DON’T MISS DURBAN’S BIGGEST “GREEN” EXPO Water, energy and money-saving solutions showcase
THE seventh annual Sustainable Living Exhibition – Durban’s biggest and best “green” expo – is now in full swing.The event, which runs at the Durban Exhibition Centre until Sunday, August 21, is a fun, educational and informative showcase of all things green, environmentally-friendly and sustainable.
With more than 250 exhibitors showcasing their green products and services, the expo is packed with water-saving technology, energy saving gadgets, recycling alternatives, food and water-wise garden advice and ideas – making it easy for you to green your lifestyle, save money and conserve the environment. Water saving solutions With the country facing its worst drought since 1992 and KwaZuluNatal being among the hardest hit areas, water-saving solutions will be one of the key focus areas at this year’s event. Every drop counts and everyone has to play their part in conserving this precious resource – now more so than ever as the impact of the crisis deepens and many eThekwini residents experience water restrictions. At the exhibition you’ll be able to speak to the experts to find out what small changes you can make to become more water-wise, like how to channel rain water from gutters into your garden and swimming pool or how to re-use water from baths, sinks and basins in your garden or toilet cistern.You’ll also be able to learn about the benefits of installing a greywater system and rain water tanks at home. BOTSOC plant fair This year’s expo will again partner with the KZN Botanical Society to include the open-air Indigenous Plant Fair. There will be thousands of plants on sale and plenty of expert advice on hand to help you create a sustainable, water-wise garden filled with hardy South African plants that need less water and are naturally droughtresistant. GO!Durban Visit the engaging and interactive Go!Durban stand to learn more about the city’s vision for an efficient public transport system and its nonmotorised transport (NMT) initiatives.
NMT are resource-efficient travel modes such as walking, cycling, wheelchair travel and small-wheeled transport like skates, skateboards, push scooters and hand carts. Over the past six years, the City has invested more than R50 million towards NMT – with the construction of demarcated cycle lane routes being one of the key focus areas.
Cycle routes have been established in the Durban CBD, eManzimtoti, uMlazi and Riverside, while construction of the first section of the KwaMashu cycle plan is about to start.The most recently completed cycle route links Durban to the uMhlanga CBD, giving cyclists the freedom to travel safely between the two areas. All these routes will eventually link various nodes to the City, making it easier for people to go places without having to rely on buses, taxis and cars.
Visitors to the expo will have the opportunity to interactively experience the City’s NMT roll-out plans by pedaling on a stationary bike to take a virtual tour of the NMT routes. Energy office demo Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), also known as energy-saving light bulbs, use up to 80 percent less energy than conventional, incandescent light bulbs. Although the Municipality has been encouraging eThekwini residents to change over to CFLs for some time now, many people still underestimate just how much electricity and money they could be saving by making the switch to these much more energy-efficient bulbs.
That’s why a visit to the eThekwini Energy Office exhibit at stand B54 is a must. Its new, innovative lighting demonstration has been specifically developed for the expo to show visitors the dramatic difference in energy consumption of different lighting options.The device shows the difference, in both kilowatt hours and actual consumption cost, between different types of lighting and showcases energy efficient lighting options available to the public. Recycling challenge Today, around 2pm, it will be showdown time as East Coast Radio presenter, Carol Afori and Miss Earth regional finalist, Hasesha Naidu face off in a recycling challenge. As part of the expo’s focus on recycling and food security, they were tasked with bringing in a recyclable container from home, prettying it up and then planting a vegetable seedling inside. Visitors to the show will then get to decide whose container looks and works the best – and who wins the challenge. Donate unwanted items EThekwini Municipality is calling on all residents to donate their unwanted clothes, shoes, books and toys to a worthy organisation at the expo.Thousands of people live in poverty right on our doorstep, and donating your old clothes and shoes will go a long way in providing relief to the needy.
All the items collected from the exhibition will be donated to worthy charities at the end of each day. Free entrance Some of the other expo highlights include the Hex Worm Farms stand, where showgoers have the chance to enter a competition to win a worm farm of their very own; a shipping container that has been converted into a boardroom and showcases sustainable water, energy and building materials solutions; and the DUT fashion shows, which take place around midday and showcase creatively designed garments made from recycled materials by DUT design students.
Entrance to the expo is free and open to all. Free parking is available at the Centrum site.