10 Quick Tips For Living a Greener Lifestyle

By Natalie Tham
June 24, 2020

1. Make Recycling a Habit

Store all recyclable waste you accumulate in a corner of your home. That plastic cup you drank Teh Peng from? It takes no longer than 10 seconds to wash and keep it. Those cardboard boxes that come with your online shopping? Keep them as well, along with all metal, plastic, paper, and glass recyclables. At the end of the week, bring your little collection down to the recycling bin nearest to your home. It should be easy to find - According to the NEA website, recycling bins or recycling collection services are available in all HDB estates, private landed properties, condominiums and private apartments. You will be floored by the number of recyclables a single individual like yourself can contribute.

2. Say No to Plastic

Besides bringing your own reusable bag to the supermarket, make it a point to avoid taking plastic bags from bakeries and F&B stalls that you do not need. Bring a container and flask along when you are out to takeaway food and drinks, though there is no need to beat yourself up if you forget to bring reusable apparel out – Check point Number 1, wash and recycle the plastic you have used!

3. Use Less Paper

Make conscious and active choices, such as paying your bills online, printing your documents on both sides of paper, and making memos on recycled paper instead of buying brand new notebooks. Using less paper wherever possible not only helps save trees, but also conserves our Pulau Semakau landfill space!

4. Turn off all Power Switches When Not in Use

Before bedtime and before you leave the house, turn off all switches powering your electronic devices. A little goes a long way, this daily habit will help save you electricity bills too.

5. Do Your Laundry With Cold Water

Did you know that 75% of the energy used to do a load of laundry goes into heating the water? While many believe that doing laundry in hot water cleans clothes better, cold water actually does the job just as well, and is also better at retaining the size, shape and color of clothes than hot water.

6. Support Eco-Friendly Businesses

The sustainability movement has caught on fast with millennials here, evident from the growing number of eco-friendly start-ups by young entrepreneurs. These green businesses sell everything from household items such as soap and shampoo to grocery items such as rice and soya sauce. With most items you need under one roof, it surely makes for convenient and eco-friendly shopping.

7. Switch Your Electricity Retailer to Sunseap

Since the Open Electricity Market was rolled out, all residents of Singapore are free to use electricity from an electricity retailer of their choice. Offering highly competitive electricity plans, you can even customise the percentage of solar energy used to power your household – Electricity plans range from SUNSEAP-ONE (1% solar) and SUNSEAP-50 (50% solar) to SUNSEAP-100 (100% solar) for the 100% environmentally conscious user. Living a sustainable life while reducing your electricity bills has never been easier.

8. Opt for Energy Efficient Appliances

Look out for energy labels on air-conditioners, refrigerators, clothes dryers, televisions, and lamps. Purchase appliances with a higher energy rating, and replace old appliances, which may be draining more energy than you think.

9. Eat Less Meat

I know. Easier said than done, right? Why not start small, with one vegetarian meal per week? Gradually, you may even develop a penchant for healthy grains and vegetables, and increase your intake of vegetarian or vegan delights. As Dr. Gidon Eshel of the University of Chicago says, "The less meat you consume, the more lightly you tread on this planet."

10. Cook Your Meals More Often

Many of us had taken to Instagram or Facebook to share our cooking endeavours with friends and family during the Circuit Breaker period. Cooking is therapeutic and fun, and it's also a seamless way to go green! Cooking at home reduces the amount of waste you would otherwise accumulate from takeaway containers, cups and cutlery. Moreover, home-cooked food is usually a healthier affair than food bought from outside.

We hope you enjoyed these Green Tips!