We all know that we need to be doing our bit for the planet. If every single person makes an effort we know that we can make a huge impact and significantly improve the world in which we are living now, and the world which are caretaking for future generations. The only problem is that sometimes we are willing but perhaps don’t know quite where to start. What difference can we really make and how do we actually go about it? Well, we have you covered as we have come up with 10 ways to be greener, so choose a few of these and you will certainly be playing your part in the global effort. 

1. Reduce your carbon footprint

We have all heard the phrase, but how do we actually go about doing this? Firstly, it is worth taking a test to calculate your current carbon footprint. The process of taking the test and the questions you will be asked to answer will give you a very good idea of what you might need to do differently. For example, if you eat meat daily, travel all over the world regularly, waste food and always buy new, your carbon footprint is likely to be significant. Take the test, analyse the results and consider the ways that you can make changes based on your feedback. 

2. Use renewable energy solutions

Look at how you can utilise renewable energy. If you run a business or are able to suggest new ideas within the company that you can work at, could this be an option there? Would it be possible to install solar panels on your home and generate your own energy this way? If you do opt for this idea, do ensure that you hire a professional electrical & data contractor to carry out this work. If these are not options for you, then seek to use a renewable energy company to supply your home. 

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3. Consider your method of transportation 

How do you make your daily commute? How many hours do you spend in a car? Are you normally traveling alone? Walking and cycling are of course brilliant for the environment as they produce zero emissions and by opting for these, you are not driving and adding to pollution. If these are not possibilities for you, could you use public transport or car pool to get around? If you do need to travel by car regularly, you could opt for an electric or hybrid car and dramatically reduce your emissions. 

4. Change your diet

As the production of meat and dairy is one of the major causes of greenhouse gas emissions, changing your diet and reducing your consumption of these is an easy and notable change to make. It is also worth seeking to eat in season foods that are produced locally to you whenever possible. 

5. Buy second hand

This will benefit you financially, and you will often also be donating to a good cause, so there are plenty of wins with this one. Buying products that are already in existence is a form of recycling, think of that old adage about one man’s junk being another man’s treasure. You will often find that you need not buy brand new and to complete this cycle, be sure to donate your own unused clothing and products rather than adding it to landfill sites. 

6. Recycle your rubbish

Most local councils will run recycling schemes so do take advantage of these. Read the list of items that you can recycle and ensure that everybody in your household is familiar with what they can and cannot then throw in the bin. You should be able to recycle most items so seek to always have far more recycling each week than you do rubbish. Paper, glass, tins and plastic can all usually be recycled in this way. Similarly, you will also want to be the home that reuses items such as bags, thereby effectively recycling them, rather than adding them to landfill. 

7. Choose the brands that you buy carefully

More and more companies are starting to take responsibility for the impact that they have on the environment. This is great to see and it is even better that many of them choose to build this into their values and mission statements and share the results with us. As such, we can make informed decisions on which brands we choose to buy from. Whether you are looking at buying environmentally friendly sportswear or doing your weekly grocery shopping at the supermarket committed to reducing its carbon footprint, you will be putting your money where your values lie and in turn, encouraging other brands to follow suit. 

8. Turn things off

By leaving your electrical items on standby all day long, you are using up energy unnecessarily. It is a waste, it is damaging to the environment and it is costing you money. This is probably one of the easiest changes to make as it requires very little effort and you will see those energy bills come down so you will also gain from it financially. Win win! 

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9. Get into the garden

Get out into your garden and start growing your own produce. By not buying food that has been transported for miles, you will be playing your part in reducing your carbon footprint and you will save time and money in doing so. Whilst you are out in your garden, plant some trees. It will add to our ecosystem and serve to balance out those that are felled in the name of development. 

10. Use appliances wisely

Only run your dishwasher on a full load, and don’t worry about rinsing things first as this actually uses up more energy. Run your heating a degree or two lower than normal and save money as well as saving the environment. Invest in energy saving light bulbs that will last longer and use less power and use dimmer switches wherever possible.

What else would you add to this list?