Green Living Column April 2015: Living Green In An Apartment

PENCINTA ALAM APRIL 2015

GREEN LIVING COLUMN

 

LIVING GREEN IN AN APARTMENT

By Wong Ee Lynn (wongeelynn@yahoo.com / gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com)

 

A surprising number of people seem to believe that you need to live in landed property in the countryside in order to live a more environmentally-responsible lifestyle. Members of the public often say to the Green Living volunteers that they will start 'living greener' when they retire and are able to move to the countryside where they can plant trees, install solar panels and grow their own vegetables and fruits.

 

No-one ever has to wait to take steps that will make a positive difference to the environment or community. Many studies have shown that apartment dwellers in busy cities often have a smaller carbon footprint than those who live in houses. Some of the reasons for this include the following:

 

1. Apartments take up much less physical space than a home. Hundreds of people can live in an apartment complex that takes up the same amount of space on the ground as a single family home. Apartments build up, while houses build out. Less land will be developed, and this has a better overall impact on the environment.

2. Apartments are typically smaller than landed properties, and thus require less energy to power, light, heat and cool. Apartment-dwellers do not have to worry about porch and back door lighting and electronic gates, or buying lawnmowers and leaf blowers.

3. Apartments in cities are generally closer to public transport hubs and stops. Transportation service providers generally cover areas with many residents, and this frequently includes apartment complexes. This reduces the need to drive and to own private vehicles, thus reducing energy use and carbon emissions.

4. Apartment dwellers generally buy less and own fewer pieces of furniture and electrical appliances compared to houseowners, due to space constraints. Apartment dwellers do not have the option of storing things in the driveway, attic, garden shed or covered backyard that houseowners do. As such, their consumption of goods and resources is generally lower than that of houseowners.

5. Resources and spaces are shared in apartment complexes. This means that there is only one swimming pool, playground, gym, garden, yard, multipurpose hall and one set of parameter lighting and recycling bins that need to be maintained, repaired and cleaned. The rubbish collection truck only needs to make one stop. Apartment dwellers will not have to worry about roof repairs, installing gutters, weeding and mowing the garden, or driveway and garden maintenance, and this reduces the economic and environmental cost of home ownership.

 

Although you may not have a compost heap, vegetable garden or solar panels in your apartment, here are ways in which you can live green and continue to reduce your carbon footprint in an apartment:

 

1. Reduce, reuse and recycle

-  Give due consideration to the environment and your space constraints before you buy or acquire anything else for your apartment. Instead of having the mentality that you can donate or give an item away later if you no longer need it or if it is not a good fit for your apartment, consider not acquiring it in the first place, thus reducing waste. Refer to blogs such as Zero Waste Home (www.zerowastehome.com) and Becoming Minimalist (http://www.becomingminimalist.com/) to find inspiration on what you can live without and other ways to make do.

- Consider joining or setting up a cause similar to Craigslist, Freecycle and TTDI Free Market (https://www.facebook.com/events/655261001183666) to swap, donate or acquire preloved items. If you are in the apartment joint management panel/committee, consider holding a Yard Sale or Free Market to enable residents to share and reuse resources. You could also set up a Borrowing Shop where residents can borrow or rent infrequently-used items such as hand tools, baking equipment and children's items.

- If there are no recycling bins in your apartment complex, request the building management or joint management committee to write in to Alam Flora or other waste management companies or organisations to set up recycling bins in the lobby of the apartment complex. You can also contact organisations such as TEEAM (Email teeam@teeam.org.my / teeam52@gmail.com) to request the setting up of electronic waste collection bins and Persatuan Amal Sri Sinar / Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society / Rotary Club for the setting up of donation bins for used clothes, household items and recyclables. The bins should preferably be placed in a well-lit area with lots of foot traffic to prevent vandalism and the dumping of dirty and unsuitable materials in the bins.

 

2. Electricity usage

- Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are only a good investment if your energy usage is high, or if your roof receives direct sunlight daily (i.e. not blocked by higher buildings or hills). A good alternative to installing solar PV panels would be to reduce energy usage as a whole, and to put up high-quality solar lights (e.g. Nokero solar light bulbs) in windows, balconies and areas that receive plenty of direct sunlight. This way, you save on lighting areas such as the balcony, bathrooms and rooms which are not used for reading, using the computer or doing work which requires bright lighting.

- To save on energy bills, use curtains, blinds and window tints to cut down on solar heat entering the apartment in the daytime. This will reduce the need for air-conditioning in the apartment unit. If you need to use an air-conditioning unit, switch it on only long enough to cool down the room, and then switch it off, and switch on the fan to circulate the cool air instead.

- Most of the energy used in residential homes is used for heating and cooling. The fewer heat-generating appliances you have in a home (e.g. dishwasher, dryer, oven, steam vacuum cleaner), the less need you have for air-conditioning, and the lower your energy bills. Wash dishes by hand and hang laundry out to dry. Stagger your laundry days to ensure that each load of laundry has a day or two to air-dry. Laundry racks and lines that can be put away when not in use can help you create more space to hang laundry out in, without creating unsightly clutter.

