When we were in Sydney we visited Taronga Zoo. They had a sustainable house that you could wander through and study all the elements.
It was fantastic and I wished that my house was exactly like it. It wasn't a large house, but it was very functional. As you wandered through you came across signs and reminders about sustainable principles.
There were also ideas that you could incorporate into your own home.
Basically, it had a well planned, functional kitchen with great systems for recycling and composting as well as using glass for storage, energy efficient appliances and green cleaning supplies.
A long hallway held wall mounted bikes, depicting the family's transport choices and hooks for their jumpers instead of using heating. Decorations such as picture frames and mirrors were made from natural recycled materials.
Outside there was a rainwater tank, composting loo and then a pathway leading to a well planned out garden that also housed pets for the children.
Once I got over the "i want to live here, now" factor I realised that anybody can 'work their home' to make it a more functional, sustainable place.
It is just a matter of slowly making changes that you feel are achievable. No one is asking us to jump straight into cloth re-useable toilet paper ( as I see on some blogs!) we are just making steady changes that hold great benefits for us all.
It's great for:
-
our families - we do projects together and involve our children.
-
our budgets - 'green' living is so much cheaper!
-
our health- gardening gives us exercise and great fresh produce to eat
-
our community - nothing builds community like trading some freshly laid eggs for a jar of pickles over the back fence.
- our spirit slowing down and living intentionally brings a certain peace tot he soul.
- our planet - great environmental change starts in our own backyard.
