I-Eco-Facts & Fiction

-Delile

• Buyekeza kwe-

Thola ukuthi yiziphi izinguquko ze-eco-friendly ezenza umehluko ngempela nokuthi iziphi ongeqa.

USUZWILE Khetha amanabukeni endwangu

SITHI Nikeza umshini wakho wokuwasha ikhefu

Indwangu iqhathaniswa nokulahlwayo: Ungunina wazo zonke izingxabano ze-eco. Uma uthi nhlá, kungase kubonakale sengathi akunangqondo. Ngemuva kwakho konke, izingane zihamba ngamanabukeni angama-5 000 ngaphambi kokuba ziqeqeshelwe izindlu zangasese-lokho kungupulasitiki abaningi abanqwabelana ngokugcwaliswa komhlaba. Kodwa uma ufaka amanzi namandla asetshenziselwa ukugeza wonke lawo ma-diaper, ukukhetha akucaci kahle. Eqinisweni, ucwaningo lwaseBrithani lwabonisa ukuthi amanabukeni alahlwayo nawendwangu anomthelela ofanayo kwezemvelo ngenxa yaleso sizathu.

Bese kuba nombuzo wokusebenziseka kalula. Bangaki abazali abanamehlo anezinyembezi, abakhafule amathe abanesikhathi sokugeza amanabukeni nsuku zonke? Nakuba ingekho into efana ne-100% yezinto eziphilayo ezilahlwayo, ezinye zingcono emvelweni kunezinye. Izinkampani ezinjengeSeventh Generation (seven generation.com), TenderCare (tendercarediapers.com), kanye neTushies (tushies.com) zenziwa ngaphandle kwe-chlorine, ngakho-ke azikhiphi ubuthi ngesikhathi sokwenza. Futhi cabanga ngama-GDiapers (gdiapers.com), i-hybrid phakathi kokulahlwayo nendwangu. Banesembozo sikakotini esisebenziseka kabusha esibanjwe nge-Velcro, kanye nolayini owuphonsa phansi endlini yangasese.

USUZWILE Shintsha ama-bulb ajwayelekile ngama-compact fluorescents

THINA Shintsha amakamelo athile, hhayi wonke

Ngokwamanje, indlela elula yokonga amandla ukushintsha izibani ze-fluorescent (CFLs) ze-incandescents, ezisebenzisa amandla angaphansi kwamaphesenti angama-75 futhi zingahlala izikhathi eziphindwe kayishumi. Ngakho-ke kungani wonke umuntu engakwenzanga ukushintshaniswa? Isizathu esiyinhloko ikhwalithi elula, engahambisani nemikhiqizo yonke. Ngokukhanya okufudumele, okufana ne-incandescent, khetha i-CFL ene-2,700K (Kelvin) kune-5,000K (ukwehlisa inombolo, ukufudumeza umbala wokukhanya), bese ukhetha umkhiqizi okalwe kakhulu, njenge-GE noma i-N: Vision . Bese ufaka ama-CFL lapho ukukhanya kungeyona into enkulu, njengasephasishi noma ekamelweni lokulala, futhi ugcine ama-incandescent egumbini lokuhlala nasendlini yokugezela.

Ekugcineni, khumbula ukuthi ama-CFL aqukethe inani elincane le-mercury. Lapho isibani sisha, shayela umnyango kamasipala wakho we-solid-waste noma uye ku-epa.gov/bulbrecycling ukuze uthole mayelana nokulahlwa endaweni yangakini. Ungashiya futhi ama-CFL asetshenzisiwe ezitolo ze-Home Depot noma ze-Ikea.

