Carbon Fast 2015

Bring your green ideas to the office, use ceramic coffee cups, recycled envelopes and get your coworkers to join in. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” Col 3:23 Here are a few ideas for making your office greener! You can be the one to influence others. – Use electricity wisely Make sure computers, printers, photocopiers and other equipment get turned off when you go home. Check that monitors are on their most efficient setting (eg set to shut off after 15 mins of no use). When leaving a room for more than a few minutes, switch off the lights. Use compact fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent ones. Take advantage of natural sunlight as much as possible. Reduce, reuse, recycle: Reduce, reuse, recycle” means more than just throwing old notepaper in the blue bin (though you needn’t stop doing that). Really think about everything you use. Do you need disposable cups at the water cooler? Can you use the other side of the used sheets of paper you’ve thrown in the recycle bin? Australia has added a fourth R – Refuse. Simply put: Don’t buy stuff you don’t need. And, when you do make a purchase, bring your own bags. Use environmentally friendly office products. On average, they only cost 5% more, which is a small price to pay to cut down on waste and pollution. Start small – 100 % recycled paper, refillable ink cartridges, non-toxic highlighters, etc Use non-toxic cleaning products. There are many brands available nowadays. Encourage your cleaning company to use green cleaning products and if they won’t, switch to one of the many companies that now do use environmentally friendly products. Make eco-friendly food choices Encourage use of the 100-mile diet: local first; organic for high consumption foods. When ordering lunch for an office meeting, how about going vegetarian ? Cutting down on meat can have a huge impact on the health of the planet Telecommuting Encourage working from home, particularly for workers who would normally drive to work. This cuts down on pollution and increases time availability. Transportation For those who do come to the office on a regular basis, encourage (and help arrange) carpooling, use of public transit, biking, or walking.  Aim for a paperless office Though the paperless office may still seem unrealistic, at least try to cut down on printed material when possible. Read on-screen and only print documents when absolutely necessary. Use only 100% recycled content paper products in the office. Institute a casual dress code Not having to wear suits in hot summer months can help keep cooling costs down (and make for a happier workplace). Fair trade & organic Buy fair trade, organic coffee and teas for the office. If employees prefer to go out for their hot beverages, encourage them to take their own mugs. Most coffee shops offer a small discount to patrons who do so. More importantly is the reduction in waste from not having to throw out paper or Styrofoam cups. Green your office 

Keep your lawn mower blades sharp, use compost for fertilizer and to lower waste and remember longer grass will keep more moisture “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8 Just as eating local and organic pays dividends beyond just a healthier diet, eco-conscious lawn care benefits more than just your lawn: it’s healthier for the environment, your family, and your pets Soil contains an interconnected array of organisms that create natural fertilizer, feeding with organics mimics the natural world Treating lawns organically enhances soil life and reduces disease, which means healthier greenery and a cleaner environment. Studies also show that organic lawn care is safer for kids and pets, whose health can be threatened by many common lawn chemicals. If you’re looking to replace the grass variety in your yard, consider one of these environmentally friendly grasses such as Buffalo grass They require less watering, less mowing, and less fertilizer, all of which helps cut down on your carbon footprint. Watering too often encourages roots to stay near the lawn’s surface where they’re more susceptible to drought and disease. By watering infrequently but deeply, we encourage roots to grow downward in search of the moisture,”If you’ve just planted, it’s good practice to water every day until the new plantings are established. But after that, you should only need to water once a week, if that. To test whether you need to water, feel six inches down into the soil: if it’s wet, don’t water. Cover with layer of mulch and compost; this helps retain moisture and keep the birds away. Mulch and compost are yard wastes that have been organically broken down and recycled by Mother Earth. Consider water conservation the next time you think about watering your lawn. You don’t have to stop watering completely, but what if you could use rainwater instead? You can harvest rainwater and store it in drums for future use. It’s actually quite simple. All you need to do is catch it as it flows out of your gutter downspouts. You can buy elaborate systems or make your own rainwater collection system using food- grade plastic barrels. For optimum results, you can even elevate your rain barrels and let gravity increase the water pressure. Reduce your area of grass: On the other hand, why not opt for a creeping flower or no-mow lawn instead of grass? Low-level groundcovers such as thyme, sweet alyssum and lavender offer beauty and don’t require the maintenance. A no-mow lawn requires no watering or mowing, and those are two ways to positively impact the environment. You may want to consider hardscaping. Instead of grass, build a desert or rock scene. Hardscaping requires no maintenance, not to mention you won’t have to worry about erosion. The landscape may be hard, but taking care of it won’t be. Eco friendly lawn care 101 Tips to an eco-friendly lawn 

