General

So…. the time has finally arrived for me to write my blog about the Benefits of Green Plumbing. Yay!!! No, not really (nervous face). The amount of anxiety that has been building up inside of me has been somewhat overwhelming, to say the least. I found myself googling “blogging for dummies”… yes, you heard me, that is exactly what I typed into Google’s search engine in hopes of coming across something that would calm me down and make my anxiety disappear. After a few minutes, I thought to myself… Nadia, you got this girl, how hard can it be?… so here goes. 🙂

Let us start at the beginning.

What is Green Plumbing?

Green Plumbing is the use of environmentally friendly (eco-friendly) plumbing that utilises the use of energy saving appliances, low-flow fixtures and new innovative technologies that are known for costing less and lasting longer. It involves reducing water usage, recycling water, as well as making use of resources that are more sustainable for everyday living.

Right… now that we have Green Plumbing summed up wouldn’t you agree with me that the “green” life is becoming a new trend and is rapidly gaining popularity every day which does make sense if we are wanting to preserve our environment and our planet? Speaking on a personal level as I have just had a baby… we all need to try to live a little “greener”, I know that I could do so much more to preserve our environment. We need to think about what the future will hold for our children and their children’s children if we do not make the necessary changes now.

So what are the Benefits of Green Plumbing?

1. Green Plumbing to Reduce Home Energy Use

• Insulate Pipes: Insulating your pipes helps to reduce the amount of heat loss as water travels from your heater to the faucet and can cut standby energy loss at your hot water heater as well, saving you even more on your utility bills.
• Remove Plumbing from Exterior Walls: By running pipes through conditioned spaces, you will reduce unnecessary heat loss caused by close proximity to cold outdoor temperatures.
• Install an On-Demand Hot Water Circulation Pump: You won’t lose heat as hot water unnecessarily sits unused in the pipes, and since you won’t have to run water at the faucet while you wait for hot water to arrive, you will reduce your water usage as well.
• Install a New Water Heater: Replacing an older unit with a new, high-efficiency one can have a big impact when it comes to reducing your home heating costs.

2. Green Plumbing for a Healthier Home

• Investigate your water supply: Since different water filtration and purification systems target different water quality issues, it is vital that you know what you are dealing with before you move forward.
• Install Chlorine Filters on Showerheads: Special chlorine filters installed in your showerhead can significantly reduce chlorine levels.
• Install a Whole House Water Filtration System: This makes for healthier water and helps to extend the life of water heaters and plumbing fixtures in areas that have high sediment levels in the water supply.
• Install Activated Carbon Filters or Reverse Osmosis Systems: Activated carbon filters are installed on faucets and shower heads to absorb pollutants, while reverse osmosis filtration systems are generally installed at individual sinks to provide purified water for drinking, cooking or brushing teeth.

3. Green Plumbing for a Better Environment

• Install Low-Flow Showers and Faucets: Low-flow showers and faucets can reduce home water usage by as much as 60%.
• Install Low-Flush Toilets: Flushing your toilet accounts for the single biggest water draw in your home, to the tune of about 28 gallons (105.99 litres) of water per person per day. A typical low-flush toilet uses anywhere from 2-5% less water per flush.
• Install a Home Leak Monitoring Device: Leaking pipes, faucets and toilets can account for literally thousands of gallons of wasted water every month.
• Install Faucet Flow Reducers: These easy-to-install flow reducers fit on the end of your faucets (where the aerator screws on) and can reduce faucet flow by as much as 40%.
• Install Energy-Efficient Appliances: Energy-efficient dishwashers and clothes washers can reduce water consumption by as much as 50%.

Well, now there you have it… Green Plumbing. Let us all try and live a little “greener”!!

If you would like to “Go Green”, please click here for Green Plumbing companies listed on our Leads 2 Business Directory.