UZWILE Khetha iphepha phezu kwepulasitiki

SITHI Letha Isikhwama Sakho

Cabanga ngosuku olujwayelekile oluchithwa ukwenza imisebenzi ethile: Ufika ekhemisi, esitolo samabhuku, esitolo sezicathulo, nasesuphamakethe. Emuva ekhaya ukhipha izikhwama zepulasitiki eziyi-10 bese uziphonsa kudoti (noma uzisebenzise ukuze ubambe udoti), nakuba unomuzwa wecala. Akugcini nje ukuthi lezo zikhwama zinqwabelene ezindaweni zokulahla udoti, kepha uma uhlala edolobheni elifana neNew York noma iSeattle-elihlongoze ukushaja abathengi ngopulasitiki-nabo bangakudla imali enkulu. Kungakho ama-totes avuselelekayo kuphela kwendlela yokuthenga. IGreen-kits.com ithengisa inqwaba yezikhwama zikakotini zemvelo nezingokwemvelo, kufaka phakathi izinguqulo eziqondene nomkhiqizo kanye nama-totes enziwe ngesitayela enza izipho ezinhle, ezisebenza ngomhlaba.

UZWILE Uma kukhulunywa ngokudla, yiba yi-organic purist

THINA Iya organic kweminye imikhiqizo

Njengoba izimpawu zikhala ngokuthi "organic" kuyo yonke indawo, ukuthenga ezitolo sekucindezela kakhulu (ikakhulukazi ngoba ukudla okuphilayo kungabiza amaphesenti angama-20 kuye kwangama-30 ngaphezulu). Kodwa ukugcwalisa inqola yakho yokuthenga ngemali yokugibela akukwenzi ube i-gal eluhlaza kakhulu ebhulokhini. Uma ubheka ekusetshenzisweni kwemishini esindayo, ukucubungula okubanzi, nokuhambisa ukudla izinkulungwane zamamayela, i-organic akusho okungcono ngemvelo. Futhi, amazinga e-organic ye-USDA awahlukanisi phakathi kwabalimi abaya ngaphezu kwamasu wokukhulisa okuphilayo kanye nalabo abalandela ubuncane obungenalutho, ngakho-ke umthengi akazi ngempela ikhwalithi yalokho abakutholayo. (Ochwepheshe batusa ukuthi kuthengwe izithako zemvelo zezilimo ezithile ze-pesticide, njengama-strawberry, amapentshisi, ama-apula, isilimo esidliwayo esinamagatsha anamanzi, ne-ulethisi; ukuthola uhlu olugcwele lomkhiqizo oqukethe amazinga aphezulu ezibulala-zinambuzane, iya ku-feednews.org).

Esikhundleni sokukhetha i-organic, ochwepheshe bakhuthaza ukuthenga kubakhiqizi bendawo noma nini lapho kungenzeka khona ukuthola ukudla kwekhwalithi ngentengo ephansi. Ngaphandle kokucutshungulwa kokuthunyelwa nokuthunyelwa okubandakanyeka emapulazini amancane, endawo, ukuthenga izinto ezikhulele duze nasekhaya futhi kukunika amandla okwenza ubudlelwano nabakhiqizi, ngakho-ke ungabuza ukuthi bayikhulisa kanjani imikhiqizo yabo (yize amapulazi amaningi amancane engenakukwazi uthole isitifiketi somzimba, kungenzeka ukuthi kabasebenzisi ama-pesticides). Uma ungenakho ukufinyelela emakethe yabalimi, cabanga ngokujoyina iqembu lezolimo elisekelwa ngumphakathi (i-CSA), lapho amalungu akhokha imali yonyaka noma yenyanga epulazini ukuze bathole ukudla. Ukuthola i-CSA edolobheni noma esifundeni sakho, iya ku- localharvest.org/csa.

