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TAKING ACTION TO CURB CLIMATE CHANGE   By Wong Ee Lynn  Coordinator  Green Living  Special Interest Group  Selangor Branch Human well-being, we have learned, is linked more closely than most people realise to the great marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Carbon emissions must not exceed Nature's capacity to withdraw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and neutralise the carbon. Carbon dioxide is part of life, yet rising carbon dioxide levels are implicated as the primary cause of climate change since 1950. In order to mitigate climate change-related environmental damage, our only hope is to ensure that emissions of CO2 from human activities are limited to levels that can be absorbed by trees and plants through photosynthesis. The Challenge: The world's inhabitants will need to find politically acceptable ways to reduce their CO2 emissions level by 80%. Personal choices are not a substitute for political action. Global problems could only be comprehensively sol...

COMPOSTING AT HOME Up to 40% of household waste is kitchen and garden waste, ideal for composting. Making your own compost reduces the need to buy soil improvers and mulches. Applying homemade compost to your soil improves its quality and helps it to conserve moisture. Composting at home also reduces waste and so helps the environment. 1. Find a site for your compost bin. It should be placed directly onto the soil or grass. Your bin should not have a base. This is to enable the worms to get in and to let moisture drain away. It does not need to be placed in a sunny spot. It is more important to place it where you can get to it easily. 2. Enclosed bins will have a neater appearance, help keep out pests, and hold in heat and moisture. You can construct a wooden bin out of salvaged wood; create a three-sided enclosure using bricks or cinder blocks and leave the front open; or even drill holes in the bottom and sides of a garbage can or steel water drum. 3. Air and water are very importan...

POISONS IN YOUR HOME: PESTICIDES When you spray pesticides to kill garden or household vermin, you're also exposing your children (and yourself) to these toxins. Think about it: These concoctions are designed to kill insects. Even if you use them as directed, they still have the potential to cause a wide range of health problems in people because of their toxicity. Natural Alternatives to Pesticides:   BASIC SOAP SPRAY RECIPE Soap has been used for centuries as an all-purpose pesticide. It disrupts insects’ cell membranes, and kills pests by dehydration. The key is not to use too much soap, or you’ll also kill the vegetation near the pests. If you follow the proportions of soap to water in the Basic Soap Spray recipe, below, your garden would be fine. Note: Buy a liquid soap, NOT a detergent. Castille soap works best, although you could also buy liquid organic cleaners through direct sellers or in certain supermarkets and home stores. Basic Soap Spray : 1 to 2 tablespoons liquid ...

TOWARDS A CLEANER, GREENER HOME   Homemade duster Make your own dusting cloths. Stir in one cup of lemon oil with two cups of hot water. Dip lint free cloth into the potion and let it air-dry. Then store the duster in a covered metal container until you're ready to dust. The oil picks up the dust and the lemon gives your dusting a fresh aroma.   Shoe cleaning A quick way to put a beautiful shine on your shoes is by rubbing them with a banana skin on black shoes or the soft side of a lemon skin on brown shoes.   Cleaning a mirror Dip a soft cloth in a weak solution of vinegar and water, and then wipe the mirror clean. This works better than commercial spray cleaners, which can leave a film or deposit.   Cleaning filthy fridge seals and finishing off the exterior The plastic seals of refrigerators can be wiped free of debris using a toothbrush with toothpaste. Mildly abrasive toothpaste helps to cleanse and brighten fridges without the scratching properties of mos...

COOL YOUR HOME, NATURALLY Reduce the cooling load of your air-conditioning units by employing cost-effective conservation measures. Efficient cooling saves money and energy, and improves the quality of our lives. 1. If possible, delay heat-generating activities like dishwashing and ironing until evening. 2. Keep the house shut tight during the day. Don't let in unwanted heat and humidity. Ventilate at night either naturally or with fans. 3. Install awnings on windows to provide shade. 4. Plant trees for shade around the house, especially as ‘sun-breakers’ outside windows. 5. If you absolutely need air conditioners, buy a high-efficiency air conditioner with Energy Star rating. 6. Your air-conditioner’s size and horsepower should be as according to your needs. When buying a new air conditioner, make sure it is not oversized. 7. Do not use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating. The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner t...

