Every September, South Africans celebrate Spring and with it the gift of oxygentrees so vitally present. For some communities, trees are not immediately accessible and thus their beauty and benefiting qualities are not felt. Khayelitsha and Nyanga are two such areas where indigenous trees are not historically found. With the expansion of Cape Town and associated urban sprawl, these areas accommodate huge communities but provide little in the way of natural aesthetic beauty. For Noluthando Primary School and Etafeni Day Care Centre Arbour Day provided a real reason to celebrate.

The Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Plannings’ Sustainable Awareness Team and Enviroworks spent the day visiting these two schools to teach them the importance of planting trees, protecting our natural areas and celebrating of heritage.

Learners were taught the important attributes which trees give to us and the planet, their benefits as sinks in retaining carbon dioxide against climate change, providing oxygen for respiration, shade for cover from sun exposure and beauty in our surrounds. Following a brief presentation and interactive session, learners accompanied teachers and the visitors to plots around the facilities for planting of the saplings.

A day of sharing knowledge and time went well spent, as the children, Department and Enviroworks connected through the themes of caring and custodianship for our natural environment.

Waste not, want not is a message my gran would always reiterate when I was a knipper! While now that I have grown up it has taken on new meaning and value in my life, for as a consumer I have an impact on the economy, but more importantly on the environment!

Waste is something all of us deal with on a daily basis, however it is only classify as this when it serves no further purpose to us. Considering the materials cycle, a linear projection of extraction, manufacturing, production, use and finally disposal, waste occurs along all segments of this line. However, allowing all products reaching the end of this process to be trashed is unsustainable. Fact is that most of the products we buy, be it electronic, food or plastic, have a value in the recyclable dynasty. Recycling not only encourages thrift and monetary saving for our communities and economies, but relieves strain from the affected environment, from which resources are being exploited.

In our efforts to protect the planet from unnecessary additional extraction and sometimes carnage, we as communities can do our part in reducing our consumer tendencies and lowering our footprint.

In keeping it brief, the following ways to reduce and avoid form the most crucial ability on our parts to prevent waste!

- By steering clear of overpackaged products such as wrapping on vegetables and additional packing at supermarkets, the presence of additional packets and paper in your home is addressed.

- Buying wisely and in bulk often limits the total packaging of your purchase, keeping your impact down.

- Purchasing products which are made from recycled materials (such as kitchen towels and plastic bottles) supports a sustainable market. Eco-friendly detergent and cleaning products ensure that disposing of these is negative and easy.

- Shopping wisely by buying items with a longer life expectancy, promises savings in the long run! Disposable products imply “short-lived” & of low value, so avoid those throw away razors, cameras and Styrofoam cups.

- Supporting local entrepreneurs by shopping at markets, ensures you are supporting sustainable livelihoods and keeping “food miles” your secondary carbon footprint tally at a minimum.

- Lastly, by making your own gifts and using old wrapping paper you can make a personalized gesture and by creative with it too.

It is the principles of resourcefulness and thrift which our grandmothers taught us that matter the most in modern consumer culture!  Stay consumer wise and lively sustainably for the better good of our planet and community!

The following awesome tips are inspired by the City of Cape Town Smart Living Handbook, 4^th Edition, May 2011. The efile for this document is available from www.capetown.gov.za.

When commuting from A to B, consider alternative modes of transport or modify your driving efficiency:

• Where feasible ride a bike to work or to reach recreational activity engagements;
• Walk to work, gym or the mall for some valued exercise;
• Take the bus, train or a taxi as going mobile with others mean a lighter fair on your wallet;
• If driving, service your vehicle regularly making it more efficient and less CO? emitting;
• Removing unnecessary weight from your car allowing your engine to work easier using less fuel;
• Close your windows at higher speeds, and remove empty roof racks. This will reduce wind resistance and can lower your fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10%;
• Avoid speeding and drive smoothly. Increasing your speed from 100 km/h to 120 km/h can increase your fuel consumption by 20%. The most fuel-efficient driving speed is 80 km/h.

