Posts Tagged: waste

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7
Jan 10

Any colour, so long as it’s green

October, 2007

Painting on walls is arguably humanity’s longest running DIY task. For most of our 30,000 years on the job we took scant regard to the risks to our health and environment, but these days only a caveman would ignore them.

What’s the problem? Aside from watching out for remnants of old lead based paints when renovating, you should be aware that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) including benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene are used as solvents in some modern paints to make them flow properly, and in most paint strippers. These give off potentially harmful gases into the atmosphere during production and at room temperature – your room temperature. They can continue to do so long after they are dry.

So? VOCs do occur naturally. But you should take the headache, dizziness and sore throat from painting all day with the windows closed as a timely warning: scientific studies suggest increased exposure to VOC’s may cause effects which will mean more than a couple of paracetamol and a lie down.

The risks include possible damage to the liver, kidney, and your central nervous system as well as an increase risk of asthma.Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected of causing cancer in humans, and their release may also contribute to climate change. And if you don’t check, it may be that VOCs aren’t the only nasties lurking in your paint pot. Other potentially toxic substances in there include heavy metals, formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone, odour masking agents and the proven carcinogen, benzene.

Want paint without the pong? Water-based paints, sometimes referred to as latex paints, have become the norm across New Zealand’s $250 million decorative paint industry, making up about 75% of the most popular lines.They have a lower VOC content than solvent-based paints, and brushes, rollers etc used with them can be cleaned with ordinary soap and water rather than white spirit.

What’s the downside? Water-based paint must be protected from freezing and applied at a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. It can also rust steel and adversely affect some aluminium surfaces. It may have lower chemical and solvent resistance and reduced temperature resistance, meaning the paint may give a finish which is not quite as tough as its more toxic alternative. Its sensitivity to humidity also means that low humidity can cause it to dry extremely fast and even crack, while high humidity can cause very slow drying times.

The levels of VOCs vary in paints depending on their ingredients and the finish they are designed to produce. The tendency is for glossier finishes to require higher levels of VOCs. As a guide, UK-based DIY giant B&Q has developed its own company-wide labelling system, which defines VOC levels as:

  • Minimal: 0 – 0.29%
  • Low: 0.30 – 7.99%
  • Medium: 8 – 24.99%
  • High: 25 – 50%
  • Very high: more than 50%

B&Q stipulates that the the term ‘VOC’ in the labelling phrases used must relate to the total VOC content of the product, and they use the term ‘minimal’ rather than ‘No-VOC’ or ‘VOC free’, otherwise VOCs can be present in the tints of paints marketed as having no VOC in their solvent.

Always read the label. The VOC content may also be expressed as grams/litre (g/litre). To convert this into a percentage on the B&Q scale, divide by 10. Look out for paints with the Environmental Choice NZ stamp. Including their tint they are between 5-10% VOCs, depending on the finish, which would put them in B&Q’s low and medium categories. These also comply with additional standards on heavy metals, packaging, consumer information, product stewardship, waste and energy management. But you may need to ask the manufacturer to be sure, since no standard compulsory VOC labelling system exists.

If you want really green biodegradable paint in virtually any colour. You can go for paints made from blends of plant oils, tree resins and earth clays. The ingredients list for these tend to read more like a half decent fruit cake than a hardwearing substance you spread on your wall.  It is best to ask the retailer which one to use for areas which need regular washing or a particularly tough finish. Given proper maintenance, they should last as long as the more toxic paints and come complete with highly valuable peace of mind.

And if you don’t think that is the way of the future for paint, what about this? Oxford University scientists have been researching the possibilities of using single cell algae to make eco-friendly iridescent paints that shimmer into different colours as you move around the room. Each tiny organism has a silica shell with tiny holes that only allow some colours of light through. The plan is to use a low energy process to grow huge amounts of the algae, and then kill them off with heat or mild acid to leave the shells for use in the paints.

