12 Easy Tips to Being Greener (and better off)!
1) Drink tap water
Tap water is 1p a litre, bottled water is about 80p.
2.7 million tonnes of plastic is used each year in bottled water packaging.
Even recycled plastic has a transport overhead. Re-use your old water bottles if you are on the go. Fill them up with squash for children’s packed lunches.
If you only replace one bottle of water a week it’s still a saving to you of over…
£40.00 a year
2) Do not leave your appliances on standby
Turn appliances off at the plug. Very little effort for an average saving of approximately…
£35 a year
3) Turn down your thermostat by 1˚C
19˚C is an ideal room temperature in winter. If it’s too cold one day, wear a jumper – it’s free! It could save you…
£45 a year
4) Use energy-saving lightbulbs
Energy-saving lightbulbs may be a little more expensive than standard bulbs but they last 10 to 12 times longer, a saving of £9 per bulb. You can buy smaller ones for lamps too. Some electricity providers are giving them away free if you switch to them or complete home energy surveys. This could benefit your pocket by as much as…
£135 a year
5) Take a shower
An average daily bath uses 16,425 litres more water a year than a typical shower! You could save over £160.00 on water costs alone, and that’s before heating it! For those water babies who stay under longer than they need to, shower timers are now available. Better still, shower with a friend!
6) Walk/cycle to the station/work
With petrol prices at their current level, this is a no-brainer! It’s free and good for you! If it really is too far to walk and you can’t use public transport ask around at work and see if you can car share.
7) Grow your own
We don’t all need a large allotment to produce our own vegetables and herbs. Herbs and salad leaves can grow in pots on balconies. Tomatoes can grow in hanging baskets.
And the next one follows on…
8) Cook your own
Ready meals are so expensive and you have little idea what they really contain – salt, fats, sugar, e numbers, the list is endless. Plus they come packaged in plastic and are often the product of a number of different countries, hence clock up many food miles. Invest in a good basic cookery book or better still, look at the recipes in the BGI monthly newsletter. Cheap and easy! Plan your weekly meals and don’t be tempted by BOGOF offers. Only buy what you know you will use.
9) Invest in a big butt
Water butt that is! Cheap (about £20) and easy to install, the butt collects your rainwater so you can water the garden for free! Many of us are on water meters now and every drop counts, so this is a cost-effective solution to cutting down your water use.
10) Buy recycled or re-use
If you buy paper products make sure they are recycled – loo rolls, kitchen towels, tissues, writing paper. Better still, use washable cloths in the kitchen and cotton hankies for colds and sniffles.
11) Make your own cleaning products
Don’t be scared! It is as easy as mixing vinegar and water. Have a look at the article in this newsletter for more eco-friendly and money-saving ideas.
12) Take a bag shopping
With the best of intentions, we all get to the checkout having forgotten our reusable bags. Put one in your handbag or in the boot of the car. Invest in one of the many charity cloth bags available. Many shops are now charging for carrier bags... it all adds up!
There are so many ways to be green and save money: this is just a tiny selection. We’d love to hear your tips on how being green can save you money so please send in your ideas to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Contributions from the BGI Team
All savings given are estimates.
17 Aug 08
