Sunday, January 29, 2012

"Where's the Core?" by Samuel

Don’t forget to send a picture of an EGOlogical tip in action to be.EGOlogical@gmail.com and have it be featured on the “Home” page and the “Share Your Photos” page!

EGOlogical Tip:  "Eat the ENTIRE Apple"
“Where’s the Core?” - by Samuel


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Fix Leaky Toilets



Leaky toilets can cause a lot of problems for the environment and your wallet.  When there is a leak in the cistern (the top part of the toilet), drops of water are leaking into the bowl of the toilet, causing the cistern to continuously add more water to make up for what is lost.  This causes unnecessary water usage and increases your water bill.  Therefore, check to leaking cisterns to avoid this.

According to smarterhomes.org.nz, you can check to see if you have a leaky cistern by adding a few drops of food coloring into the cistern.  If the food coloring ends up in the toilet bowl without flushing it, then there is a leak.  If the food coloring stays in the cistern, then there is no leak.   To fix the leak, you can replace the “underwater valve seating washer,” the rubber piece that keeps water in the cistern, and these are found at most plumbing stores.  This will cost you a few dollars, however the cost is a lot less than how high your water bill would be if you didn’t replace it.  Visit www.smarterhomes.org.nz to find out more "easy ways to save water" in your home.  

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Paper Clips vs Staples



Homework and papers are all a part of being a student and when completed, the final task to print them (double sided), and attach them so each page stays together.  Most students reach for the stapler to staple their papers together, however do they ever stop to think that that little piece of steel cannot be reused and most likely cannot be recycled?  An alternative to stapling papers together is to use a paper clip.  Now some may argue that paper clips are made of more metal than a staple, which is true, however paper clips can be reused many times.  Typically, homework assignments and term papers are returned to the student so the paper clip can then be reused again. 

By eliminating staples and reusing paper clips, you will be reducing the amount of pollution caused in the mining of precious metals and by the production and transportation of the staples.  If you invest in paper clips, they will last you a long time therefore saving you some money by not having to buy more staples.  Also, staples require a stapling device, which is another cost for the environment and your wallet.  You may not think that a tiny staple will hurt the environment, but just keep in mind that every little thing adds up to one big change.


Update: from Be EGOlogical Reader, Richard, "I used this thing called the Lowen staple. You fold the corner of the paper. Then make 2 rips about half a cm apart and fold the little tab over. It holds the papers together and uses neither!"

Saturday, January 7, 2012

How To (EGOlogically) Unclog A Drain



When your sink is clogged, the most common solution to clear it up that people turn to is to pour some expensive toxic chemicals down the drain!  Having a clogged sink is a hassle, however pouring chemicals is not the only option.  Next time you have a clogged drain, simply pour some baking soda and vinegar down the drain.  Let that sit for a few minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain and use the plunger to add some extra power and push all the gunk out.  This method will prevent toxic chemicals from entering the sewage, reduce sewage treatment costs, and prevent the chemicals from entering larger bodies of water that could impact aquatic life.  Using the baking soda and vinegar technique will cost only a fraction of the price of buying chemicals to fix a clogged drain.  Who knew simple kitchen ingredients would save the environment and a little extra money in your wallet?

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Alternative Method to Heat Your Home



During the winter months, heating systems or fireplaces in your home can be costly to run and maintain.  It is difficult to avoid using these systems, so the key is to reduce the amount you use them.  There are a few ways to go about doing so, including lowering your thermostat at least 2 degrees (you can lower it more if you would like to), putting on a few extra layers of clothing or a blanket while at home, and making sure you turn off your heating systems when you are not home. 

Another method you can use to add a little extra heat to your home is to leave your oven open AFTER you used it for cooking or baking.  (If you open it constantly while the oven is in use, you will lose about 25% of the heat inside.  This makes the oven use more energy to make up for the heat lost when it was opened). The heat now warming your home won’t last forever, but you are utilizing the heat that would have otherwise been trapped in the oven.  This could prevent one extra log from entering the fireplace or cause your thermostat to turn off for a bit since it is already warm enough in your home.  Therefore, the amount of energy and resources, such as wood, coal, and natural gas, are reduced and you will also be saving some extra money.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

What Are Your New Year's Resolutions?

Happy New Year everyone!  2011 marked a great year for Be EGOlogical as it started to change people’s environmental awareness and impact readers from 41 different countries around the world to date!  I am extremely thankful for the support from my readers and I am excited to share more EGOlogical tips for 2012. 

A new year often calls for new beginnings or more often resolutions/goals we hope to attain throughout the year.  Popular New Year's resolutions may include to eat healthier or to spend less money, however it is common for people to lose track of the goal and go back to previous habits.  There is another New Year's resolution that most people forget about and if implemented into the things they do everyday, they will succeed.  Therefore, your 2012 New Year's resolution can be to reduce your environmental impact.  Whether that is to recycle more (or start recycling), print on both sides of the paper, or use a reusable water bottle, there are many ways to help the environment.  For some, this may not be easy because typical New Year's resolutions are for personal gain and improvement and let’s face it, helping the environment has “nothing in it for them.”  However, they are wrong!  By helping the environment, there are many opportunities for a person to learn new ways to appreciate, preserve, and conserve Earth’s natural resources for current and future use as well as save money at the same time. 

Be EGOlogical provides many tips for help people accomplish their New Year's resolution and there are many more to come.  All it takes is that first step for habits to develop and change to begin.  Just remember that every act adds up and you are making a difference.  I wish you all the best of luck and may you have a happy, healthy, and EGOlogical New Year!