In celebration of Mandela Day on July 18, 2022, the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) is highlighting the plight of food security and climate change with the tagline, “do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Nelson Mandela himself once said, “I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses. We must never forget that it is our duty to protect this environment.”
To help South Africans honour this thinking, RE/MAX of Southern Africa suggested a few eco-friendly ways to improve your home and lower your property’s environmental footprint …
- Increase energy-efficiency
Easing the strain on the country’s electricity supply is ideal. Those who can add a solar power system could significantly reduce the fossil fuel and greenhouse emissions from their property and even save some money in the long run. Ensuring that your home is well insulated by installing ceiling insulation and replacing any cracked door and window frames will also reduce your household’s reliance on heating and cooling solutions and make your home more energy efficient.
- Upgrade appliances
Once you’ve invested in the structural energy-efficiency of your home, upgrade your appliances by choosing certified energy-efficient models when you purchase a washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer, fridge, or microwave.
- Eco-friendly flooring
Never underestimate the importance of choosing from green materials wherever you can. When it comes to eco-friendly flooring, there are three popular materials; namely, green bamboo, natural linoleum, and sustainable wood.
- Recycled, repurposed or reclaimed items
The phrase “reduce, reuse and recycle” is key when it comes to improving your home; from its initial construction to later renovations. Building or upgrading a home with repurposed or reclaimed materials can offset a ton of waste and could possibly even save your budget. For example, flooring, cabinets, and doors can be replaced with repurposed or reclaimed materials or second-hand items that maybe just need a small amount of restoration work.
- Be wise with water
Installing a rainwater tank is a wonderful solution for minimising your property’s use of municipal water. Also, installing waterwise tap and shower heads in all your bathrooms and waterwise kitchen faucets will go a long way towards reducing the amount of water wastage in your household.
- Grow your own vegetables and herbs
Whether you have an expansive yard or a quaint herb garden on a small balcony or shelf, growing your own food can provide a whole host of benefits, from enjoying the greenery, to cleaner air and even having some homegrown vegetables and herbs to eat and lower your grocery bill.
- Start composting waste
You could minimise your household waste by repurposing your home’s food scraps and yard waste into a compost heap. You can use this to get your garden thriving and keep all the soil on your property healthy and happy. After all, healthy soil is one of the most important components of fighting climate change. This can be your property’s way of contributing to the ecological well-being of our planet.