Sources: http://www.mrgreenplumbing.com/what-is-green-plumbing/

http://www.plumbermyrtlebeach.com/benefits-of-green-plumbing/

https://www.rotorooter.com/plumbing-basics/fun-facts/green-plumbing/

About Nadia Milln

My journey at Leads 2 Business all started back in September 2014 as a content researcher in the Daily Tenders Africa Department. In March 2018 I was promoted to content researcher in the Private Project department. I am a fun loving, bubbly person and mom to a beautiful baby boy who is the absolute light of my life.

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Let’s talk about Environmental Celebrities

First of all, let’s start with the important. What is an environmentalist?

I am sure that half of you just shouted Tree Hugger! Or at least thought it.
So an environmentalist or otherwise known as an environmental activist is a person who works to protect the natural environment from destruction & pollution.

Now, who are the celebrities I mentioned earlier?

Leonardo Dicaprio
He created the Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation in 1998. He’s been part of environmental issues like access to clean water, disaster relief and prevention of biodiversity. He is currently on the following board of organisations: The World Wildlife Fund, Global Green USA and International fund for animal welfare. The documentary, The 11th hour gives an idea of earth’s problems and some interesting solutions for them.The documentary was made by Appian Way, a production company owned by Dicaprio. Filming of the documentary lasted for 4 years.

Akon
Growing up in a town without electricity Akon understands how dangerous it is to use toxic fuels and other pollutants for fires. Akon, along with a childhood friend Thione Niang who is associated with Samba Bathly, worked together to create Akon Lighting Africa in 2013. It took less than a year before they installed quality solar solutions, these include street lamps, domestic as well as individual kits. This happened in 14 African countries.

Maroon 5
Maroon 5 contribute to this cause by driving biodiesel-powered tour buses. They promote recycling at all their concerts. They also donate a portion of ticket sales to an environmental charity known as Global Cool. They support the Environmental media association, Kiva and Teen impact.

Brad Pitt
According to the U.S Green Building Council, Brad established “the largest, greenest single family community in the world”. He has his own foundation known as the Make it right foundation. The foundation is on track to finish 150 homes in New Orleans, all residences will sport environmentally friendly features.

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce serves on the boards of a couple of groups like Natural Resources, Defense council, California Coastal Protection network and Sea Shepherd. Brosnan was included into the Environmental Hall of Fame for his efforts in raising awareness against illegal whale hunting.

So it seems that only the men seem to be passionate about this situation, ladies come on! Although I would probably also just follow in these heartthrobs footsteps… But anyway, I think every individual can make an impact with a little initiative.

Sources:

http://richmondvale.org/celebrity-environmentalists/

http://richmondvale.org/what-is-an-environmental-activist/

https://www.cnbc.com/2012/04/13/15-Green-Celebrities.html?slide=5

https://www.cnbc.com/2012/04/13/15-Green-Celebrities.html?slide=7

https://www.cnbc.com/2012/04/13/15-Green-Celebrities.html?slide=11

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About Genevieve Smith

Genevieve Smith, I have been working at Leads 2 Business for just over a year now. I work in the Johannesburg office as an account coordinator.

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Have you ever wondered about Going Green but think “well it’s too expensive“ or “too time consuming”… Well, I have done some research into this and found that it’s easier than we think, here are 10 simple ways to go green.

1) Recycled Polystyrene – Ever wondered what happens to all those polystyrene cups we use …? well there are actually companies that recycle these items and manufacture lightweight building blocks. These blocks have so many benefits, namely, its superior insulation and it’s lightweight so transportation is much easier and more cost effective, it’s also fireproof, water resistant as well as soundproof. This product has so many benefits I wonder why so few people know about it as it’s super cost effective too…

Did you Know the New Table Bay Mall is being built using 15 tons of Recycled Polystyrene? For details on this Project, see PPA 16176 and 16177

2) ECO friendly / Green Paints – Many people only know about the traditional paints we use and the big names like Plascon, Dulux etc however interestingly enough there are ECO friendly paints out there, they have so many benefits i.e. non toxic and odourless so very effective for use in hospitals, schools etc, you even get waterproofing paints which are ideal for ponds etc. They are fire retardant too as well as flexible, they have so many benefits it’s surprising that these paints are not as common as the other major brands.

