User talk:Ecolee

“Ways and means of making existing homes and buildings more Eco­friendly”

Rural areas have a beautiful heritage of antique structural monuments so called homes (roof top's). These work­-of­-arts are the green homes seen throughout.

In the minds of yesterday, such relatively Eco­-friendly monuments, considered as 'primitive boxes of mud', are being replaced by much more sturdy but not­-so­-advanced structures called buildings or storeyed houses. Today's minds will definitely consider them obsolete, and design something having more modern goods, being selected for their efficiency.

But not all would want an upgrade in structure every time as they would stick to the very famous say “Old is Gold”.

But this very famous say, too has it's disadvantages that increase the carbon footprint of whoever follows it for every thing around.

The roof top houses doesn't require much modification as it is quite green, holding up the title “Old is Gold”, but not quite.

Starting with the electricity system itself, these houses are the best museums of most­ outdated and still-­in­-use wiring; switches; switchboards; old fans and TV/radio sets; and gallery lit up by that 60W bulb. These are those things that glitter but ain't Gold. Using such fools-­gold, will definitely start gnawing holes in all your pockets. Although they look like a priced & antique possessions, they have a bigger footprint. Old gadgets consume more power than new ones.

The only alternative is upgrade the supply system from wiring to gadgets step­-by­-step. The new wiring, switches, and boards will reduce transmission losses and overheating. Much more powerful fans are available these days which work longer without sacrificing electricity. New modern TV sets and radio have low wattage, enhanced display ensuring peaceful entertainment. And not forgetting to replace that hanging 60W fellow with a 11W CFL bulb with no change in intensity. Soon enough you will see your gnawed hole, saved by a stitch than nine.

Moving on to the pre­historic chamber, the kitchen, having the famous hearth on which vessels are kept and fired up also warming the adjacent vessel too, working as a 2­in­1. It also has a provision for holding up a giant, one­-of­-a­kind copper vessel for heating water for bathing. But this all comes at a price. Firewood used is well & good if obtained from by­products. Air pollution is caused because of sooth from burning, usually causing breathing difficulties and chocking, also contributing to total pollution. This can definitely be revamped by cutting down on firewood dependencies and switching over to LPG gas or even induction table. If one has cattle too, then one can invest in a small gobar­gas system in the backyard and use it to heat water. You will even get a subsidy by the government for this system. If an open yard is available without any shade usually along coastal belt, solar kits can be immensely used for water­heating and even cooking and power generation. The roofs of such houses are well renowned throughout for their room­cooling capabilities. High roofs allow convection of air and clay tiles enable swift cooling. The houses have a very high and joint roof providing a larger surface area. This valuable surface can be efficiently used for rain­water harvesting, especially for a rain­ blessed area. This rain water can be used to replenish wells and even can be stored for use during summer.

Speaking of wells; spotting it isn't uncommon in the vicinity of every rural house. Most use an electric pump to draw water from the well. You got to use it when your hands are full, but it's a bad habit. It can be understood that Ol' Grandma can't do it any more, but for the others; drawing water can do serious build­up to the deltas in the back muscles. Hand pumps can also be geared up to get water up the pipes. May be one can even use a small solar pump to do it rather.

Using grandma's stone grinder called the “roggdo”, to crush delicious spices together is rather pleasing than that blender-jar going vroom.

Using the mud pot for storing water shows a remarkable way of cooling water.

The washing stone makes sure stains go although one can upgrade to an efficient washing machine and the broom was the best invention to get dust off the floor even though the world moved on to the humble vaccum-cleaner.

It is common to see waste water from wash basins throughout the house aren't connected to the drain but overflow into bunds enclosing these shrubs and trees. It's not intelligence but insane. The same waste water can seep into a ground­water­ reservoir near by, polluting it. The same goes to the open primitive sanitary system commonly build for such houses. Taking a municipality sewage line or constructing an underground septic­ tank should do the job.

One thing about a rural house is that most are encompassed by a lot of greenery. A good thing about that, but maintaining it is the important bit. Growing more shrubs and trees will definitely save you the money for another fan, besides getting wonderful goods from them.

Being surrounded by vast amount of shrubs and trees, shows an advantage as all organic waste collected beside the cooking area in a bucket of water, is put for all plants as a source of rich manure. Hence the net garbage disposed will have less than 5% of organic matter. Too bad all people do not own such houses where there is very less to make green, nor can they buy one any more.

It isn't right to curse for not having one.

It's no use trying as it would be mere fantasy owning a place in Pearl River Tower, hence tips are needed to modify ones own residence to make it more green than ever before.

