SustainWales.com

Sustainable solutions for Wales. Register your organisation and projects now

Join Up!

Get involved, stay informed and have your say in the debate on SD:

Become a friend or member

Climate change film: WI EcoTeams

The EcoTeams initiative was set up by National Federation of Women’s Institutes-Wales in September 2007 with the aim of supporting members to learn how their homes and daily actions impact on climate change.

Fourteen WI members were trained as EcoTeam leaders and have since established EcoTeams in their area. They are small groups of 6 – 8 people, both WI members and others from their community who come together once a month for four months to learn more about climate change and share fun, easy and practical ways to make their daily lives more environmentally sustainable – while making friends and saving money. Topics covered include water, energy, waste, transport and shopping.

Anne Jones runs a cattle farm in Llanddewi Brefi and is an EcoTeam leader. Anne has six EcoTeam members: ‘To preserve energy, we’re using low energy bulbs. We turn off light when we don't need it. It sounds simple but why aren't we all doing it? Another thing is making sure that all appliances are turned off at the mains, not left on standby. We also make sure that our appliances use water efficiently’

Water preservation is something Anne is well aware of as the family farm has its own water supply: ‘Water is important to preserve. We can all turn the tap off when we're cleaning our teeth, it's amazing how much water we waste by leaving it run.’ Anne takes extra care too to keep her waste water free from chemicals when she does the family’s washing, ‘I make sure that the washing machine is full, of course, but I also use a wash ball instead of detergent.’

Some changes have been easier than others: ‘The easy bit has been to reduce rubbish.’ Anne explains, ‘we've been weighing our rubbish and trying to increase what we put into our recycling bags. It's interesting to see how much our rubbish weighs and how much we can decrease it by thinking more about what to put in the recycling bag.’

One of the more difficult lifestyle changes for Anne and her EcoTeam is using less of the car. Anne explains: ‘There is no way when you live in a rural community like Llanddewi Brefi that you can use public transport all the time.’ But the group has come up with a compromise. ‘By car sharing we're able to cut down the use of our cars. It has made a huge difference.’

Anne is confident that the members of her EcoTeam will embrace their new lifestyle. ‘We hope to live this way now – that saving energy, cutting down on rubbish, cutting down on packaging, will be a way of life for us. And we'll be able to pass it on to other people in the locality, possibly set up even more Eco Teams.’

Anne’s plans are even more ambitious. ‘One thing we, as a family, are looking to do is to set up a hydropower scheme on our mountain farm. We have a lovely waterfall which is a good source of energy and hope in the near future to develop that as a hydro water scheme.’

A key success factor in the Ecoteams project for Anne is that the group record all their findings on a regular basis, allowing them to track their progress. ‘By looking at those we can see easily that we are making a difference,’ she says.

‘It's been a resounding success. Not only have we as team members gained from it, but our families as well, they've taken on the action and they're doing it as well.’ Anne adds ‘The success of a project like this relies on the goodwill of the members taking part and their genuine enthusiasm for making a difference to their lives.’

The EcoTeams are aiming to reduce their carbon footprint by at least 20% as part of the WI's Carbon Challenge. The Carbon Challenge, which is supported by Marks and Spencer, is something that anyone can get involved in and, in fact, the WI are already past half way towards their target of 10,000 people taking part! Anne explains, ‘The Carbon Challenge is easy to take part in. You can do it on paper or online. Go to the NFWI website and link through to the Carbon Challenge, answer the few simple questions - truthfully - and get your reading.’

Anne believes we should all do our bit: ‘We live in a beautiful part of the world and I want to preserve this for my children and future grandchildren. On a day like today you can see the effects of climate change. We shouldn't be seeing such wonderful weather in the middle of February, the grass shouldn't be as green as this. It does show that climate change is actually happening. We're trying to do our little bit to help.’

‘We have no choice, we have to make a difference. Every little thing that we do will make a difference, but taking no action is not an option. Having followed the steps of the Eco Team I have managed to get better, I’m not saying I’m there yet, but I will improve!’

Back to climate change film »