There are so many ways in which we can all make a BIG Difference to the environment and save money at the same time.
By making a few simple changes at home you can make a BIG Difference to the environment and save money:
- Recycle used aluminium drinks and food cans: 20 cans can be made out of recycled material with the same amount of energy it takes to make 1 new can
- Reuse and recycle paper: every tonne of paper recycled saves 17 trees
- Rather than throwing away used glass bottles, recycle them: the energy saved from recycling one glass bottle is enough to power a light bulb for 4 hours
- Recycle any plastic bottles: recycling one plastic bottle can save the same amount of energy needed to power a 60 watt light bulb for 6 hours
- Only use your washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load: a full load in the washing machine uses less water than two half loads. The same can be applied to dishwashers
- Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth: by turning off the tap when you brush your teeth or shave, you can save up to 5 litres of water per minute
- Bathe less, shower more: a 5-minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath, although be careful as a power shower can use more water than a bath in less than 5 minutes
- Use a bucket when washing your car: using a hose to wash your car wastes up to 300 litres or 33 buckets of water
- Replace all your light bulbs with energy saving recommended ones: Just one can reduce your lighting costs by up to £78 over the lifetime of the bulb and they last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs
- Get yourself a hippo for the loo: flushing the toilet can use around 15 litres of water. Placing a brick in the cistern, using a hippo or a save-a-flush device from the water company can lead to considerable savings.
Become an environmental champion
Sophie Broadbent, became a green champion in August 2008: "It has made me feel good about where I live, and I now feel like I can do something positive about issues that are important to me."
You may also wish to:
Here are some fantastic organisations you may wish to contact to find out more information about and get some tips on what you could do to make a BIG Difference:
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