In flats and bungalows, there is no much need of changing wiring system, but a need to keep an eye on the gadgets hooked up to it.

The not-­so­-advanced homes keep a variety of handy­-dandy gadgets to carry out house work effectively, but not efficiently.

One such gadget is the old­-fashioned ceiling fan. You may not realize but it seems to be absorbing a little more power than expected. The best way to avoid such unnoticed theft is by updating it's speed regulator and lubricating it. All it does is, blow higher-level air down. During summer it poses a great problem as the risen air is hot which blows down again.

This puts in a new gadget on the list: the honorable AC. Using thermodynamic principles, it only puts a load on the power line besides cooling. Sitting with the refrigerator door open isn't the option, but using it only when all need it, is the idea. For self­-satisfaction one can always use the modern ceiling fan or even wall mounted fans which zoom air much faster.

Next on list is the washing machine. Most will definitely have that rattler as it sounds. Previous washing machines used more than two times the water needed to wash away dirt than today's. Especially semi­automatic, where you got to use buckets of water for a single rinse not forgetting additional detergent. Then all the water is spinned out to the drain with your money as well because you will have to spend double for a double use. The best way to half the demands for washing clothes is using a automatic washing machine which uses half the amount detergent, water, and power; without leaving clothes dirty.

There is one which all need. That is LPG gas stove. No much chances to that but only get more efficient burners and make sure they are cleaned. Induction tables also can be used. Using pressure cookers and covering utensils while cooking does benefit on saving gas. Occasionally changing the model of vessels especially pans designed for distributing heat evenly or which cook faster does give a plus point. Even using an electric rice cooker does help a lot too.

The humble water­heater is one that really needs improvement. Always prefer a storage type rather than direct geysers. The later draw much more power than those which store and supply. Selecting storage water heaters should be based on wattage, efficiency, and heat retaining capacity.

The bathroom is one place anyone won't visit when there is shortage of water. Cuboid tanks can be used specially in flats. Cisterns too should be changed to water saving models having double flush. Switching to foam taps reduces flow of water, reducing excess spillage. Short showers using hand­held hoses do cut water consumption. Not many are familiar with the vacuum cleaner. All it does is suck­up dust and debris from the floor surface which could have been easily done be the invention: broom. Using a vacuum will be only giving more trouble than it seems as you got to push it into corners.

For those cooks at home, an oven does help cook fat­-free appetizers. But using an electric ­oven like the OTG's use handsome amount of power only for the pre­heating part. Advancing to the microwave not only reduces time but saves power used for pre­ heating. Microwaves only heat water molecules cooking entirely the food without it's container, a much efficient way. A few may use dishwashers and chimneys which only waste electricity. Dishes can be washed by oneself and who needs an electric chimney when you can let heat out a window.

Only one thing is to be made sure of, that is the energy efficiency rating by BEE commonly known as the STAR­-rating. More the number of stars, better savings on power. Leaving PC's, TV's and other gadgets on standby utilizes more than half the amount of power. Make a habit of putting OFF fans and lights when you're leaving.

A car consumes more fuel during a quick restart; not a fan. Examine period of mobile charging. Avoid leaving them ON for an extended period which harms battery and consumes more power. Use an alarm give warning about it.

Buildings and bungalows generally are build with an underground septic­tank, so no much thought is needed to be given about sanitary system on a domestic scale. But because of modern habits, the content of inorganic waste has increased drastically. It generally includes E­waste, plastic, glass, paper, etc. Waste cannot be reduced much but can be segregated. E­waste can be recycled. Paper, glass, and some plastic containers always can be sold the the scrap collectors or “kabhadi wallas” who occasionally visit localities. The remaining plastic can be segregated from the other waste and dumped separately especially medicines and tube­lights. Building's society clubs must employ special bins for playing a part to help segregation of solid waste. And last but not least; may it be bungalows, may it be flats; but growing plants is the best. Most bungalows have an open yard which provide a good suitable location for potted plants. Flats have a gallery to do so but all don't. Not to worry because window grills provide the perfect environment for potted shrubs. These shrubs provide flowers, vegetables, quite useful; which may reduce market demand by 25% to 50%. Shrubs also draw beautiful butterflies and birds, providing the best pleasures to the mind. Plants are known to produce oxygen, something to keep the air entering through the window fresher and cooler.

Using these means, one can make rural homes and buildings more green. All this contributes in reducing carbon footprint which helps saving environment and making homes and surroundings more sustainable and better place to live and work in. Each one's contribution may be small but size doesn't matter as a small change makes a big difference.

GO GREEN

(@t&#124;ee (talk) 15:47, 1 February 2012 (UTC))