How Green am I?

The main purpose of this questionnaire is for you to see how ‘green’ you are, to give you information, and help you identify where you can do better. We suggest you revisit the questionnaire every three months to review your score and see the positive result of the changes you have made. Don’t worry if not all questions are applicable to you! For example, some energy alternatives are not available in all countries.

Try the questionnaire below

PLASTIC

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

Do you, as much as possible, REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE plastic?

Do buy products such as milk / water in glass bottles rather than plastic?

Do you resolve never to buy again: cotton buds

Do you resolve never to buy again: plastic toothbrushes

Do you resolve never to buy again: plastic picnicware

Do you buy home cleaning products in non-plastic containers or refill your own plastic containers?

Do you buy bread, fruit and veg in paper or eco friendly bags?

Do you buy products for the home made from recycled plastic, e.g. rugs, blankets, yoga mats, garden planters, dog collars?

Have you approached your local shops / supermarkets about provision of alternatives to plastic wrapping?

Have you watched ‘Plastic Ocean’, St Vincent’s/A Rocha Plastic Conference 2021 or other similar videos? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMyjFtnGhQY

1 out of 10

FOOD

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

Do you buy Fairtrade, organic products, or locally sourced food?

Do you use your own recyclable shopping bags?

Do you use net bags for purchasing fruit and veg?

Do you take your own boxes when purchasing meat or fish?

Do you have at least one vegetarian/vegan meal a day?

Are you aware of the carbon footprint of a diet high in red meat and are you reducing your intake?

Do you avoid fruit and vegetables that have been transported by air?

Do you avoid out of season foods that are grown in heated greenhouses?

Do you compost all discarded food or use a composter at home?

Do you eat out less than twice a week?

2 out of 10

ENERGY

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

Do you understand that fossil fuels contribute to climate change?

Is your house rated energy efficient (top 20%)

Do you use off-peak electricity?

Do you have a heat pump?

Do you use solar power for hot water?

Do you use solar power for electricity?

Do you use wind power?

Are the majority of lightbulbs in your house low energy bulbs? Do you replace lightbulbs with low energy bulbs?

Do you always unplug electrical appliances once they are no longer needed: e.g. TV, computers, printers, etc.?

We can’t all live off the grid! Do you contribute 5€ a month to offset your carbon footprint in your home (e.g. Change for the World or https://www.climatestewards.org)

3 out of 10

HOME

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

Do 3 or more people live in your home?

Is your house 90 square metres or less?

Do you have roof insulation?

Do you have cavity wall insulation?

Do you keep your doors closed in summer and winter?

Do you use draft excluders?

Do you have double glazing

Do you keep your central heating thermostat at 21 or below in winter?

Do you always switch of lights when you leave a room or the house?

Do you put on warmer clothes instead of turning up the thermostat?

4 out of 10

TRAVEL

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

Do you drive less than 10,000kms a year?

Do you have a hybrid, ethenol, gas or electric car? (max. 1)

Do you share car journeys?

Do you use public transport at least once a week?

Do you fly less than 5,000m/8,000kms a year?

Do you compensate for flight emissions by planting trees or a carbon off- setting scheme? E.g. a return flight from Spain/Portugal to London would be 25€ per person. (e.g. Change for the World, https://www.climatestewards.org )

Do you use your car journey to achieve several tasks rather than just one?

Do you opt to travel by rail rather than car or plane when possible?

Do you have a bicycle and use it at least once a week?

Do you compensate for car travel carbon footprint – the average 2-car 1 family would need to pay 100€ a year. (E.g. Change for the World, https://www.climatestewards.org)

5 out of 10

WATER / GARDEN

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

Do you mainly have a shower instead of a bath?

Do you always turn off the tap when you brush your teeth?

Are you off the water grid? (i.e. you have a borehole or reservoir)

Do you collect rainwater for use in the garden?

Do you recycle ‘brown’ water for garden use?

Do you plant trees in your garden?

Do you plant flowers and shrubs which attract butterflys and wildlife or have a ‘bug hotel’?

Do you allow part of your garden to go wild where plants produce seed and attract worms for birds?

Do you grow plants with a low water requirement?

Do you grow your own vegetables?

6 out of 10

LIFESTYLE / CLOTHING

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

Do you put unwanted clothing in clothing banks or give to charity shops?

Do you ever buy second-hand clothes?

Do you resolve to buy clothes made of natural fibres or recycled materials?

Do you avoid purchasing goods from countries that are not actively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accord with the Paris Agreement?

Do you give unwanted furniture to charity shops?

Do you recycle lightbulbs and used batteries?

Do you sort out your rubbish: glass, paper, plastic, metal and recycle?

Do you regularly walk to the shops, visit friends, etc.?

Do you use eco-friendly detergent, e.g. TruEarth?

Do you air-dry your laundry in preference to a tumble drier?

7 out of 10

INVOLVING OTHERS AND RAISING AWARENESS

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

Do you regularly write once a year to your political and local representatives (council, state, EU) promoting green issues?

Do you write a letter of praise and appreciation when your local council promotes an eco project?

Do you consider green issues when you vote?

Do you involve friends and neighbours in eco issues?

Do you pray for the environment and how we can care for God’s creation and share resources?

Have you asked your priest and intercessors to include caring for creation in church prayers?

Do you ever pick up other people’s rubbish?

Have you helped organise or participated in a public clean up event, e.g. beach clean, park litter pick-up, etc.?

Have you involved family and friends in a public eco event?

Do you share eco tips and resources?

8 out of 10

RECRUITMENT – CHANGE FOR THE WORLD

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

Up to 3 points for every family member or friend you’ve talked to about climate change (1 person)

talked to about climate change (2 People)

talked to about climate change (3 People or more)

Have you talked to others about Change for the World and its aims?

1 point (max 4) for introducing someone else to Change for the World and them completing the self-assessment (1 Person)

introducing someone else (2 People)

introducing someone else (3 People)

introducing someone else (4 People or more)

Have you read the Change for the World mission statement

1 point for completing the self-assessment!

9 out of 10

10.

GIVING

Select all of the boxes that you currently do (1 point for each)

1 point for every 10€ collected from yourself or others this year towards Change for the World projects with A Rocha, Tearfund, Green Africa, etc. projects (max. 10 points) (1st Point)

2nd point

3rd point

4th point

5th point

6th point

7th point

8th point

9th point

10th point

10 out of 10

Time’s up