I-Eco-Facts & Fiction

Umxholo

• Uphengululo lwe

Fumanisa ukuba loluphi utshintsho olwenzelwa i-eco-friendly olwenza umahluko kwaye zeziphi onokuthi utsiba.

UVILE Khetha i-diapers zelaphu

THINA Nika umatshini wakho wokuhlamba ikhefu

Ilaphu xa lithelekiswa nokulahlwayo: Ngumama wazo zonke iimpikiswano ze-eco. Ekubonweni kokuqala, kunokubonakala ngathi akukho mntu ulapha. Ngapha koko, iintsana zidlula kuqikelelo lwe-5,000 ye-diapers ngaphambi kokuba ziqeqeshelwe indlu yangasese-yininzi iplastiki efumba kwiindawo zokulahla inkunkuma. Kodwa xa ufaka amanzi kunye namandla asetyenziselwa ukuhlamba zonke ezo diapers, ukhetho alucacanga gca. Ngapha koko, uphononongo lwase-Bhritane lubonise ukuba i-diapers elahlwayo kunye nelaphu zinempembelelo efanayo kwindalo yeso sizathu.

Emva koko kukho umbuzo wokulungelelaniswa. Bangaphi abantu abanamehlo amnyama, abagabha ngamabala abanalo ixesha lokuhlamba ilweyile yonke imihla? Nangona kungekho nto ifana ne-100 ekhulwini le-biodegradable elahlwayo, ezinye zingcono kwimo engqongileyo kunabanye. Iinkampani ezifana neSeventh Generation (isizukulwana sesixhenxe.com), iTenderCare (tendercarediapers.com), kunye neTushies (tushies.com) zenziwe ngaphandle kweklorine, ngoko ke azikhuphi i-toxins ngexesha lokuvelisa. Kwakhona qwalasela i-GDiapers (gdiapers.com), i-hybrid phakathi kwezinto ezilahlayo kunye nelaphu. Banesembozo somqhaphu esinokuphinda sisebenze esigcinwe kwiVelcro, kunye neliner oyigungxula indlu yangasese.

Uvile Guqula iibhalbhu eziqhelekileyo kunye neefluorescents ezihambelanayo

THINA Yenza utshintsho kumagumbi athile, hayi onke

Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, eyona ndlela ilula yokonga amandla kukutshintsha izibane zombane ezibengezelayo (i-CFLs), ezisebenzisa malunga neepesenti ezingama-75 zamandla amancinci kwaye zinokuhlala ngaphezulu kwamaxesha alishumi. Kutheni ke ingenziwanga ngumntu wonke? Esona sizathu sisisiseko sisemgangathweni wokukhanya, ongekaguquguquki kuzo zonke iibrendi. Ukukhanya okufudumeleyo okufana nokukhanya, khetha i-CFL ene-2,700K (Kelvin) kune-5,000K (isezantsi inombolo, ushushu umbala wokukhanya), kwaye ukhethe umenzi olinganiswe kakhulu, njengo-GE okanye N: Umbono . Emva koko fakela iiCFL apho ukukhanya kungekho nto inkulu, njengokungena epasejini okanye kwigumbi lokulala, kwaye ugcine iiglasi kwigumbi lokuhlala nakwigumbi lokuhlambela.

Okokugqibela, khumbula ukuba iiCFL zinexabiso elincinci lemekyuri. Xa ibhalbhu isitsha, tsalela umnxeba isebe likamasipala wakho wenkunkuma okanye uye epa.gov/bulbrecycling ukuze ufumane malunga nokulahlwa kwenkunkuma kwindawo yakho. Unokulahla iiCFLs esele zisetyenzisiwe kwivenkile yaseKhaya eDepho okanye eIkea.

