South West CDC launches carbon offset checklist to address climate change

Channel NewsAsia 20 Jan 08;

SINGAPORE: To help residents better understand climate change, the South West CDC has launched a new carbon offset checklist.

The list spells out direct savings on electricity bills from simple lifestyle adjustments.

Many residents are weighing in to help save the environment.

For instance, Joan Chua from Bukit Batok had contributed over 240 kilogrammes (247.7kg) of paper for recycling last year. They included telephone directories, junk mails and unwanted papers from her workplace.

"The only difficult part is carrying it back from our workplaces. As we both do not drive, we actually have to carry it bit by bit. We actually have friends who are very supportive, they actually save things for us," she said.

And a record load of recyclables was collected during the mass recycling exercise last weekend. The recyclables added up to 56 tonnes of paper, 39 tonnes of clothing and 30,000 bottles and cans, almost 30 per cent more than what was collected previously.

Apart from recycling, residents are also encouraged to cut down on energy consumption with the help of a carbon offset checklist.

The South West CDC will also reach out to businesses in the area to adopt green measures. - CNA/ac

For a greener living space
CDC rolls out checklist to educate residents on saving the environment
Leong Wee Keat, Today Online 21 Jan 08

SET your air-conditioner two degrees warmer at 25°C — save $30 a year. Switch off mains, lights, fans and other electrical appliances when not in use — save $66 a year. Reduce your carbon footprint — priceless.

Saving the environment by focusing on the savings on electricity bills is how the South West Community Development Council (CDC) and the National Environment Agency is going about making climate change issues relevant for the average person.

The two agencies yesterday launched a carbon offset checklist, which consists of simple actions that residents in the district can do daily at home, the office and in the community. Residents could potentially save more than $500 a year, according to the CDC.

South West District mayor Amy Khor is confident the checklist would be popular with residents.

"With electricity prices rising, these are tangible benefits ... and simple things to do … not some abstract idea on climate change the man-in-the-street may not appreciate," said Dr Khor, who is also the senior parliamentary secretary for environment and water resources.

Another initiative to reduce utility bills is the Change-A-Bulb programme. About 17,200 energy efficient light bulbs were given last year to residents, including 6,000 needy families. Another 140 blocks in the district joined the programme yesterday.

Besides reducing carbon emissions, the light bulbs last 10 times longer than normal bulbs, and residents would save $66 a year on their bills, based on a daily six-hour usage of four bulbs.

The CDC, which hopes to create an eco-community in its district, has seen increased participation in schemes such as its annual "Trash for Groceries" mass recycling exercise.

This one-day drive, into its third year, collected the highest amount of recyclables yet — 56 tonnes of newspaper, 39 tonnes of clothing, 20,000 pieces of plastics and 10,000 metal cans — from around 2,000 residents last week.

Hong Kah North resident Koh Jian Ming, 25, carted away a trolley of instant noodles, rice and tissue paper after his family had recycled 201kg of old newspapers, 18kg of old clothing, 20 plastic bottles and an old vacuum cleaner.

The student said: "This programme is good as it benefits residents and the environment."

Save-save situation

• Avoid using standby mode for electrical appliances; save up to 10 per cent on utility bills

• Wash clothing at full load, choose a cold water cycle; save $150 in electrical bills a year

• Choose a 3-tick inverter aircon rather than a 1-tick non-inverter aircon; save about $290 a year

• Use an electric fan, not an aircon, for 8 hours a day; save $630 a year.