Simple steps can create a greener life

publication date: Feb 20, 2008

What residents living in blocks of flats are doing (and should do) to improve the environmental impact of their building and surroundings. Elliot Carter of PDM Consultants reports.

Do you think about green issues? Do you want to save money and help to reduce your impact on the environment without being inconvenienced? If either answer is ‘yes’ and you want to become greener, there are many small changes you can make that will also fit in with your daily lifestyle. By making simple, everyday changes, you can considerably reduce the environmental impacts of your building as well as doing your bit to reduce carbon emissions.

To be successful at being green, three things need to be thought about – whatever it is that you’re doing: energy, water and waste.

Energy

According to the Energy Saving Trust, almost half of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions come from every day energy use when we travel and in our homes.

Energy can be saved throughout your home. To save energy you can make sure all appliances are switched off, especially TVs, chargers and lights. Heating can also be turned off when you go on holiday or when there’s enough natural light to light a room.

You can also reduce the amount of energy you use when using appliances. For example, only boil enough water as you need and use the washing machine and dishwasher when they are full. Also, according to Friends of the Earth, by turning your thermostat down by one degree, you can save around £30 on your annual energy bill.

In communal areas, the use of lights in halls and corridors can be reduced through the installation of sensors, enabling the lights to become active only when someone is in the room. Better draught proofing in hallways and staircases is another effective way to reduce the amount of energy used by minimising heat lost in shared areas. Why not speak to your site manager to see if these improvements could be installed in your accommodation?

When you need to replace appliances, buy energy efficient devices, such as energy efficient fridges and freezers and low energy light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs use up to 80 per cent less electricity than a standard bulb, but produce the same amount of light. They can also last up to 10 times longer.

The way energy is produced can also help cut carbon emissions. Ideas include switching to a greener supplier of electricity or generating your own through renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines or solar panels. For residents living in flats, renewable energy generation can be more beneficial than for people living in individual houses. The cost of the technology and installation can be shared between all residents and the reduction in bill costs and energy use is also shared among a larger amount of people. Flats generally also provide a larger roof surface area to house the technology, therefore improving the level of electricity generated.

Water

According to Water wise, each person in the UK uses about 150 litres of water every day. Most of the water we use is wasted, being flushed down the toilet or left to flow down the sink while we clean our teeth.

Try reducing the amount of water you use. For example, in your bathroom you can reduce water usage by taking a shower instead of a bath, replace washers on leaky taps and reduce toilet flushing water wastage by installing a cistern displacement device or a water hippo.

Internal water can also be used again outside. If you have communal or individual grounds, you can use the water from baths, washing up bowls and cooking pans to water your garden (but there are strict guidelines, please contact your local authority for more information).

Waste

There are three key ways to help manage your waste and help to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill
First you can reduce your waste. This can include saying no to junk mail, using fewer carrier bags and buying products with minimum packaging.

Secondly, try re-using waste by giving your unwanted clothes and spectacles to charity or composting your garden cuttings and waste to create compost. Does your building have a communal garden? Why not think about setting up a communal compost patch or bin for all residents to contribute to and benefit from.

Thirdly, you can recycle. Find out the details of your local council recycling scheme and how your building can benefit from the use of such facilities. You need to know details of what items can be recycled and when collections take place. You can also use the bring sites in the borough.

As well as recycling your waste, why not think about buying recycled products. This helps to ‘close the loop’ and keep a demand for recycled materials as well as helping to reduce the energy and raw materials in the manufacturing of new products. Recycled items available are wide ranging – you can buy everything from toilet paper to jewellery or kitchenware.

Contact:
PDM Consultants
For PDM Consultants
178 Ebury Street
London SW1W 8UP

Tel: 020 7881 0901
Fax: 0845 458 1522
www.pdmconsultants.co.uk