 

3. Water conservation

- Many apartment dwellers complain that they are unable to collect rainwater for reuse. If you have a balcony or corridor that is exposed to the rain, you might want to consider putting up lightweight PVC or aluminium rain gutters to channel rainwater into a rain barrell. Create a water permeable cover for the rain barrell using mosquito screen or wire mesh to prevent mosquitoes and other insects from breeding in the rainwater. Use the water for cleaning, flushing the toilet and watering plants.

- If you are unable to collect rainwater, you can still find ways to collect and reuse greywater. Designate a pail for greywater in your bathroom. Collect the water you used in rinsing and washing when you wipe down furniture, clean the windows and handwash clothes. You can also redirect your washing machine outlet hose into a large bucket to collect soapy laundry water in, or collect the water from showering and washing your hair if you have a sturdy, shallow tub to stand in. Ensure that the water is not filled with dirt, hair and grease or it could clog up your plumbing and water pipes. The water should be only mildly dirty and soapy. You can use the water for flushing the toilet with, as flushing the toilet makes up about 31% of household water use.

- Water that you use for washing rice, vegetables and fruits can be collected and used for watering the plants.

- To reduce the amount of water used per flush, fill up a 0.5 litre plastic bottle with marbles or pebbles, top it up with water, seal the cap onto the bottle and put it in your toilet tank as a displacement device.

 

(Image credits: cristianlavaque.com)

4. Composting and gardening

- Apartment dwellers often complain that they are not able to practice composting or vegetable gardening, and as such feel disconnected to the earth. Find out if there are community gardens and edible gardens in your area that you can visit, volunteer at and contribute to if you miss gardening. Examples include the Free Tree Society of Kuala Lumpur, TTDI Edible Garden Project, and Eats Shoots and Roots.

- If there is any unused land in your apartment complex, ask the apartment management or Joint Management Committee if it can be converted into an edible garden. Have the area fenced up. Keys can be given only to residents involved in the project, to prevent pilfering and vandalism.

- Consider having a container garden, and customise it to fit your needs and your apartment's space constraints. Increase your space by growing vertically. You can grow pots of herbs, vegetables and spices on a vertical planter wall, in a pot stand, along the balcony grill, or in hanging pots suspended from a beam or hooks.

- Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are a good indoor plant to have, as they improve air quality. Money plants (Epipremnum aureum) and Arrowhead plants (Syngonium podophyllum) are hardy green plants that are able to survive without soil. Simply immerse their roots in jars of water and place the jars in each room to improve air quality.

- You can try making compost in your balcony even without having to purchase a worm farm or bokashi bin. Cut your vegetable and fruit peels, bread crumbs and eggshells into pieces and let them dry out in an empty plant pot on the balcony. Do not compost cooked food, dairy or meat. Stir up the compost from time to time to prevent mould from forming. You can use the compost in your own potted plants once the plant matter has crumbled up and decomposed sufficiently, or you can give it to a community garden or a friend who has a garden. You can also toss into into the jungle, under the trees, during your next hike.

- If you do not receive enough direct sunlight on your balcony to make compost, and mould and smell is an issue, simply store your fruit and vegetable peels in the freezer until it is time to take it to a jungle or garden. Label a lidded jar or container clearly with the words "Compost". Fruit and vegetable peels should not smell or contaminate your refrigerator (remember that you are not supposed to compost rotten plant matter or cooked food) and will last for months in a freezer.

(Image credits: Mother Earth News.)

Eco Kids Column: Toys from Mother Nature-- Sticks

PENCINTA ALAM APRIL 2015

ECO KIDS COLUMN

 

TOYS FROM MOTHER NATURE: STICKS

By Wong Ee Lynn

<wongeelynn@yahoo.com / gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com>

 

Children have been playing with sticks since prehistory. You can pick up, throw, retrieve, bend, break and carve sticks. You can use sticks for digging, poking, building, fighting and creating new tools with. Even animals such as wolf cubs and dogs will throw, retrieve and play tug-of-war with sticks.

 

Many urban parents, however, are worried that playing with sticks will result in injury, especially to the eye. However, just as with climbing trees and crossing streams, the more often you play with sticks and other objects in nature, the more skillful you become at handling them, and the less likely you are to get hurt by them. You learn through experience what is the correct height to lift and throw sticks, and at what distance is someone safe from getting hurt.

 

As a general rule, however, do not lift any sticks higher than your eye level, and never use sticks to strike or poke someone else with, even lightly. Do not fight or engage in battle with your sticks, as someone could get seriously hurt. Do not beat or damage things, e.g. living plants, with your sticks. Choose sticks no longer than the length of your arm. Ensure that the sticks you pick up do not have latex, thorns, parasites, insects, splinters or sharp edges on them. Choose clean-looking sturdy sticks to play with and stop touching the sticks immediately if a rash or any form of allergic reaction occurs. Do not break branches off living plants, but pick up only the sticks you find lying on the ground.

 

Children and parents often feel as if they might get bored quickly if they were to go outdoors without bringing toys and electronic devices along with them. However, there are many games and activities you can carry out with the sticks you find and pick up. These activities can challenge your imagination, creativity, problem-solving skills and engineering skills.

