Make yours a greener home

1) Recycle. Find out where your nearest recycling facilities are at www.recycle-more.co.uk/banklocator/ banklocator.aspx

2) Save plastic takeaway containers and use them as handy freezer or packed lunch boxes. Similarly, reuse plastic bags and decline them wherever possible.

3) Make a habit of washing your clothes at a low temperature - you'll use less energy.

4) Donate old magazines to waiting rooms. And old computers to your local community group or school. Take unwanted clothes, books and toys to charity shops, or have a car boot sale.

5) Save around 40 litres of water a time by encouraging everyone in your home to have showers instead of baths.

6) Save electricity - and cut your bills - by turning off lights and electric appliances, including the TV. Leaving it on standby still uses electricity.

7) Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs which last up to 12 times longer.

8) Don't throw away old mobile phones or printer cartridges. Contact Oxfam or Actionaid who'll re-sell them.

9) Keep your fridge temperature setting between 3 and 5 °C; lower settings waste energy. Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly - the more ice, the more electricity used.

10) Turn the room thermostat down by 1 °C and save up to £30 a year.