3) Energy Star Products – Most of us have seen the Energy Star label on our computers. Ever wondered what the energy star label on your appliance is there for? .. well, I have just learnt that it’s for energy efficient appliances, which means that these products have been independently certified to save you energy without sacrificing the features or functionalities of the product.

4) Light Bulbs – Changing your light bulb to a fluorescent or LED energy saving one helps protect the environment as well

5) Rainwater harvesting – By collecting rain water from roof tops and gutters you can accumulate more than enough water to wash cars, water gardens and top up swimming pools and ponds. Companies like Jo-Jo have a wide variety of products to suit your needs for rainwater harvesting

6) Grey water usage – Did you know that on average a toilet uses approx 5 litres of water per flush, if an average household of 4 people flush the toilet only 5 times a day, you can use 100 litres of water just on flushing the toilet, however, if you were to collect shower or bath water for flushing, you would knock off a minimum of 3 000 litres off your bill every month. Next time you run the bath for the kids think again before lifting the plug and letting the water go down the drain. Collect your washing machine water in tanks or buckets and water the garden or even flush the toilet with that. There are so many creative ways to save water, you can even get fancy and get pumps to pump the grey water to where you need or you can skip the gym and carry buckets around …

7) Energy efficient windows – I have never really thought about this before but did you know that your windows can account for approximately 30% of your heat loss during winter and heat gain during summer. Some very clever people have made double glazed windows which is basically two pieces of glass in a window pane with a very tiny gap in-between that traps air which, assists with Insulating the window’s, so next time you have to replace a window consider going this option, it will definitely save you on the heating/cooling costs of your property.

8) Solar – Now by now we are all pretty much clued up / familiar with solar energy, you can either install a solar geyser of solar panels to go partially off the grid or even completely off the grid. There are so many companies out there which can assist one with solar installations and although it might be a bit costly initially, in the long run, it will definitely pay off. The only problem is when Eskom decides to do load shedding again, you might some pesky unwanted neighbours camping out at your place

9) Cleaning Supplies – We spend hundreds of rands every month on cleaning chemicals, now not only are they expensive but they are very harmful to the environment too. Ever thought of making your own cleaning chemicals? Here are some simple ways to do so –
– All purpose cleaner – 2 cups of water, ½ cup vinegar & 1 tsp bicarbonate soda
– Glass Cleaner – 1 cup white vinegar & 1 cup water
– Disinfectant – 1 cup water & 1 cup rubbing alcohol

If you are anything like me, you will add the rubbing alcohol or lemon juice to everything for a disinfectant. You can find plenty DIY cleaning material recipes in Pinterest.

10) Plastic bags – Well, now this one is probably more for the ladies as it’s regarding shopping, but the men might want to know as well as this will save you more…

Did you know that a normal plastic shopping packet can cost between 30c and 60c? What do you do with that packet afterwards, do you keep them in the car for the next shop, but they tear so easily? Why not buy shopping bags, the sturdy ones that Spar, Pick n Pay and Woolworths sell. Yes, they are more expensive ranging from R12 to R40 but they last longer and will save you money in the long run. Also, some of these shops donate a portion to various wildlife funds.

Thank you for taking the time to read my Blog I hope that you found it interesting.

Good luck Going Green…

Sources:

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/top-15-green-home-building-techniques-and-ideas.php

http://www.lafarge.co.za/Ultra_Light_Brochure_01.pdf

About Jennifer Ellis

I Started working with Leads 2 Business in 2007 and been based in Port Elizabeth as a Senior account Executive. I oversee the Subscriber base in the Port Elizabeth and surrounds region as well as some National subscribers.

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According to statistics recorded from August 2008 to July 2009, South Africa has 852 wastewater management plants. The question is though how many of those plants are still fully functional and how many work efficiently and fulfill their vital process? Below I will describe what the wastewater management process is as well as discuss some of the challenges faced.

Source

What is waste water management?

Wastewater management is an extremely important process that removes all the harmful components that may cause diseases from ‘sewage’ (as most South Africans would call it) water, in order to reproduce usable water again

• Alarming fact: Around 289,000 children under the age of five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That’s almost 800 children per day, or one child every two minutes.