Turn your home into an energy saving machine:

• Retrofit your conventional incandescent light bulbs with compact                                                                          fluorescent bulbs or even LED (light-emitting diode) lights.
• Switch to more efficient lights, such as LEDs and CFLs, turn off lights in rooms that are not occupied. Install motion sensors to turn lights on when needed, use dimmers, and light only at the required level, do not use electric lights when enough natural light is available,
• Install a geyser timer. Switch off any old, unused geysers;
• Buy a Hot Box which will save cooking energy;
• Install a solar water heater or heat pump;
• Install a low-flow shower head. The less water you use in the shower, the less water there is to heat and the less  energy you use;
• Reduce the amount of water you use when flushing the toilet by installing a hippo flush bag or a multi-flush system;
• Fit your kitchen taps with tap aerators, which reduce the flow, while still providing ample water;
• Use a water-efficient shower head and tap aerators;
• Take a shower rather than a bath, and restrict the length of your showers. Showering uses 50% less water than bathing;
• Fix dripping taps;
• Do not allow hot water to run unnecessarily.
• Turn off the tap or shower when it really is not required. Never use the hot tap when you need just a little water.

Wise cooking tips to cool that monthly electricity bill:

• Match the size of the pot to the hotplate, and use lids;
• Check that rubber seals on ovens are not worn or perished, as this will let out the heat. Make sure that oven doors stay closed until food is cooked;
• Pots and pans used for cooking should have a level base – especially if using an electric stove. This can save you up to 50% in energy;
• Buy the smallest-sized appliance possible for your cooking needs. This will save energy;
• Use a kettle to boil water. A kettle uses 50% less electricity than when heating water in a pot on the stove. Only boil the amount needed;
• Soak beans, samp and lentils overnight, as this saves cooking time and energy
• When a pot of food has reached boiling point, reduce the heat, as the food will continue to cook effectively;
• Use a pressure cooker or Hot Box when preparing foods that normally take a long time to cook. Pressure cookers speed up the cooking process and save electricity;
• Keep your paraffin stove clean, as this will make the appliance more efficient – your fuel will last longer, and the smoke from the stove will not be as poisonous;
• Consider buying a stove with a convection oven;
• Keep stove plates and reflectors clean.

Fridges can be a large drain of energy in your home! Consider the following tips:

• Buy energy-efficient fridges and deep freezers. Compare consumption figures for different models. information usually comes with the product. The cheaper fridge may appear to be better value, but when you examine the electricity cost per year, it usually becomes very clear that the more expensive energy efficient fridge will save you a lot of money;
• Always keep sufficient space behind the fridge for air to circulate around the condenser coils. These should also be kept free of dust, as dust can make the fridge less efficient;
• A full fridge uses less energy than an empty one. This is because less cold air escapes when you open the door, because the items inside the fridge ‘hold onto the cold. You could even just put bottles of water in your fridge to achieve this. Cold air is heavier than warm air. So, when you open the door, the heavy cold air simply ‘falls’ out of the fridge and is replaced by lighter, warmer air;
• Open the fridge door for very short periods only. Do not leave it standing open unnecessarily;

Regulating the temperature in your house in Winter and Summer means you save BIG!

• Dress for the cold and put a blanket over your knees;
• Heat yourself rather than the whole room.
• Do not use the oven or stove plate to warm your house – a heater is more effective and much cheaper to use;
• Heat yourself rather than the whole room;
• Seal doors and windows properly to prevent draughts. For windows, keep curtains closed;
• Use electric heaters that are controlled by thermostats – these are more efficient;
• Use energy-efficient heaters. Infrared heaters are much more efficient than normal bar heaters;
• Electric blankets are cheaper than a heater for staying warm in the bedroom;
• In Summer, use a fan instead of an air conditioner or where possible natural ventilation.

