Ten top tips for environmentally friendly living

Whether climate change is real or not, the great thing about living green is that you don’t just help protect the planet, but you often save yourself money in the first place!

I’m a real stickler for eco-friendly lifestyle habits, and here are a few of my favourites…

• Tear up used bits of A4 paper into four and hold together with a bulldog clip – you’ve got yourself a ready-made notepad, and you’ve got another use from the paper.

• Use the plastic bags that you’re given in the supermarket as bin liners around the house. There’s no need to buy bags specifically for your household bins when you’ve got a ready-made stash hidden in the cupboard.

• When the hot tap runs cold, collect the initial cooler water in a watering can, then use the waste water to water your plants. Saves on you water bills as well help save a precious resource.

• Don’t rely on hotel-provided toiletries. You’re simply contributing to the oceans of plastic being thrown away every day, when you could simply take a small amount of your own, preferred product in a reusable bottle.

• Use only 100% recycled toilet paper to save more trees having to be felled when there’s already so much paper floating around. Some examples of 100% recycled loo roll include: iCare, Safe and Naturale. And don’t panic – they’re not made from used toilet paper!

• Use the right hob for the size of your saucepan. Heating a small pan on a large hob (electric or gas) wastes lots of energy and, in the case of gas, can damage your pans. Another good tip is to use saucepan lids as much as possible, meaning shorter cooker times and less evaporation waste.

• Share your magazines when you’ve finished reading them. Even better than putting them in the recycling is passing them on for others to read – whether to friends or your local doctors surgery.

•Donate old newspapers to animal rescue organisations – it helps them to keep kennels clean if they can line them with paper.

• Don’t buy bottles of water – we’re lucky enough to live in a country where the water is perfectly good and drinkable, so there’s no need to contribute to the tonnes of plastic waste Australians produce every single day. If you find you often need a drink when you’re out and about, invest in a small, handbag-sized steel drinking bottle. I love my Thirsty Gecko bottle, and when I put very cold water in it, I stick it in a stubbie holder to stop the condensation soaking my handbag.

• Opt for paperless bills when paying for your utilities. Some companies will even knock a small amount of the bill (or they charge more for paper bills), so it’s better for the environment and your pocket.

 Do you already employ some of these green methods? Let us know your tips for greener living in the comments below…