This month you simply must...Indulge with Savane, a certified organic and ethical luxury skincare range. Reducing their carbon footprint was the creators’ main aim, and so the product is encased in 100% recyclable aluminium and has ingredients such as marula, rooibos, aloe ferox, and baobab pulp (with 10 times more vitamin C than goji berries).
The Revolution: it’s green, but you can join it…
Property Magazine, July/August 2011
One cannot be tickled green, see green when angry or have a green Monday. Those expressions go to the more user-friendly colours – pink, red and blue, respectively. But don’t do away with green just yet, because with the rise of new urbanism, including energy efficiency, sustainability and the importance of reducing one’s carbon footprint, green is the coolest hue on the colour merry-go-round.
Welcome to our annual Green issue. Did you know the first use of green as a colour was in the year 700? The word is also closely associated with the verb ‘growan’, meaning ‘to grow’, and represents nature and new beginnings. Quite perfect, really, since this is also my debut issue as editor of The Property Magazine.This month we provide knowledge, tips and ideas aimed at inspiring you to live a more eco-inspired life. Look out for our leaf icon in the pages that follow – it indicates a green interest story.
‘Go green’ is the catchphrase of our time. People want to be seen as green; they want to be associated with green … And heaven help you if you don’t recycle! Living a green life is nothing new: former US Vice-President Al Gore emerged as the green cause’s foremost evangelist in 2006. Watching your carbon footprint is no longer just about separating your glass, paper and plastic, or building a worm farm in your back
garden. It’s no longer about taking your own shopping bag in lieu of the supermarket’s plastic ones or using energy-efficient light bulbs. All good practices, mind you – but nowadays it’s simply not enough.
You need to start from the bottom up, from the bricks and mortar of your home or workspace. Reuse the materials that you already own; install water efficient accessories and solar heating panels; and purchase from local suppliers.There are green building regulations, leases and, thanks to the earth-friendly Green Building Council of South Africa, Green Star ratings, in place to help you. And even better for all the green-blooded people out there, studies by the GBCSA have shown that people in green buildings suffer less from flu and asthma as a result of better ventilation and environmentally friendly paint and furniture.
To be honest,there will never be‘Green Rain’or Roxanne putting on the green light.And having a Mr Green in Reservoir Dogs just doesn’t have the same ring to it. But, that said, if you look at the immense success of the green movement, and a couple of green superheroes to boot, there is something to be said for the colour green and its powerful PR company. So if you have not already, why not jump on the ‘Save the Planet’ bandwagon and enjoy the ride.
This month you simply must…
Indulge with Savane, a certified organic and ethical luxury skincare range. Reducing their carbon footprint was the creators’ main aim, and so the product is encased in 100% recyclable aluminium and has ingredients such as marula, rooibos, aloe ferox, and baobab pulp (with 10 times more vitamin C than goji berries). +27 (0)11 447 6159, www.savaneskin.co.za