How To Guides Being Green Without A Lot Of Effort

Date Published:

10/06/2008

Busy? Lazy? No longer excuses for not going green. Here's how to make lifestyle changes even if you're always on the move.

By Louise Matthews

Do the words 'climate change' and 'carbon footprint' make you feel guilty and overwhelmed? Do you feel you'd like to do your bit to tackle the problem but you haven't got the time or money, especially if you're leading a busy, stressed enough life as it is? Even worse, you've discovered how much your normal, everyday living is actually contributing to the carbon gas emissions which are blamed for it - just part of the 'carbon footprint' each of us is leaving. And if you didn't know, the depressing news is that a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions are produced by energy use in the home. Well, the good news is that there are some very simple things you can do to make a start - and start to make a difference.

This doesn't mean planting a sapling every time you buy a Sunday paper - one simple thing you can do is check for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) stamps on new purchases like coffee tables, meaning you can sit back enjoying your fair trade decaf in the knowledge your purchase has actually left a forest better off rather than worse.

Other Easy Steps

Use recycled or reclaimed timber. This should work out cheaper than'new' wood - but may require a little more time to find exactly what you need - but these websites will get you started: www.reclaimed.uk.com, and www.demolitions.co.uk

Don't rush to buy new furniture - get something at a fraction of the price which has a bit of history and character, (and will undoubtedly be of better craftsmanship quality than anything that arrives flat packed). Better still, get it for free! Check out www.uk.freecycle.org for more.

Why?

Wood is natural so it should be a better choice than some other DIY products which either contain toxic chemicals or use these in their production. However, as we all know trees absorb carbon dioxide so if they are cut down and not replaced there will be more of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere to contribute to climate change. More than 25% of timber available in the UK has been produced illegally - through illegal logging and forestry practices that destroy natural habitats.