Green Ideas for Home, Office, Supermarket, Retail, Restaurant, School

The bulk of your monthly electrical consumption comes from air-conditioner use. Turn it off, especially in the day.

Increase airflow and reduce humidity by:

• Installing fans to increase air movement;

• Keeping windows open;

• Avoiding placing furniture in wind paths.

Home appliances with energy labels consume less electricity and lower your utility bills. Thousands of dollars could be saved over the lifetime of these products.

Use energy efficient lighting such as:

• LED bulbs;

• Task lights to reduce the wattage required for ambient lighting.

Leaving your appliances on standby mode can amount up to 10% of total energy use at home. Switch your appliances and sockets off when not in use.

Look for computers, monitors and other devices with the Energy Star label.

Use:

• Task lights (to reduce the need for general lightings);

• Lighting timers;

• Zoning and motion sensors;

• Energy efficient fixtures like LED or T5 lights.

Convert the photocopying area into a green spot by:

• Using Energy Star efficient photocopiers and recycled paper;

• Implementing passcode printing ;

• Installing a paper recycling bin.

Use low-VOC paints and furniture to minimise formaldehyde levels in the office.

The server room is a major source of office energy consumption. Equip this room with energy metering for tracking purposes.

• Use LED or T5 overhead lighting for display cabinets;

• Install zoning and occupancy sensors.

Fit refrigerated showcases with doors to significantly reduce heat gain, reduce power use and maintain the temperature of products.

Choose a centrally controlled energy efficient refrigeration system with:

• Electronic expansion valves;

• Variable speed drives for compressors;

• Electronically commutated fans for condensers;

• Transducers.

• Change marketing strategies;

• Revamp procurement and inventory management methods;

• Have an in-store bio-helper to convert organic waste into nutrient liquid.

• Encourage shoppers to bring their own shopping bag via incentives;

• Implement no-plastic-bag days;

• Have dedicated green checkout lanes;

• Use biodegradable bags.

• Use LED bulbs instead of metal-halide or halogen lamps;

• Use dimmer ambient lighting instead of accent lights to highlight display items;

• Zone the circuitry for different lighting types so non-essential lighting can be turned off during non-peak periods.

• Reuse construction materials from previous outlets;

• Use materials made of sustainable or recycled products certified by the Singapore Green Building Council and Singapore Green Labelling Scheme.

Market environmentally friendly products, such as items sewn from organic fabrics or products containing recycled content, in a sales line-up.

Reduce paper and plastic waste from discarded packaging by:

• Recycling and reducing packaging;

• Offering discounts and privileges to customers who bring their own shopping bags.

Energy Star rated deep fryers, grills, ovens and freezers can greatly reduce a commercial kitchen’s energy use.

Using a water efficient dishwasher can save water from cleaning.

Opt for sustainable or recycled sources for items such as menus, napkins, serviettes and takeaway boxes.

Hundreds of millions of kilograms of food is discarded annually in Singapore. To reduce this amount:

• Compost food waste;

• Recycle used cooking oil into green biofuel.

Protect the environment by choosing food and ingredients from ethical sources.

Plant more trees and plants than those removed during the construction stage to support a greater diversity of wildlife, including threatened species.

Detailed strategies can help conserve plant and animal species during the construction and operation of the park.

Ideas to reduce waste include:

• Recycling horticultural waste as compost;

• Having a chipper machine on site to recycle fallen tree trunks, leaves and other plant waste;

• Using recycled materials to build park structures.

Use pond water instead of potable water for irrigation.

Conduct green talks and tours for students and the public so that everyone can learn to be responsible park users.

To achieve better air flow:

• Position windows in a northwesterly orientation;

• Ensure louvers can be fully opened;

• Keep windows open when fans are turned on to prevent re-circulation of warm air.

Solar panels generate renewable energy for your school’s energy use.

Vegetation provides layers of shade while evapo-transpiration of plants reduces ambient temperatures.

Permeable paving or cool paints can lower ground temperatures and radiated heat, reducing the Urban Heat Island effect.

Make the most of natural daylight with:

• High-level windows and light shelves that can provide greater daylight penetration into classrooms;

• Light coloured paint for walls and ceilings that reflect sunlight into spaces.

Set your efficient air-conditioning systems above 24° C. Ceiling fans are a comfortable alternative.