Green tips
Here's a list of green tips we've been put together. If you have any of your own you'd like to share, please feel free to contact us!
Food & food shopping
- Start eating fruit and vegetables in season - don't eat strawberries and asparagus in December. www.eatseasonably.co.uk is a great source of information on what to buy right now.
- Read the small print and look at where your produce has come from. Avoid stuff that is flown in. If you can’t buy British then at least buy European
- Think about food miles when you're shopping but also think about the "water export" - how much water has been used to grow / produce what you're buying - especially if it's been grown in a country where clean drinking water is not available to the majority of people.
- Snack on more fruit & veg – it’s good for you and uses far less energy to produce in comparison to processed snacks
- Grow as much of your own as you can, organically. Use your own compost as fertilizer. If you don't grow your own, buy organic food as much as possible.
- Eat sustainable fish. According to the Guardian, these are mackerel, black bream, gurnard, lemon sole, megrim, pollack and whiting. Moxom’s at 149 Lordship Lane sells most of these. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/18/fishing.conservation
- If you eat tinned tuna, note that (according to Greenpeace) “Sainsbury’s, M&S, Waitrose & The Co-op are leading the market with the most progressive sourcing policies”, e.g., by Sainsbury’s moving all of their tinned tuna to 100% pole and line caught. Greenpeace’s “tinned tuna league table” ranks Sainsbury & M&S jointly at the top, with Waitrose and the Co-op in the second and third place. Worst is Princes. For further info see: www.greenpeace.orguk/redlist
www.mcsuk.org– Marine Conservation Society
www.fishfight.net – Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s campaign
www.fish2fork.com – first website to review if fish served in restaurants is sustainable - When you buy things that can't be produced locally choose Fairtrade if available, guaranteeing better living conditions for the producers and improvements to the environment. Also produce is more likely to be grown organically (or with a commitment to work towards organic production).
- Ask for doggy bags in restaurants if you can’t finish your food - they don't like seeing food waste any more than you do - they've laboured over cooking it after all, and it means you get more for your money. Take Tupperware with you if you eat out a lot!
- Read "Not on the Label" by Felicity Lawrence, a book about the UK food supply. Just a bit of knowledge can go a long way in helping you make informed choices. Another good book is "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Zoer.
- Stop eating meat. A *huge* amount of energy goes into meat production. This applies to cat and dog food too. Become Vegan or Vegetarian.
- Grow your own herbs in window boxes. It costs less than buying them cut, and there’ll be a lot less waste.
- Tell CPTT when you find good quality, well priced organic fruit and veg with environmentally friendly packaging in the Crystal Palace area. We want to publicise this.
- Keep bees! Search Project Dirt for forthcoming courses - http://projectdirt.com/events/event/search?q=bee+keeping
- Do meal plans for the week, so that you don't over-buy and you don't waste food
- Resist BOGOF offers unless you've planned a use for the extra food you've bought, use left-overs creatively
- If you buy a lemon for a recipe and only need half, slice up the rest and freeze it for drinks
- Buy a wormery and feed any food waste into it - it produces great compost and lots of free liquid plant food. All you need is a small basement store if you live in a flat with no garden.
- Ask shops and restaurants questions about provenance – only by asking and showing that customers have concerns will change happen.
Recycling & avoidance of packaging
- Take a bottle of water with you when you go out so you don’t end up buying a drink in a plastic bottle. Buy a water filter if you don’t like tap water
- Take your own coffee cup if you want a take-away (www.keepcup.com is a good model)
- Choose your products carefully according to their packaging e.g., packaging which is refillable (e.g., cleaning products) or products which are sold in recycled or recyclable material (e.g., glass). Resist plastic convenience packaging such as squeezy ketchup & mayonnaise. Never buy anything packaged in polystyrene.
- Always carry a re-usable bag so you don’t ever need to use a plastic bag in a shop. Smash Bang Wallop on Westow Street sell Envirosaks, which fold right down to pocket size.
