You Can Learn How to Live More Sustainably

A new series of courses on how to live more sustainably is being offered in New Plymouth.

ACE Taranaki (Adult Community Education) is delivering the courses in partnership with New Plymouth District Council and Hive Taranaki, with funding from Positive Futures Trust and the Ministry for the Environment (MfE).

The programme focuses on practical tips and techniques to reduce a person’s cost of living and environmental footprint through energy efficiency, waste reduction, smart shopping choices, lower carbon transport, simple alternatives to chemicals, conserving water, composting, and growing organic vegetables at home.

Sustainable Living Programme National Coordinator Rhys Taylor says the typical participant is a busy parent or grandparent who wants to make small but significant changes to improve their living environment.

“Attendants will learn how to create healthier homes, save money on shopping and power bills, and meet other like-minded people also wanting to make changes,” he says.

“The Sustainable Living programme helps bring changes because it is not presented as lectures. It is fun, friendly discussion and easy to use information available in print and by email. It suggests how small lifestyle changes in many households will add up to a big difference to the New Zealand environment.

“Kiwi households are high on global waster lists for per person petrol use, plastics, pesticides, dairy produce and other products, generating lots of CO2 and methane emissions, the gases now accepted by science as big contributors to climate change.”

The eight-week programme costs $40 and can be booked through ACE Taranaki.

NPDC Manager Community Development Leighton Littlewood says supporting the programme fits well with the Council’s aim of encouraging greater sustainability in the community.

“Small changes can make a big difference, but people need to know what to do. These courses are another option for local residents who want to find out more about how to reduce their impact on the environment and save money,” says Mr Littlewood.

“The more healthy, low-cost households there are in the district, the better off our residents will be.”

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The Sustainable Living programme was developed by several local and regional councils in cooperation with a group of community educators, and start-up support from MfE. The programme is available in various regions in New Zealand.

More information is available by phoning ACE Taranaki on 0800 223 827, or on the webpages below.