The Religious Society of Friends Roscrea Meeting has produced a very helpful ‘Promoting Sustainability’ leaflet to offer advice on sustainability to other Friends.
PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY
Following a resolution made by Ireland Yearly Meeting of Religious Society of Friends in April 2016 Quaker Meetings and individual Quakers all over the world began asking if their lives might be part of a system of harm, and how they might live sustainably and fairly. This challenge is as much a spiritual call as a material one, to act not in fear, but with hope and love. As a small Meeting, without its own Meeting House, Roscrea Quakers have produced a leaflet to offer tips on Sustainable practices to Friends and Visitors. It is hoped that some of the content of this leaflet will be of help to others. View the leaflet here.
Below are some of the keys ideas, from the leaflet, covering Home, School & the Workplace
Sustainable practices at Home
- Conserve energy: insulate, weatherproof, draught proof and use compact fluorescent light bulbs or LEDs
- Turn off, or unplug, electronic devices when not in use.
- Keep mobiles phone on “airplane mode” whenever possible – it saves the battery, meaning less need to charge.
- Practice environmental awareness when purchasing products.
- Buy ENERGY STAR rated appliances whenever possible.
- Turn off our TV/internet/phone and spend time enjoying local parks and walks.
- Reuse empty jars by planting herbs in them or storing other foods.
- Eat more local and organic produce
- Shop at your local farmer’s market
- Create a food growing area in your garden and harvest rainwater to reduce usage of tap water.
- Participate in your local recycling program. Compost food scraps and garden waste.
- If you live in a city or town use the bike lanes to get around or just walk around town.
- Give back to the community by donating and buying used clothing and other supplies.
- Consider using an energy supplier that utilises a greater proportion of renewable energy.
- When washing clothes, set the temperature 10 degrees lower than suggested.
- To clean white clothes, bleach them with lemon juice instead of harmful chemicals. Add lemon juice to whites wash.
- For badly stained clothes, soak in lemon juice before using the washing machine.
- Boil the amount of water you need; the rest is a waste of energy.
- Clean and maintain your home with non-toxic products.
- Make a homemade all-purpose cleaner to cut down on chemicals.
- Shine up surfaces and create an aroma with natural oil. Mix 3 parts filtered water with 1part white vinegar, 1-2 tsp lemon juice and 6 or 7 drops of essential oil – orange, lemon or lavender.
- Keep reusable shopping bags to hand to avoid excess plastic.
Sustainable practices in the Workplace
- Create a company-wide environmental policy.
- Take advantage of the business supports offered by the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland).
- Turn off lights, computers, and electronic devices when not in use.
- Remember to Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle.
- Purchase recycled-content office supplies.
- Buy from local merchants, manufacturers, and farmers when possible.
- Donate unwanted office equipment or materials for re-purposing.
- Print on both sides of each page and encourage paperless practices when possible.
- Follow green building guidelines for any remodelling or new construction.
- Use conventional dishes, cutlery and glasses to reduce waste.
- Encourage clean transportation alternatives for employees, such as carpooling and public transport.
- Encourage employees to participate in the Bike to Work scheme.
Sustainable practices in Schools
- When back-to-school shopping, look for non-toxic or recycled content school supplies.
- Recycle cans, bottles, paper, and cardboard.
- Encourage outdoor activities, field trips, and learning opportunities.
- Create a schoolyard habitat or educational garden and incorporate them into the curriculum.
- Use both sides of paper.
- Eliminate wasteful lunch packaging. Bring lunch in a reusable lunch box.
- Support the use of local produce in the cafeteria
- Encourage car-pooling, use public transport, walk, or cycle to school.
- Organise volunteer clean-up days for after-school activities.
These practical eco-friendly tips were produced by: Roscrea Friends Meeting, Karibu, Timoney, Roscrea, County Tipperary.
For more information email: [email protected]