Green - starting on the right path.

Having a couple of young children focuses your mind on the more greener issues. It’s also a big buzz word at the moment with everyother news article commenting on global warming and the government pushing subsides to win votes.

I’m all for it and if I had money to burn I would make our house totally self sifficient - but these changes all cost money and only start paying back if you stay there for a lengthy period. I’m not going to dismiss the idea. I’m guessing I can take a wind turbine to any new house we buy, so this subject needs to be investigated further. Until then I’ve found a top 10 list of simplier ways to be green.

• 1. If you are thinking of laying a wooden floor, buy reclaimed floorboards or wood from a sustainable source. Make sure that the wood is not from rainforests or other threatened forests. For more guidance, get hold of a copy of the newly revised FOE Good Wood Guide or look out for the Forest Stewardship Council’s label.
• 2. Save energy. Insulate your home - fit double glazing and invest in energy efficient light bulbs. Most of the energy we use contributes to climate change. Climate change is caused by the release of “greenhouse gases” such as carbon dioxide which is given off when fossil fuels such as oil and gas are burnt in power stations. To find out how you can switch on to green energy, reduce energy waste and cut your household bills, simply order your free copy of Friends of the Earth’s Green Energy Guide. Further information is also available from the Energy Savings Trust.
• 3. Chucking out old furniture? Don’t throw it in the skip, give it to a charity. Contact Wastewatch for details of organisations which collect furniture in your area.
• 4. If you are painting or want to apply a finish or stain, try to find a natural product. Many products contain toxic chemicals and can pollute the environment. Information on suppliers of natural products is available from The Association for Environment Conscious Building.
• 5. Recycle all glass,cans, paper and plastics. Unnecessary packaging puts unnecessary pressure on the world’s natural resources. Mining and forestry can destroy habitats that have taken centuries to develop. On top of this most of this packaging is thrown away and buried in holes in the countryside called landfill sites. These sites can pollute water supplies. Reducing waste reduces energy consumption too! For more information on recycling and reducing waste, contact Wastewatch.
• 6. Save water. Don’t leave taps running unnecessarily. Invest in a rain water butt to collect rainfall to water your garden. Water is taken from rivers and underground water supplies all over the country. As more and more water is taken from our wild places, many of our most important wildlife areas, wetlands and rivers become threatened. For more information contact your water company or the Centre for Alternative Technology.
• 7. Buy a green fridge! As well as damaging the ozone layer, the CFCs found in most existing fridges and freezers are also powerful greenhouse gases. The good news is that 100 per cent ozone-friendly fridges are now available in UK shops and these use a propane and butane mixture. When replacing old equipment, make sure the CFCs are safely removed. Find out whether your council, fridge retailer or manufacturer operate a safe, ozone friendly fridge disposal service.
• 8. Buy products which are built to last. Too many of the goods we buy break easily and can be expensive to fix. Buy products with long guarantees and ask if the shop will take the product back to be recycled at the end of its lifespan. This helps reduce waste and saves valuable resources.
• 9. Try to avoid buying peat compost, as the bogs where it comes from are unique wildlife havens and are disappearing fast. Your own compost will do a similar job.
• 10. Steer clear of chemically-based fertilisers and pesticides. Buy and grow organic food wherever possible. Chemicals used to kill pests and feed plants can damage your health. For more information contact The Soil Association.

_{source: friends of the earth}

Going Green