Advice Page: change your lifestyle!

Home & Energy Consumption

Turn off taps- running a tap whilst brushing your teeth can use unnecessary amounts of water resources.
Install a dual flush toilet system, or put a brick in the current one, this will reduce water consumption.
Use energy efficient boilers, or make sure current boiler is serviced regularly.
Purchase energy efficient appliances- many are now labelled as such.
Switch off lights when not in use and install low voltage light bulbs.
Efficiently insulate your home/place of work.
Completely switch off electrical appliances when not in use, even on standby they consume energy.
If possible, install solar (photovoltaic) panels and wind turbines. High street suppliers are now making these more affordable and accessible.
Where available, switch to a green energy supplier.

Try to buy and eat organic food, this is becoming more available at farmers markets.
Buy more 'Fair Trade' food, produced sustainably.
Where possible grow your own food, and eat seasonal food.
Locally grown food has less transport related emissions and is fresher.
Avoid packaged veg and fruit from far off countries; these are embedded with air freight related emissions.
Use supermarket delivery services, available online- less transport emissions, or order veg from sustainable delivery schemes.
Eat less meat- meat production is an energy intensive process, (more CO2 emissions!). More fruit and veg offer a healthy alternative.
Only boil water you need for hot drinks and cover pans when cooking- resulting in less energy consumption.
Compost your raw veg waste.

Only use cars for essential journeys and make sure they are regularly serviced to run efficiently.
Convert your vehicle to use LPG (Cheaper than petrol!)
If you have a diesel vehicle, use Bio diesel.
Become a member of or set up a 'car pool'.
When buying new, buy energy efficient (or even better), vehicles with Hybrid or Electric technology.
Use green or 'carbon neutral' taxis. Some Black Taxis are in fact ‘carbon neutral’.
Use public transport more often. Electric Trams and Fuel cell buses have low carbon outputs.
Cycle more- a healthy alternative! - Easy to park also!
Walk, another healthy alternative.
Reduce your air miles- use the channel tunnel or go by ferry to Europe. Try to avoid flying to exotic locations, or choose more 'Eco-friendly' resorts.

Recycle and correctly dispose of waste to reduce landfill and resulting CO2 and Methane emissions.
Following the correct recycling procedures may also reduce council tax.
Buy consumer goods with less packaging, resulting in less waste.
When shopping use a reusable shopping bag.

A number of environmentally and ethically orientated financial services are now available.
These could contribute to a carbon neutral lifestyle.

Ethical Investment portfolio companies provide a range of environmentally, socially and ethically responsible investments.
Green Mortgage & Insurance companies or brokers offer services from a sustainable or ethical perspective.