The Environment

The current consumerism trend shown by humans is destroying this planet. Everyone can help save the planet without grinding to a halt or not washing for months, be aware of yourself and your own personal impact. Some easy suggestions below and plenty more in the further exploration section

45 Energy Conservation Ideas 

1. Don’t use energy you don’t need. Turn your lights off when you’re not in a room
2. Use energy efficient light bulbs (or switch to low wattage)
3. Have solar panels fitted to your roof
4. Turn your heating down. Put a top on, it’ll save money and the environment
5. Check the energy efficiency ratings on new appliances
6. Try batch cooking so you only have to cook once – easier for you and less energy needed
7. Keep the heat in when it’s cold out – Close windows and buy draft excluders
8. Turn down the temperature on your dishwasher
9. Install cavity wall insulation
10. Insulate your loft
11. Insulate under your floor boards
12. Choose a green electricity supplier (some are cheaper than the big companies)
13. Install a smart metre to understand where you are using energy (and cut it down)
14. Select the lowest temperature wash on our washing machine /  dish washer
15. Use local companies to cut down on transportation emissions 
16. Turn off appliances when going away (or at least turn them right down)
17. Get an easy switch off multi-plug to turn off all appliances and stand by mode when needed
18. Install a new, energy saving boiler
19. Fit a jacket around your current boiler
20. Swap a full size computer for a less energy using laptop
21. Let frozen food acclimatise before cooking cutting down on cooking time
22. Clean the filters in your vacuum and other appliances
23. Keep an eye on your fridge / freezer temperatures
24. Defrost your fridge / freezer whenever needed
25. Hang your clothes outside rather than using a drier
26. Take plugs out when it’s holiday time
27. Use the stairs rather than lift
28. Pay attention to the energy ratings next time you buy something 
29. Turn down the thermostat when guests come round. Body heat will heat a room
30. Check the vents on your appliances to make sure they’re not blocked
31. Use the appropriate hob size. Ensure that enough heat hits the pan
32. Switch off a computer when not needed rather than leave on stand-by 
33. Light a room as much as it needs to be lit
34. Check the seals on your appliances
35. Keep the fridge door closed
36. Don’t keep opening the oven door
37. Use a low energy printer
38. Avoid flying where possible
39. Leave the oven door open when you’ve finished cooking. Free heating for the kitchen
40. Install dimer switches where needed
41. Ensure hot water pipes have insulation
42. Plumb essential appliances near the boiler
43. Invest in a “stand-by” saver – allowing you to turn off stand by mode on a number of applications
44. Keep the freezer door closed
45. Invest in double glazing

16 Save Water Ideas

1. Turn the tap off when brushing – An old one but a big water and money saver
2. Stop the water when shaving
3. Take a (short) shower instead of a bath
4. Have less water in the bath
5. Take a much shorter shower
6. Choose appliances that use less water
7. Only wash your clothes when you need to
8. Don’t water the lawn or other plants unless they need it
9. Use a water butt in your garden to collect rainwater to re-use on your garden
10. Check for leaks and fix them
11. Install a low water usage toilet 
12. Only boil or heat the water you need
13. Cut down on food waster – it takes a lot of water to produce the food we eat
14. Steam food instead of boiling
15. Only flush the toilet if you really need to (“if it’s yellow let it mellow…”)
16. Install water saving tap heads and shower ends

14 Recycle & Re-Use Ideas

1. Recycle and reuse. Simple.
2. Walk to work or share a lift. Even better, work from home
3. Use reusable bags – The saving on plastic is enormous
4. Use reusable nappies – disposable nappies are headed straight to landfill
5. Reuse water bottles – they are perfectly good to be filled up again (and bottled water is pretty much exactly the same as tap water)
6. Use reusable drinks containers
7. Donate unwanted items to charity shops or sell things at boot sales / garage sales. You never know how your old junk might be someone else’s treasure
8. Recycle old printer cartridges
9. Recycle your old phone and/or music when you get a new one – help the environment and save some money
10. Buy clothes from charity shops. Pass them down the generations. Give them to family and friends
11. Avoid disposable items such as plastic plates and cups – the majority will end up in landfill
12. Print double sided. If printing is necessary
13. Buy recycled paper and recycled plastic products
14. Put your litter in the bin (a recycle bin where possible!)  

