Ideas for Sustainable Living
Painting it GreenPainting a house, either on paper or in person atop a tall ladder, has a hidden danger most are unaware of. Paint can be toxic. Toxic to humans, toxic to the environment and definitely not something you want contaminating the waterways. The toxins are in the binders as well as the pigments themselves. Acrylic paints contain fewer solvents, and less of them thatn oilbased paints and are therefore relatively safer. Protecting the latex in the paint may call for arsenic disulphide, phenol and copper. This problem toxicity is very true of mass produced house paints, a real warning to those artists who paint with test pots. Paint on the hands, or in the mouth via the end of the paintbrush, is not a good thing. Many metal pigments used in paints, for example the heavy metal cadmium which is common in yellow, orange and red pigmentsa re highly toxic and also quite rare resources. These pigments could be avoided by your choice of paints, or you can look for paints that have been manufactured in accordance with strict environmental laws. The manufacturer of the paint should be listed on the tube or tub. If it has been made in the UK, Europe or USA or Australia, chances are the laws governing its manufacture are tighter than those of China or India. Paints manufactured in the UK or Europe are subject to tighter laws than those made in the USA. Paints made in Australia and New Zealand will have had less travel kilometers clocked against them. For artists wanting to prime canvases, or those seeking an environmental advantage, there is Enviropaints, www.enviropaints.co.nz , a Wellington based company making paint from recycled paints. Wrapping a paint brush in cling wrap will prevent the paint drying on the brush while you take a lunch break. Similarly put your roller into a plastic bag and tape it around the handle or submerge the roller in the paint in your roller tray to keep the paint moist during your break. Of most importance when painting, is the safe washing of brushes and rollers afterwards. Savings from the SkyWhen the household is on a water meter, every running or dripping tap becomes an issue. Reducing water usage by installing rainwater tanks makes very good sense. Rainwater can be used for watering the garden, washing clothes, cleaning the car and flushing the toilet. Rainwater diverted for household use means less is going into gutters, stormwater drains and perhaps overflowing into the city sewers. Using rainwater reduces flooding and pollution. Before connecting a rainwater tank to household plumbing, a building consent must be obtained. A consent may also be needed to install a water tank if it is going to supply the house tank. When connecting a rainwater system to the plumbing of a house, by law the home owner has to ensure the mains water is isolated from the rainwater system. This requires a "dual check valve mechanism", or a backflow prevention device. A qualified plumber has to install this and a building consent is required. To collect rainwater for the garden, any large, watertight container will do. Set it up so the downpipe from the roof feeds into it, and cover it with a strong insect screen to stop mosquitoes invading and animals from getting trapped. In periods of high rainfall it would pay to be able to reconnect downpipes to the stormwater system to prevent overflowing. Fit a tap to the container, or fit a soak hose or ‘dripper’ irrigation system to it. A tap needs to be installed in such a way that children won’t drink the water. A locking cap or similar handicap is necessary, as the rainwater may be unfit for human consumption. Puttung a sign up to that effect would be smart. Rainwater may have been gathered off contaminated surfaces, or stored in an unsafe vessel. PVC piping is in question for safe drinking water. Any water intending to be redirected for people to drink needs to be clean and safe. A basic rainwater collection tank is easy to install and can be relatively inexpensive. Costs vary depending on the tank material, and installation and delivery requirements. Other costs will depend on whether the rainwater will need a permit for installation. This may include the pipes, filters or treatment, any plumbing requirements, building consent fees, and annual inspection fees. Cleaning up after Using Water-Based House PaintMake an environmentally friendly choice when cleaning up after painting. At the end of the job wipe or squeeze excess paint onto an absorbent material such as old rags, shredded newspapers or cardboard boxes. Allow to dry and dispose of with household waste. Wash brushes, rollers and other equipment with water in a 20 litre or similar sized container. The most effective method is to use a roller spinner. Transfer the washed equipment to a second container filled with clean water for a final rinse. Place lids on the containers or cover in some other secure manner and allow to stand overnight. By morning, the paint solids in the first container will have settled down to the bottom of the container. The clear water from this container may now be poured onto the garden or any grassed or open area away from streams, rivers or lakes, where it can be absorbed into the ground. Disposing of the paint solids at the bottom of the first container: Scrape the paint solids out onto absorbent material such as old rags, shredded newspapers or cardboard boxes. Allow to dry, then place in a plastic bag and dispose of with the household