fun green ideas

foxybabe

I wonder whether any of you guys have any links to websites I could use. I have just started a new job in environment and we have info boards for all the other employees to read. They are however very boring and uninspiring and I would like to make them more interesting. Rather than have long articles with lots of writing I would like to put up more pictures/cartoons with info on which will make it more eyecatching and hopefully get more people reading them and taking an interest in the environment and what I do.

Thanks in advance

BungleGirl

How about http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/

It's aimed at the community and voluntary sector but is relevant to everyone.

If you sign up you get an email newsletter called the Green Gage which you may be able to access somewhere on the website - they have a really goo green cartoon thingy in each issue.

What kind of job is it are you doing? I'll try to think of a few more ideas!

You also may be able to find some useful resources on the We Are What We Do website http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/actiontracker/ (they did the Change The World For a Fiver book) a lot of what they do is about the environment and some is more to do with bringing back a greater sense of community e.g. talk to someone from a different generation, read to a child etc. All good stuff! Oh and they have a Change the World 9 to 5 book based on how you can make a difference in a work environment.

foxybabe

Thanks for that. Its quite difficult to explain my job as it incorperates alot of different things all environment related, from recycling to working with the local community and inspire others with actions and information. The boards are a really useful tool to let people know what we are doing but I want to attract attention to them by making them more fun as people automatically switch off when environment stuff is mentioned.

BungleGirl

How about some 'sick notes' that people could take home saying 'my boss says I have to share a bath with you' (saving water) or 'my boss says you have to cook me a candlelit meal' (switching lights off)?

The Carbon Trust have some fab posters (I have one in the wall in my dining room) picture of a light switch with a thought bubble saying 'DON'T turn me on and then just leave meee!!'

foxybabe

thanks for those some good ideas.

BungleGirl

Another thought - you could perhaps try to get some freebies like a can crusher/water hippo/can't think of anything else but I'm sure there must be loads of things...

Then have get have a competition each month:-

'How many tonnes of waste goes to landfill in our borough/district/county?'

'Boiling only enough water to make one/two cups of tea saves enough energy to power a lightbulb for how many hours?'

There's loads of number based facts on the internet.

Then invite people to guess the answer and put it in a jar/envelope/box.

More prize ideas:-
Waterstones are quite good at donating books as prizes - a seasonal food recipe book, Change the world for a fiver would be good.
A voucher from a local restaurant that uses seasonal/local produce
Your local organic box scheme may donate a box if you promote the box scheme on the info boards for them
A bicycle lock from your local bike shop

Then at the end of the month pick a winner and have a big sign up saying what the answer is.

Redk_2

There is a great book made by some corporates called 'change the world in 9-5' which has lots of great ideas/stories/pictures in it. It has thing like 'create a car pool', 'recycle your scrap paper', and the usual stuff alongside 'bring your own lunch to work' (cut down food miles) and 'calculate your own carbon footprint'. The website also has stuff you could use.

My friends company does a monthly story in their corporate magazine, and this week my horse featured in their environment pages as we use shredded paper from my work place and hers for his bedding! Once used up the mucky bedding is taken by the farmer and spread on fields as fertiliser. This cut down their carbon footprint by 30% believe it or not! Another month they did a story on the MD who cycles to work. The pictures are therefore as funny as you make them.