Household challenge changes Mullingar family ‘for the better’
“It was an absolutely an amazing experience, it has changed us,” says Jason McKevitt, who, along with his wife Rachel and daughter Aine, featured on RTÉ’s ‘What Planet Are You On?’.
The Mullingar family’s water usage, waste, energy, food and their other consumption were monitored over a period of four weeks by experts, and presenter Maia Dunphy.
The trio aimed to reduce the impact their household has on the planet, and they succeeded.
The McKevitts reduced their meat and dairy intake by 84%, water usage by 66%, and achieved a 100% success rate across all bins, including general waste, recycling and brown bin.
“We are still sticking to the good habits we learned during the course of the programme,” Jason told the Westmeath Examiner this week, adding: “Rachel’s signs are still up around the house to remind everyone. Our water usage is still down, and we are doing everything we can to reduce our power and energy usage.”
The Mullingar family are still driving their diesel cars, however, as Jason is a teacher in Longford, and Rachel is a public health nurse.
“Rachel is looking into getting an electric car in the future,” says Jason.
“But a new Volkswagen Golf, like you saw us driving for a week on the show costs about €55,000 – that’s €20,000 more than what it costs to buy an average diesel car.
“There also isn’t the infrastructure there yet. For Rachel, who is based in Kinnegad and has to drive to Killucan and Raharney, she couldn’t be driving around the back roads of north Westmeath and not bring a charging lead with her.
“And even then she would have to ask one of her elderly clients if she could plug in the car in their house. “So it’s just not viable yet – not until they improve the infrastructure.”
The McKevitts also took on a vegan challenge for a week in a bid to reduce their meat and dairy consumption.
“We survived it, but going vegan completely is just not for us,” Jason admits. “It is a bit too severe.
“But we are cutting down on our meat intake, to one or two days a week. The rest of the time, we cook fish and root vegetables.
“I think that’s something that is achievable for everyone and it’s much more healthy for you.”
Jason did see the benefits of going vegan by recording his best every personal best in the Mullingar Park Run.
“I did a 5k in 23 minutes and 10 seconds. I’ve never repeated that time again since,” he said.
It was daughter Áine, a 15-year-old student at Loreto College, who led the charge in the challenge and encouraged family to apply for the programme, which was produced by VIP Productions.
“We were on holidays last summer and Áine was telling us about the ice caps in Greenland melting, and the decline of wildlife like Polar bears. I suppose I was a bit flippant towards her. But she and the rest of her age group are very aware of climate change and last week she spoke so eloquently to Jennifer Zamparelli on 2fm about it all, I have to say I was very proud.
The ‘Greta Thunberg of Mullingar’
“She is involved in Mullingar Arts Centre and I just have to give credit to Sean Lynch and his team there. They have taught her how to have the confidence to speak out about what she believes in.
“In fact, she did so well in speaking about climate change to Jennifer Zamparelli that the presenter called her the ‘Greta Thunberg of Mullingar’!”
“It really has changed us as a family for the better,” said Jason. “No longer will I burn plastics in the open fire. As I learned from Dr Brian Kellegher, not only is burning plastics like a crisp bag, or whatever, bad for the environment, but at 200 degrees Celsius, it produces toxins.
“So there are mini-carcinogens floating around your sitting room. That’s as opposed to burning it in an incinerator, which burns at 800 degrees Celsius – which just vaporises the toxins.”
The McKevitts, like the other two families who participated, won a €2,000 prize for their efforts in reducing their waste and energy consumption.
(See editorial, page 40.)