FIFTY SHADES OF GREEN

Imagine what a difference we can make if we all participate in the co-creation of eco solutions...

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In response to our current environmental crisis, the idea of the Greenheart movement is to invite everyone to be part of the solution: Our cultural behaviour, purchases, activities and our organisational systems are the drivers for our health and the regeneration of the planet's natural resources, so it is vital that we all work together to take action NOW!

​First, we need to be aware of our activities and what affect these are having on our social, financial and environmental wellbeing. Motivation and innovation is then required to make the necessary changes to adopt sustainable lifestyle routines, where we are driving a circular economy to regenerate and receive continuous abundance from all available natural resources. ​

 

Are you ready for a '50 Shades of Green' transformation?

 

This 50 Shades of Green Questionnaire is the starting point for you to assess which stage you are at on your eco path. 

 

Here are the questions:

​Do you support a circular economy?

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What we buy and how we affect the rest of the world with our purchases is a very important factor in keeping our world’s eco-systems alive and operating correctly

• When you go out shopping, do you usually buy only what you really need, or do you tend to buy extra unnecessary materials, just because they are offered at a special price?     

• Do you try to buy local, ecological products where they are available, knowing that this can help our local economy and save pollution problems from storage and transport systems?     

• Do you make any research into where your purchases come from, who is involved in their production and what are the socio-environmental consequences of their manufacture?     

• Do you always read the labelling, and do you feel the information provided allows you to make the right ecological purchase decisions?

• Are you aware of how ethical the products are in terms of their production?

• Are you aware of where the eco-product shops are and their times of opening etc?

• Do you try to avoid materials packed in unnecessary plastic packaging, being aware that this is now a global problem?     

• Do you buy or use cosmetic products made with natural materials and not tested on animals?    

• Do you buy used clothes or furniture for your home or business, knowing that this helps to keep useful materials out of landfill?

• Do you try to buy materials like clothes, cooking utensils and other household products or appliances made to last longer, or just look for the cheapest option you can find? (in the US around 99% of all the products they purchase end up in landfill within 6 months of purchase!)

• Are you trying to reduce your consumption of industrial meat and dairy products, or have you given them up altogether? (Industrial farming methods are destroying the planet faster than anything else we are doing right now, so we can start immediately to take action if we haven’t done so already!)

• Do you use an ethical banking service for your personal or business transactions?

 

How healthy is your lifestyle?

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​Our daily activities, like travelling to work by bike, by public transport, or private motorised transport, drying our clothes with electricity instead of hanging them on a washing line, or leaving devices switched on when not in use, not only increases our living costs but also have severe negative environmental implications 

• Do you use public transport systems if available in your area?

• Do you travel by bicycle or walk if the weather is good and you are only going a short distance?

• If travelling by private motorised transport, do you make an attempt to do several jobs (or errands), while out burning fossil fuels?

• Do you have an electric car, motorbike or bicycle to get around?

• Would you consider car-sharing with neighbours or friends?

• Do you consider your business or job to be an environmentally responsible occupation and are you doing your best to employ ethical operations?

• Do you recognise that regular contact with nature is a great benefit to our general wellbeing and are you already enjoying this free health-giving service?

• Are you involved in any active natural sports, like hiking, running, swimming in the sea, diving, sailing, wind-surfing, climbing etc?
     

Do you have sustainable infrastructure?

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Using the right materials for the construction or modernisation of your business space or home and knowing how to re-use or dispose of your waste without damaging the environment, is an important part of improving your ecological footprint, so by studying these things and changing a few details, you can both save money and improve your green credentials​​

• Is your home or business built in an energy-efficient way and if so, have you achieved realistic savings in heating or cooling your property?

• Do you have suitable roof insulation installed?

• Are your windows and doors properly sealed to avoid losing heat from your buildings?     

• Have you heard of passive solar heating and cooling? 

• Do you have solar heating installed in your buildings?

• How do you heat your domestic hot water, with electricity, gas, or solar energy?

• Do you have led lights and other energy-saving appliances installed?

• Is your sewage system connected to one of the island’s waste-water treatment plants, or do you have your own treatment plant on the property?

• Have you ever used a composting toilet?

• Would you like us to suggest some ways you can make relatively simple changes which will save you money as well as improve your environmental impact?     

 

​Are you a green operator?

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The kind of utilities we have installed in our business or home and how we use them can greatly affect our environmental performance. Remember that the individual actions of each one of us, multiplied by the number of people making the same action can have enormous repercussions on our global footprint! 

• Where does your main water supply come from? - a private well, the island water supply, or a cistern filled with trucks and rain water?

• Do you have a water filter system installed, so that you can drink your tap water and avoid buying drinking water in disposable plastic bottles?

• Have you installed water saving devices on your taps and showers yet?

• Are you using any system to recycle or re-use your waste water for gardens or flushing toilets etc?

• Are you aware that you can have a beautiful garden full of plants which don’t need much water and in your opinion, are you making enough effort to reduce your consumption of the precious resource?     

• Are you aware of the existence of ‘green energy’ companies and how they can help you to support the world reduction in greenhouse gases? Are you already working with these companies or would you like to be connected?

• Are you making an attempt to reduce your energy consumption, by being more aware of how you can save energy? An example of this is, while making tea or other hot drinks, only boil enough water to make the number of cups of tea you are going to drink (boiling water uses a lot of energy!)

• Are you using ecological cleaning products to clean your home or business and if so, are you happy with how they work?

• Does your home or business have a waste recycling system installed (coloured containers or bags etc)?.

• Do you have all the correct information about recycling in your municipality and are you following the instructions correctly?     

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Are you involved with community activities?

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​In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every green heart, there is the power to do it.

Inspire people to do the things that inspire them and, together, we can change our world. Simon Sinek

• Do you have an interest in learning about local, regional and international politics and how these organisations are affecting our future? 

• Are you willing to discuss your environmental interests with other individuals, or well-informed groups?

• Would you like to be heard and have your views considered by the local authorities, appointed to represent our common interests?

• Do you think we need to make some radical changes in the way we educate future generations?

• Would you like to get involved with social activities, such as working with underprivileged citizens?

• Are you a member of any local ecological organisations working to improve our natural environment? 

• Are you involved in any beach cleaning, road cleaning or forest cleaning activities in your area and if not, would you like to get involved?     

• Do you respect other cultures living in your community?

• Do you financially support local, national or international groups working to make our world a better place to live in?

• Do you consider that it’s a part of our social responsibility to use some of our spare time and resources in favour of helping others?

• Would you like to be part of a self-empowering movement to improve our chances of thriving on an almost broken planet?

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The next step...​

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Now that you have considered these questions, please don't feel guilty if you don't have positive answers to all of them. The fact that you have read this far means you are interested in making some changes, and this is where we can help. The next step is to contact us to arrange a consultation with one of our eco-warriors, who will share the essential knowledge and some ideas with you on ways you can achieve the maximum 50 Shades of Green accreditation. Plus you will thank us for all the cost saving solutions we propose to enable you to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. So enjoy this transformational journey - we are here to guide you every green shade of the way!