Source

Steps to Wastewater Treatment:

1. Collection

• This is the first step whereby the municipality collects water through the collection system in place so that it all comes to and from a central point. (Drainage systems) Thereafter the wastewater is directed to the treatment plant.

2. Odor Control

• This is an extremely important step due to wastewater having many substances in that cause a stench over time and if not controlled it can affect the surrounding areas. Chemicals are used to reduce the smell.

3. Screening

• This is where all large objects are removed, such as nappies, sanitary towels, face wipes or earbuds as this may damage the equipment. This waste is transported to landfills once removed.

4. Primary Treatment

• This is where the macrobiotic (larger particles to be broken down) solid matter is removed. Wastewater is then transferred into tanks where the ‘sludge’ then settles on the surface in order to be removed by scrappers, moved to the centre and then extracted for further treatment

5. Secondary Treatment

• In this process, air is added to activated sludge (sewage containing micro-organisms) in order to further break down the particles. Air is pumped into tanks and mixed with the sludge. The oxygen consumes the remaining particles which cause the large particles to settle at the bottom of the tank. Wastewater passes through for a period of 3-6 hours

6. Bio-Solids Handling

• The solid matter gets directed to digesters which are heated to room temperature and treated for a month. Methane gases are produced which form nutrient rich bio-solids, this methane can be recycled and be used as a source of energy.

7. Tertiary treatment

• This stage has the ability to remove 99% of the impurities and is able to produce water at the standard of drinking but is extremely expensive and requires high skill and equipment as well as steady electrical supply, which we know is not readily available at this point.

8. Disinfection

• The water needs to be treated for at least 20-25 minutes in chlorine and sodium hypo chloride to remove the last bit of disease causing organisms. This is an integral part, hereafter the water is released for use.

Now that we have that long process out of the way, phew! We look at the fact that our water is not up to standard.

In a report, the DWS stated that there are extremely high levels of sewer pollution in our water due to the fact that we have dysfunctional treatment plants. How does this happen? I mean, I feel exhausted just reading that process, but it is pointed out how important each step is! Well… the following factors come into consideration: Plants are being poorly maintained, communities are growing at a rapid rate and infrastructure falling behind so these plants are operating above their capacity causing them to be overloaded.

Source

Carte Blanche also recently did a program on the state of the treatment plants where they were following up on previous discussions they had had and most of these plants had failed because either nothing was done, or a facade was put up for a few months and then the plant returned back to normal or even worse than before.

Source

Now my question is, how does this get resolved? Number one priority, in my opinion, is for these plants to firstly have some major upgrades done on them but obviously, that’s easy to say if you take the financial aspect out of it. Where should this money come from…

There are definitively some organisations trying to make a positive change and implement strategies and projects in order to succumb these challenges so feel free to check out the links for a positive change.

Sources:

The Process:

http://www.infrastructurene.ws/2013/05/24/wastewater-treatment-plants-in-south-africa/

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/process-of-wastewater-treatment.php

The sad Truth:

http://www.infrastructurene.ws/2016/05/10/sas-waste-water-treatment-works-in-bad-shape/

http://www.infrastructurene.ws/2016/02/22/municipalities-rated-on-wastewater-management/

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/the-reality-of-south-africas-wastewater-treatment-technology-2014-04-22

https://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0ahUKEwio0J3G5MzVAhWHK8AKHZVxAWQQFghLMAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dwaf.gov.za%2Fevents%2FMunicipalIndaba%2FSanitation%2F05SustainableWasteWaterTreatment.pdf&usg=AFQjCNH2u9N_6ZGlxTZIGazY16Q0V7PFCg

https://mg.co.za/article/2010-04-29-report-reveals-rotten-state-of-sas-sewage-plants

http://www.wateraid.org/what-we-do/the-crisis/statistics

Let’s bring back Positive change!

http://www.infrastructurene.ws/2017/01/10/tackling-africas-poor-wastewater-management-and-sanitation/

http://afrilinkwater.co.za/

About Angelique De Freitas

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Consulting Engineers are professionals that provide independent expertise in engineering and associated fields to developers and construction firms, industries and governments.

