Improve your home

1. Turning your thermostat down by just one degree could reduce carbon emissions and cut fuel bills by up to 10 per cent.

2. Think about insulating your home. Loft insulation is the most cost-effective and energy efficient measure to reduce losses and the easiest to install. You could also consider installing draught proofing.

3. Using low energy lighting can reduce the amount of energy used in lighting your home by around 50% to 75%. Best of all, low-energy light bulbs last up to 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs and save you money.

Using household appliances

4. If you have access to a suitable space, hanging your clothes outside rather than using the tumble dryer will reduce your CO2 emissions. They will dry quickly and smell fresh too.

5. Invest in an A-rated dishwasher, because a well-filled load once a day is more efficient than many bowls of hot water, or a running tap, to wash dishes.

6. Choose a laptop instead of a desktop computer, as on average a laptop consumes around 30% less power.

7. Stand-by energy is wasted energy. By switching everything off you are saving yourself around £37 each year.

8. Only boil as much water as you need in your kettle.

On the road

9. Reduce the number of short trips you make in the car. Walking, cycling, or taking public transport helps reduce local air pollution and the climate change effects of using vehicles to get around.

10. Use public transport regularly: by doing so you are cutting your own CO2 emissions and contributing to less congestion and pollution on the road. By not owning a car or motorbike at all, you immediately reduce your CO2 footprint by about 3 tonnes.