 

1. Make a two-dimensional drawing in the sand using sticks. Break the sticks into shorter pieces or bend them to create the shapes you want, and press them into the sand so that they will lay flat. Start with simple drawings with straight lines, such as a house, rocket or robot. Now try more complex drawings. Can you draw a dinosaur? How about all the letters of the alphabet?

 

 

2. Have a challenge with a friend to build the tallest stick pole using only sticks and twine or rubber bands. At the word "Go", run into the woods and collect all the sticks you can. Tie the sticks together using twine or rubber bands to form the tallest pole possible. The pole has to be able to stand upright with you holding only the bottom stick.

 

3. Break or cut smaller sticks into equal lengths and use them to play Pick-Up-Sticks. The objective of this game is to pick out and remove sticks from a pile, one by one, without causing the other sticks in the pile to move. This game helps you develop patience, focus, logical thinking skills and a steady hand.

 

4. Build the biggest teepee or wigwam you can by arranging sticks into a cone shape and tying the ends at the top of the cone together. Depending on the size of your teepee, drape a bandanna, towel or sheet around the cone frame to complete your jungle shelter. Try building more complex shelters once you are good at this. Perhaps a kampung house, or a medieval castle?

 

5. Have a race to pick up litter along a beach or jungle trail using sticks. How will you pick those plastic bags and picnic cups up? Will you use two sticks like a pair of giant chopsticks? Will you spear rubbish on the end of a sharpened stick? Will you find a stick with a branch or fork in it, and use it to scoop up litter? The first one to successfully pick up 10 pieces of litter and transfer them into a rubbish bag wins the challenge.

 

6. Build a stick tower by layering and stacking sticks, layer by layer. You can turn this into a race and challenge each other to build the tallest tower within a designated time.

(Image credits: Childhood101.com)

 

7. Make a rustic-looking pen caddy or plant pot using a clean, empty steel can and an assortment of sticks. Choose only clean, sturdy sticks without insect holes and fungi and that are not hollow or brittle. Cut the sticks into equal lengths, a little longer than the height of the tin. Use glue or double-sided tape to glue or tape the sticks to the outer wall of the steel can, with the base of the sticks the same level as the base of the steel can so that the steel can will be able to stand upright on a flat surface. Cover the entire outer wall of the steel can so that no steel can be seen. Secure the sticks to the can using rubber bands, and cover the rubber bands using rope or twine. Now you have a rustic-looking pen caddy to hold your items in or even to use as a plant pot.

(Image credits: Pinterest)

 

8. Build rafts using sticks and rubber bands and launch them in a stream. Add a mast and sail if you like. How long will your raft last? Can it bear the weight of a few pebbles on it? Will it flip over, or hold steady?

 

9. Poke sticks upright into the sand or soil to form a maze. Roll a ping-pong ball through the maze. Your objective is to get the ball out of the maze by blowing at the ball through a cardboard tube. Alternatively, build a goalpost and poke more sticks in the position of a goalkeeper and defenders in front of the goalpost. Your objective is to try to blow or flick the ball into the goal without knocking over the goalie or defenders.

  

10. Tie 5 twigs or sticks together using rubber bands or twine to form a 5-sided star.

(Image credits: Childhood101.com)

MNS Green Living teams up with TEEAM to collect e-waste and fluorescent lights

PENCINTA ALAM MARCH 2015

GREEN LIVING COLUMN

 

MNS Green Living teams up with TEEAM to collect e-waste and fluorescent lights.

(By Wong Ee Lynn, wongeelynn@yahoo.com)

  

MNS Green Living is pleased to report that our MNS Headquarters in Jalan Kelantan now has electronic waste (e-waste) and compact fluorescent light (CFL)/ fluorescent light (FL) collection bins, thanks to the assistance of The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM). These bins are placed by the door to the MNS office, beside the Green Living Little Free Library, to enable members of the public to correctly dispose of their light bulbs, fluorescent light tubes and other electronic waste (e.g. batteries, unwanted appliances and gadgets) for recycling and safe disposal.

 

This initiative by TEEAM, a non-profit volunteer-based trade association, is made possible thanks to the UNDP-implemented GEF Small Grants Programme. However, Green Living strongly believes that the collection, recycling and safe disposal of hazardous wastes falls within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and alternatively, the Ministry for Natural Resources and the Environment, and should not be made the responsibility of non-governmental organisations.

 

Representatives from TEEAM set up the bins and delivered an awareness talk at the MNS HQ on 7^th Feb 2015. The eye-opening video presentation was followed by a lively discussion session. We would like to put on record our utmost appreciation to Dr. S.O. Lai and Ms. Thila of TEEAM for their tireless efforts in raising environmental awareness and facilitating the collection of e-waste.

 

To contact TEEAM, please email teeam52@gmail.com / teeam@teeam.org.my.

