A Green Earth starts at Home!

John Paul Oei Jun Jie, Zhonghua Secondary School, 1st Prize winning entry in The Home Look Green Home Campaign - Blog Competition

 

Global warming

After burning fuels for energy, carbon dioxide is produced. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas which traps the heat from the sun in the atmosphere.
As a result from man’s actions, more carbon dioxide has been produced, resulting in what we know as global warming.



Over the years, the temperature in Singapore and the world has been increasing. This rise in temperature also affects the amount of rainwater falling over Singapore. Though we can’t see the changes, we can see the effects of global warming over the years. We have to act now in order to save our home.

Consequences

Some species of animals would be unable to adapt to the increasingly warm climate and would soon die of extinction. This could also affect our food production as there will be less meat for consumption.

Global warming also affects food production. Due to global warming, there are changes in the pattern of precipitation, which may cause droughts in one part of the world and sudden freak flooding in another, where crops might be grown. This shortage of food may result in famine in some countries and in Singapore, rise in food prices as we are dependent on imports.

Due to global warming, the sea level is rising as the ice caps melt. As Singapore is a low-lying land, sooner or later in a few years’ time, we would be up to our knees in our water. It would be flooding. And I don’t think anybody would want a repeat of what happened to Orchard Road in 2011.

Also, there will be changes in weather and in a worst case scenario; there would be possibilities of sudden heat waves or tsunamis affecting our neighbouring countrieswith consequences on Singapore.

 

Ideas

1.Reduce the amount of electricity used. This should be common practice as of now we take electricity for granted. In years to come, we would run out of our main sources of fuel and would have to search for other sources to produce electricity. Though many of you know that it is important to save energy, few people actually practice this.

Suggestions:
- Turn off the lights, fans, air-cons and other electrical appliances when you are not in the vicinity or not using them and only use them when necessary.
- Check energy label for 4 ticks.
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
- Take public transport or even walk instead of using a car.
- Try to use computer more efficiently by planning and organising work to reduce wastage of electricity. Find
   other ways of entertainment instead of using the computer, such as playing outdoors.
- Open windows or use a fan instead of turning on the air-con, or set it at 24 degrees Celsius.
- Set the timer for the air-con before you sleep. Use the air-con when there are at least two people in a room.

2.Save water. Another thing anybody knows about but few people care about. The water level is rising, that means more water, so why do we need to conserve water? Well, the water from the sea isn’t fresh water and therefore undrinkable. Water could be taken to the desalination plants but there is a possibility that these could also be flooded or some equipment may malfunction.
Suggestions:

- Turn off the tap when brushing the teeth and when not in us or when you are soaping while.
- Use a bucket of water instead of the hose when washing the car.
- Use the water from washing food to water the plants or collect the water you used after bathing or from the washing machine to flush the toilet.
- Use dual flush toilets.
- Install thimbles in to tap heads.

3.Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We already do not have enough resources in Singapore, but the way we use them is as if that we have an infinite supply. We must learn to treasure our resources and reduce the wastage.

Suggestions:
- Consolidate waste into separate piles and place them into their respective recycling bins for easier
   collection of resources.
- Paper would be recycled to make recycled paper.
- Try not to print too often but rather make electronic copies of work on computer.
- Use proper mugs instead of plastic cups, and the same goes for water bottles.

4.Another thing related to our natural resources which may seem off topic is food. Singapore is a small country with limited land so we rely on other countries for food. However, as a result of global warming, food production would be affected. With lesser food, countries would take care of their own people before exporting food. Food prices will soar and life will become hard.
We must also not waste food or eat too much. Food is as important as water and energy. In other countries, food is hard to come by, and the people would eat everything if they even have a chance.

Suggestions:
- Buy locally produced food, as this saves fuel used in transportation of food from other countries.
- Finish all of our food when eating. By wasting food, you are basically wasting money.
- Try to reduce the food you buy. Make sure that there is no excess food which would have to be thrown away as it cannot be finished.

 

Conclusion

By doing all these, you’re not only saving the earth, our home, but you are also saving your own money. Do your part to save the earth.
For more information, click the links on the right, there are some websites that might be helpful:

Air Conditioner

Comparison of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb and Incandescent Light bulb

 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb

Laptop/Computer

Dual Flush Toilet (Top-View)

Electrical Plug

Energy Label

Fluorescent Tube Light (shouldn’t use)

Incandescent Light Bulb

Public Transport (MRT/Bus/LRT etc.)