- Take your own containers to the supermarket when buying things like olives from the deli counter, fish, meat, cheese...
- Take stuff – clothes, books, CDs etc – to charity shops or list them on swap sites, such as http://www.ecomodo.com/
- Clothes and shoes too old to go to a charity shop can be put in clothes recycling bins to go to night shelters for homeless people (there is one in Sainsbury’s car park and one at the entrance of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre)
- For unwanted furniture – sell it to second hand furniture shops, Freecycle it or just leave it outside for passers by
- Electrical goods can go to specialist Oxfam shops – the one near Streatham Hill Railway station takes in, fixes and sells second hand electrical appliances. See www.oxfam.org.uk/shopfinder/ShopFinder.aspx
LocationID=514&search=OX1+3LU&searchBy=0&search&easting=527655&northing=171774&lat=
51.4305&long=-0.165072 - Buy recycled and sustainable products as much as possible, even building materials. This website is a good place to start looking: http://www.recycledproducts.org.uk/view/
- Join Freecycle or Freegle – get rid of anything that someone else might find a use for, and request things you are looking for. In Crystal Palace you could join any of the following local groups:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freecyclelambeth/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freecyclebromley/
http://groups.freecycle.org/southwark-freecycle/posts/offer
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Croydon-Freegle/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lewishamfreecycle/ - Send us ideas on how to re-use common items creatively. Anyone know what to do with old tights??
- If you get your shirts washed via a laundry service, take the hangers back for them to re-use.
- If you work in an office, try to influence the recycling policy if you need to. Look into the policy of the Borough in which the office is located. It can be very easy just to get an industrial sized paper recycling bin. Ensure that any new printers have the capability to print both sides (this will save money on paper). Start a pile of scrap paper and guillotine into A5 with a bulldog clip for an eco-friendly notepad
- Don't leave your used copy of the Metro on the train for the end-of-line train cleaners to dispose of. Take it home and put it in your recycling bin so you know it will be recycled.
- Know what you can and can’t put in your household recycling collections. We live at the junction of 5 boroughs, and their policies vary somewhat. Here are the guides for each borough:
Lambeth
Southwark:
Bromley:
Lewisham
Croydon - None of them want plastic bags so if you have ended up with any, these can be recycled at Sainsbury’s in Crystal Palace – there are plastic bag recycling bins next to the main entrance.
- Ensure you don't contaminate your recycling - dirty tins and food packaging get rejected at the recycling centres and go to landfill anyway, so wash everything out. Remove the caps from plastic bottles.
- Avoid buying things sold in tetrapaks if your borough doesn't recycle them (Bromley, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon don’t; Lambeth does)
- Ensure you break up your packaging if you need to – e.g., a sandwich wrapper might have plastic & paper, which might need to go in two different collections depending on your borough.
- Re-use anything you can –e.g., yoghurt pots as food containers, take-away packaging as lunch boxes etc.
- Don't forget to Reduce before you Re-use before you Recycle. Recycling alone is good but think about how much you consume in the first place (especially packaging) and think about how you can re-use or repair things before you put them in the recycling.
Save energy
Switch off electrical appliances at the plug - computers, televisions, kettles, toasters, etc.
Consider purchasing a wireless electricity/energy monitor for your home or business and locate the information screen in a prominent place - make it a feature!
http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/products/eaga/eaga-energy-monitor/
http://www.goodenergyshop.co.uk/Lounge/Energy%20monitors
Say "no" to standby. Turn appliances off at the wall switch.
Or if you have a number of devices with time settings (like a video recorder) you can consider using this device:
http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/products/eaga/eaga-standby-off---8-gang/
Walk to the shops rather than getting in the car, or use public transport.
Turn off lights when not in use. When you replace a lightbulb, consider replacing it with an LED one, read why here: http://www.goodenergyshop.co.uk/Kitchen%2fLED+bulbs%2fEnvirolight+LED+Spotlight+Lamp
Fly as little as possible. Go on holiday in the UK or on the Continent where there are excellent train services, e.g., Eurostar, Thalys, TGV etc.
