What can one person do to become more sustainable?
Tips on reducing your ecological footprint
It would help to begin by considering that all our food and shelter comes from the Natural Environment around us: wood, stone, and cement to build our homes, workplaces, schools, and markets; oil and gas to fuel almost everything we do; all food, water, textiles for our clothes and homes, even plastic comes from the natural environment.
Only when we consider all of these can we begin to realize just how much we are part of the natural world and how much we depend on the Earth's natural resources. Depleting these resources beyond sustainable limits is stealing from our children and grandchildren. Damaging the vital systems that sustain nature’s balance will cause suffering to future generations.
At Home we can:
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Avoid purchasing products with excess packaging, especially plastic packaging
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Compost our kitchen and garden waste
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Recycle - use our local bring centres
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Insulate the home – in the attic, walls, and double glazed windows
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lag the hot water tank and piping
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Use more energy-efficient appliances
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Switch to low flush toilets
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Switch to forms of recreation and tourism which have a low impact on the environment and support a local holiday
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Grow some of our own food
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Use bicycles and public transport instead of cars
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Buy items made or grown locally, built to last and made from recyclable materials that can be repaired when broken
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Reduce chemical use in the home
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Switch to phosphate free washing detergents
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if building or decorating - use eco-friendly materials such as non-toxic plaster primers and paints
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Reduce consumption in general
At work we can:
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Team up with colleagues to draw up and implement a ‘greener work programme’
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Encourage car pooling, bicycle use and public transport
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Switch to energy saving appliances and switch off equipment when not in use
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Install low energy bulbs and turn off lights at night
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Upgrade to low flush toilets
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Use recycled paper and use less of it- print on both sides of the sheet!
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Start recycling programmes at work
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Use locally available resources
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Switch to fair trade / organic coffee and tea
In our communities we can:
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Implement waste reduction systems
- Walk or cycle where possible – figures show that most mileage in Ireland is clocked up on short journeys
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Reduce urban sprawl by creatively increasing population density areas
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Promote affordable high density housing through housing associations and cooperatives
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Offer living, working and shopping spaces in integrated neighbourhoods
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Reduce road and parking space and increase access to public transport; plan for bicycles and walking
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Encourage the planting of trees and green spaces through community participation
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Introduce construction guidelines which minimise the consumption of resources
For more information see: