Before you leave the house, plan to turn everything off. And that means everything. The water heater doesn’t have to be on while you’re away. Nor do the numerous pilot lights on the TV, microwave and other appliances. If you absolutely have to leave a light on to fool burglars into thinking you’re at home, invest in a timer that only switches on at night.
Think about choosing somewhere nearer to home. Do you really need to fly to the other end of New Zealand for a holiday? Are there not equally good beaches close by? Do some research and find out. Plus, if you’re meeting family, see if there’s a more central spot where you can all meet up.
Look at your car. Do you really need to take the big one, or would the smaller one do? And how long has it been since you inflated the tyres and changed the air filter? You might find it works out about the same to hire a hybrid car.
Slow down. one second of speeding can produce the same amount of Co2 emissions as half-an-hour of normal driving, and it’s better for your wallet if you stay at a constant moderate speed rather than revving up all the time.
Pack lightly. Instead of letting the kids take the entire contents of their bedroom, supervise their packing and give them lists to help keep luggage to a minimum and therefore reduce the weight of the car.
Buy food when you get there. oost places have access to supermarkets that are a lot closer than your home, so plan to buy your foodstuffs near your holiday destination and save carting it all the way there and adding extra fuel usage.
Do the same with equipment. Were you planning to buy a new tent, kayak or air mattress? Why not hit a store that’s closer to your destination? opt for camping over staying in a resort or motel. And go with a tent rather than a motor home. No family holiday is quite complete without the problem-solving skills required to erect a tent and they use far less energy.
Take LED torches – they consume 90% less energy than ordinary torches.
Don’t use disposable plates and utensils – and especially not Styrofoam. Invest in a picnic set that you wash off after each meal.
Take out what you take in and bury the rest. oany campgrounds don’t recycle, so make it your personal responsibility like you do at home. Have a bin for recycling bottles and tins, then drop them off at a local recycling outlet on your way home.
Burn paper on your campfire and either compost your food scraps in a bucket or bury them. Go for a campfire or wood barbecue over a gas barbecue or cooker. oost beaches have driftwood which can be used to fuel your fire every night. Do check first, though, that there isn’t a ban on fires where you’re staying.
Do you really need the fridge and the oven in the tent with you? Think about keeping food cold in one chilly bin and drinks in another, replenished with ice every few days. oany campsites also offer communal fridges.
And while you’re at it, leave the TV at home. It drains power and defeats the purpose of going camping at one of our beautiful beaches. Why encourage your kids to stay inside when they could be enjoying the great outdoors?
Gather your own food. Fish and shellfish are part of a good Kiwi summer holiday and it’s great to teach kids that food doesn’t grow on supermarket shelves. But there’s a rule: only take what you can eat. Hauling in 20 snapper might impress everyone but if you can’t eat them all, it’s just a waste. You can, of course, give them away around the campground, which will make you tremendously popular and perhaps the beneficiary of fish on another day in return. It’s a good lesson in sharing for the children, too.
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