Living Green
In day-to-day living we can do plenty to improve our environmental situation and reduce our individual footprints. Simple tips include using low-energy light bulbs and switching off the geezer after bath. Find more below:

Responsible Water Use
-Fix taps that leak and drip.
-Close running taps while brushing teeth and washing hands.
-Shower when you can.
-Use a bowl for washing dishes in and a bucket for washing your car.
-Choose a washing machine and/or dishwasher that is water and energy efficient.
-Only do washing when the washing machine is actually full.
-Boil a full kettle and store the water in a flask. Refill when empty.
-Sweep your paths and paved areas instead of spraying them off.
-In your garden you should plant water-wise plants, mulch around them and deep water once a week.

Heaters
-Avoid excessive use of a heater by closing curtains just before the sun disappears out of the room.
-Double-glaze your home and keep in mind that DIY plastic film is quite affordable.
-Draught-proof your home.
-Place the heater underneath a shelf – this directs the heat into the room instead of up.


Fridges and Freezers
-Always close your fridge/freezer door.
-Ensure the doors seal tightly.
-Keep the condenser coils dust-free.
-Position your cooling appliances (such as fridges) away from your heat appliances -(such as stoves).
-Keep temperatures between 3 - 5°C.

Televisions, Radios and Computers
-When buying appliences, make sure they use lower energy – such as smaller TV’s.
-Switch all home entertainment off when not in use.
-Get broken items repaired instead of replacing them.
-Turn your computer monitor off when not behind the desk.
-Refill cartridges and/or donate to charities such as Against Breast Cancer – to whom you can post the cartridge.

Clean Clothing
-Buy a front loader - they use about half the water and electricity of top-loaders.
-Wash cold and use appropriate cold-wash powder.
-Avoid dry cleaning. Conventionally they use the industrial solvent Perchloroethylene (a.k.a perc), a toxic horrible substance.
Recycle
-Buy recycled products and sell goods you don’t have a use for anymore.

Recycling Tips:
-Clean and squash bottles and other recyclables beforehand.
-Sort through your throw-away goods and keep it in a hidden spot (in the garden perhaps), stored in containers that make collection easy. These bins can be for paper, plastic and crush-ables.
-Get in the habit of using products that require as little as possible wrapping.
-Compost the edibles. What you can compost includes: Fruit and veg scraps, crushed egg shells, tea bags and coffee grounds, animal hair, pruning leftovers such as leaves and vacuum dust. Avoid meat and fish, cheese, nappies and animal faeces.
-Re-use plastic bags and newspaper where you ca, and better yet – avoid having to take them. Newspaper has a 1000 uses, such as around your plants for mulch.
-Donate magazines to hospitals and old-age homes.
-Re-use cardboard boxes as organisers.
-Use the backs of billing and other post paper for your own printing paper.
What can you do with goods that cannot be sold?
-Electrical goods can be donated
to charity shops, nursery schools (if safe as toys) or sold at second hand shops.
-Products with harmful chemicals such as medicines and paints should be poured onto sawdust/newspaper before thrown out. If you are unsure about what to do with medicine, take it to your doctor/pharmacy. These containers are often very handy to use for other purposes such as screws and other garage items.