Be an EcoCreeper

Home energy

• Ask your energy supplier to provide you with power generated from renewable sources (e.g. wind farms or hydro-electricity).
• Use thermostats to switch off the heating when you don't need it and wear another layer which will enable you to turn the heating down a degree of two.
• Add insulation to your home to conserve heat and insulate your water heater/hot water tank properly.
• Fit double glazing which can reduce heat loss by as much as 20%
  
• Turn off appliances and lights when they're not needed.
• Turn TVs and computers off rather than leaving on standby.
  
• Fit energy-efficient light bulbs - they may cost more but they will save you considerable money and energy over time.
• Turn off lights when you leave a room.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
• Share you bath water and in the summer siphon it out of the bath and water your pots with it.
  

Garden

• Avoid using sprinklers or hoses and if you do water your garden do it after sunset as less water will evaporate.
• Patio heaters are a 'No no' – Put on a jumper or wear a coat.
  
• Use a bucket, rather than a hose, when washing your car.
• Make compost from your biodegradable waste.
• Dry your clothes on a clothes line - tumble driers use huge amounts of energy.
• Avoid putting oil, paint, varnish or solvent down the drain.
• Attach water butts to your shed roof to collect rain water.

Shopping

• Buy products made from recycled material (eg toilet rolls, bin liners).
• Choose products with recycled and recyclable packaging.
• Reuse plastic bags or use cloth bags when shopping.
• Supermarkets often have recycling facilities and some take back plastic bags.

Driving

• Don't leave your engine running (idling) when you're not driving - turn it off if you stop for more than 10 seconds (except in traffic).
• Accelerate smoothly, even in a traffic jam. Smoother driving can use 30% less fuel.
• Obey the speed limit. Driving at 50mph can use 25% less fuel than 70mph.
• Make sure your tyres are properly inflated (cars with under-inflated tyres consume more fuel).
• Make sure your car gets an emissions test with its service.
• Wide-open windows, roof racks, air conditioning and heavy clutter in the boot can all add to your fuel bill.

Holidays

• Fly less! Take a holiday at home, or use the Channel Tunnel to get to the continent - air travel produces three times more carbon dioxide per passenger than rail.
• Ask hotels or guest houses to change your linen and towels every other day.
• If recycling facilities are not available, take your recyclable waste home with you.

Water

• Take a shower instead of a bath - this can save 50 litres every time (unless it's a power shower!)
• Avoid putting sanitary products, nappies and cigarettes down the toilet.
• Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth.
• Repair dripping taps and always turn them off properly.
• Use full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine.
• Use environmentally friendly cleaning products (e.g. bleach, washing-up liquid).

Eating and drinking

• Use plastic storage boxes rather than disposable sandwich bags and plastic wrap.
• Drink tap or filtered water, not bottled.
• Cook more fresh food to reduce packaging waste and buy local produce or grow your own to reduce energy used in transportation.
• Check with your council about recycling facilities for plastic, metals and cardboard.
• Avoid using disposable cutlery and plates. Buy cheap plastic sets that can be reused.

Other reusing and recycling tips

• Find someone who can use something you no longer want or take it to a charity shop.
• Use a cloth hankie - it takes 6,000,000 trees to make one-year's worth of tissues for the world.
• Donate leftover paint to a community project.
• Use rechargeable batteries and visit Waste Aware Scotland's website to see if your local council offers battery recycling facilities.
• Stop junk mail by registering with the Mailing Preference Service. Write to MPS, Freepost 22, London, W1E 7EZ or phone 0207 766 4410 (UK residential addresses only).