There are various disciplines within the term Consulting Engineers. We will cover a few of the Built Industry engineering field:

Environmental Engineers are involved in air and water control pollution, public health issues, recycling and waste disposal. Environmental engineers develop regulations to prevent mishaps and conduct hazardous-waste management studies in which they evaluate the significance of the hazard, advise on its treatment and containment. The environmental engineers develop technically sound solutions with regards to improving and/or maintaining environmental quality, optimising the utilisation of resources and complying with the public policy. The engineer functions as a technical advisor in policy making and legal deliberations provide technical evaluations of systems and develop management schemes for resources. Through the work of environmental engineers; individuals and businesses understand how to coordinate interaction with the environment and protect natural resources.

Civil Engineers design the built environment and manage the natural environment. They plan, design, and construct civil works like highways, bridges, water and wastewater systems, tunnels, dams and buildings.

Structural engineering is a branch of civil engineering. A vast amount of what structural engineers do involves designing structures such as buildings, tunnels, bridges, etc. The majority of structural engineers work as consultants to architects or turnkey contractors.

Electrical Engineers design and develop electrical and electronic circuits and devices, power, systems control, signal processes and communications.

Mechanical Engineers are involved in the design, manufacture, and testing of almost every product of modern society. Mechanical Engineering applies fundamental principles of mechanics to design.

The Oldest Profession…

A medical doctor, an engineer, and a management consultant were arguing about what was the oldest profession in the world.

The doctor started… “Well, in the Bible, it says that God created Eve from a rib taken from Adam’s body. This must have required surgery, and so I can claim with a high degree of confidence that mine is the oldest profession in the world.”

The engineer responded, and said, “But earlier in the book of Genesis, it states that God created the order of the heavens and the earth from out of the chaos. This was the first and certainly the most impressive application of civil engineering. Therefore, dear doctor, you are wrong: mine is surely the oldest profession in the world.”

The management consultant leaned back in his chair, smiled, and then said confidently, “Ah, but who do you think created the chaos?”

Sources:

https://www.egr.msu.edu/future-engineer/what

https://www.bae.ncsu.edu/academic/environmental_work.php

About Lana Ignjatovic

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When it comes to Heating and Cooling systems, size matters.

It may not matter for some things, but for one’s well-being and wallet, it is critical.

Air conditioning is now almost seen as a standard piece of equipment in most homes and businesses. We don’t necessarily think about it because some of us are fortunate enough to live in a home with a cooling system and most businesses have air conditioning.

Cooling technology has advanced to improve our comfort and health.

Before air conditioning, our homes and work places were very hot in the summer. In the heat of the summer, homes and offices, even large warehouses and the like were not the comfortable, cool sanctuary they are today. To catch a cool breeze was not very easy as most (if not all) closed-up homes were too hot and uncomfortable. Windows were opened as much as possible to provide some ventilation to the building.

Air conditioning was first installed residentially in 1914. The unit was 7 feet high, 6 feet wide and 20 feet long! Obviously, the size of the system was quite costly and only could be installed where space was ample. Wealthy people with large homes were really the only ones who could access it.

Early air conditioners were loud, the efficiency was poor and were expensive to operate.

Air conditioning manufacturers have taken great strides to develop efficient cooling technology and convenience with seemingly endless equipment choices.

Air conditioning has also become more environmentally friendly as research has shown that Freon is linked to ozone depletion, currently, the R-22 refrigerant is being phased out and environmentally-friendly R401A refrigerant is the new standard.

Air conditioning systems have become much more affordable over the years, leading to their widespread use in the world all over. Today, more than 80 percent of homes and businesses in the world have an air conditioning system. The addition of the air conditioner has changed architecture, making it possible to have windowless buildings and dwellings without patios.

Sources:

L2B Blog: Fresh ideas about airconditioning

About Chantélle Naudé

I have been with Leads 2 Business for 9 years, working in the Leads 2 Quotes department. Mother to two beautiful daughters.

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