 

FACTS ON E-WASTE AND CFLs / FLs:

 

1. In Malaysia, used and discarded electrical and electronic appliances and components (including batteries) are commonly known as 'e-waste' and are categorised as scheduled waste under the code SW110, First Schedule, Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005 under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

 

2. The SW110 wastes are defined as wastes from the electrical and electronic assemblies containing components such as accumulators, mercury switches, glass from cathode ray tubes and other activated glass or polychlorinated biphenyl-capacitators, or contaminated with cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, chromium, copper, lithium, silver, manganese, or polychlorinated biphenyls.

 

3. If e-waste is disposed of in landfills, the opportunities to recover and recycle the metal, plastic or glass components would be lost. Further, hazardous metals and materials can leach out and contaminate soil, water and air.

 

4. In Peninsular Malaysia, all scheduled wastes, including e-waste, lightbulbs and light tubes, are collected for safe disposal and recycling by Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd, a waste management and renewable energy development company.

 

5. CFLs and FLs are an energy-efficient alternative to incandescent lamps for the following reasons:

• Three to four times more energy-efficient.
• They cost less to use.
• They reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution from energy production.
• They last up to ten times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs.

5. However, CFLs contain, on average 3 – 4 mg of mercury a unit. FL tubes contain, on average, 8.3 mg of mercury per unit.

 

6. All fluorescent lights and tubes are considered hazardous waste in Malaysia when they are discarded because they contain mercury. Mercury is a heavy metal with toxic effects. Exposure to, and contact with, mercury may lead to mercury poisoning, which can be lethal.

 

7. When mercury-containing CFLs or FLs are placed in the rubbish bins and collected for disposal, the lamps or tubes are broken and mercury is released to the environment. Mercury vapours from broken lamps or tubes can be absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream. People who are particularly close to the breakage are especially at risk. Mercury from broken lamps and tubes can also be washed by rain water into waterways.

 

8. To prevent breaking fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, package fluorescent lamps and tubes carefully when storing and transporting them. Do not tape tubes together. Store and transport fluorescent lamps and tubes in their original boxes or another protective container. Store them in an area away from rain so that if they break, the mercury from broken lamps or tubes will not be washed by rain water into waterways.

 

9. In the event you accidentally break a fluorescent light or tube, vacate the room immediately and open all doors and windows. The only person(s) who should remain there are person(s) tasked with cleaning up. Do not use a standard household vacuum cleaner to clean up the broken pieces. Only a vacuum cleaner designed specifically for use with hazardous wastes may be used. However, most of us will not have one at hand.

 

Instead of vacuuming, wear latex gloves and carefully clean up the fragments. Use strips of duct tape or masking tape to pick up the fragments. Wipe the area with a damp sheet of newspaper or paper towel to remove all glass fragments and associated mercury.

 

Keep all people and pets away from area so that mercury-containing pieces and powder are not tracked into other areas.

Keep the area well ventilated to disperse any vapour that may escape.

After clean up is complete, place all fragments along with cleaning materials into a sealable plastic bag or lidded jar. Wash your hands. Recycle the pieces along with intact lamps if the recycling collection contractor permits it. Label the plastic bag or jar clearly to warn people who may be handling the broken bulbs to prevent injury or other harm to them.

 

10. When bringing your used CFLs and FLs to a CFL/FL collection bin, put the bulbs into their boxes for recycling. If you have not retained the bulb’s original box, use the box that the new/replacement bulb came in. If you have no bulb boxes at all, wrap the bulb in a sheet of newspaper and put it in a plastic or paper bag to prevent breakage before putting it in the CFL/FL collection bin.

MNS Green Living and TEEAM team up to recycle CFL light bulbs and tubes!

 

Lightbulb and E-Waste Collection and Recycling Programme and Awareness Talk

Date: Saturday, 7th February 2015

Time: 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.

Venue: MNS Headquarters (http://www.mns.my/spage.php?pg=contact)

The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) in collaboration with MNS Green Living will be setting up collection bins in the Malaysian Nature Society headquarters to enable members of the public to correctly dispose of their lightbulbs, fluorescent light tubes and other electronic waste (e.g. batteries, unwanted appliances and gadgets) for recycling and safe disposal.

- Why can't we just dispose of these items with our regular household waste?

- What constitutes scheduled waste?

- What happens to these items once they are sent for recycling?

- How do these items harm the environment and human health if not properly disposed of?

To find out the answers to these questions, please come for the awareness talk at the time and location stated above! Refreshments will be served and we would be happy to collect your light bulbs and e-waste from you on the same day. We will also conduct a Spot Quiz on light bulbs and e-waste recycling. This event is free of charge and open to all. We hope to see many concerned Earth citizens there!

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor: Stormwater Management Can Reduce Risk of Urban Flash Floods

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: 

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT CAN REDUCE RISK OF URBAN FLASH FLOODS 

Professor Chan Ngai Weng raised many salient points in his letter, 'The human factor in floods' (The Star, Jan 6). While the recent floods in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia and many coastal towns and villages received a lot of media attention and concern due to the unprecedented scale of destruction it left in its wake, we must not forget that Kuala Lumpur and many other Malaysian cities are also susceptible to flash floods. As someone who volunteers with the homeless communities, I have heard many accounts of how homeless individuals were swept away by the rapidly rising waters of the Gombak and Klang rivers during the monsoon season. Further, we are all familiar with the frequent traffic congestion and damage to property caused by flash floods. 

