sustainable living » Sift Blog
Posts Tagged ‘sustainable living’
Monday, January 25th, 2010 by Admin
 SIFT Trustee Dixon McIvor SIFT Trustee Dixon McIvor is a long standing member of the recycling industry and the owner of a local commercial recycling operation Resource Recycling Technologies NZ Limited. Here are his answers to our Green Collar Jobs Q & A.
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
I sort out the rubbish better at home and recycle more.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
Think before printing emails and other online correspondence.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
Home Insulation.
4. What makes you smile?
My grandchildren.
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Supermarket plastic bags.
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Blue (like the flag of Scotland)
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
Marlborough Sounds (you need to go there to understand why).
8. What is your connection to SIFT?
Board of Trustees member.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
Mr Thorpe (Standard Four, Linwood Ave Primary School)
10. What do you want to leave behind?
Happy Children.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
More wars and more sadness.
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
John Key because he is a self-made man.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
Nothing (it’s lunchtime).
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Meusli and fruit.
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Learn to live and respect each other.
Tags: Dixon McIvor, Green Collar Jobs, recycling, resource, SIFT, SIFT Trustee, sustainable living, waste
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A, SIFT | No Comments »
Monday, December 21st, 2009 by Admin
 Nanda Poort-Rammers Twin Rivers Home Interiors
The last Green Collar Jobs Q&A for 2009 is with Interior Designer Nanda Poort-Rammers. Nanda runs interior design company Twin Rivers Home Interiors which has a focus on making quality, comfortable and beautiful living spaces that are sustainable and low impact on the environment. She is currently helping out SIFT CEO Linda Norris with a few new changes to her home.
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
I have a vegetable garden, a compost heap, try to be mindful with electricity use by turning off lights and computer when not in use, I am going to have double glazed windows installed in my home to save energy. I buy good quality products because I believe less rubbish will end up in the landfills. Good quality products will last longer.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
I am an interior designer so very much aware of sustainability in and around the house. In my office I’ve used no toxic, water based lime paint that is an Environmental Choice Australia product and my office chair is made with strong eco friendly fabric and the base can be re-used again. I try to specify products that are eco friendly and sustainable for my clients.
3.What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
The rubbish that ends up in the landfills. The electricity use. New Zealand exists out of islands, the wind is always blowing, it is free and I can’t understand why we do not build wind farms to generate electricity and save energy?
4. What makes you smile?
My daughter, my husband, my work and to be able to do the things I love.
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Dishonest people.
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
I have several; Green because it is peacful and red because it is warm and cosy and they are opposites.
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why.
New Zealand, because I live here. The Dolomites in Italy because I always went there for tramping and skiing and Denmark because I used to go there on holidays with my parents when I was a child.
8. What is your connection to SIFT?
I am an Interior Designer and have my own company, Twin Rivers Home Interiors. I help Linda Norris with the renovation of her home. It is going to be beautiful.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
Simon Green, he was the teacher of my daughter at Primary School. He is amazing; he gives children self confidence and the ability and drive to perform well at school and in life.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
That I have lived intensely and have made my dreams come true.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
We are going to build our own home with a view in the mountains; I will live there with my family and dogs and enjoy life.
12. Who is aomeone you really admire and why?
I am sorry, but myself. Because of everything I have achieved over the last couple of years since I have arrived in this country and have been able to become a New Zealand resident. And this was not an easy task.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
My dogs sit underneath my window on the veranda, the sun shines, and I can see my garden and the foothills in the distance, I can hear the Nor’Wester. It is quite peaceful out here.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
The darkest brown bread with Dutch cheese, yoghurt and tea.
15. What is the bset piece of advice you can give us?
Only do the things your heart is in and you really love!
Tags: eco design, Green Collar Jobs, interior design, Interiors, linda norris, low impact living, SIFT, sustainability, sustainable living, Twin Rivers Home Interiors
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A, Sustainability in Action | No Comments »
Thursday, December 10th, 2009 by Admin
 The Good Green Christmas Present - Good Magazine We love Good Magazine at SIFT so much that we think it is an ideal Christmas present. Packed with well written editorial, articles and features as well as superb recipes and “real” ways to make changes to your life so that you live with a lower impact. Good Magazine is perfecto for those in your family who need to be started on the sustainable living education path, those who are newbies or those that are well on their way. Love it!
This months faves are the articles on cycling (we need to change to a more pro-cycling culture), on improving the health and longevity of our bees (we need the bees), on reducing your emissions by 10% in 2010 (totally doable) and the DIY outside cushion seat made out of old plastic jackets and plastic bags. And not to mention the great “The Good Shopping Handbook” with over 100+ Green, healthy and ethical products. Our motto at SIFT is to reduce waste you need to reduce your consumption but when you need to make purchase make sure it is an informed and low impact one.
