Make it a green Christmas and New Year

Date published: 07/12/2006

Going green can be a challenge. And it’s especially pertinent given that the season of goodwill and New Year resolutions is almost upon us once again. But how do we go about making a difference to the health of the planet and to our children’s future when a greener lifestyle seems like an alien concept to us?

Friends of the Earth have put together probably one of the most practical guides to "going green’ that you are likely to find. Save Cash amp; Save the Planet (co-authored by Nicola Baird), is precisely the kind of book you require to begin to make a difference to our ailing environment. Broken down into easy-to-dip-into sections such as energy, real food, work and finance, this book is packed with tips on how to address every aspect of daily life from a green perspective. Interspersed with the sections are real-life success stories on going green as well as tips and other highlighted particular points of interest. Overall, the text is ideally laid out for the newcomer to going green. You can simply choose an area of your lifestyle you would like to address, read the relevant paragraph in the book and then put your knowledge into practice. Little by little, you can alter damaging habits – the key to going green if you are new to it all. Small changes are the most manageable but can make a significant difference to both the planet and your bank balance. Before long, you will probably be wondering why you didn’t adopt environmentally friendly habits sooner!

Here’s an example of some of the book’s very practical and easy-to-adopt advice:

• Chapter 2 Waste not, want not: Take unwanted Christmas gifts, clothes etc to a charity shop.(p 41)
• Send an e-card as opposed to a paper version. (p 40)
• Chapter 3 Energy: When cooking, match the size of the ring to the size of the saucepan or you will be paying to heat air. (p 59)
• Chapter 4 Your home: Wean yourself off cling film – instead put uneaten food into the fridge in a bowl covered with a plate. (p 124)
• Chapter 6 Garden: Compost your garden waste. (p 186)
• Chapter 7 Real Food: Buy food that is in season. (p 216) Buy locally produced food.
• Chapter 8 Time Out: When on holiday select local rather than imported brands of food and drink. (p 270)
• Chapter 12 From Birth to Death: Buy gifts from the Natural Collection

A spokeswoman for Friedns of the Earth said: "Many of us may look forward to Christmas in the hope of it being "white’ with snow. Yet the likelihood of this expectation being fulfilled is diminishing year on year as the effect of climate change makes itself felt. So, instead, have a "green’ Christmas, a happy Christmas and contribute to a happier planet for us all in 2007 and beyond."