10 Top tips to save the planet
Looking after the planet is easier than you think. Making a small difference at home can have a huge effect on the wellbeing of the world. To make it easier, follow these simple top ten tips and make your mark on a healthier home for everyone.
1. Bright idea
See the light……and turn it off! When you leave a room, turn the lights off. When you leave your house, turn the lights off. When it is daylight, turn the lights off! About 10% to 15% of your electricity bill is lighting, so you will save money too. To save even more energy AND money use energy saving lightbulbs which use up to four times less energy and last ten times longer.
2. Stand by is a big turn off
That little red light telling you that your TV is ready to turn back on next time you zap it with your remote control is slowly but surely sapping the planet’s energy. In fact so is the one on your stereo, your sky box, your DVD player… the list goes on. Save energy, the planet AND your electricity bills by turning them off when you’ve finished watching TV, listening to music, channel surfing... And if you needed an added incentive, think of the calories you’ll burn by standing up instead of using your remote control. That’s an extra biscuit at tea time then.
3. The hub of it all
Use a rain water butt to collect water on your roof. This can then be used to water the garden, so instead of that energy-draining, water-wasting hose, try fitting a water butt to one of your downpipes. The rain water will collect and you can then use it to water your plants. And the best thing about it? Your plants prefer rainwater to tapwater. Sorted.
4. It’s getting hot in here!
One of the best known – and best ignored – energy saving tips is turning your heating down. By turning down your heating by only one or two degrees you can save the planet, and up to £220 off your electricity bills. It’s worth it!
5. Recycle your cartridges!
12-14,000 tonnes of ink cartridges from your computer end up in landfill sites every year. It is no surprise that recycling your cartridges is an effective way of reducing waste. And you don’t need to leave home to do it. Simply log on to www.cartridgesave.co.uk, go to the recycling page and fill in your details. Cartridge SAVE will issue you with a bag in which to post back your old cartridges to them. It’s freepost and it’s easy. And for every cartridge recycled, a donation is made to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a charity working for the rescue and rehabilitation back into the wild of orphans of many species, particularly rhinos and elephants.
6. Down on the farm
Yes, the large supermarket chain on the industrial estate does stock eight different makes of pasta. Yes it does have three different types of tomatoes, packaged the way you want them. And no, it isn’t ethical nor good for the environment to drive there when you need to stock up on your veggies. Instead, nip to your local farm shop and not only is the produce better for you, it is also cheaper… and nearer!
7. Water waste!
By leaving the tap on when you brush your teeth you can waste up to 4.5 litres of water. However, you can cut down on this waste simply by turning the tap off when brushing your teeth. The same goes for having a shower instead of a bath. A quick shower can use less than half the water used in a bath.
8. Bring and buy
In one year we in the UK use so many plastic bags that we could cover the whole of London with them! Let’s stop now and reuse those bags that we already have in a bid to reduce the waste. Some shops make saving the plastic bag easier by offering incentives to those who bring their own. So next time you pop to the shop, remember that plastic ain’t so fantastic.
9. Fragrance: free!
Chemically manufactured cleaners that use a synthetic musk don’t just smell sickly, they can also disrupt your hormones. Instead use a product that has been made with citronella, or alternatively, create a homely fragrance by boiling some cinnamon.
10. On your bike
Saving the planet just might save your health too. Get on your bike to go to work instead of getting in the car. Save your money, the environment and your waistline in one go. Even if you only cycle three times a week your metabolism will quicken, you’ll have more energy and there will be less pollution. And think of the appetite you’ll get for those farm veggies!