     














Rechargable Batteries

Recycled Paper

Reusable Bags

  
Table Fan

Thimbles for Water Tap and Shower

Other suggestions:
Instead of printing out worksheets, we should encourage E-learning more as paper would not have to be used to make worksheets.

A Green Earth starts at Home!

Peggy Chen, Ang Mo Kio Primary School, 2nd Prize 
winning entry in The Home Look Green Home Campaign - Blog Competition

Have you ever heard your parents quarrelling about how the water and electricity bills are always increasing and wondered how you could actually play a part in helping your family to conserve water and electricity? Look no further, in less than a thousand words you will be able to understand the need for conservation of water and electricity, the pros and cons of it and how to play a part in conserving water and electricity. 

The Need For Water and Electricity Conservation:

Using too much energy as well as wasting energy actually harms the environment and it can also use up vital natural resources that are limited. By conserving water and electricity, we are saving energy and also helping the environment. The reason we conserve water is because water is actually in limited supply and the reserves are further declining due to wastage and pollution. 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water but only about 3% of this water is fresh water. Without water, we will not be able to survive and without electricity, life will not be as convenient as it is now. So it just goes to show that we should cherish the things that we have now and not take things for granted!

The Pros And Cons Of Water And Electricity Conservation:

Conserving water and electricity does have its good and bad sides. We can't have our cake and eat it, can we? There are actually many good things about conserving water and electricity. By doing so, we can not only save money and energy, but also play a part in helping the environment. And now for the disadvantages- Cooperation is required, there are people who are very stubborn, with a capital S, and chances are, they won't change their lifestyle and help to conserve water and electricity, these stubborn people are quite a handful, aren't they? Being motivating alone isn't enough, it takes motivation, perseverance and perhaps some gentle persuasion to convince these people that conserving water and electricity does have many benefits.

Conserving Water And Electricity:

 It is actually not very hard, it only takes some know-how and perseverance, sounds easy? Oh well, action speaks louder than words. Alright, now I will be telling you how to conserve water and electricity, let us start with the former.

Conserving Water:

Do not forget the three Rs-Reuse, Reduce and Recycle. You could collect rainwater and use it to water your plants. If you own a car, you might consider using a pail instead of the hose, it saves more water that way. Last but not least, you could try sanitizing grey water. It may be a little more complex, but for your information, grey water is basically something distinguished from black water as anything not flushed down the commode. Of course, there are more tips. I've put them in point form so that it would be easier to read.

1. Cut back on shower time, showering uses about 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
2. Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth, you could save up to 300 gallons of water a year.
3. Check for any leaks in pipes and taps, repair them immediately if any.
4. Install water thimbles in faucets and shower hoses, it saves more water that way.
5. Install water-saving bags in cisterns to reduce the amount of water used for flushing.
6. Buy water-efficient taps and washing machines to save more water.
7. Only wash clothes when there is a full load.
8. Rinse dishes in a plugged sink rather than under running water
9. Shower instead of bathing, it saves more water.
10. Share water-saving tips with your family and friends, the more people in the know, the better!

Conserving Electricity:

Basically, practically everything in our life uses electricity, the computer I am currently using uses electricity, the lights that light up our rooms uses electricity, the hairdryer we use to dry our hair after showering also uses electricity. So, can you see the impact of electricity on our lives? Will life be as convenient as it is now? Nope, so conserving it is a big deal. So here are some tips that tell you how to conserve electricity...

1. Switch off all the lights and electrical appliances when they are not in use.
2. Use an electric fan instead of an air-conditioner, it uses much less electrical energy.
3. Do not leave the computer or television on standby modes for too long.
4. Buy electrical appliances which are energy efficient.
5. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
6. Do not leave electrical sockets unplugged.
7. Keep doors and windows closed when heating or when air-conditioner is running.
8. Make use of natural sunlight when possible and do not turn on lights and lamps.
9. Cook several food dishes in the oven at the same time.
10. Be a role model for energy conservation, share tips on how to conserve electricity with your family and friends.