It is wonderful to witness the generosity, compassion and solidarity of Malaysians in contributing and delivering aid to the East Coast flood victims. However, unless urgent measures are taken to find and implement permanent solutions to the problem of flash floods, the floods will keep recurring, and Kuala Lumpur and other cities may soon find themselves having to deal with floods as devastating as those in the East Coast. 

The first step towards preventing and mitigating floods is without doubt, to halt deforestation. Biologically-diverse forests with their complex systems of canopies, roots, soil and leaf litter act as giant sponges which soak up rainwater and release the water slowly and evenly. Monoculture plantations could never be able to replicate this effect. The second step obviously lies in reducing sedimentation in rivers and waterways and blockages caused by littering. 

There are many things governments, local authorities, developers and property owners can do to reduce the risk of urban flash floods. Urban development has a profound impact on hydrologic cycles and water quality.  The penchant of property owners for tiling up their compounds with impermeable materials contributes directly to flash floods and downstream flooding. Rainwater cannot infiltrate naturally into the soil, but is instead channelled directly into storm drains and streams. This rapid disposal of stormwater causes downstream flooding because water channels are often too small for the sudden high flow. 

Water management agencies and the local authorities need to encourage responsible stormwater management and educate houseowners and commercial property owners that if stormwater is captured at its source and gradually released downstream, the impact on rivers would be mitigated and, consequently, the likelihood of soil erosion, water pollution and flash floods would be greatly reduced. The Drainage and Irrigation Department has advocated this ‘control at source’ method in the past but there has been no active enforcement of these guidelines by those with the authority to do so. 

To discourage littering and to allow water to be absorbed into the soil, it is recommended that open drains be replaced with gravel trenches, permeable pavements and buried waterways. Gravel trenches will not only slow down the water runoff and allow water to seep into the soil, it will also trap solid waste (e.g. fallen leaves and litter) and prevent these from being washed downstream and causing blockages. In addition, litterbugs are far less likely to throw rubbish into a gravel trench than into an open drain. 

Guidelines must be drawn up by the state governments and local authorities to ensure that pavements and driveways in new development projects may be tiled only with water permeable tiles such as interlocking bricks. Housing developers and property owners who wish to renovate their homes should be subjected to these same guidelines for drainage and tiling. Urban renewal and upgrading projects should include measures to replace impervious surfaces (concrete slabs, tiles) with permeable surfaces (porous bricks, interlocking bricks), planting trees, groundcover and shrubs in open areas and creating 'buffer strips' with indigenous water-loving native plants alongside waterways and in flood-susceptible parts of town to filter and slow down water runoff and soak up pollutants. Currently the upgrading of the Medan Pasar area into a 'historical walk' has exacerbated the risk of flash flooding, as it has replaced tar-bound macadam roads and shrubbery with impermeable tiled surfaces. It is hoped that it is not too late to incorporate some buffer strips in the area with gravel trenches and native plants with roots directly in the soil and not in concrete or plastic planters. 

Property owners and apartment management bodies should also take steps to implement similar measures in their renovation and beautification projects. Beautification should not only mean creating surfaces that are easy to maintain and clean, but also finding ways to mitigate damage to the environment, discourage littering and reduce inconvenience to residents in the form of traffic congestions, water damage and slippery surfaces.   The implementation of these stormwater management measures can help us find a means of controlling the volume of water run-off and, in the long run, may also improve water quality if action is taken to store and filter stormwater captured at its source before gradual release into rivers. 

WONG EE LYNN 

COORDINATOR, 

GREEN LIVING, 

MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY

Making Possessions Last Longer (Part 2)

PENCINTA ALAM JANUARY 2015

 

GREEN LIVING COLUMN

 

Making Possessions Last Longer (Part 2)

(By Wong Ee Lynn, wongeelynn@yahoo.com / gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com)

 

 

 

 

 

In the December 2014 Green Living column, we provided tips on how to care for clothes, shoes, bags, mattresses and pillows to make them last longer, and the proper etiquette for donating used items. In this month's column, we will share ideas and tips on how to care for electronic devices and appliances, books, toys and furniture to make them last and help you save on money and resources.

1. Mobile phones and battery-operated devices

- Get (or make!) a good quality protective casing or cover for your phone, tablet device, MP3 player or other device to protect it from scratches, dirt, dust, water, sweat and drops/falls.

- Don't expose your phone or other device to extreme heat or moisture. Don't leave it on your vehicle dashboard or next to / on top of the refrigerator or stove, and don't bring your devices into the shower or swimming pool with you.

- Switch off the battery charger once your device is fully charged. Never charge your device for more than 12 hours. Conversely, you should not let your battery get fully drained before you recharge it. Always use the correct charger for your device. Cheap knock-off battery chargers can damage batteries and devices.