Meat Free Monday Use non-toxic products, like natural fibres and home remedy cleaners Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7) Many popular household cleaners are dangerously toxic. The majority of indoor air pollution comes from cleaning products. Long term effects can include. The respiratory diseases, heart disease, and even cancer Non-toxic homemade cleaning products aren’t only better for us; they can also help save us money and protect the environment. Here are some suggestions! Bathroom Toilets For a heavy-duty toilet scrub that deodorizes while it cleans, pour ½ cup of baking soda and about 10 drops of tea tree essential oil into the toilet. Add ¼ cup of vinegar to the bowl and scrub away while the mixture fizzes. Bath and Shower To get rid of mildew, spray pure white vinegar , let it sit for at least 30 minutes, and then rinse with warm water with a sponge. Disinfectant: Skip the bleach and make a homemade germ-killer instead. Just mix 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap, and 20-30 drops of tea tree oil. Voila! Kitchen Countertops: For a simple, all-purpose counter cleaner, mix together equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. If your countertop is made from marble, granite, or stone, skip the vinegar (its acidity is no good for these surfaces) and use rubbing alcohol or the wondrous power of vodka instead. Cutting Boards: All that’s needed to clean and sanitize cutting boards (wood or plastic) is… a lemon! Cut it in half, run it over the surfaces, let sit for ten minutes, and then rinse away. If you need some serious scrubbing power, sprinkle some coarse salt over the board, and then rub with ½ a lemon. Oven: To clean caked on food, heat the oven to 125 degrees. Once the oven is warm, spray the caked-on stuff with vinegar and then pour salt directly onto the affected areas. Turn off the oven, let it cool, and then use a wet towel to scrub away at the mess. Microwave: Pour some vinegar into a small cup and mix in a little lemon juice. Put the cup in the microwave, let the microwave run for 2 minutes, and leave the door closed for several more minutes. Open the door and wipe down the sides with a warm cloth — no scrubbing required! Sink Drain: To unclog a stuffed-up drain, boil 2 cups of water. Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain, and then add the water while it’s still hot. If that doesn’t do the trick, follow the baking soda with ½ cup of vinegar, cover it up tightly (a pot lid should work ), wait until the fizzing slows down and then add a litre of boiling water. Pan De-Greaser: To cut through the grime on frying pans, simply apply some salt (no water necessary) and scrub vigorously. Refrigerator Cleaner: . Add about ½ cup of the baking soda to a bucket of hot water. Dip a clean rag in the mixture and use it to wipe down the fridge’s insides. Floors: For a tile cleaner , simply combine one part white vinegar with two parts warm water in a bucket. Use a mop or rag to scrub down the floors with the solution. No need to rinse off! (not recommended for wood floors). Walls:To scrub down walls, mix ¼ cup white vinegar with 1 quart warm water, then use a rag to scrub those walls down. To remove black marks, simply scrub at the spot with a little bit of baking soda. Windows and Mirrors: For an all-purpose window cleaner, combine 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water (with some lemon juice for smell), then use a sponge or rag to scrub away. Furniture Polish :Combine ¼ cup vinegar with ¾ cup olive oil and use a soft cloth to distribute the mixture over furniture. For wood furniture combine ¼ cup lemon juice with ½ cup olive oil. Read more: Chemical free products 

Shop second hand. Save money on the products you buy, and save the transport and production costs. Great for items quickly outgrown!  “The traders of the world will weep and mourn over her. No one buys what they sell anymore.  Here is what they had for sale. Gold, silver, jewels, pearls. Fine linen, purple, silk, bright red cloth. Every kind of citron wood. All sorts of things made out of ivory, valuable wood, bronze, iron, marble” Rev 18:11 Save money on the products you buy and save the transport and production costs. Great for items which are quickly outgrown! Reasons to shop second hand Much more Affordable When you shop at thrift stores, yard sales, and other second-hand venues, your money stretches much farther. You Get to Experience the Thrill of the Hunt At a second hand store, you deal in the unknown. Scouring flea markets and rummage sales until you have found that have-to-have item at an unbeatable price can be exhilarating. In this way, second-hand shopping is much more rewarding in a way retail shopping could never be. Your Money Stays in the Community Second-hand perusing ensures your money stays in the community where it can benefit local businesses and charities. It’s Easier to Spot Quality Since most of the merchandise you come across has already been broken in, you can see what has quality and what does not. Practical and affordable. It’s Green! Buying used goods cuts down on manufacturing demands and keeps more items out of the landfill! Because a large amount of man-made goods are routinely thrown away, re-using gives a longer life to common household items another family could use, saving the Earth in effect. Inspire to Recycle The flow of second-hand giving goes both ways. Items or clothes you no longer use, you can donate back offer up goods another may be searching for. The act of recycling not only enables us to feel good about our actions but, again, keeps money in the local economy and supports the green living movement. Brand Names If you’re an individual who worships the tag, you’re likely to find many recycled, brand-name clothes available. It’s a great way to suit your stylish needs while saving a bundle and helping the environment. New Merchandise Arrives Daily Second hand shops receive donations daily, so the hunt for that unique item is always new and fresh. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, chances are in a couple of days it might be present. Shop online! use Ebay and Gumtree and find that item you are looking for easily and without wasting petrol hunting for it.! Read More: 9 Reasons to shop second hand