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In the 21st century you cannot escape the media hype towards the priority of becoming more eco-friendly and environmentally considerate within our daily daily lives.

Although the adoptive measures can appear initially daunting and confusing, a few simple lifestyle changes with a minimum of outlay makes all the difference. Changing your habits to become "green" are straightforward, and will have a combined value in helping the planet and saving you additional money.

1. Heating - Turning your thermostat down by one degree could save you up to 10% on your energy bill and reduce fuel use. A simple counter-measure is to add an extra layer of clothing if you need to combat any chills, before turning on the heating.

2. Lighting - The use of energy saving light bulbs. Modern varieties can reduce your electricity bill and can last up to ten times longer than the traditional ordinary bulbs. They essential require 80% less energy for the same amount of light produced.

3. Recycling - Paper, plastic bottles, glass and cardboard are just some of the many materials that are needlessly thrown away, when they can all be recycled. If is not collected alongside your normal waste collection you will find facilities at most supermarkets or registered waste depots.

Food waste can be recycled as a good compost for the garden instead of rotting in a landfill. Using a compost bin will mean that within a short time you will have an excellent fertilizer for use in the garden.

An additional benefit can be the involvement of children in learning about recycling packaging and waste, and they will enjoy the responsibilities of ensuring items are reused or put out for recycling.

4. Plastic Carrier bags - Re-use your carrier bags when you visit the supermarket. For a few pence you can also purchase a reusable store bag for your shopping. It saves on the wastage of the "free plastic bags" that do not decompose in landfill sites for centuries.

5. Turning off at the switch - We all have the habit of leaving appliances on standby and lights on when we are not in the room. Switching off any unnecessary lights and turning off, or unplugging appliances at the mains, especially overnight, saves both energy and can reduce your fuel bill.

6. Alternative travel - Can you walk, cycle or use public transport instead of traveling by car? This can ease both congestion and air pollution, and with walking and cycling there is the additional health benefits of exercise.

7. Water - Purchasing a water filter saves on the need to buy bottled water. Less bottled water means less plastic wastage.

Fix those leaky taps. Thousands of liters of water are wasted each day by dripping taps, that can be usually corrected by a simple washer.

8. Growing your own fruit and vegetables - An economical and enjoyable activity for all the family. An array of fresh produce, that is cheaper than buying from the supermarket and is also environmentally friendly.

9. Putting something back - We all take from the planet so the planting of a tree is a simple method of giving something back. With a bit of careful planning you can choose a suitable variety that makes a feature for you and the family to enjoy for years.

10. Laundry - Washing at 30 degrees instead of 40 degrees, and with a cold fill instead of hot is just as effective in cleaning clothes. Waiting until the load is full is another simple act that saves unnecessary energy usage.

These ten easy steps can start you on your way to leading a greener way of life and helping to reduce climate change.

Learn more about this author, James Mockridge..
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