Decorating responsibly

Homeowners are always trying to create the perfect setting when they renovate or redecorate. But that’s small scale - it’s time to think about your effect on the environment at the same time. Alex Frew McMillan reports.

Anyone who has ever been through the process will know that the simple decision to renovate involves small and complicated decisions over flooring, furnishings, finishes, faucets and even the kitchen sink.

Many of these decisions could be made in a more environmentally friendly way, earth advocates say. They encourage people who are redoing a property to think through their decisions and to buy wisely. Each decision may be made on a small scale, but it gets magnified when made by millions of Hong Kongers.

According to the most recent figures from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), compiled in the late 1990s, around 73 percent of all solid waste disposed of in Hong Kong stems from construction and demolition. So construction fills up landfills fast, as well as sometimes causing water, air and noise pollution.

To promote environmental thinking, a growing number of local stores are highlighting eco-friendly goods and suggesting environmental alternatives for common products used around the home and in renovations.

Consumers need to look out for wood products, including flooring and outdoor furniture, that came from properly managed forests.

There are a handful of organisations that certify forests, awarding their seal of approval only to those that operate in environmentally sustainable and friendly ways.

The WWF encourages homeowners to look for wood products that come from properly managed forests, and from producers certified by the Tropical Forest Trust, Pan European Council or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC offers both a forest-management certificate to producers and a chain of custody certificate to suppliers. It also certifies wood as recycled, if that is the case.

“We believe FSC certification offers the best evidence that the wood is from well-managed forests,” says Paul Day, Manager of home-improvement store B&Q, Kowloon Bay.

There is very little attention placed on the environmental effects of renovations and redecorations in Hong Kong, something the WWF is working to correct.

Lily Lee, the Timber Conservation Officer for WWF Hong Kong, advocates the use of alternatives to newly cut wood, such as wood that has been previously used for other purposes or that has been remade into composite wood.

Lee recommends looking for “post-consumer recycled material” that can be used as wood or wood fibre. If these products aren’t available or don’t suit your tastes, the FSC award shows that “100 percent of the wood comes from forests certified as environmentally and socially conscientious”.

According to the WWF, about 20 percent of all greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere every year, or around 1.6 billion tones, are caused by deforestation. That’s partly because trees are 50 percent carbon, so when they are felled or burned, they release carbon dioxide.

The environmental group says half of the world’s original forest cover has now been destroyed, most of the damage being done in the last 50 years. Every minute, the equivalent of 37 football fields of forest is felled and lost for good.

You can help by using recycled or composite wood in construction or renovation, the WWF says. You should also avoid several types of wood that come from endangered trees, aren’t farmed in an environmental way or take a long time to grow. Try not to use meranti, iroko, sapele, angre, mahogany, teak and ramin wood.

It is not only through the responsible use of wood products that homeowners can design more eco-friendly households. It makes sense both economically and ecologically to stock your home with energy-efficient appliances.

Refrigerators and air conditioners typically have an energy efficiency rating that is listed on a sticker at the store. Don’t buy one that doesn’t have an energy rating, environmental advocates say, and make sure you buy a product rated “1” or “2,” at the top of the scale.

Environmentally speaking, it’s also a good idea to start using electrical induction hobs as an alternative to gas cookers. The induction hob heats up the bottom of any pots and pans, transferring heat with efficiencies of up to 90 percent, and the cooking time is around one-third quicker than with conventional cookers, which also saves energy.

It’s now widely accepted that compact fluorescent light bulbs are a better alternative to incandescent bulbs, not only because they save a considerable amount of energy but also because they last around eight times longer. The longer life of the bulb helps offset its higher cost.

Although many homeowners may be put off by the idea of using fluorescent bulbs - which bring connotations of strip lighting and poorly lit offices - there is actually a wide range of bulbs available, in different wattages and hues, allowing homeowners to select a light with a “soft” look or a golden glow if they don’t want harsh white light.

Likewise, the WWF recommends switching your household cleaner, bathroom cleaner and any solution you use for unblocking drains or clogged pipes. Manufacturers in the United States, Taiwan and Singapore all make agents that are harmless to the environment, relying on enzymes that dissipate in water, whereas traditional cleaners and unclogging liquids often contain harsh chemicals and bleach.

It’s such little changes that can make a difference, particularly if they are put into place by Hong Kong’s 7 million people.

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