Here are a few tips to get you started, but there are literally thousands of ways you can make a difference to cut emissions of greenhouse gases, reduce global warming, and protect the world's natural resources and fuels.
 

Buy carbon neutral CDs where you can
Foo Fighters, Massive Attack, Coldplay and Feeder are just some of the artists who have gone 'carbon neutral'. This basically means that they support forestry projects that neutralise the greenhouse gases produced by their CD or tour.

Making a brew
When you put the kettle on you don't need to fill it - only use the water you need and don't keep boiling it. Make the tea when it's boiled the first time.

Turn it down
Turning down your thermostat by just 2°C you'll cut as much as 10 percent off your heating bill. And help reduce global warming by saving on those carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

A big turn off?
Switching off your TV, video, DVD or stereo at the set stops the extra 10-60 percent electricity used by being on standby. If just 10 households switched off their TV sets properly, 1 tonne of CO2 would be saved.

Chilling out
Make sure your fridge and freezer run efficiently by defrosting regularly and setting to the right temperature. This will keep your CO2 emissions, and your bills, to a minimum. When there's too much ice in a freezer it uses more electricity try to stay at the correct temperature.

Spin, Spin Sugar
Using full loads in your washing machine will keep your weekly wash number down, saving you money on water, electricity, soap, and helping the environment too.

Fit fitter light bulbs
Energy saving light bulbs will save you around £10 a year, and save the atmosphere 0.8 tonnes of CO2.

If you own your own home ... insulate your tank
No, not the fish tank, that would just be cruel. Stop heat energy escaping by fitting a lagging jacket around your hot water tank - you'll be amazed how much you can save.

... and your walls
Up to 35 percent of the heat generated in your home is lost through your walls. Installing cavity wall insulation could cut your fuel bills by £70-£100 per year, saving large amounts of CO2 from escaping into the atmosphere.

... and your loft, too
Save £20-30 on your fuel bills and a tonne of CO2, by fitting 180mm of loft insulation - it will cost you around £200, but will stop the 25 percent of heat from your house disappearing through the roof. So you'll get the investment back.

Install an energy efficient boiler
If your boiler is over 15 years old it may not be energy efficient - replacing with a condensing boiler could save you money and reduce your emissions.

Recycle
Recycling helps the environment in loads of ways. It saves resources, energy, and space (for example cutting down on the use of landfill sites). It helps protect the environment from incineration of waste products, and from the gases lost as the waste breaks down.

If your council doesn't already supply you with a recycling service it soon will as the government has now set statutory targets for recycling and recovery of household waste. Anyone falling short of those targets will have heavy fines. In the meantime you should be near a recycling centre. Contact your local council if you don't know where yours is.


If that's given you a taste for going green, get some other tips on how you can make a difference with your travel, and when you're out and about!