How to make your home eco-friendly

Online, October 1, 2009 (Newswire.com) - 10 easy tips to help make your home more eco friendly

1. Energy efficient light bulbs use about 5 times less energy than old-style bulbs and will also save you serious money on your electricity bills. You can now buy energy savers in all shapes and sizes, so there's no reason not to buy!

2. Switch to a renewable electricity provider -have a look at wind, solar and hydro-electric providers. Switching to a green tariff like Ecotricity is an easy and effective way to do your bit for the planet.

3. Insulation is critical to saving energy. Roughly half of the average home's heat is lost through its walls and loft so properly insulate your home for a cheaper, greener and warmer winter. Cavity walls can be installed for a good price, and lofts can be insulated using eco friendly materials such as recycled newspaper or wool. Use sites such as ProblemSolved.co.uk to find reliable loft insulators.

4. Remember that little things make a difference in reducing water consumption, always turn the tap off while brushing your teeth, take showers with low flow heads instead of baths and ensure that you don't boil more water than you need in the kettle. For a cheap and effective way to ensure your toilet uses less water per flush, you can simply put a full plastic water bottle in your cistern.

5. Save food miles and aero plane emissions by buying locally produced food as much as you can, or even planting your own fruit and veg. You can also easily make the most of your kitchen waste by turning it into compost.

6. Recycle, recycle, recycle! Avoid sending unnecessary waste to landfill sites, as they are a big producer of the greenhouse gas Methane. Visit www.recyclemore.co.uk for information about recycling facilities in your area.

7. Always buy second-hand furniture, not only is it cheaper but it cuts out the energy and resources needed to make a new product.

8. Fitting foil panels behind radiators is a cheap way to save energy when heating your home.

9. Never leave appliances on standby. Most people in the UK waste between six and ten per cent of their electricity bill a year to keep devices on standby which could easily be turned off.

10. Get a smart meter to tell you exactly how much energy you are using and where. This economical gadget will also help you to save money as you can understand which appliances are using up the most electricity in your home.