How Green Are You?

Have you ever asked yourself the question... how GREEN are you?

Are you green and cute Kermit, green and friendly Shrek or uber green as he can be Incredible Hulk? Scroll through to find out some top 10 green tips that you can do, no matter how green you are.

Kermit the Frog - You are not really that into going green, but you don't mind doing small things as long as its not too inconvenient.

 
It's not easy being green  Image via Muppet Wiki


Image via Morguefile
 1. Set your printer to print double-sided by default. You only have to learn how to do this once, then you never have to worry about printing on one side again! This simple step can save reduce paper use by up to a whopping 50%!


Image via Morguefile
2. Sell your used newspapers to the newspaper man (even though he has large hands. To the unaquainted, the used newspaper collector measures the height of your stack of newspapers with his hands and pays you for how many 'hands' high your stack is. Large hands = less money!)


Image via Morguefile
3. Switch off and unplug your main appliances whenever you go on holiday.


Image via Morguefile
4. Select the option of 'No Receipt' after you have withdrawn money at the ATM. Do you really need that little slip of paper?


Image via Morguefile
5. Save the plastic containers you get when you tapau (take away) lunch. These can be used for keeping leftovers or as handy containers for organizing things around the house.


Image via Morguefile
6. Leave some recyclable shopping bags in the car for whenever you go to the market / grocery shopping. That way you always have a few handy, especially on Saturdays when its No Plastic Bag Day.


Image via Morguefile
7. Use a Touch n Go (prepaid travel card) instead of using the paper ticket on the highways / public transport.


Image via Morguefile
8. Use the online app to purchase movie tickets. Most cinemas now offer a mobile app that provides an electronic barcode for you to scan and enter the cinema hall without any physical tickets. Paperless!


Image via Morguefile
9. Turn off your computer at the end of the day.


Image via Morguefile
10. Pay your bills online. Do you really need to go to the bank / post office to do that transaction? Going paperless with electronic transactions saves time, petrol and eliminates the hassle of physical transactions.

Shrek - You are a green friendly giant. You don't mind doing good for the environment once in a while.

This ogre has a big heart, and its probably green too  Image via Giant Bomb

1. Use energy saving lightbulbs. Although Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs are more expensive than incandescent lightbulbs, they last much longer, are brighter and save you electricity in the long run.
2. Where possible, take the stairs instead of the escalator / elevator. Besides helping the environment, you are also helping yourself with the extra exercise.
3. Pack your own reusable bottle of water from home before you leave home. Bottled water is not only expensive, but you reduce the plastic bottle waste.
4. Start your own DIY Compost Bin for your biodegradable food / garden wastes.
5. When its time to change your appliances, go for Energy Star-rated goods, which guarantee that the appliances are energy-efficient.
6. Take the public transport every Friday instead of driving. You can avoid the horrendous Friday traffic plus reducing your carbon footprint.
7. Bring your own plastic containers when you tapau (take away) meals from the hawker store. This is especially important for hawkers that still use styrofoam packaging. Thankfully, Penang has taken a step towards eliminating the use of styrofoam amongst food and beverage outlets, banning its use from 1 December 2012.
8. Save all your paper receipts, magazines, flyers, cardboard boxes and any papers wastes and add them to your newspaper recycle pile. You would be surprised how much of these 'other' paper wastes can also be recycled. Don't forget your pizza boxes, cardboard egg trays and juice cartons as well.
9. Place a bucket outside when it rains to collect rainwater. You can use it to water your houseplants and garden.
10. Buy in bulk to reduce packaging. For instance, individually packed biscuits and 3-in-1 drinks sachets may be convenient but they generate alot of packaging waste. Try to avoid buying these products unless absolutely necessary. Buying a 1 Litre carton of milk / juice instead of 6 smaller individual packs is also a good example.

The Incredible Hulk - You are an ultra green warrior. Anyone who tosses a used can along with the normal rubbish will feel your wrath.

Beware the Incredible Hulk, green to the core. He may be fierce but deep down he fights for the good of mankind  Image via Arcatatheater

1. Recycle your electronics. Electronic waste contains mercury and other toxic materials that are posing a growing environmental problem.
2. Support your local farmers - buy locally sourced fruits, vegetables and meats. Buying items which are grown and raised close to home means a smaller Carbon Footprint compared to imported goods which are flown / shipped from overseas.
3. Carpool with your colleagues. Ask around your colleagues if anyone lives close to you and would like to carpool. You can also save on petrol and parking costs.
4. Purchase up-cycled furniture for your home. Some pretty cool pieces can be found made from recycled doors, unwanted timber and even plastic bottles.
5. Buy biodegradable cleaners for your home. Available brands in the market are like Green Works and Bio-Home which offer biodegradable dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, bathroom cleaners and other household cleaning products.


Eat one vegetarian meal a week. Meat costs more than a vegetarian meal, not to mention going vegetarian once in a while is good for your digestive system.
Switch to using cloth diapers for your infants, especially when at home. If our parents  and grandparents could raise us without disposable diapers, I'm sure we can try too.
Shop at second-hand stores instead of buying brand new clothes. Not only are they easier on your wallet, but you can get some funky and unique pre-loved items which you can guarantee nobody will know where you bought it from (unlike shopping from big mega brands and then having a friend wear the same dress. EEK!). Keep in mind that you are not just getting cheaper clothes, but if you are selective, you can also get quality goods at a massive discount. Also good for parents with bringing up children who very quickly outgrow their clothes.
Change your toilet to a dual-flush system, with half flush for liquids and full flush for solids. Normally, a single flush toilet would use around 12 litres of water per flush. A 4-star water efficient dual flush toilet would use less than half this amount, saving a whopping 25,000 litres of water per year [Source: Sydney Water].