- If your phone or device ever falls into water, switch it off as soon as you retrieve it to prevent an electrical short circuit. Disassemble your device quickly and dry the battery and removable parts with a dry cloth or towel to prevent corrosion. Spread the battery, SIM card and other removable parts out onto a teatowel and let them dry overnight. Do NOT use a hairdryer to dry a wet phone or device, as the heat can cause further damage. Reassemble your phone or device the following day and test it to see if it will work again.

2. Electrical Appliances

- Switch off and unplug anything that is not in use. Switch off battery chargers once appliances are fully charged.

- Have a proper place to store appliances to prevent damage caused by water or being accidentally dropped or pushed off ledges and counters. Store smaller appliances, e.g. hair dryers, blenders and mixers, in drawers and cabinets when not in use.

- Unplug your refrigerator and clean the compressor coils at least once a year to keep it running efficiently. Same goes for fans and air-conditioning units. Regular cleaning will help them run more efficiently and prevent breakdowns. As a general rule, wipe down all appliances after use to prevent dirt, dust and pet hair from clogging up vents and moving parts.

- Microwave ovens can last around 10 years, given proper care. Clean out your microwave after use before the grease and food bits solidify and harden, which will increase the risk of sparking, which can seriously damage your microwave oven. Heat up a bowl of water with a slice of lemon or lime in it in your microwave until the water boils. The steam will loosen the grease and food particles and make your microwave oven easier to clean.

- Don't put heavy items, e.g. books and ornaments, on top of appliances, such as television sets, computer monitors and microwave ovens, which can add strain to the structure of the appliance.

- Read your appliance manual and warranty documents to find out the proper way to care for and service your appliances.

 

 

3. Books

- Buy good quality book covers/ plastic wrapping paper for wrapping your book covers in. This will protect them from dirt and moisture and help them look new for many years to come, which is a bonus if you plan to sell or donate your pre-loved books. If the books are used or old books, wipe down the cover and sides with a damp cloth and let the book air-dry completely before you wrap it. Repair all torn pages and covers or split spines with adhesive tape.

- Don't scribble on book pages. If you have a habit of writing down ideas and thoughts or new words to look up in a dictionary, keep a few pieces of scrap paper or memo pads around in your reading corner so your books can be spared the scribbles.

- Have bookmarks lying around, or one bookmark for each book, to discourage yourself from dog-earing pages, or putting books face down on a table (which may dirty the pages or break the book spine, causing pages to come loose). You can easily make bookmarks by cutting laminated flyers, cereal boxes or greeting cards into strips, or using the cardboard tags from your new clothes or shoes as bookmarks. Don't use rubber bands or paper clips as bookmarks, as rubber bands can melt and leave stains and paper clips will rust and damage paper.

- Keep your hands reasonably clean while handling books and reading. If you are in the habit of snacking while reading, keep a washcloth or handkerchief nearby to wipe your fingers on.

- Don't roll up your books or stick them into your pockets. Hold them in your hands or store them in a bag or backpack instead.

- To avoid your books getting dirty, crumpled or mixed up with other things in your backpack, store them in a paper or plastic bag before stowing them in your backpack. This will prevent the book from opening up or getting creased, torn, dirty or dog-eared in your backpack.

- If you read in the bathroom, take your book out with you so that it will not be damaged by the moisture in the bathroom. If you have a designated stack of reading materials in the bathroom, put up a shelf or rack for the books, away from water and areas where they are likely to get splashed or sprayed with water.

- If you use cookbooks in the kitchen, you might want to save a few large transparent plastic bags (e.g. the kind that new shirts come in) to put your book in when you open it up to the page you want. This way, you can hold the pages open with pegs, clips, a skirt hanger or heavy items like salt and pepper shakers, but the pages will not be damaged.

- If you have children who love to acquire and accumulate books, you may want to create an incentive for them by putting up the books they no longer read for sale on secondhand books forums or social media. The better the condition the book is in, the higher the price you can quote. Your child can keep 50% of the proceeds of sale. This will be an incentive for him or her to keep his or her books in good condition for resale and donation.

- Store your books upright or lying flat down, never slanting or sloping, as this will put pressure on the pages and increase the risk of pages getting torn or the books getting bent out of shape. Keep your bookcase clean and free from dust and damp. Store books away from open windows where they might get wet during rain or discoloured by sunlight, or refrigerators and vents where they can get damaged by heat. Your book storage area should ideally be a cool, clean and dry area.

4. Furniture

- Use a furniture protector spray or polish to protect fabrics and upholstery against stains. Be sure to read the label carefully, and choose the product with ingredients that cause the least harm to the environment and human health.

- Get washable, removable slip covers made for your sofa, armchairs and seats.

- Lubricate moving parts such as drawer rails so that they roll in and out smoothly, thus preventing rough handling.

- Polish wooden furniture with wood polish (environmentally-friendly options include beeswax polish, and olive oil if you are vegan) to protect and waterproof their surfaces and hide scratches and dings.

- Cover shelves, table tops and insides of drawers with plastic or linoleum sheets cut to size to protect them against dirt, dust, moisture, and scratches.

- Tighten the screws and joints of furniture from time-to-time to ensure they don't wobble and crack. Try not to overload shelves. Keep the heaviest loads on the lowest shelves to prevent furniture from falling or tipping over and to protect furniture joints and supporting columns.

