV/4WD

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #250 Ban the SUV/4WD

[With this Flower I celebrate the quarter way point in my journey of 1000 Flowers for the Planet}

This will be a controversial Flower suggestion. Four wheel drives definitely have their place and are required by a few drivers i.e. farmers and forest rangers; but they have absolutely no place in the city. Most SUV and 4WD owners would never even take their vehicles off a major highway, let alone into the real bush – they probably wouldn’t even know how to handle them off-road. Most of the SUV/4WD vehicles I see driven in my city have short women behind the wheels. And they drive their vehicles as though they are sports cars. If it came to avoiding an accident, I doubt they’d be able to handle the vehicle.

Some people purchase their SUV/4WD so they can haul around up to nine passengers. Let me suggest that if you are purchasing your vehicle based on the fact that you are taking other people’s children to sports matches, then I suggest you sit down and think about what you’re doing. If all of those children are definitely your own, then I fail to see how, once the car is full of passengers, there is any room left at all for baggage of any kind, let alone school bags and hockey sticks. Try a station wagon or a mini bus.

SUV/4WD vehicles cause issues on the road. Whilst the driver in the SUV/4WD thinks they need the height for better visibility, if more and more people get SUV/4WDs then everyone will yet again be at the same height. How dumb is that? Regular sedan drivers have their visibility taken away by the SUV/4WD, particularly in car parks. This creates dangerous situations. Furthermore, many of the safety features of a sedan are negated when involved in an accident with an SUV/4WD because the impact spot is so much higher. And the SUV/4WD is definitely more difficult to handle in an emergency situation and more likely to roll than a sedan.

But if none of that matters, let’s consider the impact on the planet. They use more petrol/gas and create more CO2 emissions than sedans. If you’re reading these Flower suggestions, then you are probably interested in the planet. Why aren’t we working towards transport that creates less impact?

1000 Flowers for the Planet - # 249 De-Sex Your Dog

1000 Flowers for the Planet - # 249 De-Sex Your Dog

Much loved by many, the domestic dog is sometimes a controversial animal. For those who are in love with their faithful friends, ensure you love your dog enough to have it de-sexed and prevent unwanted litters of puppies. Some people think that owning a dog is all about the fun or the prestige, or that they make a cute accessory. This is not responsible pet ownership.

Owning a dog is a privilege, and owners should be responsible enough to have their beautiful hound de-sexed at the appropriate age. There are so many unwanted dogs out there adding to the problem of feral dogs who threaten our wildlife. The Christmas season always creates a dramatic increase in the number of dumped dogs (and cats) that were temporary presents for children whose parents gave them a poor life lesson in the treatment of animals. Dogs are not a commodity. They are living, breathing creatures, and they deserve better.

Be responsible. De-sex your dog.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #248 Live Without the Beer Fridge

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #248 Live Without the Beer Fridge

Oh dear! This will not be a popular Flower suggestion. Many an Australian garage has a beer fridge in it – the men need their fridge full of beer, ready for any occasion. However, that fridge is costing the household, and the planet, a whole heap. Unless you have people around every night of the week who drink a fridge full of beverages, then do you really need that second fridge for drinks? For daily usage you should be able to fit the amount you would drink into your regular fridge, and simply replenish as you go. A bottle of beer can get cold enough while you’re asleep – it will be there when you need it the following evening.

Eliminating the second fridge from your household will save a lot of electricity and therefore put a lot more money back into your hands. The energy savings will reduce the amount of finite resources being used, reduce carbon emissions and help the planet breather a little easier.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #247 Defrost the Freezer

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #247 Defrost the Freezer

How long is it since you read the instruction book for your freezer? You may find that you are required to defrost this hardworking whitegood on a regular basis. Mine requires defrosting every six months. By doing so, the freezer is better able to function, which increases its efficiency and reduces energy consumption. We know that reduced energy use means lots of benefits to the environment as well as our hip pocket. All equipment needs regular maintenance to ensure maximum efficiency. Make sure you help yours along by defrosting as often as recommended. Go on ... check out that manual right now.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #246 Try the Train Before the Plane

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #246 Try the Train Before the Plane

When planning to travel long distances, before checking into the airport for a quick flight, consider travelling by train. It will take longer to get to your destination, however, the price of the ticket should be considerably cheaper. Furthermore, being forced to slow down could be a really good thing for you personally – for your health, your blood pressure and for your spirits. Taking a nice train trip enables you some time to sit and think, or just look at the beautiful scenery passing by. It’s a better way to see a country than by plane. It could give you time to think about your problems and work out solutions before you arrive at point ‘B’. It could give you time to work on that report the boss is chasing you for, or simply time to relax and do nothing at all.