Get a bicycle and cycle wherever you can. If you want to cycle to work but your commute is too far, get a folding bike http://www.brompton.co.uk/ or an electric bike http://www.silverray.biz/
Switch to a greener energy supplier, e.g., http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/ They price match the “big 6” so if you are on a standard tariff with for instance EDF, it costs no more to switch to Ecotricity. Another good one is http://www.goodenergy.co.uk/ Better still, generate your own electricity/hot water
When it gets cold, put on another layer of clothing before you turn the thermostat up. Turn your thermostat down by one degree. Buy some slippers. Buy some thermal underwear or tops - Uniqlo does a great range.
Insulate your home as much as possible, even your pipes! Fit draught excluders on doors and windows, use reflective backings on radiators (available from Wickes in Catford) and draw your curtains. If you need new curtains, buy thick ones or make your own with “bump” interlining for heavy, insulated curtains.
Only boil the water you need. If you need a new kettle, buy a transparent one or one with a water level gauge.
Avoid the temptation to keep re-boiling. If you end up with more boiling water than you need, pour it into a flask and keep it next to the kettle.
If you have a car but don’t use it that much sell it and join Streetcar. There are two locations, in Jasper Road and at the top of Sydenham Hill. It works out MUCH cheaper and they have started introducing the energy efficient Polo BlueMotion cars into their fleet.
http://www.streetcar.co.uk/location.aspx?location=415
http://www.streetcar.co.uk/location.aspx?location=1262
If you do have to drive, learn how to drive more efficiently. Easy on the right foot, check tyre pressures, empty the boot of junk you don't need, don't over-rev and know when to change gear.
Try to use as little hot water as possible- wash your hands with cold water
Consider purchasing a wireless electricity/energy monitor for your home or business and locate the information screen in a prominent place - make it a feature!
http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/products/eaga/eaga-energy-monitor/
http://www.goodenergyshop.co.uk/Lounge/Energy%20monitors
Say "no" to standby. Turn appliances off at the wall switch.
Or if you have a number of devices with time settings (like a video recorder) you can consider using this device:
http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/products/eaga/eaga-standby-off---8-gang/
Walk to the shops rather than getting in the car, or use public transport.
Turn off lights when not in use. When you replace a lightbulb, consider replacing it with an LED one, read why here: http://www.goodenergyshop.co.uk/Kitchen%2fLED+bulbs%2fEnvirolight+LED+Spotlight+Lamp
Fly as little as possible. Go on holiday in the UK or on the Continent where there are excellent train services, e.g., Eurostar, Thalys, TGV etc.
Get a bicycle and cycle wherever you can. If you want to cycle to work but your commute is too far, get a folding bike http://www.brompton.co.uk/ or an electric bike http://www.silverray.biz/
Switch to a greener energy supplier, e.g., http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/ They price match the “big 6” so if you are on a standard tariff with for instance EDF, it costs no more to switch to Ecotricity. Another good one is http://www.goodenergy.co.uk/ Better still, generate your own electricity/hot water
When it gets cold, put on another layer of clothing before you turn the thermostat up. Turn your thermostat down by one degree. Buy some slippers. Buy some thermal underwear or tops - Uniqlo does a great range.
Insulate your home as much as possible, even your pipes! Fit draught excluders on doors and windows, use reflective backings on radiators (available from Wickes in Catford) and draw your curtains. If you need new curtains, buy thick ones or make your own with “bump” interlining for heavy, insulated curtains.
Only boil the water you need. If you need a new kettle, buy a transparent one or one with a water level gauge.
Avoid the temptation to keep re-boiling. If you end up with more boiling water than you need, pour it into a flask and keep it next to the kettle.
If you have a car but don’t use it that much sell it and join Streetcar. There are two locations, in Jasper Road and at the top of Sydenham Hill. It works out MUCH cheaper and they have started introducing the energy efficient Polo BlueMotion cars into their fleet.
http://www.streetcar.co.uk/location.aspx?location=415
http://www.streetcar.co.uk/location.aspx?location=1262
If you do have to drive, learn how to drive more efficiently. Easy on the right foot, check tyre pressures, empty the boot of junk you don't need, don't over-rev and know when to change gear.