Ef ficiency tips for other appliances

Drying clothes and ironing

• Hang washing on a washing line to dry – the tumble dryer is an energy guzzler.
• Hang washing on a washing line to dry – the tumble dryer is an energy guzzler.
• If you need to use a tumble dryer, remove excess water beforehand. This will minimise the drying time.
• Buy a thermostatically controlled iron to prevent it from becoming hotter than needed.
• Iron large batches of clothes at a time to save on iron warm-up time.
• Use only distilled or boiled water in a steam iron, so that the appliance remains clean and energy efficient.

Washing machine

• A front-loading washing machine uses less water and costs less to operate, even though the purchase price may be higher than a top loader.
• Buy a washing machine that offers a variety of water temperature settings.
• Use the cold-water setting as much as possible in order to cut down on water-heating energy.
• Use the cold-water setting as much as possible in order to cut down on water-heating energy.
• Take advantage of special features on your washer that can save money. For example, soaking cycles

Dishwasher

• Fill the dishwasher completely before running it. Partial loads waste electricity and water.
• Fill the dishwasher completely before running it. Partial loads waste electricity and water.
• Energy consumption can be reduced by turning off the dishwasher after the final rinse and before the drying cycle. Simply wipe your clean dishes dry.
• Short wash cycles, rinse-only cycles, mid-cycle turn-off and other features are designed for energy conservation as well as convenience.
  

Over the past weekend Enviroworks joined the crew of Stefania Morland at Cape Town Fashion Week. In celebration of the upcoming Spring/Summer season, Stefania dedicated her collection to the majesty and grace of birds. Through an interesting use of colour, texture and structural design, elements of birds were interpreted through fabric and accessories.

Enviroworks were asked to assist in providing guests with a fitting gift to complement this theme. The Fuchsia tree, commonly known as the honeysuckle, served as a fitting species. Attracting birds with its sweet nectar, this brightly coloured shrub can grown to 20 metres in height, providing a great source of shade in gardens and ideal foraging grounds for various nectar feeding birds such as Sunbirds and Sugarbirds.

On receipt of some 625 Fuchsia saplings, the Enviroworks office got to work in preparation of the specimens. Following a nerve wrenching two days of packing and labeling, the pocket size seedlings were dressed and ready for delivery.

Saturday evening meant show time for designers as guests hustled outside the venue in anticipation of the grand spectacle ahead. Doors opened as guests filled the hall and discovered their pint-sized saplings awaiting collection.

An exuberant show unfolded as guests were wowed by a vision of elegance and creative genius. Well done Stefania on presenting a truly wonderful collection of bird inspired attire. We had a super time and thank you for including us in this special occasion!

Bloemana is a bustling and vibrant community situated on the outskirts of Bloemfontein. Nestled within this lively township lies the Lechabile Day Care Centre. This humble centre has been struggling to provide basic care to the 54 children ranging between ages 2 and 4 who receive schooling here on a daily basis. An absence of working toilets, outdoor play facilities, financial aid, warmth, and food have been just a few of the problems facing the loving teachers and pupils at Lechabile, however help was not far away!

Matrics of the Eunice Girls School, in partnership with Enviroworks and other local businesses set out combating the conditions and hardship of this resilient school by lending an olive branch of support. From May a team of determined volunteers gathered on site daily to splash paint, clean windows, construct a jungle gym and transform this ugly duckling into the pride of teachers, toddlers and parents alike.

Enviroworks moved in with green fingers, watering cans and shovels to rejuvenate the outdoor playing area into a toddlers paradise. A nutritious veggie patch was born with cabbages, carrots, tomatoes, potato and spinach, while several bakkie loads of lawn were delivered for running and soft landings. The further donation of indigenous plants, a bright school sign and concrete columns for playing was made to improve the aesthetic of the centre and add some sparkle!

Enviroworks is applying for grants from the Department of Education on behalf of the school to ensure that future state aid is secured.