BE FUEL-SMART! Simply practicing efficient driving techniques can improve fuel economy.   Observe the Speed Limit Over 50% of the energy required to move a vehicle down the road is spent overcoming aerodynamic drag (pushing air out of the way). When driving faster, the aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance increase. Consequently, the fuel economy decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.   Overdrive Gears and Cruise Control When using overdrive gears, it's possible to still drive at highway speeds, but the engine speed decreases. Overdrive gears reduce both fuel consumption and engine wear. Also, using cruise control on highway trips helps maintain a constant, steady speed rather than a variable speed and as a result helps reduce fuel consumption.   Anticipate Traffic Situations Anticipating traffic conditions ahead and not tailgating can improve gas mileage by 5 to 10 percent. This driving strategy is not only safer, but also reduces wear on tyres and brakes. When ...

BE ENERGY-SMART!   While Cooking: 1. Match the size of the gas ring to the size of the saucepan or you will be paying to heat air. 2. Put a lid on saucepans, so the contents heat quicker and you use less energy. 3. Pressure cookers and steamers are more efficient and allow you to cook several different foods on one ring. 4. Microwaves use less energy than ovens.   Electrical Appliances: 1. Don’t leave appliances like TVs, stereos, PCs and cordless phones on standby mode. 2. Unplug equipment once fully charged - e.g. mobile phones, shavers, batteries and electric toothbrushes - otherwise they keep drawing electricity. 3. Buy high quality appliances with Energy Star ratings. Cheap, generic appliances may appeal to the impulse buyer, but they use energy less efficiently and will cost you more money in the long run in terms of utility bills and the cost of repairs and replacements.   Refrigeration: 1. Avoid leaving fridge doors open. Each minute the door is open takes ...

BE WATER-SMART! In The Bathroom: 1. Install a low-flow toilet or a dual flush system. 2. Take shorter showers. Turn the water off while soaping and turn it back on to rinse. 3. When brushing teeth, turn the water off until it is time to rinse. 4. When washing hands, turn the water off while soaping and turn it on again to rinse. 5. When shaving, fill the sink with hot water instead of letting the water run continuously. 6. Test toilets for leaks. Add a few drops of food colouring or a dye tablet to the water in the toilet tank, but do not flush the toilet. Wait a few minutes to see if the colouring appears in the bowl. If so, the toilet has a silent leak that needs to be repaired. 7. Use a toilet tank water displacement device, such as a toilet dam or bag. Also, a plastic bottle can be filled with stones or with water, recapped, and placed in the toilet tank. These devices will reduce the volume of water in the tank but will still provide enough for flushing. (Bricks are not recommend...

REDUCE! The critical first step of waste prevention has been overshadowed by a focus on end-of-line waste management (i.e. recycling). Please help us promote a greater awareness of the importance of the "Reduce" part of the 3Rs. MY REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE CHECKLIST 1.        BRING MY OWN SHOPPING BAG WHEN I GO SHOPPING 2.        BRING MY OWN FOOD CONTAINER WHEN I TAKE AWAY FOOD 3.        BRING MY OWN DRINKING WATER IN A BOTTLE WHENEVER I GO OUT. 4.        USE HANDKERCHIEF INSTEAD OF TISSUE PAPER FOR DRYING MY HANDS, ETC. 5.        MAKE MEMO PADS FROM USED PAPER RATHER THAN BUY POST-ITS, MEMO PADS OR NOTEBOOKS. 6.        NOT BUY PIRATED GOODS OR CHEAP, SUBSTANDARD ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES. 7.        TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY MOBILE...

Reusing - What You Can Do: • Reuse keeps goods and materials out of the waste stream. • Reuse creates less air and water pollution than making a new item or recycling. • Reuse results in less hazardous waste. • Reuse saves money in purchases and disposal costs. 1. Go through your house for things you no longer want, use, or love, but which is still in usable condition. You could either donate them to a good cause, or put them up for sale at a garage sale, flea market or car boot sale. 2. Many charitable organisations like the SPCA, MNS and YMCA may want reusable items for their jumble sales to raise funds for their projects. Other welfare homes will need clothes, household appliances and other items suited to the needs and ages of the people they provide shelter for. The Malaysian Red Crescent Society may want clean, usable clothes for disaster victims and displaced families. Your local café, family clinic or hair salon may welcome your old magazines and comic books, and your local lib...