- Try to keep wooden or steel furniture off the floor to prevent damage from water, e.g. during mopping. Elevate furniture off the floor using castors, rubber risers (available in hardware and home improvement stores) or tiles.

- Use furniture corner protectors (from hardware or home improvement stores and baby goods sections) for furniture items that frequently get bumped into or that hit other surfaces, for example, cabinet doors that swing into the wall when opened too quickly.

5. Toys

- The fewer toys a child has, the better he or she is able to care for them. Buy only the best quality toys available and rotate toys regularly (e.g. store a box away in your closet, ensure child has no more than 30 toys to play with at each given week and switch the toys around when he/she is tired of the existing ones).

- Create an incentive system to encourage your child or teen to part with his/her old toys. Have him/her clean up and repair/restore old toys and locate missing pieces and parts. Put the toys up for sale via social media, online forums or a yard sale. Your child/teen gets to keep an agreed percentage of the proceeds of sale. This will motivate him/her to keep toys in good condition and ensure parts and pieces do not go missing. Unsold items can be donated to charitable organisations. Too often, toys donated to charity are broken, dirty, torn or incomplete.

- Wash soft toys by hand in cold soapy water to remove dirt and stains. Sometimes, you may need to undo a few stitches, remove damp and contaminated cotton/stuffing, and restuff the soft toy with clean stuffing once the toy is dry. Ensure all tears and holes are patched or stitched up before they are beyond repair.

- Wipe down battery-operated toys, particularly toys that are taken outdoors such as remote-controlled cars. This will prevent a buildup of dirt that can wear down moving parts.

- Wash plastic toys and sports equipment in soapy water and allow them to dry. This will keep them looking new longer and prevent dirt from wearing down moving parts or damaging grooves, joints and stitches.

- Have a proper place to store toys that break easily, for example, kites, paper lanterns and vintage toys.

- Keep toys organised and sorted into proper containers or boxes. The more messy a collection of toys are, the more likely it is that parts and pieces will go missing, rendering the rest of the toy or game useless.

Green Living Column Dec 2014: Making Possessions Last Longer (Part 1)

PENCINTA ALAM DECEMBER 2014

GREEN LIVING COLUMN

 

Making Possessions Last Longer (Part 1)

 

(By Wong Ee Lynn, wongeelynn@yahoo.com / gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com)

Volunteers and staff who work for organisations that collect reusable items for charity often complain that people tend to donate old, stained and ruined items in very poor condition. Not only is this habit rude, inconsiderate and insensitive, it is also wasteful. Many people mistakenly believe that they are 'doing a good deed' by 'donating' unwanted items to 'charity'. In reality, however, volunteers and staff waste many hours sifting through items that will most likely end up in landfills. Most of the time, only 5 - 10% of items are fit to be redirected to beneficiaries such as welfare homes and homeless individuals. Another 10 - 20% could be recovered for recycling. The rest of the 'donations' end up being thrown out as rubbish.

What then, most people ask, can they do with 'all that stuff' that you can't use or do not want anymore? Green Living recommends reducing the amount of consumer goods you purchase, acquire and dispose of in the first place. Say no to unnecessary purchases. Reduce the amount of stuff you give out as door gifts, in goodie bags, as prizes and as gifts. Simplify your life by not accumulating clutter in the first place.

One of the reasons why so many households and individuals end up disposing of, or trying to 'donate', items that were at one point valuable and valued is because they do not know the proper way to care for things, or keep things clean and serviceable. The longer you are able to make a possession last, the less money you have to spend on replacements, and the lower your impact on the environment. Here are some basic methods of caring for common items in order to make them last longer.

1. Clothes

- Wash dark and light-coloured items separately to prevent staining, fading and colour runs. Turn clothes inside out prior to washing to protect the outer surfaces. Pull zippers up fully to prevent the rough edges of open zippers from damaging clothes in the washing machine. Put delicate clothes in mesh laundry bags to prevent stretching and damage. Wash in cold water whenever possible (rub soap or detergent on stains first), as clothes last longer when subjected to less heat. This will save energy, too!

- Don't hang up clothes that can stretch out of shape, such as sweaters. Fold them instead. Don't pull on t-shirt or sweater collars when putting them on hangers, otherwise they will stretch out of shape. Similarly, don't fold clothes that need ironing or they will become even more creased. Using higher heat on clothes (for ironing) will make the fibres break down faster and waste energy.

- Avoid soaking clothes for more than a few minutes, or using bleach, as both can break down fibres in clothing.

- Patch or mend tears in fabric (esp jeans) as early as possible to prevent the holes from becoming larger.

- Frequent laundering and washing will wear clothes out. To reduce laundry loads, keep categories of clothes separate -- office, housework, exercise and bedtime. Don't wear your nicest or newest clothes for housework or exercise. Wear older clothing as exercise, housework or gardening clothes, rather than buy different sets of clothes. Hang up clothes that you can wear again for the same purpose without washing. Hang up pyjamas every morning to let them air out, rather than wear them while doing housework and having to change into another set of pyjamas every night.

