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Being introduced to Ecological Intelligence, a book by by Daniel Goleman has highlighted the things that we have been doing right around the office and some issues where perhaps we could be doing better.
If you are looking for a good read that will change your life ecologically then get a copy of How Good Are You? by Julian Lee.
The things we are doing right in the office:
* Any printing, which is now kept to an absolute minimum is done on 100% recycled paper
* Producing books can be very harsh on paper usage. All drafts are now worked on the computer instead of on paper.
* The book Escape from Debt was produced with as few pages as possible. You'll notice there is no 'fluff' and no disused or wasted space.
* The office has been hooked up with a switchable safety board for the electrical equipment. A lot of power is wasted when items are in standby so a single switch not only makes life very easy but the board also protects our expensive equipment in case of a surge.
* Where possible we utilize natural light and switch off the lights
* In researching Escape from Smoking we did some explorative math and found out that at least six tonnes of cigarette butts are discarded every single day around the world. Whether they are dropped on the street or placed in the trash the implications of introducing such vast amounts of toxins into the environment are huge. Is it time you considered stopping or at least asking a smoker to be more socially responsible when it comes to the discarding of butts?
* We have asked the publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd to print the books on paper from mills that are sustainable. The results are great and won't take a toll on the environment. Working with such a responsible publisher is wonderful.
The things we are doing right at home:
* Our neighbours in the adjoining apartment block have also come on board which is fantastic. Who can you involve?
* Our recycling money (In South Australia we get 10 cents per container) goes into a communal kitty which then goes to buy plants, bushes and trees to plant around the grounds
* If your government doesn't have a recycling program like South Australia then write to your local MP today and ask them why they haven't done anything. It takes just one spark to light a fire.
* Our gardens are becoming sustainable and provide us with fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers which helps our hip pockets and attracts bees and birds. You would be amazed at the flavours of home grown products. January 20th we have just had our first home grown completely chemical free tomato and the taste is incredible. We now have limes, lemons, peaches, basil, rosemary, mint, oregano, tomatoes, chillis, figs and egg plant. We also have several Aloe Vera plants which are great to slice open and wipe across on your skin, great for sunburn or dry skin. Forget paying for expensive creams and lotions, this is the real deal.
* The Australian government were offering up to $1600 cash back to insulate homes that have no or ineffective insulation. Upon inspection we found that our insulation could be better and so we have installed new fibreglass batts in the roof (no help from the government grant but worthwhile anyway). Too bad about the grant but what can you do to make your home more efficient and cost effective today?
* We are also installing silver reflective material against the inside of the roofing tiles so that we can reflect more heat
* We have installed a vent in the roof to allow the heat to escape. Vents in the eaves allow more airflow through the roof space.
* We've installed sun shades which make a huge differnce to the amount of radiant heat through the house. The pavers in our courtyard are kept shaded and cool which makes a huge difference on suny days.
* We've just installed quality solar security lights which work a treat. The cheap quality ones aren't so good and break too easily, not the best buy.
* It takes a bit more effort and care but you can use real plants to decorate your office instead of plastic ones. Not only will you increase the oxygen produced but think of the chemicals and energy used to make the plastic plant. Ask your local plant retailer for advice on what may work for you.
* We dry our clothes, sheets and towels outside or on a clothes horse.
* We shop at our local markets and buy local produce from local suppliers. We not only get fresh, tasty produce but also help the local economy.
* The cold weather is coming to an end and so the layers of clothing come off. It's cheaper and easier to wear an extra jumper or remove layers than it is to crank the heater or airconditioning.
* I recently bought several rolls of Cling wrap that were 15m in length because they were on sale and cheap. The more responsible thing to do would be to buy a bulk roll that is 150m long to reduce the amount of packaging and cardboard tubes by up to ten times. Where can you buy in bulk and not only save money but also do your bit for the environment?
If you have any tips that we can share please let us know
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