Why Go Green?

Green is everywhere these days – in news, politics, fashion, technology and gardening.  That’s great, but being bombarded with a million messages from all sides can lead to “green fatigue” and make the messages a turn-off.

One can also get caught up in the little stuff (switching to organic food, using aircon wisely and recycling) and lose track of the big picture.  As globalization makes the world a smaller place, it becomes increasingly easy to see how the lives of people (and plants and animals and ecosystems) everywhere are closely synced up with one another.  So toys made in China can affect the quality of life in Europe, pesticides used in Argentina can affect the health of people in the United States, greenhouse gas emissions from Australia can affect a diminishing rainforest in Brazil.

The truth is that every single thing we do every day has an impact on the planet – for good or bad.  The good news is that as an individual you have the power to control most of your choices and, therefore, the impact you create: from where you live to what you buy and what products you use in your garden and household, can have a global impact.  For example, did you know that 25 percent of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from flora that come from the Amazon rain forest?  And that less than 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists?  These numbers suggest that we all have a large (and growing) personal stake in the health and vitality of places far and near.  In addition to protecting biodiversity and inspiring medicine, rainforests play a vital role in absorbing harmful air emissions and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The bottom line: It benefits everyone on the planet to help keep wild spaces alive and growing, whether you have a large South African Lowveld garden or live in a small city flat.  Embracing a greener lifestyle isn’t just about helping to preserve rain forests, it can also mean improving your health, padding your bank account and ultimately, improving your quality of life.  Why wouldn’t anyone want to go green?

Source: Lowveld Living Issue 23

If you are planning a new house or building or upgrading an existing one to be more eco-friendly, be sure to  consider incorporating water conservation systems and renewable energy such as solar water heater and solar panels.  Also consider using eco-friendly bamboo products– often longer lasting and less expensive than conventional materials.

Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems Mpumalanga offers water tank and rainwater tank installation, rainwater harvesting systems (see rainwater FAQ), grey water recycling  (see greywater FAQ) and water-saving devices for swimming pools and toilet flush systems (see product demo ).  Our WWF Award-winning water systems can be retrofitted or built into new buildings and can be adapted to small households or large business blocks, hospitals, schools, lodges & hotels.

Water Rhapsody has incorporated Yes Solar– official distributor of German-made Solsquare solar water heating systems that are installed by Eskom-accredited solar installers (our solar geysers are eligible for Eskom solar energy rebates).  We are authorized JoJo Water Tank dealers and Atlas Plastics water tank suppliers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province (best water tank prices in the Lowveld!).  We are also able to supply sanitary hardware such as waterless toilets through our JoJo Tanks and Atlas Plastics dealerships.

Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a solar water geyser, water tank or rainwater/gray water system.  South Africa now has eco-friendly insurance– another way to go green, switch to green insurance cover and reduce your carbon footprint today!