rubbish, or take it directly to the nearest council tip. The second container now can be used as the first wash. Use this rotation system until the job is completed. In the case of solvent based paints, use rags and newspaper to clean the brushes first, then use solvents to wash equipment. Allow the first container to stand at least 24 hours as it will take this long for the paint solids to settle. Do not pour the clear solvent onto the ground - use it to top up the second container or decant and keep for future use. Use as little solvent as possible. Caution: Never allow waste-water or chemical solvents from washed paint equipment to enter household or storm water drains or sewers. The waste may find its way into natural waterways where it can reduce oxygen levels and threaten the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms. It's a good idea to keep a container of dirty turpentine on hand for cleaning purposes. You will be able to reuse the solvent time and time again. Don’t shake it, and keep it in a safe place. Building a Home the Sustainable WayExterior ProductsYour home can be a haven and it can also be a hazard, depending on what building materials and processes the house has been subject to. To meet building regulation requirements for durability and safety, pine used for structural purposes must be treated. This treatment involves toxic chemicals which may have effects on the environment and on human health. These effects can occur during processing, during handling and construction, and when timber and processing wastes are disposed of. A more natural and eco-friendly way of building, furnishing and decorating a home is a sensible and cautionary approach. Non-toxic materials are coming to the fore.
Insulated Concrete Forms, or ICF’s, are highly energy efficient and offer long term savings, durability, structural strength and design flexibility. They are also very sound muting. Building with ICF’s means there are no problems with rotting wood, termites or structural water damage. Straw bale is highly energy efficient, fire and insect resistant, easy to use and a beautiful finished product. When looking for building materials, choose ones that are sustainable - they use renewable raw materials that can be regenerated naturally to replace those used. Look also for building materials that are biodegradable over time and have a recycled or reused component. Ensure any timber you choose is from a sustainably managed source (look for FSC certification, or certification that the timber was harvested under a MAF-approved sustainable management plan - see decking and outdoor furniture and water use for more information on certification schemes). Concrete, metals, earth, clay, and fibre cement are largely based on local, non-renewable but plentiful extracted raw materials. The main challenge is managing the health of waterways and restoration of land affected by extraction.
Fencing and decking is another opportunity for environmental consideration. Is it possible to plant a hedge of New Zealand natives instead of fencing? Fast growing and evergreen, NZ natives soften the lines between properties and are low cost, planet replenishing and can be considered non-permanent should changes in boundaries be required. Decking is seldom available as a recycled product. Treated NZ pine or imported hardwoods such as jarrah are readily available. Treated timber comes with its own health risks, due to the toxic substances used to treat it. Concrete patios, perhaps with imprinted patterns, are an eco-friendly alternative. New to the market in New Zealand, although hugely popular in Australia, are the new wood and polymer composite products. This is a blend of wood fibre and plastic polymers, producing a composite of their best features. Composite decking is used extensively in marinas and boardwalks, around swimming pools and spas. It doesn’t require painting or staining. It can be sawn, drilled and sanded just like wood but doesn’t splinter, rot or fade. Composite decking utilizes recycled materials and wood dust, reducing the environmental impact of both products. Interior ProductsWhen it comes to house interiors, using natural materials is a cinch. There’s nothing quite like the glow of recycled matai or rimu, whether it’s in floorboards or furniture. On the deck, in the lounge, in bathroom, bedroom or kitchen; benchtops and tables are always acceptable when made from recycled timbers. Flooring from natural materials can include sisals and wool carpet, cork and reclaimed hardwoods. The latest hard-wearing laminated flooring in bamboo provides a huge array of colours and bamboo is a fast growing renewable resource. Bamboo and other wood veneer laminates can be laid over concrete. Coloured concrete flooring, preferably with in-slab insulation of expanded polystyrene is winning awards for builders and home owners. The minimalist industrial look or a warm coloured glow, there are endless possibilities for colour, texture and inlay. Broken coloured glass can be added to the mix and then ground back to reveal pattern and colour. The “Heiny, Winey, Steiny” concrete floor, with different sections of coloured glass is a an example of Kiwi ingenuity. Green, brown, white and even the blue of a Bombay Sapphire gin bottle, can add drama and interest to a concrete floor. Combined with natural timbers, wrought iron work and heavily textured materials, the effect can be very rustic and pleasing to the eye. Tiles manufactured