The Green Living Guide
Who ever said it's not easy being green? Tackling Climate Change is something that everyone can become involved in and it won't cost the earth (literally.)
This can be as simple as turning the TV off standby, or it can mean switching your entire electricity supply to renewable energy sources. Small changes can have a huge impact on the environment and its never been easier to get involved. So whatever you do, do something!
Home and family
- Switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs - they can save you up to £10 per year per lightbulb.
- Switch off the lights when you leave a room, unplug your mobile phone charger and turn appliances off when not in use.
- Consider switching your energy supply to renewable sources, It's easier than you may think. In as little as five minutes, you can switch your business or home to 100% renewable energy, often at no extra cost to your montly bill. Two renewable energy sites worth checking out are www.good-energy.co.uk and www.ecotricity.co.uk
- Install double-glazing and draught-proof your doors and windows
- Use thermostats and timers to minimise wasted heat
- Don't automatically boil a whole kettle, only put in what you need. Alternatively, invest in an "eco-kettle," which regulates exactly how much water you need. Find out more at www.ecokettle.com
- Try to buy Fair Trade whenever possible
- Wipe or scrub sinks, ovens and worktops with damp bicarbonate of soda
- When washing clothes, look for biodegradable washing powder and remove stains with lemon juice, tea tree oil or white vinegar. Lemon juice will also whiten clothes
- Place a water-saving device in your toilet cistern - this will save two pints of water every time you flush. You can make a water saving device by filling a plasic bottle full of water and placing it in your cistern.
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth
Become Carbon Neutral
- The Carbon Neutral Company has helped thousands of individuals and businesses become "carbon neutral." Visitors to their website can calculate their annual carbon output using the "carbon calculator," and then offset that amount by choosing to invest in a range of innovative projects. To find out more, go to www.carbonneutral.com
Opt out of Junkmail
- Do the rainforest a favour my opting out of receiving unread, unwanted junk mail with the Mail Preference Service. This can be done easily and for free at www.mpsonline.org.uk
Travel Green
- Sustrans is a UK based charity devoted to researching and implementing innovative new ways of acheiving sustainable transport. visit their website at www.sustrans.org to find out more about their work
- Thinking of buying a new car? Take the cleaner, cheaper, greener option by choosing a model thats easier on the environment. For more information and reviews, go to www.eta.co.uk (Environmental Transport Agency)
Eat Organic
- Food grown intensively with pesticides and fertilisers then transported thousands of miles are bad for the environment and for our health. Farmers Markets are a good sorce of locally produced food, often through organic methods and can be a great place to pick up a bargin. A monthly Farmers Market is now being trialled in Kirkintilloch. For information please contact Carolanne Orr on 0141 578 0286 or at info@edtc.co.uk.
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