Samanta
Badges
United Kingdom Participants
- Your Points Percentile:
- 100th
- Total Country Participants:
- 16
- Changed thermostat
- Changed settings on refrigerator, freezer, water heater and washer
- Replaced at least one third of light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs
- Disconnected electronic devices when not in use
Wild Card Items
- Eliminated second freezer or refrigerator
- Insulated water heater
- Replaced appliances with green-certified products
- Hung clothes up to dry instead of using the dryer
- Sealed all of the windows and doors
- Ate a vegetarian diet one day a week
- Cut down on take-away meals
- Limited daily intake of beef to 8 ounces
- Switched to sustainable seafood
Wild Card Items
- Started a food-based garden
- Ate vegan or raw for a certain number of days per week
- Bought grass-fed beef instead of conventional
- Gave up at least one processed food
- My own action: Ate Vegan 7 days a week.
- Drove no faster than the posted the speed limit, avoided rapid acceleration or braking
- Removed extra weight from car, inflated tires
- Used public transportation instead of driving
- Reduced your planned air travel by one trip
Wild Card Items
- Bought carbon offsets for travel
- Carpooled or found a ride-sharing program
- Invested in a more fuel-efficient car
- My own action: Own a motorbike but mainly walk everywhere.
- Recycled all glass, aluminum, plastic, batteries and paper
- Eliminated advertising mail
- Changed to paperless billing
- Eliminated the use of plastic and paper bags
Wild Card Items
- Began composting at home
- Used biodegradable bags for trash or walking the dog
- Recycled or donated old athletic shoes and clothes
- Recycled or donated old electronics
- My own action: I always take my own bags shopping.
- Gave up bottled water
- Turned off tap when brushing teeth, scrubbing dishes
- Shortened showering time
- Replaced shower head with a low-flow model
Wild Card Items
- Used xeriscaping for yard
- Installed a rain barrel to collect water for garden, lawn and plants
- Installed a low-flow toilet
- Tallied stats for water, electricity, natural gas and gasoline use
- Switched to organic produce
- Switched to eco-friendly cleaning methods
- Switched to locally made (non-produce) products where possible
Wild Card Items
- Cut use of disposable items
- Repaired or extended use of clothing items
- Stopped using wrapping paper for gifts
- Changed Printing Habits
- Rented or borrowed instead of buying infrequently used items
In Matters of Climate Change We Must All Dig for Victory
Posted by Samanta on December 13, 2011 I found myself tracking the COP17 climate talks this year with a heavy heart. It is shameful the way world leaders have acted to stall and block any meaningful progression on a solid, legally binding global plan to cut carbon emissions. It is completely unacceptable that world leaders still lack the political will to acknowledge…
Green Recreational Time
Posted by Samanta on December 5, 2011 Within my lifetime, the amount of gadgets inside the average U.K. family home has quadrupled; we have gone from dusty old cathode ray televisions and wireless to HD/3D televisions in every room, computers, laptops, Playstations, iPhones and iPads. A continuous stream of information media surrounding our very being; is this really good for us, can…
A Return to Retro Adventures
Posted by Samanta on November 29, 2011 I flick through travel blogs everyday looking for my next adventure, my next opportunity to escape this cage. Yet it worries me, the impact I am having on this earth. My selfish pursuit of instant gratification — the smells of a Moroccan spice market or the sound of freshly fallen snow, from Toronto to Marrakesh,…
Becoming an Ethical Consumer
Posted by Samanta on November 21, 2011 This week I found myself visiting a Vegan Free Food Fayre and it got me thinking about the issue of ethical consumerism and cosmetics. The cosmetics and perfume industry is internationally important, being worth €67 billion (roughly $90.6 billion) in Europe alone (2010) and is very competitive. People feel the need to always look their best…
Trading My Bike for a Bus
Posted by Samanta on November 15, 2011 I have never really found owning a car to be necessary. I owned one once when I was 17 and learning to drive but lent it to my mother, on a permanent basis. I know people who claim that they could not live without their car and indeed a means of transportation is very important…
Veganism and Veg Boxes
Posted by Samanta on November 8, 2011 The beginning of this month was World Vegan Day, and as such, I thought I would share with you an aspect of my life that is every important to me. Unlike most people, I am what you could call a vegan, meaning that I do not consume animal products of any nature (no meat, dairy,…
The Challenge of Staying Energy-Efficient in Winter
Posted by Samanta on November 1, 2011 Winter is coming and with it its own set of energy challenges. Even Cornwall, with its mild, maritime climate winter, can be bitterly cold, so this week I have been looking at ways to help reduce energy consumption whilst trying to keep warm. Unfortunately I have been unable to participate in this week’s opening task,…
A Push in the Right Direction
Posted by Samanta on October 26, 2011 My name is Samanta and I currently live in Penryn, Cornwall with my fiancé James. Cornwall is a small area of the British Isles; technically it is part of England but don’t tell the locals, we don’t want to upset them. It is an exceedingly beautiful place to live; unfortunately it is relatively poor (European…
