How Green are YOU?

Norah McGrath

Perhaps readers might like to try this test. Beat your editor, Nicholas Albery, who scored 99 (a Green Rating score of 82% if the top score possible is 120). It is adapted from Chat magazine (195 Knightsbridge, London SW7 1RE, half million circulation) and is devised by its features editor Norah McGrath, based on the Green Consumer Guide by John Elkington and Julia Hailes (Gollancz, L3-95). Guy Dauncey suggests that local media could run competitions using this test to find the greenest local household.

1. What happens to most of the plastic supermarket carrier bags you stagger back home with?

(a) They are reused for other shopping trips.

(b) They're put in a drawer - you intend to reuse them but generally forget.

(c) They go in the bin.

2. Do you usually buy vegetables:

(a) Loose?

(b) Pre-packed?

3. Do you buy your milk:

(a) In bottles?

(b) In cartons?

4. In what sort of boxes do you generally buy eggs?

(a) Polystyrene foam.

(b) Clear plastic.

(c) Paper.

5. What is the colour of the loo rolls you have in your bathroom?

(a) White.

(b) Coloured.

(c) Colourless recycled.

'You're buying a new dining table. It's available in a choice of three woods. You choose:

(a) Oak?

(b) Ash?

(c) Teak?'

6. You're buying a new dining table. It's available in a choice of three woods. You choose:

(a) Oak?

(b) Ash?

(c) Teak?

7. You're having a new kitchen fitted. You have a choice of three units. Do you go for:

(a) Solid mahogany?

(b) Chipboard?

(c) Solid pine?

8. The batteries run out in your radio/shaver etc. Do you:

(a) Replace them?

(b) Recharge them?

(c) You only have mains-operated appliances in your home.

9. What form of deodorant do you use?

(a) Aerosol.

(b) Roll-on or a solid stick.

(c) None.

10. Would the words 'CFC-free' on a household or toiletry aerosol:

(a) Make you more likely to buy it than a similar product.

(b) Make you less likely to buy it than a similar product?

(c) Have no effect on whether you buy it or not?

11. Would the words 'new' or 'improved' on a cosmetic or toiletry item:

(a) Make you more likely to buy it than another similar product?

(b) Make you less likely to buy it than another similar product?

(c) Have no effect on whether you buy it or not.

12. How do you get rid of flies in the home?

(a) Swat them.

(b) Spray them.

(c) Hang up a sticky fly paper.

13. How do you get rid of greenfly and other pests in the garden?

(a) Without chemicals.

(b) With chemicals.

14. How do you get rid of surplus DIY chemicals, like turps, strippers etc?

(a) In the dustbin.

(b) Down the loo.

(c) Down the sink.

15. How do you get rid of garden refuse?

(a) Compost heap.

(b) Bonfire.

(c) Dustbin.

16. Do you often walk or cycle rather than take transport?

(a) No.

(b) Yes.

17. Do you own a car?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

18. If you are a car owner, do you:

(a) Use unleaded petrol.

(b) Know whether your car could be converted to run on unleaded?

(c) Not know whether your car could be converted to use unleaded petrol?

'Tick which of the following apply to you. Be honest. Do you:

(a) Smoke?

(b) Drop litter in the street?

(c) Leave the tap running when you are brushing your teeth?

(d) Always use a tumble dryer rather than a clothes line?'

19. Tick which of the following apply to you. Be honest. Do you:

(a) Smoke?

(b) Drop litter in the street?

(c) Leave the tap running when you are brushing your teeth?

(d) Always use a tumble dryer rather than a clothes line?

20. Do you have a jacket on your hot-water tank?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

21. Is your loft insulated?

(a) Yes.

(b) No.

22. Is the inside of your kettle:

(a) Furred up?

(b) Clear?

23. Tick which of the following items you sort for collection or disposal at a recyling bank.

(a) Glass bottles.

(b) Tin cans.

(c) Paper.

24. Tick any of the following foods you buy or eat regularly:

(a) Takeaway burgers.

(b) Big portions of meat.

(c) Brazil nuts.

(d) Locally grown fruit and vegetables.

(e) Organically grown fruit and vegetables.

25. Where do your old clothes end up?

(a) In the bin.

(b) On family or friends.

(c) In charity shops or jumble sales.

Scores: . a) 5 (b) 2 (c) 0 / 2. a) 5 (b) 0 / 3. a) 5 (b) 0 / 4. a) 0 (b) 0 (c) 5 / 5. a) 2 (b) 0 (c) 5 / 6. a) 5 (b) 5 (c) 0 / 7. a) 0 (b) 0 (c) 5 / 8. a) 0 (b) 5 (c) 5 / 9. a) 0 (b) 5 (c) 5 / 10. a) 5 (b) 0 (c) 0 / 11. a) 0 (b) 5 (c) 2 / 12. a) 5 (b) 0 (c) 5 / 13. a) 5. (b) 0 / 14. a) 5 (b) 0 (c) 0 / 15. a) 5 (b) 0 (c) 2 / 16. a) 0 (b) 5 / 17. a) 0 (b) 5 / 18. a) 5 (b) 2 (c) 0 / 19. Lose 5 for ticks next to (a) or (b). Lose 1 each for ticking (c) or (d) / 20. a) 5 (b) 0 / 21. a) 5 (b) 0 / 22. a) 0 (b) 5 / 23. Score 5 for every tick / 24. Lose 1 for ticking (a) or (b), gain 5 each for ticking (c) (d) or (e) / 25. () 0 (b) 5 (c) 5.

What your score means: Bright green 95 or over); Pale Green 60-94); Hint of Green 25-59); Greenless 0 or less to 24).


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