Saving the planet doesn’t always have to be about big ideas and expensive gadgets. We can all contribute just by making a few quick and easy changes in our homes. Here's our green tips guide for every aspiring green family.

Green Living

Changing your lifestyle and going 'green' doesn't mean that you should make drastic changes. The whole family can contribute to saving the environment by following some small, simple steps. Here are some examples to get you started.

Set up a recycling container

Place a recycling bin next to your normal bin, so that you and your family will think about recycling every time you throw something away. Try putting a recycling bin upstairs as well as down – remember that you can recycle plastic bottles from your bathroom and paper and cardboard from a home office as well as kitchen waste.

Reduce unsolicited junk mail

This is a no-brainer. By registering with the Mailing Preference Service (http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/), you can get your name removed from up to 95% of direct mailing lists, saving a lot of paper and reducing the amount of annoying junk mail on your doormat.

Keep your fridge and freezer in good shape

Defrost and clean regularly, check for gaps in the door seal where warm air might get in, and keep them as full as possible for optimum efficiency.

Eat green

Avoid food with excess packaging, make meals from scratch and eat up leftovers. Try to use locally-produced in season ingredients when you can.

Save energy while cooking

Avoid overfilling your kettle, keep the lids on pans and cut food smaller so that it cooks more quickly. A microwave will use less energy than a normal electric oven if you just want to defrost food or warm it through.

Turn it off

Turn off lights and electrical appliances when you are not using them, and don’t leave anything on standby as this still uses power.

Let the heat circulate

Keep furniture away from radiators as much as possible. Soft furnishings can often absorb the heat that should be circulating around the room keeping you warm.

Run your washing machine efficiently

Always put full loads in the washing machine and try washing at 30°C. Also, try to dry clothes on the line instead of in a tumble drier.

Check your tyre pressure

Make sure your motor is running efficiently – car tyres that are under inflated by 10% can add 1% to your fuel consumption.

Wear a jumper

Save energy and money on your heating bills by wrapping up warm and keeping active instead of putting up the thermostat another notch.

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