Be Green – Not Mean!

Channel 4 have come up with twenty ways in which you can be greener, without being too mean to yourself. Many people think being ‘green’ means making sacrifices, but those plucky lot on the Channel 4 website hope to prove the doubters wrong and convert them to the ‘greener side’. All without having to give up their creature comforts! Top of the list is a real no brainer – take showers instead of baths. You use less water, you save energy and you save time! Surely, everyone should do it. Next up and a little controversial perhaps, is a home-made alternative to a dual flush toilet. Put simply, put a brick or large stone in your cistern, to save water every time you flush. (Or you can buy a water hippo for the cistern.)

In at number four, is something the washing powder companies have been advertising for quite a while – do your washing at 30ºC. Boil washes are so ‘nineties’, modern powders and liquids work well on cooler washes and you can save money and water. This great washing tip is followed nicely by number five ‘air dry your washing’. This will be a challenge as the weather turns cooler, but you can take advantage of the windy days by hanging washing out in the breeze and ultimately cut indoor drying time. Invest in a rotary drier for your garden – ultimately it will save you money on your energy bills as you do less tumble drying. (You can be even greener by not using washing powder at all – try Eco balls or soap nuts for a more eco-friendly alternative). The final tip is to collect and save rain water, which is especially good for watering plants (Most gardening stores will sell special rain collection butts – you can even get specially designed child-safe or space saving ones for smaller gardens). Let’s face it, we do get enough rainwater in this country, so we should put it to good use. For the full list, see the Channel 4 website.