Hi. Here are some updates on various things that have been going on. A few weeks ago I wrote about the challenges I face when I start an MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable Development at De Montford University. In doing this course, I want to still adhere to the goals of this challenge, and ensure as much a possible that I minimise my consumption.
Improved Ghanaian Cookstoves
One of the first challenges I face is the journey one day a week to Leicester. Luckily there’s a direct route on the train, but I worked out that the accumulated CO2 emissions for a year would be close to a tonne. At the time I was looking into the purchase of carbon credit to offset the emissions, and after further research I’ve decided to go ahead, and purchase credits for a scheme called “Improved Ghanaian Cookstoves”. I like this project as it has a number of sustainable dimensions to it. Firstly it supports the sale of more efficient stoves which are 33% more fuel-efficient, resulting in reduce GHG emissions. As well as this, the project helps to train local people to manufacture the stoves locally, bringing work to the region and reducing poverty. A key thing for me is that it help reduce emissions at the source, and tackling the problem head on.
Other challenges I face are the use of materials such as printing lectures notes, text books, computer usage and equipment. I’ve decided to go paperless in terms of note taking, and do all my stuff on my computer, and all my lectures notes are available as downloads. For books, everything will be second-hand, either from second-hand dealers or hopefully off the previous years students if they want to sell their stuff.
As well as that I’ve been keeping to my goal of watching less TV, averaging about 1h a day, although I may watch a film at the weekend. Mind you I do have less time now as I’m studying in the evening, so in fact it’s all worked out quite nicely. I don’t miss watching less TV, and I thought I would. Guess it goes to show how much rubbish I used to watch 🙂
I felt quite self-conscious before I sorted out my shirts.
I feel so much more confident now…..
Finally I have to rave about this great product, which really revitalised some ‘old’ clothes of mine. I have some shirts which have a bit of a collar mark and/or deodorant stains at the armpits. Not very nice ehh. Beforehand I might have chucked in the bin, but then I used this product – let’s say it rhymes with ‘Spanish’ – on my shirts and now they look and feel great. Definitely a few more years left in them. I’m dead chuffed. I know this sounds like a bit of TV commercial and I’m sure there are other ways to deal with the stains. The key thing is not to give up on those old clothes, there may be life in them yet. Look at the difference it made to me, I feel so much younger and more confident now.