UZWILE Hlobisa kabusha ngopende ophansi we-VOC

SITHI Kwenze-uphefumule kalula

Kunesizathu sokuthi ingubo entsha kapende inephunga elihlukile-uphefumula emazingeni aphansi okukhishwa kobuthi okubizwa ngama-organic compounds (VOCs). Abagcini ngokungcolisa umoya wasendlini, ochwepheshe bakholelwa ukuthi nabo banegalelo ekuqedeni ungqimba lwe-ozone. Eminyakeni eyishumi nanhlanu edlule, izinkampani zaqala ukuhlinzeka ngopende abaphansi nabangenayo i-VOC, osekuthuthukisiwe ukufanisa ukuqina nokutholakala kukapende wendabuko, kususwa amagesi angaphandle. Kungenye yezinketho ezilula kakhulu ze-eco-friendly ongayenza ekhaya lakho. Cishe yonke inkampani manje inezinketho eziphansi noma ezingekho-VOC. Zibiza ngaphezulu [noma yikuphi kusuka kumaphesenti ayi-15 ngaphezulu ukuphinda kabili intengo], kepha njengoba izinkampani ziqhubeka nokugxumela ebhodini, amanani azokwehla. Opende bethu abambalwa esibathandayo abaluhlaza bahlanganisa uBenjamin Moore Natura (Benjaminmoore.com), Yolo (yolocolorhouse.com), kanye no-Devoe Wonder Pure (devoepaint.com).

USUZWILE Shintsha indlu yangasese; isebenzisa amanzi amaningi kakhulu

SITHI Ukuphinda uhlanganise kabusha kunganciphisa ukusetshenziswa kwamanzi

Uma unendlu yangasese enhle ngokuphelele futhi ungenayo inqubo yokulungisa indlu yakho yokugezela, zigcinele inkinga nezindleko zokufaka imodeli ephansi. Esikhundleni salokho, ngaphansi kwe- $ 2, unganciphisa kakhulu amanzi owasebenzisayo ngokufaka i-Niagara Conservation Toilet Tank Bank (energyfederation.org). Konke okwenzayo ukuwugcwalisa ngamanzi bese ukulengisa ethangini futhi kufana nokuthi ufake indlu yangasese entsha esebenza kahle kakhulu. (Amathoyilethi ajwayelekile akhiqizwa kusukela ngo-1994 asebenzisa amalitha ayi-1,6 nge-flush ngayinye; izinhlobo eziningi ezisebenza kahle kakhulu zisebenzisa amalitha ayi-1.28. IToilet Tank Bank inciphisa ukusetshenziswa kwamanzi ngo-0.8 amalitha nge-flush ngayinye.)

Uma usukulungele ukufaka enye indlu yangasese endala, ungacabangi ukuthi ukuhamba phansi kuyindlela okufanele uhambe ngayo. Zama ukufaka imodeli ye-double-flush esikhundleni salokho. Akulula ukuzithola (bheka e-Home Depot nasezitolo ezikhethekile zasekhaya nezasekhishini) futhi zibiza cishe u-$100 ngaphezulu. Kodwa-ke, ngokuvamile kufanele ugeze izikhathi ezingaphezu kwesisodwa ukuze wehlise yonke into ngezindlu zangasese eziphansi. I-double-flush inezinkinobho ezimbili-esisodwa semfucumfucu ketshezi, esisebenzisa amalitha nje angu-0.8 wamanzi, nesinye esiqinile, esisebenzisa amalitha ayi-1.6.

UYEZWAD Faka isihloko seshawa esigeleza kancane

SITHI Yonga imali yakho

Uma umlutha waleyo shawa eshisayo, egcwele ekuseni, cishe ngeke ujabule nge-showerhead egeleza kancane, enciphisa ukuphuma kwamanzi ngamaphesenti angama-25 kuya kwangu-60. Esikhundleni sokuma ngaphansi kocucu, ulwela ukukhipha i-conditioner, thatha ishawa emfushane; uzokonga kufika kumalitha angu-2.5 ngomzuzu.

Lapho unganciphisa khona, noma kunjalo, kusinki sakho. Faka i-aerator-ziyizinkulungwane ezimbalwa nje-futhi izonciphisa ukugeleza kwamanzi ngamalitha ama-2 ngomzuzu, okungewona umhlatshelo obonakalayo.