See, it's not really that hard, is it? I hope you will put this information to good use and hopefully, you will never hear your parents quarrelling about how the water and electricity bills are always increasing ever again.

 The Family Then Lives Happily Ever After,

The End

A Green Earth starts at Home!

James Mark Ayavoo, Ang Mo Kio Primary School, 3rd Prize winning entry in The Home Look Green Home Campaign - Blog Competition

 

 REDUCE

… YOUR CONSUMPTION    

The first step to reducing your impact on the environment, is reducing the amounts of resources you consume and use. Think twice before you buy or use anything. Do you really need it? By reducing your consumption you will also decrease the amount of waste you produce.

… YOUR WASTE

There are also many other ways to reduce your waste. The opportunities are nearly endless. Here are just a few ideas.

	Think before you print or photocopy! Print and copy as little as possible.
	Edit on screen, not on paper.
	Use e-mail to minimize paper use.
	Send and store documents like necessary papers and business proposals electronically instead of on paper.
	When you must print or copy, do it double-sided.
	Circulate documents instead of making an individual copy for everyone.
	Change the margins on your Word documents. The default margins on the documents you print are 1.25 inches on all sides. Simply changing the margins to 0.75 inches will reduce the amount of paper you use by almost 5 percent. … YOUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION     There are so many ways of optimizing your energy consumption

	Turn off unused or unneeded lights.
	Use natural lighting instead of electric lighting whenever possible.
	If you have a desk lamp, make sure it uses fluorescent bulbs (instead of incandescent bulbs).
	Dress appropriate to the season
	Select cold water for washing clothes
	Keep windows and doors closed in heated and air-conditioned areas.
	Turn off computers when they are not in use.
	Turn off printers, especially laser printers, unless printing.  Don’t use power strips to turn on all computers and desk equipment at once.   When purchasing computers and peripherals, buy low wattage equipment.  Minimize use of screen savers and instead enable power management feature.  Purchase only energy-efficient products.  Move your refrigerator. Leaving space between your refrigerator and the wall increases air circulation around the condenser coils, allowing the fridge to operate more efficiently.

… YOUR OIL CONSUMPTION AND POLLUTION

Drive Efficiently -  If you must drive, buck the trend toward more wasteful vehicles and drive a fuel efficient car, i.e. one which gets more miles per gallon, and don’t drive it more than you really need to!

Park your car in the shade. Gas evaporates from your fuel tank more quickly when you park in the sun. Parking in the shade lowers the temperature in your gas tank by up to 7 degrees, significantly reducing fuel evaporation. REUSE Plastic containers can become food storage, paper can become wrapping paper. The ways in which to reuse things are unlimited. All you need is to be creative. If being creative is not your thing, here are some other ideas: Reuse envelopes by placing a new label over the old address. Designate a box for scrap paper and use it for printing all drafts or unofficial documents. Reuse plastic bags or better get a reusable canvas bags. RECYCLE When buying any type of product, see if it is available with post consumer recycled content. Wrap presents in gift bags. Once you tear the wrapping paper off a holiday gift it ends up in the recycle bin, but gift bags can be used over and over again. Production of recycled paper uses only half the water and 3/4 of the energy than new paper Every ton of recycled paper saves almost 400 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space and seventeen trees.  If you recycle soda cans, the energy used and air pollution created, is 95 percent less than if the cans were produced from raw materials.  You could operate a TV set for an estimated three hours with the energy saved by recycling just one aluminum can Thinking green means being aware of our interconnectedness with the world and reflecting on the unintended damage we cause nature in the daily course of our lives. Thinking green leads to acting green - taking corrective action to make environmental responsibility a reality.

How to Clean Your House in 30 Minutes | At Home With P. Allen Smith

30 minutes to a clean house! From cleaning the bathroom to getting rid of clutter in the living room, your home will look well-maintained and inviting to guests!

Easy Holiday Flower Arrangement | At Home With P. Allen Smith

Whether on a dining table or for home decoration, these floral arrangements are a great way to freshen up any space.

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Personalised mugs as gifts! All you need are solid coloured coffee mugs and craft pens that contain ceramic paint. Once you've decorated your mugs, stick it in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Chinese Lantern Wall Decoration | GHC In-Depth With P. Allen Smith

Allen Smith shows how grouping of dried Chinese Lanterns (Physalis) blooms into a bouquet. Just secure the arrangement with a ribbon and it is ready to hang on the wall!

