Bright ideas

In NZ, a lot of our electricity is from hydroelectric. This means that it is 'less harmful' than pure fossil-fuel-generated electricity. (It also means that small changes in electricity use can actually make big savings in total CO2 output from electricity).

It also means that the CO2 from our cars is even more significant, particularly with all the big engined cars we have over here (compared to Europe where 2.0 litre is quite a large engine).

http://www.ecocho.co.nz/
In combination with the number of searches and advertising revenue they will plants trees! Uses google and yahoo search engines.

My Partner and i had what we think is a really good idea for getting information about saving energy to the general public at first we thought a major pamhplet drop to everyhouse in NZ with simple bullet point solutions on it but then realised that pamphlets would just be thrown away, so how about instead having a page in the phonebook i.e just after the emergency procedures; called the 'Energy Saving Guide' with the simple bullet point solutions as said before for example:
_ change lightbulbs to energy saving bulbs
- turn off appliances at the wall
- use reusable bags
- recycle

Use vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, microfibre cleaning cloths and water or eco store (or similar) products to clean your home.

Personal care: Use natural/pure soap (or apple cider vinegar and baking soda) on your hair and body, and the deoderant you get at health shops (crystal stone?).

Use plastic bags from the supermarket over and over again!! Heaps of things and if you cant do that buy a recycle bag from your local supermarket they have them and you can use them over and over again!!!!

Last month we set up Critical Mass in Auckland. Critical Mass occurs the Friday of the month in over 300 cities around the world and basically involves getting as many people as possible together at a central meeting place and cycling through peak traffic. It's more of a celebration of self powered transport than a protest and really is heaps of fun! We have people from all 'walks' of life attending and aim to keep it that way.

Join us in a protest against the Auckland City Council for their refusal to help prevent climate change.

WHY? Recently the Auckland City Council decided to delete all goals related to preventing climate change from their Chief Executive's annual plan. They have also cancelled several other climate prevention/sustainability initiatives put in place by the previous council.
WHEN? Come any time from 5 to 6.30 pm this Thursday, the 27th of March.
WHERE? Outside the Town Hall on Queen Street.
WHAT? Even if you can only spare half an hour to stand with us, we will appreciate your support.

Every month we have what we call a "Barrier" night, named after Great Barrier Island. Whenever we go there we stay at a friends place that has no electricity.

So our "Barrier" nights back on the mainland are evenings spent with friends cooking (on the gas stove) and playing scrabble, all by candle light and a little battery powered radio for background music.

Pretty much everything you use can be recycled, from building things from wooden tin and plastic etc scraps, to scrapbooking or making gift cards out of odds n ends, bits n bobs, etc. those old ripped clothes can be cut up and used for something, (clothes that dont fit anymore can be made into cusions, just stuff and sew) and old toys can be made into mobiles or a fun "glue em together and see what you end up with" project for your child. The possibilties of what you can make out of unwanted things is limitless....

In another thread I posted how I hate plastic bags. Here are some ideas to make your own re usable bags

Old pair of jeans - cut off the legs to make cute bags for your wine shopping. measure the height of wine bottle.Make the bag just for that height. You can make two compartment so that they sit tight. jean legs also make good bags for carrying extra shoes while traveling.