Here are some tips that will help you to start to live green. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy most of these are to implement.- > Re-use your grocery store bags. Or better yet, get a "bag for life" and use that each visit.
- > Is your car journey really necessary? Or could you walk instead?
- > Turn off un-needed lights and appliances. "Standby" is useful but you'd probably be shocked at how much power it uses. Turn appliances off at the socket instead.
- > Turn off your computer's monitor when you're not using it. Screensavers only save the screen from having a pattern burned into it. Energy saving options in Windows still use energy - switch it off (the switch is likely accessible and easy to find!)
- > Eat local food. And rediscover the seasons! We've got a wide range of food available year round but should you really be eating a bowl of strawberries that have traveled half way round the world in the middle of December? If you've got a farmer's market locally, give your taste buds a treat and shop there.
- > Buy what you need when you're shopping. The supermarkets exist to tempt us into buying more than we need with constant special offers, designed to load up our houses with unnecessary extras. Take a list when shopping and stick to it. You'll throw less food away and have a clearer kitchen as well as a clearer conscience.
- > Car share where possible. Talk to your neighbors or colleagues at work - there's a high chance you're making the same journey at about the same time. Share the car and the gas costs.
- > Adjust your heating and air-conditioning. Even a degree will make a difference to your bills and after a day or so, you won't notice the temperature difference.
- > Replace worn out appliances with more energy efficient ones. But unless your current one is really bad, don't buy a new appliance just to save in the future.
- > Recycle your waste. Most areas have recycling schemes. But don't make a special journey just to recycle.
- > Use rechargeable batteries. The initial cost will soon be outweighed by a lower toll on your wallet as well as on the environment.
- > Wash your clothes at a lower temperature. Better yet, throw out the detergent and use EcoBalls instead. I've been using them for several years now and always get good results.
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