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Tips on how to mix and match bed linens and pillow colours to create a warm and matching bedroom. Simply build a colour palette around a favorite object or the wall colour.

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This video shows a quick home remedy for getting rid of fire ants. Mixing equal parts borax and sugar, and apply a small amount to the fire ant nest. Safe, easy and effective, this pest control solution is a great homemade cure!

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Easy and cheap way to create your own makeup organizer. Mitchell shows you how easy it is to take everyday things around the house and give them great functional and creative purpose!

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Take a look at this video and find out how you can use a simple office supply item to showcase photos, magazine covers and even offbeat kitchen supply labels.

Changeable Art with Rebecca Robertson: Make an Art Grid with Job Jackets from maxwell gillingham-ryan on Vimeo.

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A vintage inspired decorating scheme can look great if done well. P. Allen Smith shows how colour creates harmony between different decor styles.

Toy Storage With Wine Crates

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Rebecca Robertson: Toy Storage with Wine Crates from maxwell gillingham-ryan on Vimeo.

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Find out how to protect against harmful toxins naturally with the help of plants!

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Compare granite and siltstone to understand which one is better and the pros and cons of each.

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See how vintage objects are transformed into decorative and practical pieces.

Fanciful Butterfly Chairs

Hello, hello! It's Mari here from Arcadian Home blog where you'll find lots of fabulous home decor inspirations. As part of my job I often get to visit lovely blogs like The Home Look to share some of the great interior design and decorating ideas I discover in my online travels.

Today's guest post is about the ever popular fanciful Butterfly chair, also known as the Hardoy chair and the BKR chair. With millions of copies sold over more than 70 years, the appeal of this design shows no sign of waning.

Take a look below at how versatile this simple chair is. It seems right at home both indoors and out, looking just as beautiful in many of today's eclectic spaces as it does in classic Mid-Century modern rooms. You might be surprised by some of the places where the iconic Butterfly makes an appearance. Please enjoy!



Seemingly drawn to the flames of a fire pit at The Parker Palm Springs, these white beauties gave rise to the title of this post—Fanciful Butterfly Chairs.

A single deep orange Butterfly chair is perfectly stunning draped in fur and set against the white wall of an open fireplace. No need for wall art here.



The original Butterfly design was introduced in leather and here you see how gorgeous in looks in that material. The Butterfly can be found around world--this one is in Madrid, Spain.

Here, new Butterfly chairs gather outside to show off their many hues. There's a fabric and a color for everyone.

Speaking of fabric choices, this one is perfect for those who just can't get enough of the new "must have." We're seeing cowhides everywhere.



Here, a Butterfly goes Parisian and joins table decorations and paper lanterns to add white appeal to Vanessa Bruno's eclectic apartment.



Perhaps a bit unexpected, two white Butterfly chairs offer a comfortable corner for relaxing at a riad in Fez, Morocco—more evidence of the global appeal of this design.

Leather Butterfly chairs work well with all-American Adirondack seating and a Mid-Century freestanding fireplace on this outdoor deck with its stunning backdrop. Images  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

We hope you enjoyed this look at the fanciful globe-trotting Butterfly chair. Which butterfly chair is your absolute favorite? Drop us a mail and let us know!

Installing a Stair Runner

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Point N Paint - As seen on TV

Painting the house is a laborious and time consuming task. But Point N Paint can help you to paint the entire room in less than an hour. Let's try it and remember to use environmental-friendly paint (-^O^-)

Green Home Makeover: Plastics

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HGTV Million Dollar Rooms - $10 Million Pool on Mercer Island

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House of the future.

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A thoughtful design for the kids bedroom.

Rotating house puts new spin on eco-living

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DIY: Magazine Wall Decor

A nifty home decor tip on decorating your wall using old magazines!

Clever kitchen design solutions.

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Dream homes around the world.

How to Make Chair Socks

Have you considered making socks for your chairs?

