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  Today Online 21 Apr 07
How 3 local 'greenies' walk the eco-talk

His movie The Inconvenient Truth may have boosted awareness of climate change, but the revelation that Al Gore's electricity use was more than 20 times that of the average American household's earned him accusations of not walking the talk.

His total gas and electricity bill for 2006 — for his 20-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion — was a whopping $30,000. How do our own green champions fare?

We put them to the test ahead of Earth Day, which falls on Sunday.

Associate Professor Simon Tay, chairman of National Environment Agency
House type 1,500 sq-ft (built in) corner terrace with a large garden, 3 residents
Average utilities bill $70-80
Green measures
• Recycles water from the washing machine for floor washing
• Uses baskets for paper waste that are separate from rubbish
• Uses a Toyota Prius, a hybrid car that runs on a petrol engine and an electric engine

Dr Geh Min, president of Nature Society S'pore
House type Over 5,000 sq-ft detached bungalow, 5 residents
Average utilities bill $2,000
Green measures
• Do not have a washing machine
• Turn off all the main switches when household gadgets are not in use
• Switch on the air-conditioner very rarely and at temperatures not lower than 25°C

Mr Edwin Khew, chairman of Sustainable Energy Association of S'pore, Nominated Member of Parliament
House type 3,600 sq-ft condominium unit, 3 residents
Average utilities bill $200-300
Green measures
• Use energy-efficient bulbs where possible for lighting fixtures
• Plastic boxes are never thrown away but re-used around the house
• Never leave any device on standby mode

Today Online 21 Apr 07
No need to sacrifice the comforts of home

THE weather system is in a tailspin: The world is getting hotter, drier, wetter and colder all at once. And the blame falls squarely on our shoulders, says the Inter- governmental Panel on Climate Change. With the growing urgency of climate change, and the increasing affordability of green technologies, some families have taken steps to go green at home – without sacrificing too much of those human comforts we've come to love.

Mr Bobby Han, 41, energy consultant
House type 2,900 sq ft semi-detached, 7 residents
Average utilities bill $200
Green measures
• Rainwater-harvesting system that channels rainfall into one storage tank for his fishpond and another for flushing toilets
• Energy-efficient LED lights
• Maximised natural light with strategically-located windows, glass roof tiles, and light reflecting ducts
• Minimal use of air-con
• Such measures cost only about 5 per cent more than had he done it conventionally.

Mr Fabian Foo, 41, executive director of WWF International (S'pore)
House Type 1,700 sq ft, west-facing condo, 4 residents
Average utilities bill $130 to $170
Green measures
• Heat-resistant panels on windows keep indoor temperature to 30°C even on the hottest of days.
• Inverter air-conditioners with minimum-run wiring, and thermometers in each room to monitor the temperature, ensure that while they are turned on almost every night, the utilities bill remains below average
• Range of energy-efficient and LED lights
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Related articles on Singapore: general environmental issues
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