Green up your life

What you buy, how you live - you can reduce your environmental impact (and save money too). Follow these simple tips:

Computer crazy

1,500kg of waste is made to produce a single PC. Instead of buying new, buy second-hand. If you do buy new, buy a PC that can upgrade easily. Donate old equipment at www.donateapc.org.uk

Mobile Matters

You can often save money by keeping your old phone instead of upgrading. You can recycle old handsets with www.recyclingappeal.com. The money made from this goes to charity.

Monitor your use

Computer monitors use 60% of the energy needed for the whole computer. So don't just switch off the computer when you're finished. Turn off the monitor even if you only leave it for 5 minutes.

Pack it in

Individually wrapped snacks use too much packaging. For a packed lunch, open larger packs and wrap with greaseproof paper (it bio-degrades). If your school doesn't recycle, take your rubbish home, and ask your school to start recycling

Paper magic

The demand for paper is putting immense pressure on the world's forests. Use recycled paper, send e-cards or recycle old ones. Have fun making recycled paper - check out www.recyclezone.org.uk/az_makepaper.aspx

Recycle cans

Recycling aluminium cans is far better in terms of consuming resources and energy than creating new cans. And you can even make money from collecting them. More at www.thinkcans.com.

Shut it

Avoid leaving fridge doors open. Each minute the door is open uses three minutes of energy to cool down again.

Switch it off

Be the green monitor at home. Switch off lights and electrical items that aren't in use. Did you know it takes more energy to run the microwave's clock display than the oven?

Use rechargeable batteries

They will save you money in the long-term. Buy a solar powered battery charger to reduce your environmental impact even further.

Use your library

Buying new uses up the world's natural resources. Libraries let you borrow books for free. You can also rent CDs, DVDs and games console games for a small charge.

Walk the talk

Walk, cycle, or organise a lift share to school. Reducing how much you are driven to school can save up to half a tonne of carbon dioxide each year. And you get to talk to your mates on the way.