An environmental plan for the family – part 1
Posted by DavidM in Family plan | 5 August 2006
A lot of the changes I have started making came from my little bible – Go Make a Difference. This simple book is perfect for those wanting to make changes but unclear where to start. It lists 500 ways you can reduce your environmental impact ranging from no cost ideas to installing solar power and rainwater collection systems.
I read the book cover to cover then went through it again and created three lists:
- what am I already doing
- what changes am I going to make this year
- what changes will I make in future
I was pleasantly surprised how much I do already, even if it's all small stuff. It's encouraging to see I am making some contribution, though the length of the other two lists show how far I have to go.
Below are the things I am already doing.
- Small vegetable patch
- Wash clothes at 40 C
- Use non toxic slug control (egg shells
- Turn tap off when cleaning teeth
- Wash only with a full load
- Take showers not baths
- Use water butt to water garden
- Swap kids clothes with friends and neighbours
- Re-use Christmas cards as tags next year
- Buy charity Christmas cards
- Use long-life shopping bags
- Kids do Christmas 'shoe-boxes' for overseas kids
- Only boil what I need in the kettle
- Don't leave the TV on standby
- Keep the thermostat low
- Turn boiler down in summer
- Buy meat from a local butcher - sometimes
- Reuse plastic bags in our rubbish bins
- Give old clothes to charity
- Don't flush the toilet overnight
- Make our own bread (though with a bread-maker
- Go camping locally for short holidays
- Cut up plastic ring-holders
- Don't use hotel mini toiletries
- Donate empty toner cartridges
In later posts I’ll list this year’s actions and the activities for future years.
