WoW! Reset 2024: Tips on how to live a greener life in 2024

COMMON themes emerge annually when setting goals around health, well-being, financial security, learning a new hobby/skill, and community engagement/volunteering.

The great news is that if you follow The Echo's WOW Reset Green 2024 Challenge, you will work towards all the above goals and start the essential process that will benefit you, your family, your community, and the environment.

Begin by choosing one new habit/change you can easily achieve from one or each of the sections below. Keep this page, and once this first change is well established, adopt another.

Understand the problem!

75% of Irish people think climate change and its consequences are the biggest challenge for humanity in the 21st century. Still, the tsunami of information surrounding this can make it overwhelming to know where to begin.

Whether it's infographics, a book of climate statistics, or a personal of the impacts, videos, articles, or radio series, there is a format and delivery style that will take you on an enjoyable learning trajectory. The following are some recommended options:

Websites:

The Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.ie) features a Climate Change section dedicated to this topic, its impact on the Irish Climate, and what is to come.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland SEAI (www.seai.ie) provides a comprehensive overview of climate change, ways to reduce energy usage, and grant information.

The National Biodiversity Database (www.biodiversityIreland.ie) is an accessible source of information on native and invasive species, how to protect biodiversity, and even a platform for contributing to Ireland's citizen Science Portal.

Books:

For detailed, practical advice on everyday items, read 'How to Save your Planet One Object at a Time', by scientist and Cork local Dr. Tara Shine. For a comprehensive overview of Ireland's response to the climate crisis, consider choosing 'Ireland and the Climate Crisis' by David Robbins, Diarmuid Torney, and Pat Brereton.

For a historical and political perspective, read, 'Our Biggest Experiment: An Epic History of the Climate Crisis,' by Alice Bell. If you are concerned and emotionally impacted by Climate Change, select 'A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety' by Sarah Jaquette Ray.

Films:

For a cinematic, breathtaking snapshot of Earth today and what is to come, watch Home by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. To take a glimpse of the world we could live in if we embrace technology to transition to sustainability, try 2040 by Damon Gameau Podcasts:

Tune in to listen and learn on a broad range of climate change topics, the Climate Ambassador Podcast series or the Climate Alarm Clock. Both are made in Ireland and are highly informative.

At Home:

In the Kitchen:

The unnecessary trolley staples: Kitchen paper, tin foil, greaseproof paper, plastic sandwich bags, cling film. Staples for many of us, but do we really need them? Simple alternatives include using teatowels for spills, Tupperware for food storage, and paper bags over plastic. Choose one item and see if you can make change by choosing a reusable alternative.

Cooking strategically: Save energy when cooking by putting a lid on your pot and batch baking. On that note, only fill the kettle to the amount required. If you make a lot of cups of tea/coffee every day, consider filling a flask with hot water in the morning and work from that.

Food planning and waste reduction: Write a list and check supplies before you shop. Choose less packaged food items, local, and in season where possible. Before fruit and veg go from ripening to rotting, use them creatively in smoothies, soups, and crumbles.

Food choices: What we eat plays a role in climate change. Animal and dairy sources require a lot of inputs and impact the size of our ecological footprint. According to the latest health reports, a Mediterranean-style diet confers the most health benefits; coincidentally, this diet is low in meat and dairy products. Whether it's one meat-free day a week or six, every sustained change will add up to better outcomes for our health and our planet.

In the Bathroom:

A simple hack is to include a small recycling bin in the bathroom. How often have you dumped a plastic shampoo bottle in the general waste bin because of being short of time? By setting up a system for success, we can get better at simple things like recycling.

Speaking of plastic, find a local eco shop with refill containers. Bring your bottles to be refilled for shampoo, body washes, and cleaners, or move to old school bars of soap-they even do shampoo versions.

Time flies in a shower, so set a timer- four minutes or less ideally and turn it off when not in use and see if an eco shower head is suitable for your system to reduce water use and have a positive knock-on effect on water heating bills.

Consider what you use to clean the toilet-all those harsh chemicals pour into the oceans we all enjoy swimming in and marine life must live in! Choose natural cleaning alternatives like vinegar, bread soda, and essential oils to freshen up this space.

Wardrobe:

As the adage goes, 'Buy cheap, buy twice.' Our love affair with the latest bargain and the false belief that we need something new to keep up with fast fashion is a recipe for cheap, poor-quality clothes, poor work conditions in clothing factories, overflowing landfills, and an immense strain on Earth's resources. Instead, buy the best you can afford. Consider local second-hand/vintage shops or the online Thriftify shop to contribute to the re-use economy.

Garden:

Mow less and more will live in your garden! An unmown, wild lawn is an excellent space for little critters to live. It allows a scattering of biodiversity-ing weeds like dandelion to emerge, helping to create a rich landscape.

Pollinators need our . Choose native plants that them throughout the seasons, and consider sowing a swade of wildflowers for your garden/flowerpots/flowerbox.

Spare room:

Do you have a spare room in your house? Yep, even that spare room you filled with junk that needs to be sorted! By opening your door to a lodger, be it a local student or a Ukrainian refugee, you use that resource to its full potential. Needless to say, this also applies to holiday homes.

Energy:

Choose a provider with a 100% renewable electricity supply, turn down the thermostat by 1 degree to save up to 8% on energy consumption, hang clothes to dry rather than use a tumble dryer, and beware of energy vampires! These devices continue to use energy and drain power, even when turned off. Switch off or plug out devices that are not in use.

If the budget can stretch, check out the generous retrofitting grant options offered by SEAI, including Individual Energy Upgrade Grants, a One Stop Shop Service, and a Fully Funded Energy Upgrade. Their website provides all the details and options for most, from individual owners to landlords and those on social welfare payments.

The welcomed new VAT cut for Solar s, in addition to up to €2,400 in funding provided by the SEAI, is tempting many new customers to the market, and it is an investment with a promising return over the long term.

Out and About:

Grab what you need before you leave: Organisation is half the battle for sustainability. Bring a reusable bottle of water and refill cup wherever you go.

Move your body, not your motor: Walking, cycling, public transport, and carpooling are all great ways to improve your travel footprint. Could you carpool for the school run? Can you walk a portion of the route to school, if not all? Weather does pose a significant deterrent, but , there is no such thing as the wrong weather, only the wrong clothes!

Drive less and multitask: In the infamous words of Teresa Mannion, Do not make any unnecessary journeys! Instead of taking a spin, go for a walk. Your immediate surroundings have more to explore than you realise. Try to hit a few birds with one stone when making car journeys, like doing the shopping while on the school run.

Community Action:

Make your Green Reset a way to get out into your community, connect with others on the same journey, and do some good by tidying an area within your community, ing a local tidy town committee, biodiversity group, etc., or even creating your own!

Try a #2MinuteBeachClean when visiting your local beach, and prepare to be surprised by how much you can collect in that short space of time!

For those far from Cork's beautiful coastline, consider a #2MinuteStreetClean. Clean Coasts Program has lots of information and reasons to give it a go on their website. By snapping your waste collection with a hashtag, you the online community of environmentalists and inspire others to follow suit.

Consider developing a library to benefit the local community. Many new beach toy libraries across Cork have sprung up in the past year. By creating or contributing, you make a difference.

Sign up to become a Climate Ambassador. This An Taisce programme is designed to provide participants with the skills and information needed to teach others about climate change and the changes necessary to ensure the best future.