GREEN LIVING ADVOCACY: LETTER TO THE EDITOR PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR THE DISPOSAL OF ELECTRONIC WASTE Earth Hour was observed on March 31st by people across the country who profess concern for the environment and climate change. However, the fleeting and superficial nature of the event makes it of dubious educational and practical value. Several organisations and corporate entities, however, must be commended for implementing environmentally responsible initiatives that go beyond the hour-long festivities. This includes HSBC's used battery collection programme (Metro, 30th March), scheduled to run until June 5. The predicament of the public now, however, is where to dispose of used batteries for recycling after this programme ends. It is common knowledge that batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of. When incinerated, certain metals could be released into the air or can ...

Pencinta Alam April 2012 Green Living Column DOMESTIC CLEANING ROBOTS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY By Wong Ee Lynn An increasing number of homeowners and consumers have purchased or are considering purchasing robotic vacuum cleaners and floor-cleaning robots. While some may argue that it is greener to do everything by hand, this may not be an option for many people due to time constraints and the unavaibility of domestic help and cleaning agencies. Sometimes vacuuming (instead of sweeping) can also be a necessity for those with allergies or asthma. Taking into consideration the number of people who have already acquired domestic robots or who are planning to get one anyway, what can we do to reduce the energy use of these robots so that they do not use electricity excessively? 1. The most important step in any attempt to live a more environmentally-responsible lifestyle is always to REDUCE. If you have a maid or a cleaning service, or if you have the time to do all your housework on your own ...

Dr. Mohamad Ngah Director, Zoo Negara Malaysia cc. Education Unit Zoo Negara Malaysia 10th February 2012 Dear Sirs, PHASING OUT THE USE OF POLYSTYRENE AND STYROFOAM PRODUCTS AT ZOO NEGARA I have the good fortune of being a volunteer at Zoo Negara and am heartened and encouraged by the many improvements I see in Zoo Negara, including the fact that it is listed as the only Malaysian zoo that is party to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). The enrichment programmes at Zoo Negara and greater emphasis on natural history and conservation education are just two of the many things that make us, as Malaysians, increasingly proud of our national zoo. What Zoo Negara lacks, however, is a willingness and conscious and concerted effort to phase out the use of styrofoam and polystyrene products at the Zoo. The Zoo has over 100 staff, all of whom work in sections equipped with sinks and water supply, yet their lunches are delivered to them daily in styrofoam packets and paper cups wit...

PENCINTA ALAM JANUARY 2012 GREEN LIVING COLUMN BASIC GREEN LIVING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2012: By Wong Ee Lynn 1. Pledge to REDUCE CONSUMPTION AND WASTE. Look at your purchases for the last 6 months and decide what purchases were unnecessary and should be reduced or eliminated in the coming year. Shop less and do more. Observe Buy Nothing Day at least once a month. Choose products with the least packaging. Reduce food wastage by using up food before they go bad, relying on a shopping list and keeping track of leftovers and items in your fridge and pantry. Join a library. Read magazines and newspapers online. Have your bills, invoices and newsletters sent to you via email and terminate the hard copy subscription for the same. Try to reduce your waste to the point that you only need to take out the trash once a week. Separate and recycle discarded items. Set up a compost bin for garden and kitchen waste. Reuse, recycle, repair and refurbish whenever possible. Set goals for yourself -- for examp...

PENCINTA ALAM OCT 2011, GREEN LIVING COLUMN GREEN LIVING ADVOCACY: DRAFTING AN EFFECTIVE LETTER TO THE EDITOR By Wong Ee Lynn (This blogpost has been published as a 3-part series in the Malaysian Nature Society monthly newsletter. All rights reserved by author alone.) Much as Green Living is about sharing and disseminating information on environmentally responsible choices and putting these choices into daily practice, we must understand that lifestyle changes must go hand-in-hand with political advocacy. It is important to live a lifestyle that is consistent with our environmental values. It is hypocritical, for instance, to call for a ban on the construction of new dams when we fail to manage and reduce our water and energy use. But personal lifestyle changes alone cannot be a substitute for political action. As environmentalists and concerned citizens, we should all strive to keep ourselves informed on environmental issues and to be able to articulate our grievances and ideas in a w...