Paint instead of heating? Insulating and thermochromic paints, which change colour with differing temperatures, may become an integral part of a home’s internal atmosphere control system. In 2001 at Tongji University in Shanghai scientists began developing paints able to reflect heat when the weather is hot, to keep your house cool, and absorb heat in cold periods to help keep you warm inside. It also changes colour to match the seasons. But the challenge will remain to produce these products in ways which don’t help make our seasons even more erratic, or place our long-term health at risk.


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7
Jan 10

Water, water everywhere?

Conserving water was once an instinctive part of being a Kiwi. Since water shortages are becoming a regular feature of summer all over the globe and water rates seem to be attached to an ever rising balloon, perhaps it’s time to revitalise a fine tradition?

The greatest hurdle to water conservation is our delusion that water is an infinite resource. An island surrounded by water, where water falls from the sky at the most inopportune moments, should be able to keep a relatively sparse population from going thirsty. But in some regions our personal needs, combined with farming, hydroelectricity, industry, recreation, tourism and more, are sucking up more water than there is available.

Minimise water usage and wastage before splashing out on expensive recycling systems. Leaking taps waste up to 90 litres a week. Put some drinking water aside in the fridge so you don’t have to wait for the mixer to run cold. When dishwashing by hand use a bowl or a plug, and use the machine on full loads only.

How does your garden grow? Watering plants accurately and in the cool of early morning or evening is most efficient. Careful planting, landscaping and mulching can remove the need for additional watering altogether. Spas and swimming pools are a real luxury in today’s climate, so at least make best use of them by inviting the neighbours round, look into water treatments which require less backwashing and keep them covered to reduce evaporation.

You don’t have to be dirty to have a clean conscience. Share a bath as a weekend luxury and shower during the week.[ii] The average washing machine load takes 95 litres, so choose an efficient model when buying, use a water-saving cycle and make sure it’s full every time. Brushing your teeth with the tap running instead of rinsing with a tumbler wastes almost 9 litres a minute.

Go check your flow. Tests for the Australian water efficiency standards and the Consumers’ Institute suggest taps and showerheads needn’t deliver more than nine litres of water per minute to work efficiently. You can test yours by running your tap or shower into a bucket for 15 seconds and then multiplying the result by four. If the flow is too high you can fit flow restrictors for about $20 a tap, or contact your plumber to restrict the whole system. This will also reduce condensation levels in your home

Using pure drinking water to flush the toilet is a crap idea! You don’t need Niagara Falls in the smallest room to deal with the situation. Adjust the flow or reduce it with a brick or specially designed space-filler in the cistern. Home builders and renovators should consider a water-saving model of toilet. The truly committed should investigate the possibilities of composting toilets, or live by the phrase ‘when it’s yellow, let it mellow, when it’s brown, flush it down.’

Toilets, cars and plants can all re-use ‘grey water’ you have washed clothes or yourself in if you use mild, vegetable based cleaning products. If you can’t convince the kids to stagger around with buckets all day, fit a gravity or pump fed grey water diversion system. But check with your local authority first. Some promote diversion, but there are restrictions in certain areas, particularly if you plan to store your grey water, rather than let it flow straight out to irrigate the garden.

You can keep the costs down by Doing-It-Yourself, but it’s not for the faint hearted. You can have the Watersmart Gully, which allows you to manually direct grey water into the garden, installed for about $2,500, or one that diverts at the touch of a button for about $3,300. For a couple of hundred extra dollars you can get an automatic Ecoplus system installed, which cleans and stores grey water for toilet flushing as well as the garden, but you may have to work harder to get the bureaucrats to agree.

Rainwater tanks are still a familiar site in rural areas. But they can also be used in urban locations on a smaller scale for use on plants, cars and/or the toilet. The Ministry of Health recommends mains water supply is used instead of rainwater for drinking and food preparation where it is available, but presumably they enjoy that hint of chlorine taste. Install a water filter for peace of mind, keep your roof and gullies clean and remember where your water comes from when considering using any anti-fungal sprays or paints up there.

Sustainable lifestyles — No Comments
7
Jan 10

How green is your garden?

July, 2007

If you find your garden is more about battling with nature than harmony with it, why not try some of these environmentally friendly ideas?

