Simple lifestyle changes you can make

• Switch to a green energy provider - see below for details.
• Use energy-saving lightbulbs - they use 80 per cent less electricity and last 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs.
• Turn off your lights when you leave a room and turn off electrical appliances at the mains. Standby can use between 30 and 70 per cent of the energy used when an appliance is on.
• Turn down your central heating thermostat – lowering the temperature by just a degree can cut 10 per cent off energy bills.
• When replacing electrical appliances make sure that you buy the most energy-efficient model.
• Insulate your wall cavities and fit aluminium foil behind your radiators.
• Only boil the water that you need for your cup of tea. If everyone boiled just the water they needed, the energy saved could power more than three-quarters of the UK’s streetlights.
• Recycle – landfills are the second largest source of methane emission in the UK. Most local councils provide facilities for you to recycle your paper, cardboard, bottles, cans and plastic.

Switching to a green electricity provider
By switching to a green electricity provider you can cut your home carbon dioxide emissions. Tearfund has joined forces with Good Energy, a UK company which generates electricity directly from nature: wind farms, solar panels and small hydroelectric power schemes. Good Energy will give £20 to Tearfund for every supporter that switches.

To find out more, and to switch to Good Energy click here.

To find suppliers of green energy in your area click here.