Give Away Your Unwanted Stuff

It’s the time of the year when we start house cleaning and clear away old stuff for the coming new year.

If you have unwanted stuff that are still in good condition, consider giving them to someone or donating them to charity. You can give it away through the following ways:

1. Give Away Online

The Singapore Freecycle Network is part of the global Freecycle movement that allows anyone to give away or receive items for free on Yahoo! Groups. Read more

Choose Water Efficient Fittings and Appliances with the Water Efficiency Label

The Water Efficiency Label under the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) is for water-efficient water fittings and appliance, such as showerheads, clothes washing machines, shower taps and mixers, basin taps and mixers, sink/bib taps and mixers, flushing cisterns, urinals and urinal flush valve.

The Water Efficiency Label shows the water consumption and water efficiency of the appliances and fittings. The water efficiency is expressed in terms of ticks: Zero Tick; 1 Tick (Good); 2 Ticks (Very Good); and 3 Ticks (Excellent). The more ticks shaded on the Label, the more water-efficient a product is.

Check out water efficient products with the Water Efficiency Label. Read more

Avoid Cleaning Too Much

We feel that it’s not necessary to be clean and spotless at all times. It’s ok to be slightly “dirty”, and help save water and energy, reduce the use of chemicals, and avoid over-exposure to chemicals.

You may not agree with us but we think cleanliness can be overlooked occasionally. We think it’s ok to:

1) Wear the same clothes for a few days if there’s no stain or smell; just hang them out under the sun and wear them the next day.

2) Sweep your floor using a broom instead of using the vacuum cleaner; there’s no need to suck up every little bit of dust.

3) Mop your floor once a week and not daily; just remember to wash your feet immediately when you reach home.

4) Clean the kitchen and toilet once a week or fortnightly and use less chemicals; there’s no need to see the kitchen and toilet spotless and sparkling like in commercials.

5) Collect rainwater and use it for flushing the toilet, watering the plants, and washing the car; there’s no need to use clean potable water.

6) Wash your car using only water; there’s no need to use chemicals and polish it to look brand new.

7) Take a quick shower within 15 minutes, and not spend hours making yourself spotless.

Image: Plastic Cans and Brush by vierdrie via stock.xchng

Switch to Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable AA and AAA batteries can be reused many times and this will help to reduce the disposal of normal single-use alkaline batteries. If 5% of the local population switch to rechargeable batteries, this would prevent the annual disposal of more one million single-use batteries (assuming each person throws away five single-use batteries a year).

Switching to rechargeable batteries also helps you to save money. A pack of four AA alkaline batteries costs about S$2 and can be used only once, whereas a pack of four rechargeable batteries and a charger costs about S$40, and the batteries can be recharged and reused more than 500 times. If you switch to rechargeable batteries and recharge them 20 times, the purchase cost between normal and rechargeable batteries would break even.

Image: Batteries 04 by Carin via stock.xchng

Use Your Air-Conditioner and Refrigerator Wisely

A typical Singapore household spends about 50% of its electricity bills on the air-conditioner and refrigerator. If you want to reduce energy at home and save money, the best way is to use your air-conditioner and refrigerator wisely. You can choose to do one or more of the following:

Air-Conditioner

• If you need to buy an air-conditioner, choose one that is energy-efficient and suitably sized for your home. Check out the models with the Energy Label from this NEA database.
• Set your air-conditioner’s thermostat to a higher comfortable temperature (about 25 degree Celsius).
• Clean the air filters regularly and service your air-conditioners annually. For general servicing, approach Coolserve or other contractors. Read more