9 ways to live more responsibly

Tips to save resources, minimise waste and reduce your carbon footprint at home. 

Our daily actions are more significant than we think when it comes to keeping our planet liveable for the generations after us. With climate change the biggest single threat facing humanity, and climate impacts polluting our air and waterways, causing extreme weather events and affecting livelihoods and wildlife, it’s important to find ways to live more sustainably. And not in the future, but now.

Here are 9 habits we can inculcate to help improve the health of our planet. 

1)Use LED light bulbs

Replace halogen, fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs with LED (light-emitting diode) ones. Not only do LED bulbs last longer – meaning fewer bulbs going to landfill – they are also recyclable, contain no toxic materials, and are more energy efficient than conventional light bulbs. 

2)Participate in recycling programmes

Always recycle items made from plastic, glass, paper and metal. And don’t forget to recycle electronic waste (e-waste) too – there are e-waste collection points all over the island for small household appliances, gaming consoles, power supplies, batteries, lamps and more. Check the National Environment Agency website (www.nea.gov.sg) for locations. 

 

3)Buy energy-efficient appliances

When buying appliances, make sure they are energy efficient. Energy-efficient appliances consume less energy, thereby reducing your carbon footprint, and also help lower your electricity bills. The more ticks on an energy label, for instance, the more energy-efficient an appliance is. An item with an Energy Star label is also a better option for saving energy.  

4)Eat locally grown produce

Eating local reduces the distance that fruit and vegetables travelled to get to you and hence the emission produced during transportation. This goes towards reducing your carbon footprint.  

5) Be a responsible consumer

This includes purchasing items with less packaging, that are refillable and that will last longer; storing perishable food in the fridge and cooking just enough food for meals to minimise food waste; using cloth rags instead of paper towels for cleaning; and borrowing or hiring items that you would only use occasionally.

6)Adjust your refrigerator thermostat

Overcooling your fridge wastes electricity. Instead, adjust the thermostat to the recommended setting. Other ways to make your refrigerator more energy-saving: ensure the door is tightly closed, don’t leave the door open for longer than necessary, and do not overload the fridge with too many items, as this may interfere with the appliance’s cooling capabilities.

 

7)Switch off or unplug appliances

If you’re not using an appliance, turn it off. To save even more electricity, unplug it at the power socket, as some appliances still continue to draw power even when turned off.

8)Keep windows and doors closed when the air-con is on
Not only does this maintain indoor air quality, it also ensures that your air-con does not have to work harder than it needs to in order to cool your home, thereby prolonging the life of your air-con system and enhancing its energy
efficiency. 

9)Clean and service your air-con

Getting your air-con professionally cleaned and serviced every three months helps to prevent a build-up of mould and ensures that the unit continues to run efficiently. An air-con system that performs optimally helps to reduce your energy consumption and utility bills in the long run.