Spring- Making a difference!

For many it has felt like a long, cold winter and although our problems won't just vanish in a day, let us pause to consider today, the beginning of Spring! A time when nature starts to blossom and out of the dry vegetation comes new green shoots and radiant new flora! Let us choose today to cling to the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead and build a better future. As we build this future, we are reminded by nature that it is not only there to inspire but also critical to our very existence. As individuals or corporates, property owners or tenants lets consider how we can act sustainably and build a future that we are proud of and one that our children's children can still enjoy.

This month we reached out to an expert in biodiversity, Anita Rautenbach (Pr. Sci. Nat) from Rautenbach Biodiversity Consulting and asked her what we can practically do to reduce our "carbon footprint".

"CO₂ produced by humans is the largest contributor to global warming, it is important to understand how we, as individuals contribute towards global warming. Today, the term "carbon footprint" is often used to describe the amount of Carbon dioxide an individual (or company, industry, activity, service, or event) directly (e.g., driving your car to the store, using electricity) or indirectly contributes to climate change in one year; it's their environmental impact. 

So, the question is, what can we as individuals do to contribute to the overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions? There are many simple activities we can easily incorporate in our daily lives to reduce our carbon footprint in our fight against climate change which include, but are not limited to the following: 

- Increasing the use of public transport, ride-sharing/carpooling, or the use of more fuel-efficient cars will reduce the amount of petrol burned in transportation. 

- Increasing the efficiency of electricity usage at home or businesses. For example, turning off lights when they aren't needed will decrease the amount of coal burned in electricity production. 

- Unplug electronics when they are not being used. Even when electronic devices are switched off, they still consume some power if they are plugged into a wall socket. 

- Dry your clothes outdoors. Tumble driers use a lot of electricity. 

- Grow your own vegetables. It's so easy to drive to the supermarket to pick up some fresh vegetables. But have you ever stopped to consider how far all the produce has been transported and how much Carbon dioxide has been released into the atmosphere as a result? 

- Switch to LED lightbulbs. Replace your old lightbulbs with more energy-efficient LED ones. If you can't afford to change all your lightbulbs in one go, start by switching the ones in the rooms you use the most. 

- Purchase energy-efficient appliances. Most of the modern appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, etc. tend to use less energy than their older counterparts. 

- Consider installing a solar system as an alternative to fossil fuel produced electricity to reduce carbon emissions. 

- Conserve water. Producing potable water consumes large amounts of energy and effort to get the water to your home. It must be processed and pumped, which adds to our country's carbon footprint. 

- Take a shower instead of a bath. 

- Repair all leaky water pipes. 

- Start collecting rainwater to water your garden. 

- Water garden with greywater. 

- Avoid synthetic fertilizers. Most store-bought fertilizers are loaded with nutrient boosting nitrogen which produces Nitrous oxide emissions. These fertilizers also require much energy to produce and transport. This means the purchase of one bag will up your personal carbon footprint significantly. 

- Start composting food scraps and lawn clippings. Compost is the perfect solution to the fertilizer problem. By composting food and yard scraps at home you are both reducing the amount of waste transported to landfills or sent to incinerators, you are also creating some nutrient-rich soil that can be used to feed your garden. 

- Use planters and containers made from upcycled materials instead of creating demand for virgin materials. Reuse something old as a planter. 

- Plant only indigenous plants in your garden; these plants are used to your local climate and require less care than exotic species."

The evidence for climate change is overwhelming, however, in the wake of the very tough period that many have gone through over 2020-2021, it is completely understandable the environmental impact is not at the front of minds. However, on this new Spring Day let us choose to take action and make a difference in what we can do, be it big or small, and ultimately pave the way for a better future for all. We at Wakefields Property Management would like to wish you all a happy Spring Day, may your future be filled with hope and possibilities!