USIVILE Khetha iphepha elingaphezulu kweplastiki

SITHI Yiza neBag Yakho

Cinga ngemini eqhelekileyo oyichitha usenza imisebenzi ethile: Uyema kwikhemesti, kwivenkile ethengisa iincwadi, kwivenkile yezihlangu nakwivenkile enkulu. Emva ekhaya ukhulula iiplastiki ezili-10 uze uzilahle emgqomeni (okanye uzisebenzise ukugcina inkunkuma), nangona unesazela. Ayipheleli nje ekubeni ezo ngxowa zifumbane kwindawo zokulahla inkunkuma, kodwa ukuba uhlala kwisixeko esifana neNew York okanye iSeattle-esiphakamise ukuhlawulisa abathengi ngeplastikhi-banokuphelisa iindleko zakho. Yiyo loo nto iitoti eziphinda zisetyenziswe zikuphela kwendlela yokuthenga. IGreen-kits.com ithengisa imithwalo yeengxowa zekotoni zendalo kunye nezendalo, kubandakanya imveliso kunye neenguqulelo ezithile ezenzelwe wena ezenza izipho ezintle, zomhlaba.

UVILE Xa kufikwa ekutyeni, yiba yingqokelela yezinto eziphilayo

THINA Yiya kwizinto eziphilayo kwezinye iimveliso

Ngeempawu ezikhwaza "organic" kuyo yonke i-aisle, indawo yokuthenga i-grocery iye yabangela uxinzelelo (ngakumbi kuba ukutya okuphilayo kunokubiza ama-20 ukuya kuma-30 epesenti ngaphezulu). Kodwa ukugcwalisa inqwelo yakho yokuthenga ngentengo yendalo ayikwenzi ukuba ube ngoyena uluhlaza kwibloko. Xa ujonga ukusetyenziswa koomatshini abanzima, ukusetyenzwa okubanzi, kunye nokuthumela ukutya amawaka eemayile, i-organic ayithethi ukuba ngcono kokusingqongileyo. Ngaphezu koko, imigangatho ye-organic ye-USDA ayahluli phakathi kwamafama ahamba ngaphezulu nangaphaya kobuchule bokukhula kwezinto eziphilayo kunye nabo balandela ubuncinci obuncinane, ngoko umthengi akawazi ngokwenene umgangatho wento abayifumanayo. (Iingcali zicebisa ukuba kuthengwe i-organic yezityalo ezithile ezine-pesticide, ezifana namaqunube, iipesika, ii-apile, i-celery, kunye ne-lettuce; uluhlu olupheleleyo lweemveliso ezinamanqanaba aphezulu e-pesticides, yiya ku-foodnews.org).

Endaweni yokukhetha i-organic, iingcali zikhuthaza ukuthenga kubavelisi bendawo nanini na kunokwenzeka ukuba bafumane ukutya okusemgangathweni ngexabiso eliphantsi. Ngaphandle kokucuthwa okucuthiweyo kunye nokuhanjiswa kwenqanawa kubandakanyeka kwiifama ezincinci, zasekhaya, ukuthenga izinto ezikhuliswe kufutshane nekhaya kukwenza ukuba uphuhlise ubudlelwane nabavelisi, ke unokubuza ukuba bazikhulisa njani iimveliso zabo (nangona iifama ezincinci ezininzi zingenakho ukuhlawulela ukuhlawula amatyala abo. ziqinisekiswe ngokwasemzimbeni, zisenokungasebenzisi izibulali zinambuzane). Ukuba awukwazi ukufikelela kwimarike yamafama, cinga ngokujoyina iqela lezolimo elixhaswe luluntu (i-CSA), apho amalungu ahlawula umrhumo wonyaka okanye wenyanga kwifama ukubuyisela ukutya. Ukufumana i-CSA kwisixeko sakho okanye kwingingqi, yiya ku- localharvest.org/csa.