in a sustainable way are also a permanent and natural floor covering. When the tiles or exposed concrete is in full sun they create passive solar heating. The floor surface warms during the day, then releases its heat throughout the evening. Make Your Home Eco-FriendlyIt's hard to understand the need for conserving water when the rain is crashing down around us daily. Conserving water is an annual habit however, covering all seasons. Having shorter showers and adopting a low-flow shower-head, can make a long-term difference to water consumption. Catching the rain in a tank or barrels will provide water for the garden and may be required for the toilet or laundry in times of drought. There are new water tanks available that fill like a giant pillow and can be hidden beneath a deck. When it comes time to buy new appliances, choosing dishwashers and washing machine that use less water will also make a difference over time. Cleaning around the home can be made less damaging to the environment by choosing non-toxic cleaning products. Making your own from the old basics of vinegar and baking soda is an enlightening experience. It was common practice in our ancestors’ day and still works just as well now, without television advertising! Check out the new range of cleaning products awarded the Environmental Choice Accreditation, B_E_E Products, Beauty Engineered forever. With cheeky names and quirky nostalgic advertising, B_E_E products have made an impact on the world of cleaning. Lowering toxins in the home is a goal for every New Zealander, and that includes making the right choices when undertaking renovations. Low toxicity paints, natural oils and varnishes must be considered, along with choosing sustainable, locally grown timbers. There’s nothing quite like the joy of finding a treasure in a second hand shop to add to the style and beauty of your home. Eclectic is not only interesting, it’s also eco-friendly. Try an old fashioned approach to cleaning around the home:
Building for Energy EfficiencyTo help face the challenges of climate change, the drive is on to improve the energy efficiency of New Zealand homes and commercial buildings. Building Issues Minister Clayton Cosgrove said a Government priority is reducing the amount of energy required to heat new homes, to heat water in new and existing homes, and to light, heat, ventilate and air condition commercial buildings. This means higher thermal insulation performance requirements for new homes. It also means making it easier to install solar water heating systems. Lighting needs to be improved in commercial buildings, along with heating, ventilation and air systems. The proposed measures would involve changes to the Building Code and/or new Department of Building and Housing compliance documents. Mr Cosgrove said significant cost saving can be achieved through better insulation. "Increasing the insulation requirements for ceilings, walls and floors, as well as introducing double-glazing in new homes could lead to savings of up to 30 percent in the amount of energy required to heat a new home," he said. "These benefits would have the greatest impact in the South Island and cooler parts of the North Island." Preliminary work by the Department indicates that building such an energy efficient home could cost an additional $3,000 to $5,000, but home owners would gain through lower power bills and increased capital value on their homes, Mr Cosgrove said. Mr Cosgrove said he also wants to remove the current barriers to installing solar hot water systems in new and existing homes. A solar water heating system can lead to substantial savings in hot water energy costs. The Government is also considering raising the design standards for hot water systems in new houses and commercial buildings. The type of showerheads used, the configuration of pipes, the type of heating used and the water pressure are all contributing factors in the amount of energy needed to heat water. New homes will be more thermally efficient. To achieve this, we need better wall and ceiling insulation , double-glazed windows and skylights. Owners would then gain the benefits of lower energy usage over the life of the house and lower power bills, better temperature control (in hot and cold weather), and healthier living. Much of the design initiative needs to come from the homeowner, but increasingly, architects and architectural designers are tuning in to lowering energy consumption in the family home. Designing the home for the sun is a given. Insulating the house is of special interest and requires cost comparisons, insulation values and installation instructions. In the last three decades, the ceilings of our homes have been insulated by fibreglass. More recently, more eco-friendly products have come on to the market. These include insulation made from recycled newspaper with added flame retardant, woolm fleece insulation, polyester fibre, and expanded polystyrene. A new home under construction can include expanded polystyrene pods or sheeting in the concrete foundations. Insulating the walls during construction and adding insulation in the ceiling cavity makes a huge difference to heat loss. Add to the mix double glazing on the windows, and the house retains a great deal of the warmth generated from the suns rays and internal heating. Simple Ways to Cut WasteHelp save the planet and save your hard earned money by reducing waste with the 4 R’s: Recycle, reuse, return or refuse (packaging.)
