12 Effortless Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Today
So you want to make a difference but you haven’t got much free time? No problem! Luckily you don’t have to spend half your life volunteering, walking everywhere and growing all your own food to reduce the effect you have on the planet.
Indeed, this site is all about finding ways to make your life greener without having to give up all the things you really love.
So here are some things you can easily get done in next to no time. See how many you can act on this coming Saturday and think how good you’ll feel about yourself by the time the evening arrives 
Swap To A Green Energy Supplier
Ring up your current electricity supplier to see if they have a green tariff you can change onto. If so then you’re all good to go and a five minute conversation later you’re already doing your bit for the planet. If not, a quick web search should show up all sorts of potential suppliers (such as Ecotricity in the UK) so speak to them about changing.
Reduce Your Mail
Register with the Mail Preference Service to reduce the amount of junkmail you are being sent and also consider registering with the Royal Mail’s Door to Door Opt Out Service.
Date Check Your Food
It is estimated that up to a hird of the food we buy gets thrown away because it has gone out of date. To reduce this problem try taking a little while to arrange your food in date order so that nothing ever goes out of date. Also appreciate that in many cases food can be eaten after the “best before” date if you know what you are doing.
Cycle Instead Of Driving
I’m not saying give up your car altogether – for many people that simply isn’t possible. But what I am saying is to take the time to consider if it is necessary for you to drive or if you could walk or cycle to where you are going. Every trip saved makes a difference even if it is just a handful each month.
Join Up For Websites To Support Good Causes
Many environmental charities have websites where they post information on how to campaign for a greener future including petitions you can sign and letters you can write to MPs. So make the most of it and get involved.
Insulate Your Home
The biggest things you can do are to insulate your loft and fit double-glazing though these may not be cheap options. Most DIY-comfortable people can fit some additional loft insulation and insulating your hot water tank is a quick and easy job using a cover from your local hardware store. It is recommended that for best results they are insulated to a thickness of at least 7cm.
Sort Out Your Hot Water Timer
How much hot water do you really need? Many people have their hot water left on all day even if they are out at work for most of it. So try experimenting with the heater. You can turn it on half an hour before you wake up so you can shower and then have it turn off when you go out to work. You can then do something similar in the evening. We find at my house that less than 2 hours of hot water per day are enough for most days saving us 22 hours of heating bills!
Mulch Your Garden
Thick mulches not only make life easier by reducing weeds that grow in your garden, but they also help to keep in water. By reducing the amount of water your plants need you can further reduce your impact on the planet. Excellent mulches include thick bark or even straw.
Switch On Paperless Billing
We all get bills – it’s one of the problems with modern life! But why not switch your bills to direct debit (which often affords you a discount on your bill) and switch to paperless billing too. You can always log onto your online account if you want to check something but you help save paper once again.
Put In Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Switch to the new low-energy bulbs as your old ones run out. They use less energy, produce less heat and last far, far longer. Just make sure you dispose of them carefully as the latest bulbs contain some nasty chemicals in them so they cannot simply be thrown away.
Switch Off Electrical Appliances When Not In Use
Were you aware that household appliances such as TVs and DVD players use almost as much power when they are left on standby as they do when they are switched on? To me this is crazy and so an easy way to save money and save the planet is to only switch on an appliance when you actually want to lose it.
Buy A Recycling Bin
We all know that we should recycle. Making it as easy as possible to recycle will encourage you to do it. So find a recycling bin that you can place in your kitchen and get separating!
Related Eco Friendly Articles:
- 10 Ways To Make Your Bathroom Greener
- 5 Ways To Use Your Garden For Recycling
- 7 Ways To Make Your Office More Green
Other Eco Friendly Articles We Recommend:
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