Life has never been busier for people living in Britain. We have the longest working hours in Europe, and when you add on the time it takes to commute, carry out household chores and other household responsibilities, it’s clear that we are time-poor as a nation. It’s understandable we want to spend the spare time we do have relaxing and winding down.
With so much else going on, being ‘green’ is probably not top of your priorities. After all, it takes time to be green, doesn’t it? Well, that’s not strictly true. There are many things you can do straight away which take no time at all – and can help you be more sustainable.
Turning off lights when you’re not in the room, turning down your thermostat by 1°C, and remembering not to leave your appliances on standby will all help to save you energy and money, as well as lower CO2 emissions. In fact some ‘green’ actions can actually save you time. Only filling the kettle with the water needed to make your drink save energy – and means the water boils quicker too. And taking a shower instead of a bath saves time and energy, as well as only using a third of the water.
Being energy aware when you’re shopping can also save you money. Energy saving light bulbs use a fifth of the energy of a standard bulb, and can save up to £60 over their lifetime. Or, if you’re looking out for new electronics equipment or home appliances, make sure they carry the Energy Saving Recommended logo. It’s your guarantee that the product is highly energy efficient. Find details of Energy Saving Recommended products and suppliers at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/recommended.
However, we know that some ‘green’ actions are a bit more time consuming, so why not contact the Energy Saving Trust London advice centre and let them remove the hassle? They offer personalised advice and information on a range of environmental issues and energy saving measures including insulation, renewable technologies, energy efficient cars and appliances, reducing waste and water conservation and the latest grants and offers available for home energy improvements.
Freephone: 0800 512 012 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)
Email:advice@est-london.org.uk
Website:www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/london
Look out for the road shows and wellbeing wagons on your estate during energy week, for free advice and information:
Wednesday 22 October:
The truth is that being green needn’t take up loads of your time and has the benefits of saving you energy, money and reducing CO2 emissions – so what are you waiting for?
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