17 Conscious Travelling Ideas

1. Cut out unnecessary short car journeys. Why wouldn’t you walk or cycle.. it’s good for you 🙂
2. Slow down – Reducing your speed in your car has less of an impact to the environment
3. Take public transport where possible to cut down on emissions 
4. Ensure you can keep the appropriate distance on public transport (COVID-19)
5. Plot your journey out before hand
6. Carpool where possible
7. Be conscious of the impact the car you are driving has on the environment 
8. Drive it as environmentally friendly as possible 
9. Drive in the appropriate gear
10. Cut down on long journeys 
11. Check the traffic news to avoid jams
12. Consider purchasing an electric or hybrid car
13. Choose winding the window down instead of air conditioning 
14. Choose local products and produce where possible (and even holiday locally). local = less transportation and less harmful fumes
15. Understand the journeys you have to make and make them as efficient as possible
16. Pack lightly when you go away, every kilo counts
17. If you need to travel try bikes and/or walking

12 Go Natural Ideas

1. Plant a tree/s – whether it be in the garden or giving money to a firm who re-plants trees
2. Have plants around your home – they increase the absorption carbon dioxide and add some ambience
3. Grow your own vegetables, herbs and spices
4. Cut back on meat (or go the whole hog and go vegetarian/vegan!). The meat and dairy industries contribute hugely to carbon emissions
5. Compost your waste food and garden cuttings
6. Set aside a space for a vegetable garden
7. Get a bee hive – promote bees!
8. Allow your garden to grow – Create a natural habitat 
9. Put out bird boxes and feeders – encourage local wildlife
10. Make one meal a week out of your own produce
11. Dry your clothes outside on a clothes line in the fresh air rather than in a tumble dryer – saves money and smells nicer
12. Eat sustainable foods (they are often marked as such)

37 Consume Less Ideas

1. Consume less – Have less (or no) sugar in your tea or coffee. Use less toilet roll. Use less oil in your cooking. Just use less
2. Make a plan to understand what you need to consume
3. Understand when you need to replace things and when you don’t
4. Switch to online bills and statements – remove the need for the additional paper
5. Choose products with the least amount of packaging
6. Don’t buy things you don’t need
7. Take a moment to think about the things you buy. Will you use it? Do you need it? Cheap plastic toys for kids, novelty desk toys, do you need them? Things that are used for 5 minutes and then never touched again. Are they worth the impact bulk producing them brings to this planet?
8. Don’t overfill the kettle
9. Install dimmer switches
10. Clean the filters on washing machines /. dishwashers etc
11. Refill lighters or use matches (or even better stop smoking – try here)
12. Make a meal plan and stick to it – only buy what you need
13. Ensure you’ve got a fallback in the freezer
14. Use a small portable heater to heat the most used rooms rather than heating the whole house 
15. Use solar lighting
16. Buy in bulk
17. Keep the hob clean
18. Keep your thermostat away from any “warm” appliances
19. Dust and vacuum radiators to get the most out of them
20. Switch the computer off rather than leave in stand-by
21. Use natural ingredients (e.g. bicarbonate of soda) instead of harmful chemicals such as disinfectants and cleaners
22. Use rechargeable batteries – will save you money in the long term and saves the old batteries going to landfill
23. Always use full loads in your washing machine and dish washer
24. Read the news online rather than buying newspapers
25. Use E-books rather than the real thing. 
26. Join a library
27. Don’t buy appliances that are bigger than your needs
28. Prioritise heating and lighting in the rooms that you use
29. Use email rather than paper letters
30. Don’t pre-heat your oven or open the door until ready
31. Use handkerchiefs instead of tissues
32. Switch the lights off when you leave a room
33. Co-habit with others (or your partner!) – cuts down on the need for heating and lighting more than one home
34. Use both sides of the paper when printing
35. Don’t print in colour unless necessary – print in black and white
36. Or better yet try not to print at all – there are few things that need printing. Try just writing it down if essential
37. Buy products online – Less environmental overheads & you can still use the website of your favourite high street shops

10 Take Action Ideas

1. Sign petitions to demand action on environmental issues 
2. Make leaflets and distribute them
3. Join protest marches – have your voice heard
4. Make your voice heard on social media
5. Start a blog or a website for your cause
6. Give to a Charity that helps to protect the planet. Or offer your time to support their causes (see charities below)
7. Contact your local authority to suggest ways to improve services and environmental sustainability 
8. Pass your wise learnings on how to save the world knowledge on to those around you. Teach them the ways
9. Take acton through your own social circles
10. Make your own personal pledge to protect the environment and stick to it

A parting thought