Stop the PollutionWe all produce waste, including animals, fish and birds. However humans produce more waste than most, an inevitable result of being industrious and inconsiderate. Because we live in big cities, farm the land and manufacture products to make life sweeter, we pollute the planet. Concentrations of waste, including toxic chemicals are the result. The waste may be tolerable if it weren’t in such concentration. Large volumes are produced in small areas and then inevitably discarded, through dumping into landfill and into waterways. Polluted water is a huge hazard, causing overload on natural systems. Farm waste, factory waste, sewage wastes; they can all be improved by treating. When the pollution slips through untreated, our waterways are at risk. Spilling pollutants onto the ground or into storm water grates is a real issue. The pollution carries out into our waterways, killing fish and harming aquatic life. It may go unseen but the results will be noticed over time.There are hefty fines for those caught contaminating waterways, the Resource Management Act prohibits the discharge of any contaminated water without express permission. Penalties for Act breaches include fines of up to $200,000 for each offence, and $10,000 a day for continued offending. Add to that a two year prisons sentence and the seriousness of the offence is obvious. Pollution comes in the form of silt pollution form urban subdivisions, cowshed and piggery effluents, rural industries such as abbatoirs and timber treatment plants. Food and dairy, chemical and manufacturing industries, even sewage disposal can cause pollution with long reaching effects. At home, car washing, radiator flushing or engine washing should be done on a grass verge or roadside verge. The soapy or dirty water can be cleaned up by the grass and microorganisms before getting into the stormwater grate and then a stream, river or harbour. Liquid chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides or solvents should never be tipped down a drain. The drain water goes out to the river and sea via a gully trap, it doesn’t get treated. When storm water goes into the sewer via a gully trap, it can flood the sewer and cause overflows. Gully traps should always be set high enough that rainwater and hose water doesn’t run into it. Keeping exterior paths clean of spillage and chemicals is good housekeeping and needs to be practiced at home and at work. If a spill does occur, the Regional Council has a hotline to call for advice. Safe waste disposal can actually save money. Sometimes the waste is reusable. A recycling depot at work sees spills avoided and could actually make some money for the social club, as plastic, glass, metals and paper are collected and recycled. TransportCars have an impact on every aspect of New Zealander’s life and business. They directly affect our quality of life by allowing us access to friends and family, education, employment, and recreation. It’s hard to imagine how we would cope without them, but things have to change, we need to make adaptions to fuel use for the environment’s sake. New Zealanders have one of the highest vehicle ownership rates in the world, and most of our travel is by car. Fifty-five percent of all road travel is now by car drivers, with 35 percent by car passengers. We only average 1.3 people per car. There are comparatively few trips made by public transport, walking or cycling. Because of the way our transport system has been developed, it can be very difficult for people without access to a car to get around. Our high dependence on cars has some significant environmental impacts. Cars use energy less efficiently than other modes – walking uses 10 times less energy and cycling uses around 100 times less energy than a car. Cars burn petrol, a non-renewable resource, that releases greenhouse gases and other chemicals, polluting the air and water. Our choice of transport can also have some significant economic and social costs – such as congestion, increased average living costs, access to services and level of personal fitness. Making choices for sustainable transport helps reduce the impact on the environment, the economy, and society. We need to use transport modes that use energy more efficiently, such as cycling, walking and public transport. We need to improve car use, such as using more fuel-efficient vehicles, driving more efficiently, avoiding cold starts, and car-pooling. This includes cleaner fuels and better technologies. It also means letting your fingers do the walking, using internet and telephone services to order what we need. Planning the layout of our cities to bring people and their needs closer together, and to make cities more vibrant and accessible without a car. What Can be Recycled?Come collection day, someone’s got the chore of sorting the recycling and getting it to the gate by 7.30am. Every part of the city is zoned for collecting on individual days. The PNCC can tell you what your suburbs collection day is, just ring and ask on 35 68199 or check their website at www.pncc.govt.nz, under recycling. The bottles and jars are in a bag or box on their own. They’re clean, topless and patiently waiting with bare necks for the next life. Their top hats have been tossed aside, twisted metal caps have