We feel blessed to have been part of such a passionate group of volunteers and commend the teachers for their steadfast attitude to caring for these children and their well-being.

The Carbon Disclosure Project partners with organizations at a global level to accelerate carbon reporting and emissions reduction. Further to alliances with private companies, CDP works closely with governments of the USA, UK and Japan by engaging in policy discussions, and is further working with Australia, Scandinavia and South Africa for the future implementation of carbon protocol and procedures.

The CDP has partnered with a limited number of consultancies within the countries it operates and Enviroworks is excited to be one such SA affiliate. Through the provision of Green House Gas management services, CDP shall act as an advisory body to Enviroworks by facilitating forums and workshops, thereby ensuring we utilize the most current procedures and methodology in management processes.

View our partner summary and the browse the CDP website by visiting  https://www.cdproject.net/en-US/WhatWeDo/Pages/alliances.aspx and select CDP Consultancy Partners.

Since January 2008, South Africa’s top 100 JSE listed companies have been reporting on their carbon emissions factor. These companies are required to disclose on a number of areas including climate change risks, opportunitieis and strategy, greenhouse gas emissions accounting and management, as well as climate change governance.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent not-for-profit organization committed to assisting primary corporate companies in identifying and mitigating their carbon emissions. Thousands of organizations from across the world’s major economies measure and disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies through CDP, adding value to policy and financial decision-making. It has been through CDP, that these South Africans companies have been reporting their emissions.

Last week, Enviroworks became the third South African partners in the CDP Partnership Program.From February 2011, we will be an accredited CDP partner available to assist large corporates in compiling their organizational carbon footprint, developing a Green House Gas Inventory and in verification of data.

Enviroworks entered the field of carbon management this year, after successfully completing courses based on ISO 14064 (the primary CDP reporting tools & methodologies), with the Canadian Standards Association. These skills have positioned us at the forefront of carbon consulting services in South Africa and we are excited to be part of this expanding field.

For further information on our services in this sector contact Elbi Bredenkamp on 0825624134 to discuss.

A few weekends past, Enviroworks headed to the Windmill Casino to participate in Bloemfontein’s annual Groenfees. With the recent establishment of Envirocare, Enviroworks was keen to promote the non-profit organization to the public in an effort to initiate a volunteer database for further projects of the NPO.

The Enviroworks stand at the Groenfees

The Groenfees delivered a host of speakers, shows and good plain fun, and we did not disappoint either, with attractions including a giant bullfrog Pyxicephalus adspersus, a showcase of the endangered western leopard toad conservation project, and the lucky draw for three green hampers. We also spoke with several school teachers travelling to attend the festival from across the province, making some good ties for possible future Envirocare projects.

Speaking to festival goers it was gathered that they enjoyed the days ongoings and were inspired to take steps in making their lives more GREEN, from reducing their carbon footprint to using eco-friendly household detergents, the aims of the festival seemed successful at large, with most kids even keen to make their mark in their schools and among their peers.

Thanks to the guys and girls be signing up as volunteers with Envirocare, to the organizers, Z2A Events for an exceptionally enjoyable day and the Enviroworks crew for pitching together as always and making it such a super occasion!

The Enviroworks team

Recently we attended the 2010 Free State/Northern Cape Wetland Forum held from the 27th – 29th of October in Kimberley. The three day indaba, entilted Caring for Wetlands, examined numerous wetland core topics, including climate change impact, conservation and rehabilitation and soil and hydrology. Several research presentations were demonstrated by students and industry professionals relating to issues like diversity, species inventorying, classification of wetland types, as well as regional and area specific studies on programme success and management.

We thouroughly enjoyed attending the workshop and gained valuable insight into current trends within this specialist field. Thanks must go the the organizers for affording us the opportunity to play a part in this years forum and look forward to aligning ourselves with the forum in future. 

For future detail on wetlands of South Africa, current development,  management, insight and links thereof visit www.wetlands.za.net/index.htm.