UVILE Phinda wenze kwakhona ipeyinti ye-VOC esezantsi

THINA Yenze-kwaye uphefumle lula

Kukho isizathu sokuba idyasi entsha yepeyinti ibe nelo vumba lahlukileyo-uphefumla kumanqanaba asezantsi ezinto ezikhutshwa yityhefu ezibizwa ngokuba zii-volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Abagcini nje ukungcolisa umoya wangaphakathi, iingcali zikholelwa ukuba zikwafaka isandla ekunciphiseni i-ozone layer. Kwiminyaka elishumi elinesihlanu eyadlulayo, iinkampani zaqala ukubonelela ngepeyinti ephantsi kunye nengekho-VOC, esele iphuculwe ukuze ihambelane nokuqina kunye nokugqunywa kwepeyinti yesintu, kuthatyathwe iigesi ezingaphandle. Enye yezona zinto zilula kakhulu onokukhetha kuzo ekhaya. Phantse yonke inkampani ngoku inokukhetha okungaphantsi okanye okungekho-VOC. Babiza ngaphezulu [naphi na ukusuka kwiipesenti ezili-15 ezongezelelweyo ukuphinda-phinda amaxabiso], kodwa njengoko iinkampani ziqhubeka nokutsiba, amaxabiso aya kuhla. Iipeyinti ezimbalwa esizithandayo ziluhlaza zibandakanya uBenjamin Moore Natura (Benjaminmoore.com), Yolo (yolocolorhouse.com), kunye noDevoe Wonder Pure (devoepaint.com).

UVILE Buyisela indlu yakho yangasese; isebenzisa amanzi amaninzi kakhulu

THINA Ukulungisa nje okuncinci kunokunciphisa ukusebenzisa kwakho amanzi

Ukuba unayo indlu yangasese efanelekileyo kwaye awukho kwinkqubo yokulungisa indlu yakho yokuhlambela, zigcinele ubunzima kunye neendleko zokufaka imodeli egungxulwayo. Endaweni yoko, ngaphantsi kwe- $ 2, ungawanciphisa kakhulu amanzi owasebenzisayo ngokufaka i-Niagara Conservation Toilet Tank Bank (energyfederation.org). Into oyenzayo kukuyigalela ngamanzi uze uyixhome etankini ibe ngathi ufake indlu yangasese entsha ekumgangatho ophezulu. (Izindlu zangasese ezisemgangathweni ezenziweyo ukusukela ngo-1994 zisebenzisa i-1.6 yeelitha ngokugungxula; uninzi lweemodeli ezisebenza ngokukuko zisebenzisa i-1.28 yeelitha. I-Toilet Tank Bank inciphisa ukusetyenziswa kwamanzi nge-0.8 yeelitha ngokugungxula.)

Ukuba ukulungele ukutshintsha indlu yangasese endala, sukucinga ukuba ukugungxula okuphantsi yeyona ndlela yokuya. Zama ukufaka imodeli yokugungxulwa kabini endaweni yoko. Akukho lula ukuzifumana (jonga kwi-Home Depot nakwiivenkile ezikhethekileyo zasekhaya nezasekhitshini) kwaye zibiza malunga ne-100 yeedola ngaphezulu. Nangona kunjalo, uhlala uhlala ucoca ngaphezulu kwesinye ukuze ufumane yonke into ngezindlu zangasese ezinamanzi amancinci. Ukugungxula kabini kunamaqhosha amabini-enye yenkunkuma engamanzi, esebenzisa nje iilitha eziyi-0.8 zamanzi, kunye nenye yokuqina, esebenzisa iilitha eziyi-1.6.

UvileD Fakela intloko yeshawari ephuma kancinci

THINA Gcina imali yakho

Ukuba ulikhoboka lala mphunga, ishawa yangokuhlwa egcweleyo, ngekhe wonwabe ngesihlambo esine-flow-flow shower, ecutha ukuphuma kwamanzi ngama-25 ukuya kuma-60 epesenti. Endaweni yokuma ngaphantsi kokuntywila, uzabalaza ukucoca i-conditioner, thatha ishawa emfutshane; uya konga ukuya kuthi ga kwi-2.5 yeegaloni ngomzuzu.

Apho unganciphisa khona, nangona kunjalo, isinki yakho. Faka i-aerator-ziyimbinana nje-kwaye iyakucutha ukuhamba kwamanzi nge-2 yeelitha ngomzuzu, ayilo dini libonakalayo.

