9 Ways To Save The Planet

Reports on climate change can leave us feeling helpless in the face of a global-warming catastrophe. But there’s plenty we can do to lessen our individual impact on climate change. Here’s what we all need to know...

- Stacey Love

1 Could changing my home windows help?

Yes – a lot. Double-glazed windows are better insulated, so less heat escapes in winter, and cool air in summer. Using fewer air-cons, fans and heaters could save you 25% on energy spending a year. Plus, when you use less power, you reduce the toxic fumes released by power plants and help conserve natural resources like fossil fuels. In SA’s bid to promote greener living, the new legislation states that if a home’s glass windows or doors make up over 15% of its floor area, they must be energy efficient.

2 Are my beauty products harmful?

Palm oil is the world’s most widely traded veg oil, found in face cream, lipstick, even foods like certain chocolates. Millions of hectares of forest in Southeast Asia have been cut down and replaced with palm-oil plantations, devastating animal species and releasing millions of tonnes of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. So, what can you do? Check labels for palm oil-free products, or look for products using RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certified palm oil, whose producers must adhere to strict guidelines.

3 Are solar panels for me?