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Do your part in helping the environment by following these practical home tips

All good things start small – and that’s true even when it comes to taking care of the environment. Your home is a great place to begin cultivating eco-friendly habits that can go a long way.

Peter Milne, a UAE-based environmental education consultant, says: “To be eco-efficient at home, you need to be motivated and aware of how your actions will help reduce environmental damage and help save money as well.”

Be air-con wise

We all rely heavily on our air-conditioning units to keep us cool throughout summer.

But most of us forget that A/Cs emit ozone-depleting refrigerants that contribute to global warming.

It’s advisable to set your thermostat to 25°C – not only will this help reduce carbon emissions, it will also minimise your electricity bill.

Switch off the unit when leaving the house and make the most of curtains or blinds to keep the room cool.

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Save water

A study by The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) reveals that the average UAE resident uses around 550 litres per day and wastes up to 252 litres of that, enough to fill
up to four bathtubs!

Want to be more efficient? EAD recommends that you don’t use the washing machine or dishwasher until you have enough items to load to its capacity.

Check faucets and pipes for leaks or excess pressure. Peter recommends consulting with a home maintenance company to do a thorough check-up of pipes to minimise wastage. Contact: www.kam.ae or www.mplus.ae

If you wash your car at home, use a bucket and a sponge rather than a hose. This will save a considerable amount of water.

Lights out

This is pretty straightforward: turn off the lights when you’re not in a room. You can also replace old bulbs with eco-friendly ones to reduce energy consumption; energy saving lightbulbs are said to last up to ten times longer than regular ones.

EAD estimates that you could shave around AED 806 off your electricity bill if you make the switch. Carrefour carries a line of energy-efficient bulbs from brands like Osram and GE that start from AED 15. Contact: www.carrefouruae.com

Peter advises that we also “make use of natural light by opening the windows during the day if you can. This will keep house lights from working overtime.”

High and dry

Most washing machines are equipped with dryers. But why not take advantage of the country’s natural heat to dry washed clothes? This way you can lower energy and water consumption while adding extra years to your washing machine.

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Recycle

Reduce, reuse, recycle – this motto has been drilled into our heads for years. But where do you start? “Try ditching plastic bags and using reusable ones instead when doing your groceries,” Peter points out. Get creative by reusing empty bottles; these can be converted into flowers vases or food containers. For inspiration checkout www.diyhomelife.com

Repair is the word

Before throwing out broken furniture, why not see first if it can be fixed. This approach can significantly cut down unnecessary waste in landfills and can save you from shelling out extra precious dirhams on new furniture. If your furniture is looking worse for wear, why not consider upcycling it? For inspiration check out www.diynetwork.com

Not the crafty kind? Then call Take My Junk; they’ll collect things like old furniture, clothing, appliances and cell phones to repair and resell them. Contact: www.takemyjunkuae.com

Eco tips from EAD

  • Most heaters only take 20 minutes to heat enough water for a shower, so get into the simple habit of switching it off when you’re not using it
  • Appliances use as much electricity on standby mode as they do when switched on – turn them off and unplug them at the wall
  • Next time you’re buying appliances, ask the salesperson for energy efficient models
  • Freezers need regular defrosting to function efficiently, otherwise they use excess energy just to keep cold
WORDS Ferdinand Godinez

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