Article taken off ehow.com

How to Make Chair Socks

By Heide Braley, eHow Contributor

Chair socks are not your ordinary chair leg protector. However, they work well in protecting your wood floor from scratches if you only use the chairs lightly. You can personalize the socks to match different family members or make them all to match. The thicker the sock material, the better and more long-lasting chair sock you will get. Actual socks work well for this project or you can use any stretchy material like sweatshirt cloth, or sweaters or anything that is near the thickness of sock material. Does this Spark an idea?



Instructions 1
Obtain socks in a design that you like; maybe they will be brightly colored cotton socks or white socks with a red toe. Since manufacturers form the bottom of most socks to fit over a foot, choose calf socks with designs or colors on the upper part.

Instructions 2
Measure the circumference around the chair leg. Since you want the sock to stretch over the chair leg, reduce the measurement by 1/2 inch. This is the width of your chair sock and you can choose how long of a sock you want.

Instructions 3
Cut the socks the length of your desired measurement, starting from the top of the sock and measuring down. Cut straight across the sock. Open the sock by cutting straight up one side. Measure the width of the sock material. Divide that measurement by the diameter of your chair leg to figure out how many chair socks you can cut from one sock, and use scissors to cut out the sections.

Instructions 4
Fold each section in half with the right sides together. Sew a 1/4-inch seam with a small stitch, starting at the bottom inside corner, across the bottom and then up the side. Knot the threads and trim them neatly.

Instructions 5
Turn the socks back right side out and slide over the chair legs.

45 square meters apartment with kitchen island

It's possible to have a kitchen island in a small apartment.

Article taken off homedit.com

45 square meters apartment with kitchen island

This bright apartment is located in Linnéstaden, Linnégatan 37 B. It has two spacious rooms and a kitchen and it measures a total of 45 square meters. It’s situated on the fifth floor and it’s currently for sale at the price of 2.2 million SEK. As you enter, there’s a hallway with patterned wallpaper and laminate floors. It includes a wardrobe for clothes, shoes and bags and it’s large enough to also accommodate a small workspace.



The living room has an open floor plan and it also includes the kitchen. It’s a way of making the apartment seem bigger. Another trick that creates the same impression includes the white walls and the bright laminated floors. The apartment also features some of the building’s original features such as the stucco and the ceiling decorations. The living room is spacious enough to also accommodate a dining table. There’s plenty of room for a sofa, a coffee table, a storage unit and even a reading corner. The living room also has access to a balcony.















The balcony offers views of the courtyard and the mountain silhouettes. It’s a lovely space that can be turned into a beautiful garden. The kitchen has been recently renovated and features a classic style with high doors with a glossy finish, steel fixtures and dark countertops. It’s large enough to be used as a breakfast room as well. The bedroom is also spacious. It has white walls and white floors and plenty of room for a double bed.{found on alvhemmakleri}.

Protect Your Floor with Chair Socks

Save your floor from dents and scratches!

Article taken off artstyleonline.com

Protect Your Floor with Chair Socks

If you belong to those who do care how your floor looks here is a set of chair socks to make you happy. Feel free to protect your floor with Chair Socks, by Leanne, Adventuregurl on Ravelry.



What I like the most about these socks is the fact they won’t cost and arm and a leg to you, also, they will easily protect your floor from terrible circles. These socks look really awesome since they look almost like my Grandma’s legwarmers. Love this stylish idea and you?!

Wonderful Piano Shelf by Sebastian Errazuriz

A storage shelf for music lovers.

Article taken off homedit.com

Wonderful Piano Shelf by Sebastian Errazuriz

Piano is a sensitive musical instrument. When I was little I wanted to learn to play piano. After some years I have discovered the beautiful songs of Richard Clayderman who also played piano. The sounds that a piano makes you feel like you have wings and you can touch the sky.



For those who love this musical instrument and would like to decorate their house in a artistic manner and at the same time get a great storage space here it is an idea.

The artist and designer established in New York, Sebastian Errazuriz presents you the wonderful Piano Shelf. It is a great storage shelf which imitates the structure of the keys of a piano and is adjustable for any type of object. when it is not used can be fold so that will occupy no space in your room , a wonderful thing for those who are looking for saving space as much as possible or who own a small room.





Piano Shelf will also look great on your wall and you may match it with different types of interior design as it is available in black or white.The design of this type of storage shelf is great for those who would like to add an artistic atmosphere to their space or are just in love with music.