St. Bridget’s Eco –Congregation Green Sheet No.18

The full range of Green Sheets will be made available for our web site soon, but you may notice that the numbers will be different than on those we have distributed, (due to their editor’s error), however all the information is the same, so please let your friends know and if you need info from past sheets and don’t have them, now you can read them there or download them.

Here are some ideas passed on by Richard, Kathrin and Anna Marie Holme.

Water

UK tap water is amongst the safest and highest quality in the world, so there’s no need to buy water in bottles. Not only does it cost money, there is also an environmental cost, from the resources necessary to make the plastic or glass bottles, the energy used to extract and bottle water, the food miles to transport it and then the millions of discarded bottles that are dumped in landfill or burnt in incinerators (unless recycled), using valuable fossil fuels and pumping CO₂ into the atmosphere. Get a water filter instead.

Install a wind turbine

No need to live in a wind tunnel to take advantage of wind power, as roof-mounted mini wind turbines are now designed to generate energy from low wind speeds. Turbines come in several sizes (from around £3,000 to £18,000) and require planning permission. Government grants are available from the DTI (www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk) A domestic turbine will reduce average electricity bills by around a third, saving up to half a tonne of CO2 annually. Check out: The UK Environmental Directory has links to wind and solar power suppliers at www.greenphase.com

Learn to let go

Learn to delegate once in a while. It may take time to train someone else to do certain tasks, but it’s an investment that pays off. Just accept that things will no longer be done “your way” Often the biggest challenge is dealing with other peoples expectations. Family members or colleagues may not like it when you change the rules and stop doing something for them, so expect resistance and don’t let it put you off. In short, learn to let go – if you stop dong it, someone else might surprise you and step in.

All the information on this sheet is credited to the Independent magazine supplement 9/9/06.

Should you have information for inclusion in the green sheets please contact Sally Cashen on 625 2659.

Run the Tree –Athlon.

Trees for Cities is a charity that plants trees in urban areas in order to make a positive impact on global warming, create wildlife habitats and enhance the landscape ( www.treesforcities.org). And if you’re feeling energetic, how about getting in training for next years 5km Tree- Athlon (www.tree-athlon.org) race in the Midlands or London? The aim is to raise enough money to plant 20,000 trees. The runner who raises most money will have a wood named after them.

Eat only sustainable fish

As the world’s oceans become increasingly over fished, some species, such as cod and haddock, are in danger of extinction, but these two are of the most popular fish eaten in the UK. To give the stocks a chance to recover, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) suggests trying lesser known fish, such as Pollack and saithe. Only purchase fish that’s sustainable-look for the blue MCS logo ( www.mcsuk.org)- and if buying farmed fish, choose companies that keep their stock in the open sea.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins’ bright orange flesh is packed full of carotenes and antioxidants, which help the body fight free radicals and may reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, cataracts and strokes. Even if you can’t get fresh pumpkins, stock up on dried seeds, ideal for snacks. These are rich in protein, iron, zinc, magnesium and phosphorous, as well as the essential fatty acids needed to keep your immune system functioning well. Try them toasted and sprinkled over salads, or combine them with dried fruit for a power snack.

Downsize

There is no one-size –fits-all work life balance - what’s right for you will change depending on your age and life stage. Take time out to assess your life style. Would you consider living in a smaller house in order to work a three – day week? Would moving to the countryside and working from home improve your quality of life? Decide what’s important to you: once you know what makes you happy and what you’re willing to compromise on, you’ll be surprised at the number of options available to you.

Walnuts

Walnuts are a great source of plant based omega 3 fatty acids, known to help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of coronary disease. In fact, walnuts contain more omega 3 than any other nut, not to mention fibre, vits E an B.Studies suggest that you only need a handful of walnuts a day to benefit from their cholestrol- lowering properties, try sprinkling crushed walnuts on your muesli.