- Wear clothes for as long as possible. Stained, torn or faded clothing should be used as cleaning rags, floor mats or pet bedding, instead of donated to charity. Only donate clothing that are in good condition. For example, if you have too many t-shirts, put aside the free t-shirts you get from events and product purchases immediately and donate them to the needy while they are still new.

2. Shoes

- Clean and polish work/leather shoes frequently to prevent dirt from entering into the cracks and making the cracks permanent. Polishing also prevents leather from becoming dry and cracked.

- Don't wear dress/office shoes for driving. The back heel of shoes can become damaged and discoloured from rubbing against the car floor mats. Have a pair of spare shoes in the car for driving instead.

- Washing sneakers/trainers will make them look newer, and prevent dried-up dirt from wearing down the soles.

- Rotate your shoes to give the insides time to air out. Stuff sheets of rolled up newspaper into damp shoes to help them dry out faster.

- Wear socks or stockings to prevent shoes from becoming damp or smelly. Sprinkle baking soda in shoes to deodorise them.

- Have your shoes repaired by a cobbler. Get soles stitched back on or have the shoes resoled.

- Store shoes neatly to keep them clean and help them retain their shape. Don't stack shoes on top of one another unless they are in boxes.

- Rubber clogs (e.g Crocs) are easy to repair. Straps can be reattached using cable tie, shoelace bits or ribbon, and worn-out and smooth soles can be given traction again if you use a penknife to carefully retrace the lines on the soles. Don't cut too deep or you might punch a hole in them.

 

3. Backpacks, handbags and bags

- Try to keep backpacks and bags dry and out of the rain. Use leather protector spray (from the shoe shop) to protect handbags, briefcases and leather bags.

- Clean your hands before rummaging in your bags. The fewer cleaning products you use on your bags, the longer they will last.

- Don't put your bags on the floor. Keep them clean and away from hot, wet, dirty or rough surfaces.

- Don't hang your handbag from the back of chairs or from hooks, as this can damage the strap over time and cause the handbag to go out of shape. Use a handbag caddy (or make your own) to keep the insides of your handbag tidy, clean and protected from sharp objects such as keys and pens.

- Don't leave bags in hot cars, as fabrics and fibres break down more rapidly when exposed to heat. This is especially so for the plastic and non-woven cloth shopping carrier bags. Keep reusable shopping bags in the trunk, glove compartment or under the car seat instead, or better still, at home by the door, ready for your next grocery shopping trip.

- Don't hang up heavy backpacks or the straps and fabric will start to tear. Designate a chair or other sturdy surface to put them on instead. Don't overload backpacks and travel bags. Carry some items in your hand (e.g. with a book strap) on in a separate bag. Not only will this help backpacks last, it will also protect your back from injury. If you overstuff backpacks, you will often find that the zipper will break. Don't do the sitcom act of sitting on suitcases either. Pack wisely and ensure suitcases can close easily.

- Have backpack zippers repaired by tailors or at jeans and leather repair shops. Mend tears and rips with adhesive patches (available at camping stores), as sewing and stitching can often introduce holes in fabric where there was none before.

 

4. Mattresses and pillows

- The main reason mattresses and pillows are 'donated' is because they are stained, wet or damaged. This is impolite and insensitive. If you are not willing to sleep on such a mattress anymore, chances are, homeless folks and residents of welfare homes are not, either. Donate only items that are still usable but not suitable for your purposes anymore, for example, it is the wrong size for your new bedframe. Stained, wet and damaged mattresses belong in a landfill. As such, try to keep your mattresses out of landfills by taking better care of them.

- Do not jump or stand on mattresses as this will put unnecessary strain on them. Do not put heavy items, e.g. packed suitcases, on mattresses either. Avoid sitting on the edges of spring mattresses.

- Each time you change the bedsheets, flip the mattress over and/or rotate it 180 degrees so that you sleep on all sides. This will help it retain its shape longer.

- To stop mattresses from getting dirty or worn out, use a mattress protector or topper. Even slipping an old fitted sheet over the mattress before putting the outer sheet or duvet on will help. If you have a young child or pet that inadvertently wets the bed, cover the mattress with a rubber or plastic sheet, or with puppy housebreaking pads available from vets or pet stores. Clean up stains immediately with disinfectant and/or deodorisers (e.g. baking soda) and air the mattress out if possible.

- To keep pillows clean, slip on an old pillowcase under the existing pillowcase. Try not to cry into pillows, but wash and dry them out if you do. Do not eat or exercise in bed, or use pillows and cushions for pillow fights. Get pillows and bolsters of the right size for your needs so you would not keep folding or bending them in two. Fluff them up and air them out to help them retain their shapes. Wash and dry your pillows as needed, if they are made of washable materials. Put your pillows, mattress and duvets under the sun to deodorise and air out. Restuff old pillows and cushions with cotton and other stuffing, and repair tears and rips with cloth before the stuffing falls out.

 

 

(Next month's tips: Making Possessions Last Longer (Part 2): Electronic devices and appliances, books, toys and furniture)