Tips and tricks
The Good Practices Handbook contains a lot of information on practical ways to reduce consumption of water and electricity, minimise pollution, make use of appropriate design techniques, and more.
Examples of many different systems which reduce water and
electricity consumption can be viewed at the Habitat Research
and Development Centre in Windhoek.
- Download a guide in plain English on how to improve Energy efficiency in building in Namibia (pdf 3.0 Mb)
- Read more about recycling in Namibia.
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| Robust and reliable water meters are essential in order to determine water use. Readings must be regular and accurate. |
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| A 2.5 metre deep swimming pool in the south east of Namibia would lose all of its water in a year through evaporation. |
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| Solar systems require substantial capital for the initial purchase, but cost savings make them worthwhile in the long run. |
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| Truck your waste back to the nearest municipal dump — this can be planned to coincide with a supply trip. |
Some tips that you may not know about:
- Install low flush toilet cisterns or place a rock in the cistern to reduce the amount of water per flush. (This reduces water used by about 3 litres per flush. Assuming four flushes per day of, for example, 13 toilets in a 10 room establishment, that's a saving of about 4,680 litres of water per month... that's a lot of water!)
- Rearrange your water and electricity reticulation. Install meters at critical points, read the meters regularly and see where your water and power is going.
- Reduce water wastage from a swimming pool by:
- Keeping it covered when not in use for extended periods
- Providing shade over it
- Using eco friendly water treatment methods, such as a salt chlorinator
- Using the backwash water to irrigate your gardens or pump it into a separate holding tank and use it to flush toilets in a grey water sanitation system
- Building a small deep plunge pool rather than a long lap pool - this reduces evaporation and is easier to shade, too.
- Inserting an aerator between the arm and the shower head (available from most hardware and plumbing stores) adds air to the water and reduces the flow, saving you water.
- Install electricity meters at staff accommodation and monitor their usage. Work out a plan to limit consumption and, ultimately, reward staff for efficiency and penalise for excessive usage.
- Rationalise vehicle trips to town, and take recyclable waste such as glass with you.
Read more in the Good Practices Handbook.
