Double rainbow!

Figs

One fig, two figs, who knows what is going to happen next?

My very own strawberries

There may not be many, but they are way sweeter than any you can buy in a shop.

Fig!

Look at this. It's unbelievable! I just got this fig tree, newly planted, and it's already bearing fruit. Nature is truly remarkable.

Fresh figs

I got a fig tree! I know it's unlikely I'll get figs in my lifetime, but still. I am delighted.

First strawberry this year

Yum!

Energy saving IX

On this test, which I took quite seriously, I mean WWF is a known organization and Ikea is rather big, so I take it they have spent some time putting this together, I gave myself 104 points out of 120, i.e. 87%.

I believe this is a good result, and that few can compete with. However, I'm open to be challenged.

It seems like I can increase this percentage by eating more bio and more vegetarian stuff, but since I don't fully believe the "bio" label, I think that buying food and produce from local (or as local as possible) suppliers is more beneficial than if a "bio" product is imported from another country.

I am since about a year a satisfied customer of a Swiss egg company, that delivers fresh eggs every two weeks directly into my mailbox. Happy, freegoing chicken. Ok, I haven't exactly visited the farms, but hope that the Swiss label will be proof enough.

Further on, I have no car, which I understand is a big polluter, and wasn't even included in this "test". Probably because you almost always need a car to get to an Ikea store.

I have no bathtub, which also is a big energy waster. But mostly I am proud that I have reduced the indoor heating from about 22-23°C to 19-20°C this last year. As indoor heating stands for more than 70% of your average energy use, this is huge.

It's not to say I cannot do more, but I will struggle to improve. I do like my meat. But all in all, I'm pretty chuffed with my result.

Energy saving VIII

The last round is also on healthy lifestyle.

Curtains can reduce the heat loss with up to a third, and you add a nice atmosphere to the room.
I don't have that problem, since I live in a minergy house and have no loss of heat through the windows. top score 2, mine 2.

Dark blinds are ideal for room with direct sunlight. They reduce the light coming in and keep the room nice and cool in the summer. Through clever heating and cooling you can save a lot of energy and you also sleep better when it's dark.
Well, this issue doesn't exist in my home. Again, it's minergy and energy-reducing and I actually like the sunlight. I do have curtains in my bedroom, as to stop direct sunlight but otherwise I like a bit of light. And I have no problems sleeping.
My score 2 out of top score 2.

Grow your own food and spices. When you have gotten used to have access to fresh ditto, you wouldn't want to go back.
I agree on this, but there is only so much you can do without a garden. I have fresh spices and herbs in the summer, and I freeze some of it, to be used in winter. Not all plants can survive a Swiss winter though.
I gave myself 1 out of 2 top score on this.

In total my points 5 out of top score 6.

Energy saving VII

Moving on to healthy lifestyle.

Enjoy hiking and bike holidays in Switzerland or at a neighbouring country.
No problem here, since I very seldom leave zone 10 in Zürich. And I do enjoy hiking, and biking (in the comfort of my home). 5 points out of top score 5.

Eat seasonal bio products.
Hmmm. I'm getting much better in buying what's in season for the moment, but bio is not my thing. I don't trust the label. However, more and more products cannot be found other than with that "bio" label, so I give myself 3 out of top score 5.

Eat vegetarian, as often as you can.
Yikes. I do eat a lot of vegetables these days, but cannot see a quality of life without chicken, beef and pork, so 2 points out of top score 5.

Relax in the forest, mountains or the beautiful lakes in Switzerland.
Absolutely, couldn't agree more so of top score 5 I get 5+.

Enjoy being without electronic devices such as smartphone, computer and similar, and shut them off when not in use.
Not a problem, I have no smartphone (and sometimes even forget to switch on my antique mobile phone), and even though my computer is always on when I'm home, I do switch off everything when not at home or sleeping.
4 points out of top score 4.

Use fitness in daily life, like walk or bike to work, to the fitness center or to grocery shop, to your meeting.
No issue here, since I don't have any means of transportation. I walk to everything, or use public transportation. 4 points out of top score 4.

21 for me, top score 26.

Energy saving VI

Still on water.

You can save 567,812 liter of water in your life if you switch off the tap when you brush your teeth. Five people could fill an olympic pool.
I dunno how they come up with such a precise number, but I gave myself 2 points, same as the top score since I do this.

This one I'm a bit uncertain of, it's something about changing a bathroom water mix battery, but since I have modern equipment I chose top score on this, 3 points out of 3.

Recycle your medication, paint and other poisonous stuff, and don't flush it down the toilet, since it will pollute the water and increase the cost of cleaning it.
1 point out of 1 for me, I always give back medication to the pharmacies, recycle the paint at the trash place and I cannot think of any other poison, except for maybe Aceton which I occasionally use to remove nailpaint.

6 points for me, 6 points top score.

Energy saving V

Moving on to water.

Use rainwater when watering your plants.
This is so common sense that I don't know why I haven't thought of it before. So now I have a plastic container on the balcony, waiting for rain. Have to find a more suitable pot though, so that I easily can pour it into the water can. 1 point out of 1 top score.