only the furnace to look forward to. If they were considered saucy there may be an opportunity to revisit their plastic lids at a future date. Right now, their lids are considered non-recyclable along with the lids of plastic milk bottles. Ice cream and margarine containers are crowded together with the yoghurt pots in one plastic bag, while milk bottles have been rinsed and enthusiastically squashed in another. The icecream, margarine and yoghurt containers can‘t be recycled as yet, but the plastic milk bottles will be granulated and reused. Ye old faithful tins have been washed and put together, ready for recycling. The serrated or neatly sheared tin lids are shiny, clean and tucked safely inside the tins. Baked beans and peaches, pasta sauce or soup, pretty soon they’ll meet their old tinny friends and be on a train to Auckland. It’s the city of opportunity, where they’ll have a hot night, be smeltered and go another round or three. The glass bottles have an interesting after life. If colour co-ordinated they can enjoy a celestial tour of the giant furnace. They believe reincarnating as a wine bottle is the ultimate. Moet, Bollinger or Passion Pop? If glass bottles have been casually co-mingled, they could soon be crushed and sent to the hereafter, blended with hard rocks beneath Manawatu roads as silent substrate. The most obvious of all recycling is the flattened and strapped cardboard boxes and cartons. Full Circle loves these bundles, scooping them up and squeezing them tight for a rail trip back to the mill. Kerbside collection on your rubbish day means:
Eco-Bulb DisposalThey’re more efficient, supposedly longer lasting and despite being slightly ugly, are meant to help save the planet. That is until it comes time to dispose of the eco-friendly light bulb. If not recycled correctly, environmental experts say the new Eco-bulb could be a hazard to our health. The Eco-bulb and fluorescent tubes contain mercury vapour which when released, goes into the soil or the atmosphere. New Zealand imports more than five million of these fluorescent bulbs every year and a number of them are finding their way to landfill through poor disposal. Efficient and safe disposal of fluorescent tubes and Eco-bulbs is currently offered by B&M Electrical on the corner of Princess and Dahlia Streets Palmerston North. The charge is $1.50 per unit, but so far B&M Electrical say people have taken little advantage of the disposal service. When fluorescent tubes, light bulbs, Eco-bulbs or neon lighting is improperly disposed of it can leach out mercury which enters the soil and water. The mercury converts to methylmercury, hazardous to fish, birds and humans. Cell phones are also a lethal reply if sent to landfill. E-waste from computers have been successfully recycled in Palmerston North through the combined efforts of the PNCC and Absolutely Computers. Monitors, hard drives and keyboards have been broken down into their component parts for recycling and export. This is an ongoing initiative based at the Boiler House, beside the Green Bike Trust at Massey University. Trash or Treasure?A major shift in peoples’ thinking can help turn the tide on pollution. It’s about going back to the common practices our previous generations took for granted. When electrical appliances were New Zealand made or imported in smaller numbers, they were repaired and restored where possible. Real thought needs to go into buying a better quality of appliance, ones that come with guarantees and spare parts readily available. In the light of Chinese imports, this may not always seem logical. The sheer volume of appliances manufactured and imported has brought the price down so significantly. Repairing a toaster or a printer for instance, may well cost more then buying a new one. If this is the case, the best scenario is to enquire first at the electrical shop about buying spare parts. If this isn’t possible, then the item should be recycled as metal, plastic or whatever its major component is. When choosing appliances, aim for value and quality over price. Think of ways to reuse the items you want to throw away, i.e. jars, bags, envelopes, scrap paper and old clothes. Glass jars and bottles are now being crushed and added to our roading aggregate, a very successful method of recycling as it reduces the amount of quarried stone or rocks taken from riverbeds and the associated costs of transporting it to the crushing site. Broken concrete can also be recycled, or used to help secure our river banks against flood damage. Clothing, unwanted bric-a-brac and household items, furniture and toys may enjoy a new life at the hands of someone less fortunate, or someone with more imagination. The Arts Recycling Centre is always keen to receive off cuts of fabrics, hobbies and oddments left over from manufacturing. If it can be used in an arty or crafty manner, the Arts Recycling Centre behind Square Edge on Church Street would like to see it. . Building materials could enjoy a new life through the hands of Bourke Street recyclers. It always pays to ask. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! Household food scraps can be composted, or start up a worm farm. Before throwing anything into the rubbish bag, it pays to think; is this recyclable, could it benefit anyone else? |
