Before a hurricane, there’s often a mad dash at local stores as residents stock up on tools, batteries, flashlights, canned goods and water. 

But what about after a hurricane? The Royal Gazette got the lowdown on what to do and not to do post-hurricane to make sure your home and family are fully protected.  

1. DO check to see if power is restored. If you don’t have electricity after a hurricane it changes everything, says Sasha Bearden, CEO and co-owner of Baptiste Limited. If power hasn’t yet reached your home or neighbourhood, you’ll have to leave your fridge closed as much as possible to ensure you can keep cold foods fresh for as long as possible. 
2. DON’T run the water or flush the toilet without electricity. Most longtime Bermuda residents know the importance of storing water pre-hurricane in the bathtub, as well as in large containers and buckets. This water can be used for brushing teeth, flushing the toilet and even drinking throughout the duration of the storm. But Bearden reminds people to avoid running the water in sinks or showers or flushing the toilet while the electricity is out so that you don’t cause damage to the pressure tank and pump. “If water in the pressure tank goes below a certain level, the pump won’t kick in,” she explains. “The system will have to be drained—that’s when people end up burning out their pump.” To prevent this, Bearden suggests going a step further by turning off water from the valve next to the pump. That way you can rest assured there’s always enough water remaining in the pressure system.
3. DON’T forget to survey your property. When the winds have subsided and it’s safe to go outside, Mark Stearns, Presidents of Masters Home Center, suggests taking a quick walk around your property to assess if there is any damage to your home. You can also make a list of anything that needs to be repaired or any supplies that need to be purchased to restore your home to its former glory. 
4. DO clear the roads. Ensuring you have a chainsaw or handsaw on your property before a hurricane is a smart move, says Stearns. These tools will make clearing any large debris (like fallen branches or broken trees) that are blocking the roads a breeze. Not only will you personally be able to drive on the roads much more easily, but it’s also extremely helpful for emergency vehicles that need to transport people to the hospital.   
5. DO rinse off windows and walls. There’s obviously a lot of salt spray on homes after a hurricane, particularly those houses located close to the water. By rinsing down your windows and walls with a hose, cleanup becomes a lot easier, says Bearden. She suggests Windex, which makes a product that attaches directly to the end of your hose and has a powerful window cleaner in it. “This makes washing leaves off so much easier, before they become dry and stuck on.”
6. DO clean your gutters. As part of your pre-hurricane prep you should have blocked up the gutters with something simple like a tennis ball or a rag. This stops bugs and debris from getting into your tank during the storm. But after the hurricane, it’s just as important to unblock your gutters and drains after you give the roof a quick clean. This will ensure leaves and debris don’t go into your water tank and impact your home’s fresh water source.
7. DO be mindful of extra pests. One of the pesky things that happens after a storm is an increase in bugs. Bearden says she hears from customers who see “flies like no one’s business” after a hurricane. This is actually due to the moist and wet conditions, which make for ideal breeding conditions for flies. To stay ahead of this, make sure you have apple cider vinegar with water to spray all around the house. 
8. DON’T be afraid of getting your hands dirty. After a hurricane is a perfect time to get out those landscaping tools like rakes and gloves to help with the cleanup. Stearns also encourages people to open up the house to air it out after the long period of intense humidity.
9. DO protect your furniture. In the unfortunate event you discover a hole in your roof caused by the hurricane, you’ll want to find some spare tarpaulin and rope. While there’s not much you can do while the winds are still blowing strong, Stearns advice is to stay put, get your family to a safe part of the house and when safe to do so, use the tarps to protect furniture from the outdoor elements. 
10. DON’T keep to yourself. One of the most important things to do after a hurricane is to check on extended family, friends and neighbours to make sure everyone is safe and everything is secure. Today, this is made easier than ever thanks to technology. Stearns recommends creating a group on WhatsApp so you can stay updated on what friends and family are experiencing. “Having that easy line of communication is always a source of comfort for people,” he says. “Even with the wider community, it’s great seeing how a crisis tends to bring people in Bermuda together.” 

The post Post Hurricane To-Dos appeared first on RG Magazines.

Wires were strung slowly as demand arose for items like fans and irons, and then increased dramatically thereafter.

Today we take for granted the energy that produces such a marvel of science. We never consider the convenience or necessity of it, except during storms when high winds or downed trees cause disruption of power. We overlook the maintenance, production, repair and delivery costs.

And energy costs escalate with every use we find for electricity and the increasingly more expensive fossil fuels that generate it. These non-renewable fuels, formed from dead animal and plant remains, and dirt, rock and heat from the earth’s core represent nature’s compost, a dinosaur-witnessed 65-million-year-old pressure cooker.

Once these fuels are exhausted, they’ll no longer exist. Even so, new uses for electricity with its associated fuel component are being discovered daily. It might be a previously unimagined plug-in device, an old washing machine someone has converted to mix rum swizzles, or some other power usage. We enjoy the benefits, without considering the costs until… the energy bill arrives at the end of the month.

And we do note that final reckoning. Perhaps we could mix drinks by hand, maybe consider turning off a device or two?

Energy use is cumulative. Every small change in consumption adds up to smaller bills. Understanding, determination and consistency are key to decreasing the cost of electricity.

Leaky faucets, for example, seem almost non-consequential. However, according to the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Saver Guide:  Tips on Saving Money and Energy in Your Home, a single drip per second wastes 1,661 gallons of water a year. In Bermuda, this translates to an electric pump continually cutting in and out as water pressure drops. If you don’t immediately fix it, you waste energy, lose money and add to the wear and tear on the pumping mechanism.

