What can you do?

Every individual can make a contribution to a greener environment. Here are some practical suggestions:

Why not send us your own ideas.

• Only switch lights on when essential and don't leave appliances on "stand-by". You could also get a standby switch that cuts the power to everything plugged into it.
• Use energy saving light bulbs. If your energy supplier is British gas they'll give you 4 for free. Low energy light bulbs last up to 15 times longer and cost about 75% less to run than 'conventional' bulbs.
• Buy a compost bin which most councils subsidise and deliver for free: Try recycle now to see what your council has on offer. However, some small plastic compost bins retain too much moisture, so consider making your own from waste materials such as old pallets.
• Start growing some of your own food instead of buying it, use your kitchen scraps to make garden compost. Renting an allotment is easier than you think. It's good exercise and rewarding to eat your own grown fruit and vegetables.
• Before throwing things away, see if somebody would like it for free on freecycle Also you have a right to receive.
• Don't bring your furniture to the tip, try furniture re-use network first to see if somebody would like it. The British Heart foundation may also collect it from your house depending on where you live.
• The Furniture Mine (S-o-T) collects unwanted furniture and white goods and passes them on to people in the community who are on benefits or low incomes, this helps the local community and also the environment by extending the life span of unwanted furnishings that would normally be destined for land fill. TO CONTACT PLEASE RING 01782-846111
• If you have a garden, consider having a waterbutt installed to collect rainwater. If you're on a water meter this will be a lot cheaper in the long run and your flowers will like the water without chlorine. Raindrops4U (01782-751824) offer this service in the Stoke-on-Trent area (approx. 49 Pounds).
• Instead of using disposable batteries you could buy a battery charger with rechargeable batteries. In the long run this is a lot cheaper.
• Drink tap water instead of bottled water. It's perfectly fine for drinking.
• There are several solar powered mobile phone chargers on the market and you don't even need a socket (available from £ 24.99 - 177.99): Solartechnology , Solio , Hymini (wind-powered), Powertraveller, voltaicysstems or earthwhile
• If you like camping, take a wind-up torch with you. It will last the whole holiday. Most outdoor shops will have them.
• Use ecoballs instead of washing powder, available from Ethicalsuperstore (ethicalsuperstore has lots of other eco friendly and fair-trade products from knickers to chocolate)
• Fruit and vegetables from the supermarket are responsible for a lot of food miles. Instead you could join an organic fruit and veg box scheme that doesn't use air freight and when possible local farmers. Suppliers in this region are: Box Fresh Organics Riverford Abel & Cole
• Tree Hugger is a one-stop shop for green issues. Everyone can post their own green news. The website has also over 13,000 eco-based articles on offer.
• Use environmentally friendly laundry products and cleaning detergents. Ecover is of very good quality but most supermarkets offer their own brand at very reasonable prices.
• Don't use laundry conditioner. It puts a chemical coating on fibres and makes towels less absorbent. It is a completely unnecessary chemical that puts a burden on the sewage system.
• Invest in cavity wall and loft insulation (should be at least 270 mm thick). This will save a lot of money on your energy bills. Visit the Energy Saving Trust comprehensive website. click on "Energy Saving Offers" and key in your postcode. If you want to be super eco-friendly you can order loft insulation made of sheep's wool made in Wales from Black Mountain Insulation.
• Don't use "air fresheners". They release irritant chemicals into the air that may make your breathing worse if you suffer from asthma. The best air freshener is an open window.
• If you're about to buy a new car, consider a hybrid car such as Toyota Prius, which will not only save you petrol but also taxes.
• Invest in a highly efficient gas condensing boiler. Replacing an old boiler could save 32% on annual bills.
• Use an ink-jet printer. Laser printers use three times the energy of ink-jet - on stand-by, a laser uses 106 W compared with an ink-jet's 9 W. If you have an ink-jet printer you can download this ink-saving font:
• Don't throw electrical equipment in your wheelie bin. You council will recycle it for you at "household waste recycling centres". You can locate your closest participating recycling centre at: recycle-more or by calling the Customer Services Help line on 0800 096 1055.
• If you want to get rid of your old mobile phone, think of donating it to charity, e.g. Fones for Safety.org.uk . They turn old handsets into 999-only phones for women at risk of domestic violence. The body shop will also accept your phone for the same purpose.
• If you want to buy a new mobile phone, Nokia has just launched a green phone. Made from over 50 per cent recycled materials, the 3110 Evolve is also unpainted to reduce the use of fossil fuels during its manufacture. It has a camera, FM radio, Bluetooth and MP3 player, plus there's a memory card slot for storing extra pictures and music, with up to four hours of talk time. It also has a "no-load" charger - once the battery is full, the charger minimises consumption if you forget to unplug it. http://www.nokia.com/