Try to use as little hot water as possible- wash your hands with cold water
Save water
Put a cup next to your toothbrush - use it for rinsing instead of leaving the tap running
Use your bath water to water your garden/window boxes
Choose the shortest programme on your washing machine. Soak stuff before hand if it's very dirty.
Keep a jug in your kitchen for stale water - i.e. instead of pouring half drunk cups of water (from bedtime, perhaps) down the sink, or emptying the kettle to put fresh water in it, tip this water into the jug and use it to top up your bath, wash dishes, water plants, fill a hot water bottle, rinse muddy boots...
Break the daily shower/bath routine and skip the odd one, unless you really need it!
Report water leaks in the street to the water board (Thames Water) if you see/suspect one hasn't already been reported (they happen quite a lot!) and observe your water usage carefully.
Save water when showering, especially if your bathroom is warm, by turning the water off while you lather up. Better bubbles and less water used!
If you have enough space in your shower tray, shower with a washing up bowl or similar next to you, to trap water for re-use in window boxes etc.
Change your toilet flushing habits: if it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down!
Use your bath water to water your garden/window boxes
Choose the shortest programme on your washing machine. Soak stuff before hand if it's very dirty.
Keep a jug in your kitchen for stale water - i.e. instead of pouring half drunk cups of water (from bedtime, perhaps) down the sink, or emptying the kettle to put fresh water in it, tip this water into the jug and use it to top up your bath, wash dishes, water plants, fill a hot water bottle, rinse muddy boots...
Break the daily shower/bath routine and skip the odd one, unless you really need it!
Report water leaks in the street to the water board (Thames Water) if you see/suspect one hasn't already been reported (they happen quite a lot!) and observe your water usage carefully.
Save water when showering, especially if your bathroom is warm, by turning the water off while you lather up. Better bubbles and less water used!
If you have enough space in your shower tray, shower with a washing up bowl or similar next to you, to trap water for re-use in window boxes etc.
Change your toilet flushing habits: if it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down!
Gardening
Start a compost pile and get into the habit of using it.
Get a composting toilet - turn your own waste into really good fertilizer
Get a water butt
Grow your own food - it tastes great! Better still, grow with others and get to meet interesting people and feel part of your community - join one of our growing groups
Get a composting toilet - turn your own waste into really good fertilizer
Get a water butt
Grow your own food - it tastes great! Better still, grow with others and get to meet interesting people and feel part of your community - join one of our growing groups
Think local
Support businesses that are local and have green values. Support farmers' markets and of course our market!.
Borrow books from your library rather than always buying new - saves money, transport and paper!
Join www.localskillswap.com - find people in the community to swap skills with. If you don't want to swap skills, use the skills database to find someone local to get something done. Localskillswap was founded in Crystal Palace and now has over 50 members to swap with.
Take an interest in politics, especially your local candidates. What are their green and environmental policies? Do they need your suggestions?
Borrow books from your library rather than always buying new - saves money, transport and paper!
Join www.localskillswap.com - find people in the community to swap skills with. If you don't want to swap skills, use the skills database to find someone local to get something done. Localskillswap was founded in Crystal Palace and now has over 50 members to swap with.
Take an interest in politics, especially your local candidates. What are their green and environmental policies? Do they need your suggestions?
Be eco-friendly
Use ecologically friendly cleaning products everywhere from shampoo to washing machines.
Consider household cupboard solutions before buying branded cleaning solutions, e.g., newspaper and vinegar for cleaning windows.
After a party, throw the dregs down the toilet and leave overnight - they make a powerful loo cleaner!
Consider household cupboard solutions before buying branded cleaning solutions, e.g., newspaper and vinegar for cleaning windows.
After a party, throw the dregs down the toilet and leave overnight - they make a powerful loo cleaner!
