In the run up to the Copenhagen Climate Talks, all eyes are on the governments. But it’s not just Obama and Co who can make a change. You can too!
I hear you thinking: “Why would you want to, it’s all so expensive and costs so much effort!” Well, I won’t tell you to get a solar panel or wind turbine. These methods are not expensive, need minimal effort and will save you money! Think less impact on the environment and more money in your pocket.
Switch to energy saving bulbs.
A while ago companies such as E.ON and Philips were giving them out for free but now the government has asked them to stop by the end of this year, as nobody was buying them anymore.
They are now stuck with thousands of bulbs, so if you have a look in W H Smith, Poundland or Home Bargains they’re selling them for between 10 and 50 pence a pop. They will last for over a year and save you a fair penny.
Buy your fruit and vegetables from your Uni Co-op.
Order online at www.sife-cardiff.co.uk before 1PM on a Thursday to pick up your fruit, vegetables, stir-fry or salad-bag on the following Tuesday. For £3 you will get a variable selection of whatever is available. No plastic bags and you get a lot for your money.
Bring your own bags to shops.
A lot of them will reward you with extra points on your loyalty card. Well worth it after a couple of months!
Use the white and green bags.
Why? Because they are free and the black ones aren’t. If you put your recyclable plastic, glass and paper in the green bags and your food waste in the white bags, you’ve hardly got anything left to put in the black ones. Okay, this just saves you a couple of pounds a year, but a couple of pounds is just enough for an extra pint!
Re-use paper
Bit obvious, but scribbling something on the back of a printed page will save trees and pennies.
Put a hippo in your toilet.
No, seriously, take a plastic bottle (with its lid on) and put it in your toilet’s cistern and watch your water-bill decrease, month after month.
Install an eaga ShowerSmart.
Basically it’s a tiny piece of metal you put at the base of your shower- hose. It reduces the water flow by an unnoticeable amount. The only thing you will notice is, once again, a reduced water-bill. You can often get them free via Student Beans and various other sites.
Get on your bike.
Don’t have a bike? Get one. The average second hand bike in Cardiff will cost you £35 pounds. That’s 4.5 return trips to town by taxi. And you can take your bike right to where you want to go usually meaning an extra 10 minutes in bed every morning. Plus it’ll keep you fit! Or if you just fancy the odd day ride register with the Cardiff Bike Scheme at www.oybike.com. Pick up a bike from one of the 10 locations and around the city and return it back later to any bike point.
Stop buying bottled water.
Seriously! It’s your tap water, in a plastic bottle. Might as well get a re-usable bottle and fill it up at home.
Close your windows when the heating is on.
I won’t bore you with the physics, but the hot air does escape. So keep yourself warm with the windows closed!
