Eco

New statistics released by the Electricity Commission show that New Zealand households are paying at least $129 million a year more than they need to in electricity charges by using inefficient light bulbs. Electricity Commission chair, David Caygill said "the statistics showed that despite the rapid uptake of energy efficient light bulbs, nearly 90% of NZ homes still had older-style builds in over half their sockets." One home in six had no compact fluorescent lamps and are missing out completely on the opportunity to cut power bills! “The cost savings from using energy efficient lighting are significant – for some technologies more than $100 over the lifetime of a single bulb,” said Mr Caygill.

Are you saving all you can on your energy bill? Check out the RightLight.govt.nz programme, a partnership between the Electricity Commission, Consumer NZ, the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority, Master Electricians and the Green Building Council, to make sure you have all the information you need to make good lighting choices.

 

Being eco-friendly is something many Kiwi’s strive to be, but what else can we do to be more environmentally aware? Thinking about the products we use on a regular basis in our homes is a great place to start.

The bathroom in particular is a room in the house that can become dramatically more “eco”. Whether you are located on a rural property with a septic tank, or you’re concerned about what you flush, a change in how you approach your toilet could make a big environmental difference.

For instance, think about how much toilet paper you and your fellow housemates flush each and every day. Toilet paper is made from timber, which is a renewable resource, but the creation of it takes a substantial amount of resources and energy, not to mention the chemicals used to add perfume to it. New company Greencane make an eco toilet paper that is made from re-using the fibrous residue left over when sugarcane is crushed to extract sugar. This makes it a recycled product, creating a necessary product from waste, and it is also 100% biodegradable and breaks down very quickly.

How you clean your toilet is another way you can make a positive difference. Harsh chemicals might work well, but they are bad for the environment. Using spray and wipe products from either Eco Store or B.E.E. will help to reduce the toxic chemicals entering our waterways. Using natural cleaning products is also a way to positively influence our health.

If you want to make a conscious effort to produce less waste and put less toxins into the environment, approach your bathroom cleaning and consumption in an eco friendly way. It makes you feel great, and you’ll be making a difference too!

Steinlager is putting up $100k in sponsorhip and prizes via their Pure Futures campaign, and we were taken by Emily Harris' vision of making Auckland's rooftops green. Put plainly it's a brilliant idea that will need a lot of support - she'll need rooftops to plant on, volunteer gardeners, planter boxes, gardening tools and soil. Check out the site, put your vote in for Emily and help her pick up the loot. And if you're a landlord or have access to a rooftop, open the area for a greener (and healthier) Auckland.

Brought to you by the fabulous people behind the Sustainable Business Network and Ecobob, Greenlist, is a one stop shop for sustainable products and services. From accommodation to food, clothing to building materials, this online directory has everything you need to make the right choice. Click here to find out more.