Don’t just grow grass – grow food! Fill a handy tub or two with a kitchen herb garden to add a fresh touch to the air and to your cooking. A few home grown organic veggies can be a real source of satisfaction, and not just for the stomach. It cuts down on the fossil fuels used to get your dinner to your plate and can be a healthy educational pastime for the kids.

Go native! Growing native plants helps bring back New Zealand’s natural treasures. Because these plants evolved to deal with local conditions, they generally require less pest control, fertiliser and watering. Whether it’s the iconic kowhais, pohutukawas, kauris, or lesser known species, check out what you have the space and conditions for.

Store your own rain clouds. Plants don’t need grade-A drinking water. They do just fine with rain from the roof or the remains of your bath. These are also fine for washing your car. Covered tanks and water butts reduce demand on local supply systems which are expensive and put pressure on the environment. To avoid wastage, don’t use sprinklers. Soak the base of plants early in the day or in the evening when things are cool.

If you can’t be bothered to dig, don’t bother! Organic no dig gardens are a great solution on heavy clay or very poor, silty soils. Clear a sunny spot, build a 1.2m wide sturdy box about 40-45cm high from rot resistant timber, brick or concrete blocks. Add several thick layers of old newspaper to the bottom. Add a layer of clean, weed free straw up to about one third of the height of the box. Fill the rest with a mixture of good weed-free soil and high quality compost. With small openings for your seeds, and a little care and attention you should get healthy plants, with no weeds, no sweat.

Waste not want not. Load a 3ft by 3ft heap or bin with a balanced mixture of ‘brown’ carbon rich material, like dried leaves, straw, and wood chips, and ‘green’ nitrogen materials like fresh grass clippings and kitchen scraps. Properly managed, it becomes soil improver in a month. Leave gaps in your stack or turn it, and keep it moist and warm.[i] For health, hygiene, and ease you shouldn’t compost meat, fish, dairy products, oils, pet waste, coal or coke ash, disposable nappies or this magazine (surely you would keep it forever?)

Avoid using peat. Another advantage of making your own compost you can be absolutely sure it’s not being dredged out of valuable wildlife areas, unlike certain soil improvers we could mention…

Put your worms to work. Wormeries use less space than compost, get rid of kitchen scraps faster, and give your kids something to scare their friends with. You need a container about one square foot for every pound of waste, with drainage holes drilled in the bottom. Fill two thirds with well-soaked shredded cardboard or paper. Add a pound of redworms (Eisenia foetida) for every half pound of waste, load your container up slowly, and keep it moist and warm.

Live and let live. Careful planting, physical barriers, organic pesticides and night time slug-spearing removes the need for chemical pesticides which may harm your health, the environment, and the birds and insects which help control garden pests. You need to be vigilant, get in early and keep a tidy garden to be successful. But you can also get ahead by selecting non-genetically modified disease resistant plants from the outset.

Turn off the gas guzzlers. Do you really need all those noisy power tools coughing pollutants into your fresh air? Less lawn means less mowing. What doesn’t grow vegetables can become orchard, or beautiful wildflower pasture. If you really love a little lawn, consider cutting it with an electric or manual push mower.

Get rid of the patio heater, or remove the gas canister and turn it into a bird feeder. The great irony is that their seemingly futile mission, to heat up the entire outside world, may actually succeed if enough of us keep using them. But the devastating effects of climate change would make this cold comfort indeed. Put a jumper on. It’s not cool to be hot at the rest of the world’s expense.

Solar lighting is now a familiar sight in Kiwi gardens. Spending a little more on units that will last ensures the environmental benefits are not cancelled out with frequent replacement.

Go visiting! Gain inspiration and ideas by visiting open gardens, garden centres and organic centres near you. Many of them have wildlife walks and cafes so you can make a day of it. Or join up with friends and neighbours who are green gardening and swap growing tips, recipes and food to form a real link between your community and your land.

Make it fun. Spending time in the garden is such a great low energy using pastime. Make sure your landscaping and design includes plenty of nooks and crannies for the family to get away from it all.