• Energy saving landline phones: BT has now launched a range of new energy-efficient home telephones. These consume around half the power of regular handsets because the plugs switch themselves off automatically once they're charged, rather than continuously draining energy. A Graphite 1100 cordless phone costs from £19.98
• BBC Green is a new website with expert advice on how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. It has lots of practical tips and eco advice. BBC Green
• Reduce vacuuming time by sweeping floors with a broom and using a dustpan and brush to clean skirting boards first. Or invest in a Bosch Pro Energy Vacuum cleaner (£129), which uses 50% less energy than the average model.
• The best way to have a "green" barbecue is to use charcoal or wood from a sustainable source. BioRegional's HomeGrown charcoal and firewood, stocked in selected Sainsbury's and Tesco stores and B&Q, is a good choice. The charcoal is made from coppice wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Coppice woodland creates a thriving habitat for wildlife and has a very low net carbon emission when the wood is burnt. Never use briquettes which are full of nasty chemicals contaminating your food and air.
• Throwing away food is an energy sin. Try lovefoodhatewaste to find out what fabulous meals you can make with leftovers. It also helps you to avoid cooking too much in the first place and planning your shopping sensibly.
• Hard water: The water in Stoke-on-Trent is very hard; try using non-toxic descalers that use citric acid, lime juice and biological enzymes for descaling your kettles, coffee makers, showerheads and irons. Descale electric kettles regularly - limescale makes your kettle work harder.
• Replace your inefficient fridge-freezer with an 'A' rated model and save up to £45 Pounds a year. Defrost regularly if your appliance doesn't do it automatically. Allow hot food to cool before putting it in your fridge (sorry for stating the obvious).
• Shopping: Always take a reusable bag with you when you go out - avoid plastic carrier bags.
• Try fewer chemicals in the garden: use crushed eggshells, sand or ash to deter slugs.
• Cooking: Match pots and pans to the size of the ring - never put a small pan on a large ring. Cover up: lids on your saucepans reduce cooking time. When cooking food, boil the water in a kettle first. Once your pan of vegetables, pasta or rice is boiling turn it down to simmer. Electric deep fat fryers are safer and more economical than chip pans. Electric toasters are quicker and more efficient than electric grills for making toast. Microwaves are quick, easy to use, very economical and energy efficient.
• Find out about the local bus services and forget trying to find a parking space in Hanley - your bus fare is likely to be less than parking and fuel.
• Always clean the boot of the car out any unnecessary weight will increase fuel consumption also roof boxes and racks should be removed after use.
• Don't dry your clothes on the radiator. It makes your boiler work much harder than it needs to and costs you more.
• Reflective foil panels, discreetly attached behind water-filled radiators on external walls, help reduce heat loss.
• Consider fitting thermostatic valves to any radiators you have, for fine tuning the room temperature.
• Never cover radiators with curtains or furniture as this makes them less efficient.
• Whatever you're buying, find out what the product is made of and where it's come from. Is the wood responsibly sourced and approved by the Forest Stewardship Council? Does the paint have a high level of volatile organic compounds, which can contribute to breathing difficulties in people with asthma? Avoid MDF as it is impossible to recycle and packed full of toxic chemicals such as Formaldehyde that are constantly released into the surrounding air in your home (office).
• Keep your cylinder cosy. If you have an old lagging jacket fit a new 80 mm one on top. It'll pay for itself in months. Wrap up exposed pipes in insulation material to save heat and help stop them from freezing in winter. When going on holiday remember to switch your water heating off. Replace washers on dripping taps. Wasting hot water is an expensive business.
• Thick carpets and underlay help stop heat escaping through concrete floors. Stop draughts by spraying insulation foam around areas where pipes enter your home. Kitchen: Wait until your dishwasher is full before switching it on. Buy the right size machine for your household. Rinse hand washed dishes in cold water, not hot. Washing your clothes at 30C saves a huge amount of energy without scarifying cleanliness. Don't put soaking wet clothes in your tumble dryer - wring or spin them first.
• Don't overcharge things like electric toothbrushes, rechargeable batteries and mobile phones.
• Valentine's Day: For sensational, sustainable bouquets check out: http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/ Alternatively buy seeds, so flowers last for weeks at: http://www.organiccatalogue.com/ Underwear: Sexy and sustainable, check out planet-friendly underwear at: www.greenknickers.org and http://www.naturalcollection.com/
• Stationery: There are many online shops for eco products just to name a few: ww.naturalcollection.com or http://www.nigelsecostore.com/ or http://shop.wwf.org.uk/
• Take your sandwiches to work / school in reusable food containers and don't wrap them in cling film.
• Use a bar of soap instead of shower gel. Remember: a bar of soap comes in a piece of paper but shower gel comes in a plastic bottle.