Electronic plug-ins like gaming consoles, desktop computers and phone chargers, and small appliances like toasters and mixers that are left ready for use, consume energy even when turned off. That energy, although minimal, also adds up.

“Some sources estimate that up to 10 per cent of a household’s use of electricity is used by items that are turned off, but still plugged in and still drawing power,” said Jamil Rahemtula, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Manager at BELCO.

He noted that these so-called ‘phantom loads’ can account for as much as 20 per cent of the total electricity used in a home.

Unplugging appliances may not be for everyone, particularly shut-ins whose televisions and cable boxes represent a lifeline, or others whose devices are used so frequently that unplugging them is more of an inconvenience than paying a few extra dollars for the service. But if you want to lower your electricity bill, take a moment one evening to count all of the devices in which the plug-in status is evidenced by a glowing light. Now consider with which you can dispense. Unplug them.

Follow these smaller undertakings with larger efficiencies. For example, cook in a toaster oven rather than an electric oven.

“Both toaster ovens and conventional electric ovens are equally efficient in converting energy to heat, but they don’t draw the same amount of energy from the socket,” Mr. Rahemtula said.

According to the BELCO manager, a typical electric oven set at 350 degrees and using from 2,500 to 5,000 watts depending on model, age and mode will average two-kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy over 60 minutes. By comparison, a 1,200-watt toaster oven set at 450 degrees for 50 minutes will use only 0.9 kWh.

Even better savings can be realized with a 200-250 watt slow cooker. These can run for seven hours, while using only 0.7 kWh of electricity.

Whichever method you use, cover to seal in heat and reduce cooking times further.

Change to LED light bulbs. Each uses 75 per cent less electricity and lasts 10-to-20 times longer than an incandescent bulb. They’re difficult to break and don’t suddenly die, according to Mr. Rahemtula.

“Instead, they slowly reduce in power, with their maximum brightness getting lower over time,” he said.

And turning out lights when not in use will positively affect those savings you’re after.

An empty fridge requires more energy to cool. Cold foods help to cool and insulate other foods, so keep your refrigerator and freezer full and set them at 40 degrees and zero degrees Fahrenheit respectively.

Mr. Rahemtula said:  “If you are hesitant about filling up your fridge in the event of a power outage, you can substitute that with filling up… containers with water and (placing) them throughout the empty spaces.”

Energy use can also be cut by closing bathroom doors when showering, cold water-washing only full loads, drying by air and using new Energy Star-certified appliances, like washers which use 25 per cent less energy and dryers which use 20 per cent less.

Until non-renewable fossil fuels have been replaced by solar, wind or other renewable, that monthly bill will continue to shock us if we don’t pay attention to decreasing our use of energy.

The post Reducing costs, saving energy appeared first on RG Magazines.

Nutrient rich soils fuel the growth of sturdy plants. Vigorous plants produce hearty flowers and wholesome foods. And the healthy diets derived from these add vitamins and minerals to nourish the body and sustain it.

So the building of robust bodies begins in the garden, where composted materials — those dead things — act like a supplement to the soil. Compost, or the decomposition of kitchen and yard waste proves the cycle of life and death by rebirthing in rich dark matter. When added to the soil, compost allows it to breathe freer and retain moisture longer. Plants require less watering.

The home gardener might choose a freestanding compost pile, or purchase a compost bin.

Kent Brazier of Horti-Tec Holding Company prefers a ground compost pile to a closed unit. According to Mr. Brazier, such a set-up allows more air to circulate and offers better viewing and management. He suggests covering the pile with a tarpaulin, which will protect it from adverse weather conditions and keep it reasonably dry. Removable sideboards would help contain the material.

“Heat is the working mechanism,” Mr. Brazier said.

He said temperatures at the center of the compost reach between 50 and 70 degrees Celsius (122 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit). Turning and evenly spreading the material ensures uniform decomposition.

Scavengers should not cause concern.

“When it gets hot, there’s nothing for (rats) to eat,” Mr. Brazier said. “They won’t go anywhere near it.”

While a tarp over a ground pile could easily be breeched by a determined set of teeth, the closed structure of a compost bin prevents entry.

Trent Smith of Aberfeldy Nurseries said: “[A] compost pile is easier to work with… [But a] bin contains it, keeps cats and frogs away, rodents also.”

He noted the importance of location and said a slight odor might initially be noticeable “until the decay is down.”

According to Mr. Smith, you can put broccoli leaves, grass cuttings and vegetative leftovers into the bin.

But see www.epa.gov and www.earthmachine.com, for compost needs an equal amount of greens (nitrogen rich material like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, crushed egg shells) and browns (carbon-rich material like crumbed stale bread, coffee filters, dried grass). These should be alternated in moist and dry layers and topped with a layer of soil, which according to www.eartheasy.com will mask any odor.

“Stay away from onions and garlic because the beneficial microbes won’t like it,” Mr. Smith said. “They’re the things that speed up the process of decay and break down the matter that you put in the compost bins.”

According to the Eartheasy website, banana peels, peach peels and orange rinds should also be avoided, due to possible pesticide residue.

Mr. Smith said:  “It’s all up to the individual because some of them do contain pesticide.  Everything is a personal choice… You’ve got to go with what works [for] you. Everybody will write the book differently.”

Earth Machine composters are available in one size only from the Public Works Department at $80 each. They measure 32” high and 32” across the base.

To reserve your Earth Machine, pay the fee at Public Works on the third floor of the General Post Office building in Hamilton.

When you receive your receipt, call 278-0563 or email [email protected] for an appointment. You will be told where and when to collect your compost bin, and at that time will receive instructions on how to properly assemble and efficiently use it.

The post Composting For Life appeared first on RG Magazines.