The planet benefits because you’ll be contributing to reduced energy use and less carbon emissions. There will be less air pollution and less noise pollution. It’s easier to get to a train station than an airport too, so think about it for your next travel adventure.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #245 Eliminate Drafts

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #245 Eliminate Drafts

Another way to save energy use and reduce household costs is to eliminate drafts from your home so the hot air you pay for doesn’t pour out through the gaps in your home. It may be as simple as putting a draft stopper at the front and back doors. You could also add some sealing tape around the door frames to make them tighter and keep drafts at bay. Windows can be a major source of heat loss and double glazing is an ideal solution, but if you can’t afford that, there are insulation films that are a much cheaper option. For further window insulation solutions, check out your local hardware store. Curtains will definitely help keep the warm air inside where you want it, so long as they pull right across the window area. If worst comes to worst, place a towel along the bottom of the window or door where you can feel the draft entering until you can find or afford a more permanent solution. The permanent solution will obviously rid you of the problem and assist in efficient energy use within your home, reducing carbon emissions and putting more money in your pocket.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #244 Use Fans First

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #244 Use Fans First

When summer hits with a vengeance and the temperature rises it is a natural reaction to reach for the switch on the air conditioning unit to keep our environment cool. It is meant to be hot in summer, and as humans we are meant to be able to cope with it (although I certainly agree that 40°C is too hot for anyone) so before being robotic about flicking that switch, turn on a fan. Overhead fans can be very effective in keeping the environment a bit cooler than it may be outside in the blazing sun, and not all days in summer require a room blasted by icy air. Fans are a bit lighter on the environment as you are only using the electricity to turn the fan, it doesn’t use refrigerants and causes less impact when sent to landfill. They use less electricity, saving energy, reducing carbon emissions and saving a little money as well. Using fans will also make it easier to transition between the cooler indoor environment and the outside as you move about your daily routine.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #243 Use the Stairs

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #243 Use the Stairs

Keeping fit is a good way to reduce pressure on the health system, whatever country you live in. There are lots of actions you can take to improve your health and well-being. The next time you find yourself in a multi-storey building heading for the elevator, try using the stairs instead. You don’t have to climb all fifty-two levels to get to your destination but you could walk up a few flights before finishing the journey by lift. And when it comes to the journey back to terra firma, walk a few flights in that direction too, because going down stairs is actually more strenuous than going up stairs – you’ll get an even better workout.

How does this help the planet? By keeping fit and steering clear of the health system you are avoiding using resources that are better used for those who cannot avoid their health issues: the aged, the handicapped, people who have had accidents etc. In the health system a lot of resources have single use only, adding to landfill and toxic waste. Something as simple as using the stairs is yet another small piece of the giant picture.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #242 Choose Biodegradable Cat Litter

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #242 Choose Biodegradable Cat Litter

This Flower was not as easy as expected. The issue of cat litter is actually a mine field without any completely satisfying solution. There are many different types of cat litter on the market, some of them bad for the planet, bad for kitty and not good for human health either. Generally these are the silica or clay type litters – a story in themselves. But let’s concentrate on good rather than evil. For the environment the best litter choice will be a litter that is made of natural materials from either recycled or renewable resources. This would include recycled newspaper, pine chips, sawdust, corn and wheat varieties, so I recommend you spend one good session at the supermarket reading the labels and deciding which one is best for you and your kitty.

Using a biodegradable cat litter is only part of the equation though, because there is still the issue of disposal. Due to toxoplasma gondii parasites which may be present in your cat’s faeces, flushing waste down your toilet is not the way to go. The systems used for cleansing sewage waste are not able to eliminate the parasite, which then goes into water systems to infect other animals. Another option for getting rid of kitty waste is to put it in a plastic bag that goes in the bin and off to landfill, where it will sit forever, petrified in its present state (see Flower #7). Things don’t actually biodegrade in landfill. So what to do with it? If you have a back yard, bury the cat’s waste – it’s what the cat would have done naturally if it had gone outside anyway. You could also compost it, although this is not permitted in some states/countries/areas – check your local regulations.

It’s always hard to find reliable and up-to-date statistics, but a few years ago there was 1.3 million metric tons of clay mined in the United States of America, most of it to produce cat litter which would go straight to landfill. That’s just one country – add a few more countries doing the same thing and you have a massive impact. There’s no simple solution. But! if we start with biodegradable materials, maybe one day someone will come up with the answer to this problem.

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #241 Buy Organic Cotton T-Shirts

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #241 Buy Organic Cotton T-Shirts

T-shirts are a part of so many people’s wardrobes that some would barely know how to live without them. They’re very comfortable, easy to wash and wear and in most cases demonstrate the wearer’s interest/s by what’s printed on the front/back. Usually they are made of cotton, which we all think of as a natural fibre and therefore a cotton t-shirt purchase must surely be good for the planet, right? Wrong.

Conventionally grown cotton uses more chemicals than any other single crop – nearly 25% of insecticide use worldwide. These chemicals cause harm to workers associated with the crops and even bystanders who may happen to be affected by overspray during poorly applied crop dusting. In poorer countries, workers are unable to either find or afford suitable protective clothing, leaving them prone to pesticide related illness. Pesticides are then involved in run-off, whereby the chemicals find their way into water systems where they contaminate the ecosystem, affecting wildlife and fish – fish that can then end up on our dinner plates. The cottonseed hull is a secondary crop, which finds its way into our food chain, yet it contains pesticide residue, and that means we can unknowingly be ingesting it.

Therefore, it makes sense to put some effort into this one, and probably a few more dollars, to purchase organic cotton t-shirts. After all the info in the previous paragraph, it makes sense, even if you only care about yourself and not a jot about the planet. Help yourself, your health AND the planet by seeking organic cotton t-shirts. The cotton is grown using animal manure for fertilizer, protects the health of people and animals, does not harm the environment through run-off, does not create super-bugs, protects water sources, does not pollute the air or affect the food chain, and consequently needs your support. When more and more people demand organic crops, the result will be a healthier planet.

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.