Sustainable Living
A Toolkit for Sustainable Living in South Lakeland
Why should you get involved?
We’ve all seen in the news about climate change; the harmful effects of pesticides and landfill sites brimming with our rubbish.
But many of us continue to use our car because it's less hassle than taking the bus, throw away rubbish because it's a pain to wash it out and recycle it or use lots of clean water to wash our cars because we’ve paid for it, so we can use as much as we want, right?
Unfortunately, it's not enough anymore to say “Why should I bother being sustainable, when the government should be doing something about it?” Each and everyone one of us needs to do our bit to make a difference.
We all need to make changes in our lifestyles now so that we can go back to living with our planet, not against it.
How to use these web pages
This Toolkit is designed to help you get involved in the South Lakeland area to make a difference to your local region and the rest of the planet for today and the future. In some cases you can even save money at the same time!
These web pages give a taster of what you can do. For the full details, including background, events and useful organizations, download the Toolkit for Sustainable Living in South Lakeland (opens Document Library).
Check out the links on the left and start living more lightly on this planet today!
Useful General Websites (all links open in new window)
www.recycleforcumbria.org/contact.asp
Lots of information on how to reduce, re-use and recycle in Cumbria.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving
This online guide on how people can take action in the home, shopping, travel, food and drink, waste and recycling, energy and water saving, gardening, and also ideas on how to be greener in your workplace, school or community.
A practical environmental charity that helps people to make positive changes at home, at work, at school and in the wider community. Their ‘GreenScore’ allows you to check how ‘green’ you are, with loads of useful tips.
www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/greenweek/home.html
Green Week is an annual event at the beginning of June organised by the European Commission’s Directorate General for the Environment. It encourage peoples to "think aloud" about how citizens, businesses, policy makers, authorities, teachers and young people can change their environmental behaviour.
An interesting magazine providing a lively snapshot of the latest news and opinion, along with cutting edge examples of good practice.
Friends of the Earth’s website has useful sections on ‘Real Food’, ‘Transport’ and ‘Waste’ in the Campaigns pages and also a section on ‘Living’ with simple steps to green your lifestyle to save money and slash your environmental impact.
WWF conserves endangered species, protects threatened habitats and addresses global threats. They find long-term solutions that benefit both people and nature.
Green Choices encourages everyone in Britain to make ecologically sound decisions in living their everyday lives. Try the questionnaire to score how ‘Green’ you are.
Doing Your Bit has useful tips on how you can do your bit to save the planet
Oxfam is a development, relief, and campaigning organisation working to solve poverty and suffering around the world.
The Full Monty
This web page is just a taste of what's on offer!
For more advice, information, links to fantastic websites and background on how you can save pounds whilst saving the planet, download the Toolkit for Sustainable Living in South Lakeland (opens Document Library)
