Top Sporting Heroes Become Action Heroes with Project Litefoot

“If all of us do a little, together we’ll achieve a lot” www.projectlitefoot.org

Some of New Zealand’s most iconic sporting heroes are hoping to inspire others to make simple lifestyle changes to reduce their environmental impact, ensuring that future generations are able to enjoy the clean, green surroundings and natural resources that most New Zealanders take for granted.

Sports stars Georgina Earl (nee Evers-Swindell) and Caroline Meyer (nee Evers-Swindell), Conrad Smith, Michael Campbell, Barbara Kendall, Daniel Kereopa and Brendon McCullum are all Ambassadors for Project Litefoot, following a challenge first taken up by international golfer, Michael Campbell, to reduce his environmental impact.

Over the past twelve months, these Ambassadors have competed against each other, wtih their household environmental impact measured by scientists at carboNZero, and then taken actions to improve, in some cases with outstanding results. Georgina has reduced her carbon footprint by over 40% with both Conrad Smith and Caroline achieving more than 30% reductions.

“It just makes sense”, says Olympic gold medal winner, Georgina Earl (nee Evers-Swindell) and the current leader on the Ambassador’s league table. “We are now at the time when we need to move from simply making pledges to actually taking definitive action to be more environmentally friendly.

“There are so many simple things every New Zealander can do – if I can do it, anyone can. We need to re-think how we dispose of our waste, generate and use energy and fuel, and protect our natural resources, such as coastlines, lakes, rivers, soil and forests. If we don’t do something now, our children and grandchildren are the ones that are going to suffer.

“Project Litefoot has provided a simple, realistic way for me to make small changes in my life to be more environmentally friendly and I’ve saved money along the way.”

Project Litefoot was originally conceived when international golfer, Michael Campbell, was challenged by a friend to reduce his impact on the environment. Other sports stars joined the Litefoot challenge and competitiveness quickly grew.

As word of the Litefoot challenge spread, people began looking for information on how they could participate, leading to the development of the action-based website www.projectlitefoot.org. The Project Litefoot website showcases the lifestyle changes undertaken by the Litefoot Ambassadors and provides step by step programmes to galvanise Kiwis into joining the competition and taking up the challenge themselves.

Simple lifestyle changes are encouraged, from using energy efficient lightbulbs through to upgrading to newer, more efficient appliances; switching appliances off at the wall to driving less and walking more.

Executive Director and Co-Founder of Project Litefoot, Hamish Reid, said: “While nearly all New Zealanders (90% ) think we need to take immediate action on reducing our carbon footprint, 49% find it hard to make sense of all the different environmental issues.

“More and more organisations are calling for people to be more environmentally friendly, but without providing a clear and simple pathway for people to follow to actively achieve results. This often leads to the ‘new year resolution syndrome‘ with people making pledges without ever actually taking action within their own lives.

“People are looking for leadership and the Project Litefoot Ambassadors are leading by example by showing Kiwis how they can take action, in a positive, encouraging and optimistic way.”

Project Litefoot identifies five things every New Zealander can do around the home to reduce their carbon footprint and provides a simple process to allow visitors to the website to take action then and there.

“One of the simplest and most easily achievable actions, which everyone can do, is to change to energy efficient lightbulbs”, says Hamish. “Changing your six most-used lightbulbs would result in a saving of more than $120 per year off your electricity bill and if every household in New Zealand did this, it would equate to saving all the electricity Whangarei consumes in a year.”

By visiting the Take Action page on projectlitefoot.org, people can not only identify what bulbs are needed but can immediately select and purchase the required lightbulbs online, or print out a shopping list with a discount when purchased through The Warehouse.

The five actions advocated by Project Litefoot which every New Zealander can do around the home are:
1. Change to energy efficient lightbulbs
2. Compost kitchen and garden waste
3. Take advantage of new solar power initiatives and install a solar hot water heater
4. Benefit from the government subsidy and insulate your house
5. If you have a fridge that is more than 15 years old, think about upgrading it – old fridges consume HUGE amounts of energy


Short of cash? These things make a big difference and don’t cost anything …
1. Turn lights out when you’re not using them
2. Switch electronics off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby (if we all eliminated standby energy consumption, a huge amount could be saved)
3. Reuse and recycle EVERYTHING
4. Turn down your hot water thermostat
5. Cold wash your laundry

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