We have instantly become more conscious of our energy use. Our home is outfitted with energy saving bulbs that deliver as much light as conventional bulbs at a fraction of the energy consumption. We use less heat and keep the house cooler. Less waste is just a way of life and our shift can only be attributed to changing continents.

You purchase special red rubbish bags for trash collection and they are 10 Euro each (almost $13). There are recycling stations in almost every town where you can take paper & glass. As I mentioned before, organic foods are standard in every major grocery chain and more affordable than in the States.

The Irish government offers a number of grants to integrate sustainable energy into your home. We are considering a wood pellet boiler when Lisa’s studio is built. The current building houses our oil-burning boiler.

Have you calculated your own carbon emissions?