Venture into green cyberspace

As the first entry in my first blog, I'll take this opportunity to state why I'm writing a blog in the first place. In the marvellous world of the wide web there are countless websites and blogs giving loads of information on all things eco. Then there are the books and products to add to the overload of enviro-info. As I try to go through life leaving, hopefully reducing, footprints, I find all things green fascinating, if at times bewildering. 

So, here I will endeavour to write about what greenish things I do and the people, places, books, blogs, websites and experiences along the way that someone out there in cyberland might find useful. Here goes...

Comments

[Cathy and David]

I think this is a fab idea. I'm really interested to know what other people are doing to make their lifestyles more 'green'. I started making a list of all the things we are consciously doing to reduce our carbon footprint (rather than just general lifestyle choices) and it would be really good to share some of those on here so we can exchange ideas. It was interesting to find that some of the things I do because I feel they're the right things to do (such as eating organically where possible and shopping locally) also have a positive impact on my carbon footprint. My list includes eating less red meat, switching to energy efficient light bulbs, buying organic food as much as possible, shopping locally for fresh things and using Ocado deliveries for the household stuff (each delivery saves 40 trips to the supermarket), switching all appliances off rather than leaving them on standy, buying a solar-powered charger for mobiles and iPods, holidaying in the UK, buying fresh food without packaging etc etc etc - I'd love to hear about the things you and other people are doing too. Cathy

[The Green Gal]

Hi Cathy,It sounds like you do a lot to reduce your carbon footprint and generally live a greener life. Did you find making these changes a chore or quite easy? I think a lot of the time the media makes people feel guilty that they're not doing everything so then it's all too overwhelming and they end up doing nothing. It sounds corny but it's true, small changes make a big difference.

[Cathy and David]

Some of it's very easy (changing light bulbs, taking public transport when I can) and some of it has to be done very consciously (going to shops that sell organic food, agreeing with someone to car share to work twice a week, buying a diesel rather than petrol car etc etc) but on the whole I've done the easy things that don't take much effort. I'm not sure that many people realise that there is so much you can easily do to reduce the amount of carbon you are personally reponsible for. I read an interesting report by Ipsos Mori's Social Research team recently (Tipping Point or Turning Point?)that says (amongst other things) that 40% of people think that "recycling will do the most to help reduce climate change". Ahead of things like not creating waste in the first place, developing cleaner engines for cars, buying local food, buying organically etc etc and this says to me that a lot of people (at least that 40%) don't know enough about their carbon footprint and what increase and decreases it to make the right choices. So you might be right about the media angle - it's all so confusing that it's easiest not to do anything that's not handed to you on a plate.

[wage day advance]

Just like you, I’m an eco-friendly person too. I do practice in my place to use eco-friendly products and I even teach my kids about it.