Why should you switch gas suppliers or ride your bike to work? It is easy enough to talk about the changes that would slow the effects of global warming, but are you prepared to do them? This guide will show you some straight forward steps to become “greener”, and how to reduce your carbon footprint.
Recycle what you can
Recycling is not a new idea, but the capacity for recycling keeps increasing. It is also a major way to reduce our impact on the enviroment, with regards to landfill sites. Councils in the UK are eager to meet government targets so are constantly trying to find contractors who will accept more recyclables, either from collections or at a recycling centre.
Currently items such as yoghurt pots may not be accepted due to the brittle plastic, but you could try reusing these at home. If you have children, you could turn yoghurt pots into miniature storage units for arts and crafts materials. Think outside of the box. And don’t put it in the rubbish bin.
Create less pollution
If you live close by to the office, you could try riding a bike or walking to work. If you know you are going to be inside working all day, the fresh air will clear your mind before you start your daily tasks.
If you don’t live near your place of work you could think about arranging a car pool, or could take public transport. Travelling as a group can be more fun and better for the environment*. If you are looking to get a new car, have a lot at the carbon emission information before purchase.
Analyse your energy
Do you think you are doing the best job you can at reducing your home energy usage? The key points are to turn off appliances at the wall when they aren’t in use, and turning off lights. Heat your home only when it’s needed, and try turning your thermostat down by 1°C to reduce your bill costs as well. Do some research into your energy supplier; what are they doing to help the environment? If you find you are not happy with what they are doing you could switch gas suppliers to a company that is more focussed on green values.
Food for thought
How often do you go to the supermarket? Do you end up filling your trolley too high and then end up throwing food out when it goes out of date? If you make a meal plan for the week, you should be able to buy exactly what you need which will reduce the amount of food going to landfills.
Consider the packaging on your products as well. When you pick up loose fruit and vegetables, question whether or not you need to put them in a plastic bag. Many produce items will have a form of skin on that gets taken off at a later point, so they don’t need another protective layer.
*Advice taken from: Lift Share. (2009). Frequently asked questions. https://www.liftshare.com/uk/.
Author Resource:
Philip Youngwood is a freelancer who writes on a range of subjects he is passionate about. This includes easy to follow tips to help consumers to help them become greener, including tips to http://www.eonenergy.com/At-Home .
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