Birthday Week - Challenges

Every month we issue a new challenge to readers, and put up a poll so you can tell us what you've done. It's another way to have interaction with Bean-Sprouts readers. But really the purpose is to challenge ourselves to live greener and more thoughtfully. The challenges this year were:

1. The Kettle Challenge 26 votes


2. Switch It Off 13 votes


3. Car Tyre Pressure 12 votes


4. Turn Down Your Thermostat 13 votes


5. Visit A Farmer's Market 15 votes


6. Green And Clean 42 votes


7. Ditch the Disposables 16 votes


8. Reduce Junk Mail 34 votes


9. Save Water - Recycle A Brick 22 votes


10. Tariff Change 23 votes
    

220 people voted in the polls last year, and as you can see from the mega-challenge-chart, most of you are already pretty green. That's fantastic. Even better is that 71 people pledged to make changes to be more green in future. I hope you're all keeping up the good work.

This month's challenge is to drive slower and save fuel. There's a poll for it in the right-hand sidebar.

My favourite thing about the challenges is the unexpected routes they often lead me down. For example I learned that

• tyre pressure may not make as much difference to petrol consumption as is claimed
• eco-cleaning products don't always live up to expectations (but some do)
• and that it's worth doing some research if you want to help reduce climate change by changing your electricity supplier

Thanks to all of you for the questions, tip-offs and leads you provided along the way. I'm really looking forward to what we can do and learn in the next 12 months of Bean-Sprouts challenges.