USUZWILE Sebenzisa kabusha i-elekthronikhi yakho

SITHI Kwenze

Ngokwe-Consumer Electronics Association, ikhaya ngalinye laseMelika linezinto ezilinganiselwa ku-24 ezisebenza ngogesi. Futhi kubukeka sengathi nsuku zonke, izinhlobo ezintsha, ezingcono zomakhalekhukhwini bethu bakudala, amakhompyutha, kanye nama-TV ziyaphuma, okusho ukuthi inqwaba yezinto eziphelelwe yisikhathi okufanele zisuswe. Kepha i-elekthronikhi iqukethe izinto ezinobungozi, njenge-lead ne-mercury, okudinga ukulahlwa kahle, ngakho-ke awukwazi ukumane uzishiyele umqoqi kadoti.

Ngena ku-epa.gov/epawaste, bese uchofoza ku-electronics recycling (i-ecycling) ukuze uthole uhlu lwezinhlangano ezigaya kabusha nezixhumanisi zezitolo nabakhiqizi-okuhlanganisa i-BestBuy, i-Verizon Wireless, i-Dell, ne-Office Depot-enikezela ngezinhlelo zabo. (Futhi lapho uthenga izinto zikagesi, yiya kumkhiqizi, ofana no-Apple, okhuthaza futhi osiza ukugaywa kabusha.)

USUZWILE Faka imali kuma-carbon offsets

THINA Ungathengi kulo

Lo ngumbono ozwakala umuhle ngombono, kepha ngokwenza, hhayi kakhulu. Nansi isisekelo: Ukuze unciphise ukungcola okudalayo ukwenza ibhizinisi lakho lansuku zonke-ukuwasha izingubo zakho noma ukuya emsebenzini-ungakhokhela inkampani ethembisa ukusiza imvelo, ithi, ngokunciphisa ukungcoliswa komoya; ukuthuthukisa imithombo yamandla evuselelekayo, njengamandla omoya; noma ukutshala izihlahla.

Yize kuwumbono omuhle wokumaketha, awukwazi ukukhansela imiphumela yemisebenzi yakho. Lapho usuthathe indiza, ukukhishwa endizeni sekuvele sekusemkhathini. Ayikho indlela yokuziqeda, noma ngabe utshala izihlahla ezingaki. Ukutshala imali kuma-carbon offsets kungasiza ekudambiseni icala elithile, kodwa akuthinti isithombe esikhulu. Ukunciphisa ukusebenzisa kwakho amandla kuyindlela ephumelela kakhulu.

UZWILE Thenga imoto eyihybrid

SITHI Gxumela ku-bandwagon

Mhlawumbe akukho lutho olumemezayo "Ngiyi-pro-planet!" kakhulu kunokushayela i-hybrid. Lezi zimoto zihamba ngenjini encane eyonga uphethiloli ehlanganiswe nenjini kagesi esiza injini uma ugijima. AmaHybrids anciphisa ukusetshenziswa kukaphethiloli futhi anciphisa ukukhishwa, kanti umbiko we-Intellichoice wango-2008 uphinde wathola ukuthi bongela abathengi imali ngokuhamba kwesikhathi (yize kunentengo ephezulu yesitika) ngokusebenzisa izindleko eziphansi zokulungisa nezomshwalense nokulungiswa okumbalwa. Futhi, uma uthenge i-hybrid ngemuva kukaJanuwari 1, 2006, ungahle ufaneleke ukuthola isikweletu sentela.

Ngakho-ke uma usemakethe yemoto entsha, ngazo zonke izindlela, thenga i-hybrid. Uma ingekho kubhajethi yakho, ziningi ezinye izinketho ezinhle ezonga uphethiloli, ezintsha nezisetshenzisiwe. Iya ku-feleeleconomy.gov futhi uzothola amamayela nokukhishwa kwazo zonke izinhlobo zezimoto.

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