UVILE Recycles your electronics

SITHI Ziphose kuyo

Ngokwe-Consumer Electronics Association, ikhaya ngalinye laseMelika lineempahla ezimalunga nama-24 ze-elektroniki. Kwaye kubonakala ngathi yonke imihla, iinguqulelo ezintsha zeefowuni zethu ezindala, iikhompyuter, kunye neTV ziyaphuma, oko kuthetha ukuba imfumba yezinto eziphelelwe lixesha eziza kulahlwa. Kodwa i-elektroniki inezinto ezinobungozi, ezinje nge lead kunye ne mercury, ekufuneka zilahlwe ngokufanelekileyo, ke ngekhe uzishiye ziye kumqokeleli wenkunkuma.

Ngena ku-epa.gov/epawaste, emva koko ucofe kwi-electronics recycling (i-ecycling) kuluhlu lwemibutho yokurisayikilisha kunye nekhonkco kwiivenkile kunye nabavelisi-kuquka i-BestBuy, i-Verizon Wireless, i-Dell, kunye ne-Ofisi Depot-ebonelela ngeenkqubo zabo. (Kwaye xa uthenga i-elektroniki, yiya kumenzi, onje ngeApple, ekhuthaza kwaye iququzelele ukurisayikilisha.)

Uvile Tyala imali kwi-carbon offsets

SITHI Sukuthenga kuyo

Lo ngumbono ovakala kakhulu kwithiyori, kodwa ekusebenzeni, hayi kakhulu. Nantsi ingongoma: Ukucima ukukhutshwa kwendalo okudala uhamba malunga neshishini lakho lokuhlamba iimpahla zakho okanye ukuya emsebenzini-ungabhatala inkampani ethembisa ukunceda indalo ngokuthi, ukuthintela ukungcoliseka komoya; ukuphuhlisa imithombo yamandla ehlaziyekayo, njengamandla omoya; okanye ukutyala imithi.

Ngelixa ingumbono oqaqambileyo wentengiso, awungekhe urhoxise iziphumo zemisebenzi yakho. Nje ukuba uthathe inqwelomoya, izinto ezikhutshwayo kwinqwelomoya sele zisemoyeni. Akukho ndlela yokuyilahla, nokuba ungatyala imithi emingaphi. Ukutyala imali kwii-carbon offsets kunokunceda ukunciphisa ityala, kodwa ayichaphazeli umfanekiso omkhulu. Ukunciphisa ukusebenzisa kwakho amandla yeyona ndlela isebenzayo.

Uvile Thenga imoto engumxube

SITHI Tsibela kwi-bandwagon

Mhlawumbi akukho nto iyakhwaza "Ndingu-pro-planet!" phezulu kunokuqhuba umxube. Ezi moto zihamba ngenjini encinci, eyonga amafutha edityaniswe nenjini yombane encedisa injini xa ubaleka. IiHybrids zinciphise ukusetyenziswa kwepetroli kunye nokunciphisa ukukhutshwa, kwaye ingxelo ka-2008 ye-Intellichoice ikwafumanise ukuba igcina abathengi imali ekuhambeni kwexesha (ngaphandle kwexabiso lesitikha eliphezulu) ngokulondolozwa okuphantsi kunye neendleko zeinshurensi kunye nokulungiswa okumbalwa. Kwaye ukuba uthenge i-hybrid emva komhla kaJanuwari 1, 2006, unokulungela ukufumana ityala lerhafu.

Ke ukuba usemarikeni yemoto entsha, ngandlela zonke, thenga i-hybrid. Ukuba ayikho kuhlahlo-lwabiwo mali, zininzi ezinye iindlela ezifanelekileyo zokusebenzisa umbane, ezintsha nezisetyenzisiweyo. Yiya kwi-fueleconomy.gov kwaye uyakufumana mileage kunye nokukhutshelwa kwazo zonke iimodeli zemoto.

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