Install aids to help save water.
Here I don't know what I can do more than is already done in a modern flat, so I chose to put a 2 out of 2 top score.

Buy textiles made of bio cotton.
Hmm, I chose to take 1 point of of top score 3 here, since I seldom buy things, but when I do, I don't look for bio.

Do not wash salad, fruit and veggies under running water, but in a bowl.
0 points out of 1 top score, since I do it under running water. However, I am quick. Besides, if I use a bowl that one has to be cleaned too.

Use warm water only when absolutely necessary. One liter of 40°C water has an impact on the environment between 60 and 100 times more than one liter of cold water.
This I do, except for now in winter when I tend to spend a minute extra in the shower under warm water, just because it's nice. 2 out of 3 top score for me.

Drink tap water.
No problem here, this is all I do, except for wine of course, so 2 points out of 2 top score.

8 out of 12 for me.

Energy saving IV

We're still on the trash theme.

Use cloths when cleaning more than once, i.e. avoid paper and wipes.
A no-brainer if you ask me. I even wash the cloths I use in the kitchen and for cleaning. 1 point out of 1.

Have recycle station in your house to make it easier to...well recycle.
I always have a carton on the balcony where I throw all cartons from food, cigarettes and toilet paper rolls carton in. When I see how many cartons I have on the street every month, in comparison to my neighbours I always win. And they have more people in their homes than I. I'm pretty sure it's not because I eat or smoke more. Smoke more yes, eat more no. 1 point for me, 1 top score.

Choose products you buy with less packaging, so that you get less trash.
I gave myself 2 points of out 2 on this one, but am a bit hesitant. Yes, I do rather buy minced meat at Coop where it comes in a plastic bag, rather than Denner and Migros with a plastic container, but I'm not sure how much less waste there is.

Check your fridge regularly, so that you put food in front that is about to go out.
Not a problem for me, since I am the sole eater from my fridge. 3 points out of 3.

Don't waste food. Food stays longer good if you use a plastic container, rather than plastic or aluminium foil. Use a transparent container so that you see what's in it.
Again, I win. 3 points out of 3.

Use batteries that can be charged, rather than the ones you have to recycle.
Hmmm, I gave myself 2 of 2 on this one, but am not sure. But considering I charge my mobile phone, my camera, my Dyson (hand-hoover), my computer and most devices I can think of, I believe I do what I can. But ok, I do have a thermometer on the balcony on battery, a clock and I'm sure something else, so perhaps I overrated my score this time.

25 of 25, challenge me?

Energy saving III

The next page is about trash.

Only buy what you need.
Easy-peasy, I get 5 points out of 5. Last year I even started to sell things I no longer need.

Use shopping bags more than once.
Again, I'm in the lead. Have done this for many, many years already. I buy a bag for 2 francs, and use it for more than a year easily. Until it falls apart. 1 point equals top score.

Only throw food away if it's clearly inedible, do not trust best-before-date.
Once again I'm a winner. I smell the food, and if it smells ok, I eat it. The only time I throw away food is sometimes when milk gets old, 'cause I don't drink milk, only use it for cooking, and yes, once in a while I do bin leftovers but not very often. 4 points out of 4.

Recycle your trash.
Here I excel. Unlike some people I could mention in my neighbourhood I recycle metal (including aluminim foil) and glass, by bringing it to the nearest glass bank. I put carton on the street once a month, and paper twice a month. In fact, I have very little trash, which is good 'cause it saves me money. Here you pay for the trash-bags, and I use at most a 17-liter bag every week, mostly it lasts longer.

So 13 points out of 13 in this round.

Energy saving II

Next up is energy saving tips from Ikea, not involving WWF. My guess is it's because the tips are directed towards products from...drumrollplease...Ikea.

Only wash when your clothes are really dirty, hang them up between use to keep them fresh.
Top score 3, my score 3. I used to wash clothes after one use only, no longer. I use the same piece several times usually. There are advantages with being home a lot.

Hang wash to dry, rather than using a dryer.
No problem there, I do it all the time. Don't even have a dryer. Top score 3, my score obviously 3.

Do not use stand-by-mode for electric devices, shut them off completely.
Since today I do this also for the telly and modem, thanks to the thingie I got yesterday at Ikea. Since long before that I always shut of the coffee machine, the computer and the mobile phone when not in use. Top score 2, my score 2.

Use a proper top for the cooking pan or pot, and keep it on there while cooking.
Yes, I do this. Top score 2, my score 2. Since some time I have also started to use tops when frying, 'cause I hate it when I have fat flying around from the pan. However, in order to get a proper frying surface on meat and not have it cooking, it is a balancing act.

Use of timers.
Yes, I have one for one lamp in the living room. It is not only to save energy, but to keep potential thieves out when I'm not at home. Top score 3, my score 3.

Remove the battery charger from the electricity outlet when not in use.
No problem there. Top score 2 and so is mine.

