Eco-Lifestyle

Having an eco-lifestyle is about living your life in a more environmentally friendly way. Pick up eco-living tips and learn how you can make small changes to your current lifestyle by considering a little bit more for the environment.

Be part of the GREEN CREW (which is an acronym for GREENing, Clean commuting, Reduce/Reuse/Recycle, Energy efficiency, and Water conservation) and get started on loving the environment if you have not done so.

Let’s do our bit in protecting our earth before it is too late. Live the eco way!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greening

Trees helps remove carbon dioxide, and prevent soil erosion, noise pollution, and global warming.

Having greenery has many environmental benefits. Trees function as the lungs of the planet. They produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide and contaminants from the air. Besides, trees help to prevent soil erosion. They even absorb sound and reduce noise pollution. Most importantly, they help to reduce ozone levels in urban areas. Without greenery, the global warming effect will be aggravating. Play your part in combating global warming by trying out the following:

  • Start growing a plant at home
  • Take part in the community gardening in your estate. If your neighbourhood has yet to have one, why not take the initiative to set up one and influence the rest in your estate?

You can also learn more about gardening.

Clean commuting

Driving a car actually damages the environment. Take part in clean commuting to reduce the harmful effects.

The amount of carbon dioxide that motor vehicles produce contributes to 30% of the emissions that dirty our air. Let’s learn more about clean commuting and see how we can weave it into our daily life to enjoy fresher air and protect our health in the long run. Taking public transport, bicycling, carpooling, and walking help reduce our carbon footprint on this planet.
Let’s challenge ourselves with at least 1 of the following clean commuting channels:

  • Take public transport instead of driving at least once a week
  • Walk to the destination if it is within 500m from home
  • Share a car with colleagues if going to the same meeting venue

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Practise the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to cut down on material wastage and make a difference to our environment.

We can reduce, reuse, and recycle through many ways at our homes, schools, and workplaces. These include:

  • Reducing the use of plastic shopping bags by bringing your own recyclable carrier
  • Borrowing from friend or neighbour if you only need something temporarily
  • Sharing things such as magazines, books, or DVDs with friends

These ways are not too difficult, so let’s practise them whenever and wherever possible.

Energy efficiency

You can practise energy-saving tips whether you are at your home, school, or workplace.

The old Malay adage, ‘sedikit-sedikit lama-lama jadi bukit’, says that a simple action can go a long way and save you a fortune. One example of how you can live this out is being energy-efficient, be it at your home or workplace.

Here are some simple tips that you can easily pick up:

  • Buy energy-saving products where needed
  • Switch off the power of unused electrical appliances to reduce standby power usage
  • Turn off the lights when you leave a room
  • Keep lights off during the day

You can also check out more energy-saving tips.

Water efficiency

We all know how precious water is in Singapore. Hence, it is important for every one of us to play a part in conserving water.

Here are some suggestions on good water-saving habits:

  • Run the washing machine only on full load
  • Reuse water. Collect rinse water from the washing machine for flushing the toilet or mopping the floor
  • Install thimbles or any water-saving device at taps with high flow rate
  • Purchase water-efficient labelled fittings
  • Do not thaw food under running water. Let it defrost overnight inside the refrigerator instead
  • Wash vegetables and dishes in a filled sink instead of under a running tap
  • Take shorter showers that last under 5 minutes and turn off the tap while soaping
  • For a dual-flush flushing cistern, use the reduced flush for liquid waste
  • Do not leave the tap running when not in use. Tighten taps to ensure they do not drip
  • Wash car using a bucket instead of a running hose
  • Water plants with a watering can instead of a running hose. Water them in the early morning or evening (between 4 – 7am or 6 – 9pm) to minimise evaporation loss
  • Check if the counter dial of the water meter is moving when all fittings are shut to check for leaks. Check for leaks in flushing cisterns, pipes, taps, etc. and repair them immediately to prevent water wastage
  • Check your water bills to monitor your family’s water consumption. If your consumption is more than the average, look into your family’s water usage habits