Sustainability Challenge 2007
Simply put, sustainability means changing the way we live now to make sure that our grandchildren, and their grandchildren, inherit the kind of world we’d want to live in.
There are 6.6 billion people on Earth, with an expected increase to 9 billion by 2050, and collectively we’re making quite a mess of the planet. We need to start changing how we live to halt climate change, pollution and over-consumption.
Sustainability isn’t just for the dedicated few – we all need to change our ways. If not, our children’s children will have to deal with the consequences. |
The Warburton family from Dunchurch, Rugby, bravely volunteered to take on the Sustainability Challenge of living sustainably in the run up to and over Christmas 07. The Warburtons bravely put their shopping, eating, recycling, energy use and travelling habits under the microscope in an attempt to see how much they could change over the challenge period. The family were provided with a range of sustainable products to trial and received expert advice on a range of issues such as energy efficiency, composting, recycling and water efficiency.
The Warburtons continued their challenge until the end of April 2008 and successfully completed the fifteen actions required. While completing their challenge, they started to think a lot more about environmental issues and made even more changes in their lifestyle to help the environment.
There were positive financial results too, including finding that their electricity bill dropped by around £5/month. Dad, Dave, has always cycled the two and a half miles to work, but he has now also bought Martin a reconditioned bike for just a fiver and the family cycle to football practice together every Saturday morning. Dave commented, "It's really strange turning up on your bikes when a lot of other people are arriving in their 4x4s!"
This is the third year of the challenge, which forms part of the County Council's Switch It Off campaign. During 2005 the Glass family in Bedworth took up the Sustainability Challenge and during 2006 the Guilfoyle family from Leamington Spa got involved.
Find out more about the Challenge by clicking on the navibars on the left hand side. You may even wish to have a go at the Sustainability Challenge yourself - if you do, please let us know as we'd be very interested to hear how you get on. |