Keep your fridge/freezer away from your oven. When the oven is heated, it makes the fridge/freezer work more to keep cool.
This is a difficult one, since this decision was taken some seven years ago and fridge/freezers are not normally moved easily. Plus it would cost a helluva lot more to move now, in comparison to the energy saving cost. I give myself 1 out of 2 top score, since my machines are fairly modern and should be able to deal with this unexpected "problem".

Choose a thick carpet to avoid cold and drafty floors, and you will have warmer feet and a lower electricity bill.
Not an option for me, I have floor heating and too nice floors to be covered up. However I give myself 4 points out of top score 4, since my floors were never drafty in the first place.

Keep your winter duvets ready. Then you can lower the temperature in the bedroom without freezing. Not an issue. I am warmblooded and sleep normally with a sheet only. 'Cause of the floor heating I cannot get it cold enough to freeze. And temp is set to 0°C so no energy use whatsoever, even if it is around 20° in the bedroom. The temperature flows around in the flat, and if I wanted it cooler in the bedroom (which I do want) I have to close the door and even then it wouldn't work to a large extent. Besides, cats wouldn't permit it. They hate closed doors. Top score 4, my score the same.

Ended up with 22 of 26.

Energy saving I

For once I thought I'd share not my own wisdom, but somebody elses. When in Ikea yesterday I got a folder which is a cooperation between Ikea and WWF, you know the organization with a panda as a front figure.

There are plenty of tips on how to save the planet, and I thought I'd share them with you and how I scored on each tip. Each tip has a top score, and I have tried to be truthful when setting my own. This of course I expect to be challenged on.

First up is energy:

Always switch the light off in rooms you do not use.
Top score 1, my score 1.

Rather use insulation pans and steamer pots than the oven and steamers (I guess they mean steamer oven).
Top score 2, I gave myself 1 since I'm not sure exactly what they mean. I do use modern pots and often covered and I do use the oven, but never anything steaming.

Only use lamps and spots on A+ or better, like LED.
Top score 3, my score 3. I live in a modern apartment and LED is a fav.

Wash your clothes in lower temperatures.
Top score 3, my score 2. I only use two programs, 40°C for everything except for twice a month when I wash sheets in 60°C. Actually I do think I couldn't do anything more on this, since clothes don't really get clean in 30°C. Or at least that's my feeling.

Use the sun as energy as best you can.
Top score 3, my score 3. I use it for light in the apartment, I have solar cell lamps on the balcony, and I use it for warming up the apartment, i.e. reducing heating. As well as being outdoors when it's sunny, which is healthy I understand :).

Optimize the heating in your apartment.
Top score 5, my score 5. I have spent many hours on calculating the heating cost, and this year I have drastically reduced the heating in my flat, almost to the point when I've been freezing sometimes. Also, I no longer keep the balcony door open for the cats, letting the heat out, but instead have chosen to act like a doorman. Or woman. Like when the furry ones choose to stick their nose out the door, stay for 30 seconds, then decide it's time to head into our cozy abode again. And then of course doing the same thing minutes later.

Shut off the heating on the stove minutes before you stop cooking.
I do this all the time. I also never heat up the oven beforehand. I do it once the food is in there. Top score 2, my score 2.

All in all I scored 17 out of 19.

Melt!

I really don't like snow in the city. It just causes a lot of problems and discomfort. I rather look at a Christmas card on paper (and you know what I think of them), than having it on my own balcony. And this thing with minus degrees, I really do dislike. I cannot even risk having my beloved white wine box on the balcony, for the fear it'll freeze and explode. Not enough alcohol in it to be sure it doesn't. Go away immediately please!

More green?

I got accused of having a long way to go to being a real green person. And it got me thinking. What else can I possibly do to be more "green"?

I have no car. I live in a "minergy" flat. I try to save on electricity. And water. And heating.

I like to get some tips how I can save more. Really, I'm open to suggestions.

Fly little bird

Oh my. The adrenalin I had for the last 15 minutes I certainly didn't need. One of the cats caught a bird and brought it inside. It was still alive an chirping. Fucketifuck.

First action was to close all the doors, including locking the other cat in. Then trying to catch the cat, which is impossible when she doesn't want to. After that, trying to force her onto the balcony, which wasn't successful. Then trying to get the bird out, which also turned out to be impossible. Every time it was moving my cat was there again.

Fortunately for me the neighbours next door had a young guy visiting. He got it quickly, came in, brought the scared little bird into a box and let it free again. Ok, it wasn't flying completely straight but at least it's free again. Phew, what an ordeal!

My "garden"

I cannot believe my two strawberry plants are bearing fruit! I mean, I love strawberries. From March to October I always have them at home, sometimes feeling bad 'cause they are imported, but always making sure it is from a country close to Switzerland (usually Italy or Spain).

Also my other plants are being happy. It's like I developed these green fingers, but I'm gonna put it down to a friend helping me and giving me advice how to manage greenery.

Rosy

Got a rose today, and it wasn't even Valentine's day!