Times of the Islands Winter 2015-16

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & maritime affairs
Green Living in the TCI:
15 steps you can adopt to make a change!
By Amy Avenant, DEMA Environment Outreach Coordinator
“Green Living.” We hear the term thrown around on television,
radio, and social media sites, but what exactly
does it mean and how can you start “living green?” In
laymen’s terms, living green and sustainably means
creating a lifestyle that works with nature and does
no long-term or irreversible damage to any part of
the environmental web. This is the ideal, but do not
be discouraged! Here are 15 small steps that you can
incorporate into your everyday life that will make a
world of difference to Planet Earth:
• Stop the junk mail
Sure, we don’t have an extensive postal system in the
TCI, but if given the choice, opt for electronic bills and
pay your utilities online. Fortis TCI offers a convenient
online bill payment service, which both allows you to
avoid long queues and to save paper (www.fortistci.
com/bill-payment).
• Give up bottled water
Disposable plastic water bottles are not meant for multiple
uses. A plastic bottle made from #1 polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) is fine for a single use, but reuse
can lead to bacterial growth and leaching of dangerous
chemicals. Apart from the health risk, bottled water is
expensive! Make use of the water dispensers dotted
around the Islands to refill one or five gallon bottles,
store water in recycled glass bottles in the fridge, and
never leave home without your reusable water bottle.
(Metal is usually best.) And while you’re at it, drink your
beverages without the unnecessary plastic straw.
• Reduce your waste
Reducing the amount of waste you bring in and the
amount of trash that goes to the landfill is an important
part of any green lifestyle. But there’s a lot more to it
than just recycling plastic or throwing your trash in a
bin. Make a composting pile in your backyard — one
that allows for the natural decomposition of organic
waste without having it rot in the depths of the landfill.
Re-use and recycle when and where you can: glass bottles,
tin cans and plastic containers can all be re-used
Green living is easy in the TCI! You just need to get going.
or recycled to have a completely new use. Don’t forget to
take your re-usable shopping bags to the grocery store!
• Conserve Energy
Don’t leave your door wide open while the A/C is running.
Unplug appliances not in use. Switch lights off when not
in the room. Make use of eco-friendly light bulbs and
use rechargeable batteries. These are just a few tips that
could assist you with saving energy and reducing utilities
bills. The Internet is filled with energy-saving tips,
just remember to switch your computer off when you are
done!
• Conserve water
An estimated 50% of all household water usage is wasted.
It goes down the drain while we wait for it to warm up or
evaporates more quickly than it needs to. In an era when
our fresh water supply is diminishing due to pollution
and drought, it’s important to conserve all the water we
can, as well as learn about and put to use greywater recycling
practices. Re-use your laundry water on your lawn
or to wash your car; close the tap while you brush your
teeth; limit your shower time — it really boils down (pardon
the pun) to using water consciously.
• Green your transportation
Bicycling, walking, or carpooling are the best ways to
commute sustainably. Inflating your car tires, driving
slower, and combining trips will all help you save gas
28 www.timespub.tc