Tags: 10% by 2010, bees, Christmas, consumption, cycling, Good Magazine, presents, sustainable living, tips, waste
Posted in Sustainability in Action | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 by Admin
 Felicity Price at Cadrona Skifield Felicity Price is also one of our PR experts from Carter Price Rennie. As well as being a leading PR expert in Christchurch she has twenty years experience as a journalist, columnist and writer, with her latest book Sandwich Short of a Picnic out now. Here are her answers to our Green Collar Jobs questions:
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
I’m not particularly exceptional – I try to minimise as much of my waste as possible and favour the green or yellow recycling bins, and I’ve certainly planted a lot of trees in my time. I’m a passionate gardener. And I drive a car that runs on a teaspoon of fuel, a little Smart Car.
Every summer, we go to Totaranui – with the kids and, until this year, with my 94 year old mother. This will be our first summer without her. Totaranui has no electricity, no hot water, and is a wonderful natural environment. When I want to write my novels on holiday, I plug my laptop into electricity powered by a small solar panel that catches the Totaranui sun. (This means if it’s cloudy for more than a day I can’t get any writing done, but Totaranui weather is rarely bad for more than a day).
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
I do a lot of running round to see clients and suppliers, and so the Smart Car is a great fuel saver. Plus we always try to find recycled paper, and sometimes solvent-free inks when appropriate, to print brochures and annual reports on.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
Water. We need to find a way of sustainably harvesting the water out of Canterbury’s big rivers to make our land more productive. And our diary farmers have to follow the clean dairying models.
4. What makes you smile?
My kids. My crazy spaniel. Books. Movies. Plays. Girlfriends.
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Not enough time to enjoy the things that make me smile.
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Blue. Not sure really, but probably because it’s the same colour as my eyes.
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
Totaranui, in the DOC camping ground by the golden sands and blue sea. I love it there.
8. What’s your connection to SIFT?
I help Linda and Olivia with getting their message across – communication strategies, media releases, media liaison.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
My English teacher at Girls’ High., Miss Jones, was an inspiration. I’ve been writing stuff ever since!
10. What do you want to leave behind?
Two children who will be healthy and happy, and some good books that people will want to go on reading after I’ve gone.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
I’ll get out my crystal ball and let you know if it tells me anything.
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. Both of them for their stickability and persistence, against the odds. I’ve been there!
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
Sadly, grey skies and a howling easterly. I’ve always lived in Christchurch and I love the place, but that beastly easterly does get your down sometimes.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Porridge! With sultanas and banana slices.
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Set your goals and follow them with determination and passion and you will achieve what you want. This applies to anything, from communication strategies to life in general!
Tags: books, Carter Price Rennie, Felicity Price, Green Collar Jobs, journalist, PR, sustainable living, writing
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A, SIFT | No Comments »
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 by Admin
 hairyLemon's Stuart Woodhouse boating in the Marlborough Sounds Stuart Woodhouse is our account manager at Hairy Lemon, a Christchurch web and print media design company. Thanks Stuart for helping us to communicate our key messages via the web.
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
Close the curtains.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
With the new recycling bins it’s far easier to recycle although I am probably not as good as I should be.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
Urban sprawl around the hills, one of Christchurch’s true assets. It needs to be there for future generations.
4. What makes you smile?
Rollerbladers
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Bad coffee
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Green, because it’s the sign of a healthy potato plant
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
Spain, the best year of my misspent 20’s
8. What’s your connection to SIFT?
hairyLemon help design and build their website
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
Mr Murray (Geography) Because he made everything in life the most interesting thing in the world.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
The memory that I made people smile (cheesy but true)
11. What do you think the future will bring?
Increased environmental awareness and an iphone (the two don’t really go hand in hand but you have to be selfish every once and a while).
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
John Howard Griffin (Author of Black Like Me). Someone who really challenged how I look at life.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
I am guessing lots of cars of Riccarton Road but as I can’t see a window that would be just a wild stab in the dark.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Three weetbix with green milk. It used to be six but as I get older I am learning moderation.
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
What others think of me is none of my business
Tags: Green Collar Job, Hairy Lemon, low impact life, SIFT, sustainable living, web design
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A | No Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009 by Admin
 Carter Price Rennie's Amy Carter Amy Carter from Carter Price Rennie is part of a great team that helps us out with our PR and media communications. Here are her answers to our Green Collar Jobs questions – she doesn’t strictly have a Green Collar Job but helps those who do – thanks Amy!
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
To be honest I feel a bit guilty about not doing enough but I do try to do my best where I can. For example I drive a small and economical car, grow my own vege’s, make my own compost and have a large garden full of natives that don’t need watering. I always buy local products where I can.
I’m currently seriously considering cloth nappies for the impending arrival of our first child but have just read some interesting studies regard the water consequences of cloth nappies – so am now confused!
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
Not enough and it’s an area that we are working on at present. One of our directors is currently working on a strategy for the company. At the moment it is limited to simple things like recycling paper and ink cartridges. We are also trying to minimise use of paper in the office for record keeping and moving towards more electronic file storage etc.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
Water management is the biggest issue both here in Christchurch and across New Zealand. We need clean water and enough of it to keep our population and economy growing.
4. What makes you smile?
Sunshine, the prospect of summer holidays with friends and family. Currently baby things (but that will be the hormones).
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Bullies – can’t stand them.
6. What id your favourite colour and why?
Blue – it reminds me of water
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
Taylors Mistake, friends, family, fun and its home.
