Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa June/ July 2019 | Page 33

WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME ‘GREENER’
1 Water 3 Installing solar panels
2
Utilizing natural
house cleaning 4 Quality insulation
The impacts of global warming were most recently seen in
the Cape Town water crisis, with residents being subject to rigid
water-use regulations and fearing the pending ‘day-zero’. Other
countries such as Namibia have most recently declared a water
crisis in the capital, Windhoek. Residents came together to save
water, creating their own rain-water catchment devices and
implementing boreholes on their property.
With weather conditions shifting around the world, home
owners can improve water usage by repairing existing leaks,
installing low flow showerheads and taps along with investing in
weather based irrigation systems for their gardens.
Another implementation that can be made to reduce water
use is dual-flush toilets. Offering two flush options, one for
liquid waste and another for solid waste. According to breaking
energy, these toilets could save an estimated 80% of toilet water
consumption.
To save water, residents must become water-conscious -
reducing the amount of water used and saving this precious
resource.
products
A host of general cleaning products emit dangerous chemical
emissions when they are used. Home owners can change this by
utilizing ‘green cleaning products’, made from sustainable, non-
toxic and biodegradable materials. These green cleaning materials
can also be made with a few basic materials. Minimizing the use
of harsh synthetic chemical based products can provide a safer
environment for families and are cost effective, requiring cheaper
ingredients. Vinegar is a perfect example of an alternative cleaning
material as it can be used as a multi-purpose cleaner.
HERE IS A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO CREATING
YOUR OWN BATHROOM CLEANER:
Ingredients
2/3 cups of baking soda
½ A cup of quality dish detergent or soap
½ a cup of water
2 tablespoons of white vinegar
1 spray bottle
Method
Place all the ingredients in a spray bottle, stir and dissolve. It
can be used to get rid of scum, mildew with a scrub sponge.
Once scrubbed, rinse the area.
With the potential threat of eminent loadshedding, the use of solar
power provides a greener alternative to Eskom’s electricity production.
Although the initial costs of implementation may be steep, it promises
to pay out over time. In some circumstances, a solar powered home
may produce more power than necessary, offering home owners the
opportunity to sell this power to other grids.
Sun Exchange, a local based company, offers solar power users the
opportunity to sell their solar cells while decreasing the impact on the
environment. South Africa has an abundance of sun and utilizing solar
power can eliminate dependency on national power providers.
Nexsolar, a South African based company which provides affordable
solar installation, CEO Garth van Sittert says that the coting of solar
installation is dependent on the number of people inhabiting the
household.
“The starting price for small systems of solar panels starts at R63 000
and includes full installation, electrical compliance certificate and is a
system with six panels,” says van Sittert
In order to minimize the use of energy and cut down on costs,
quality insulation must be installed during construction of a home.
Unbeknown to some homeowners, poor quality insulation can result
in a higher use of energy and a high bill at the end of the month.
Insulation plays a pivotal role in regulation the temperature of the
house. Consulting various contractors can provide further insight
into quality insulation that will ensure one’s home is kept warm
during the colder months of the year.s
5 Create your own
compost and vegetable
garden
Purchasing a compost container is an effective way to get re-use all sorts
of food waste items. The City of Cape Town launched a programme that
has allowed residents to access free compost containers to use at home.
These free composting containers will be distributed across the city and are
based on an application process, with only 200 containers released a day and
at specific venues. Compostable items include a fruit and vegetable waste,
eggshells, tea bags, leaves and more.
Weiss suggests that planting various species of trees in your garden can
positively contribute to the environment.
“Make use of indigenous plants and trees in the garden. They are more
water wise and are also a valuable refuge for pollinators (like bees) and other
wildlife,” she said.
Creating your own at home compost will allow for the opportunity to
grow your own vegetable and herbs at home. More information about how
to access free composting containers in Cape Town is available on their
official website, wwww.capetown.gov.za
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine JUNE/JULY 2019
31