8. What’s your connection to SIFT?
My company assists SIFT with its public relations.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
Yes, Mr Lees Jefferies or L.J. as he was known. He was passionate about teaching and his students and his classroom changed from term to term depending on what they were studying.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
A smile on people’s faces.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
Opporunity. Life is full of opportunities if you want to see them.
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
Anyone who has a goal (no matter how large or small) and makes sure they achieve it, no matter the obstacles in their way.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
Students leaving Jazz school, people Christmas shopping and ladies doing lunch.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Fresh fruit, an omelette and English breakfast tea.
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Live life, laugh often!
Tags: Amy Carter, Carter Price Rennie, Green Collar Job, life, PR, SIFT, sustainable living
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 by Admin
 No Impact Man - Colin Beavan No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries he Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process by Colin Beavan.
After spending the past couple of years following No Impact Man’s (Colin Beavan) blog I was looking forward to reading his book on the year he spent (with his wife and child) living with no impact on the environment. If Colin Beavan and his family can make profound, lasting, positive environmental changes to their lifestyle in order to tackle climate change while living in a ninth floor apartment in the middle of Manhattan then I can certainly make some changes to my life (while I live in the much easier NZ suburbia – where I can grow my own vegetables for instance!).
This book (and the blog) is now a favourite. Beavan discusses what he has done (and is still doing) to live a lower impact life and the decision-making/thought processes he has while doing it. From zero waste to zero carbon transportation to eating only local food from the farmers market to not buying anything new to taking a reusable jar (for coffee) and taking napkins with him to switching off the electricity this book has many ideas (and ideals) we can take away to improve our lives to improve the health of the environment.
Not only does Colin Beavan give the facts of the why and the how but also discusses the social, cultural, political and global issues surrounding climate change and global warming (such as consumption and poverty). Beavan questions why we are all living the way we do and why we have not questioned it before. A cultural shift is required in order to solve the problem and Colin Beavan delved deeply into that new culture and came out the other side with a healthier body, family, life and a much lowered impact on the environment.
It is a must read for anyone who has made the decision to try to make a difference. I ordered mine from the library and had to wait a few weeks due to the number of other people wanting to read it but that’s a good thing. The more people who read it the better. It is an emotive and compelling read that will make you think. But, it also reminds you that you are human and we can make a difference, together (while having fun and laughing – lots of smiles from this book too).
Here’s the NoImpactMan blog and here’s the recently set up NoImpactProject which will help more people to live a no impact life. And hopefully in NZ we will see it soon but there is also a documentary about Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man year – here’s a preview.
Courage, conviction, strength, integrity, heart (and soul), conscious living and determination (with fun thrown in). This is No Impact Man and this is what we all need to hold true to in order to live differently for a better earth. Thank you Colin Beavan. I think I will read the book again!
Change must start today.
Tags: climate change, Colin Beavan, conscious living, consumption, environment, Manhattan, No Impact Man, recycle, reduce, reuse, sustainable living, zero waste
Posted in Other Sustainable Initiatives, Pratical Action, Sustainability in Action | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 by Admin
 Saatch and Saatchi S Do One Thing Sift is all about connecting the dots. Connecting together people, processes, organisations (public and private), the community and adding in some funding to improve our environment. Helping one entrepreneur, organisation or start up to produce a new and innovative way to reduce waste by giving them some funding will reap big benefits in the future. Not only will it improve our environment by decreasing the amount of waste that goes to landfill but it could bring job creation and show sustainability leadership from Canterbury. It might also inspire others to apply for funding for their projects which in turn will also have benefits. Our sometimes small actions will add up to create lasting changes. Tackling climate change and living more sustainably is about lots of actions by many people. Action, collaboration and community.
Speaking of DOTs recently, Saatchi and Saatchi S’s (Saatchi and Saatchi’s sustainability arm) Kevin Roberts blogged about implementing “nano-practices” at their work to reduce carbon emissions. They have called it DOT – Do one thing. Pick one thing to change your life and do it on a regular basis. One good way to change your habits to live a more sustainable life is to start with one habit to change and then build on that with other small changes so in a year you are living a much lower impact life. If you are new to tackling climate change and living more sustainable it can be a bit overwhelming (lots of information out there) and changing habits is not always easy. So, just pick one thing you can do today and everyday to ensure the change is manageable and lasting. You can then work up to the big projects like installing solar water heating.
Some great resources for sustainable living/climate change actions are Sustainablity.govt.nz, Good Magazine, Sustainable Living courses and the original Eco Kiwi book written by Jane and Simon Cotter. Talk to your family, friends and neighbours about what they are doing to reduce their impact as well.
Our DOTs for this month are:
Linda – Investigating more ways to be more self-sufficient especially with energy.
Olivia – sow more seeds so I can truly eat local and organic from my own vege garden.
Let us know what new actions you will be tackling this month to live more sustainably.
Tags: climate change action, community, connection, diverting waste from landfill, Eco Kiwi, environmental sustainability, Good Magazine, habits, Saatch and Saatchi, sustainability, sustainable living, sustainable projects, waste
Posted in SIFT, Sustainability in Action | No Comments »
|
|
   find out more
|
