Go Green for St. Patricks Day

There are lots of things you can do within your home to be greener in your way of living. It doesn't matter how old you are everyone can do it.

• When you brush your teeth don't leave the tap running - You can waste up to 678 gallons a year leaving it running!
• Turn down the heat - Reducing the temperature of your heating by 1 degree can cut your carbon emissions by 5% in a year.
• Shower instead of filling the bath. Also try to limit the time you spend in the shower - A 4 minute shower uses between 10 and 20 gallons of water. A bath can use up between 30 and 50 gallons.
• Set your washing machine to 30 degrees. It will wash just as well as a 40 degree wash and will also take less time and use less energy.
• Dry your clothes outside or on an indoor dryer. It may take a little longer but you will use zero energy.
• Turn off your lights! Before you turn them on think about whether you really need to!
• Don't leave any electrical items on standby. Items left on standby use up to 85% of the energy they would use if fully switched on.
• Shop local and shop seasonal. If you buy produce that is out of season it will have travelled from another country to you supermarket. You add onto your carbon footprint for every out of season item you buy.
• Shop green - check the packaging you buy to check it can be recycled. Try to eat less meat and only buy sustainably sourced fish.
• If you have any plastic carrier bags at home re-use them when you shop or buy a Jute shopping bag, most supermarkets sell them and they are bigger and stronger than plastic bags.
• When you cook in your oven why not make other dishes and use up the space while the oven is hot.
• Cook meals from fresh instead of ready meals, ready meals have a lot of packaging.
• Use energy saving light bulbs all around the house.
• Compost your food waste to help your garden grow. http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/making_compost/
• Don't drink bottled water, filter your tap water and buy a stainless steel water bottle from http://www.cafepress.com/ISFoundation 
• Don't throw away unwanted items. Sell them for ISF donations or recycle them. You can also offer to friends or offer on sites such as http://www.freecycle.org/.
• Try and buy second hand furniture. Chances are that if you look around there will be someone selling something you want.
• Recycle your old clothes by cutting t-shirts into cloths and using old socks to dust.
• Make you own cleaning products. Use an empty squirty bottle and check here for recipes - http://health.wikinut.com/Recipes-of-Homemade-Eco-Friendly-Cleaning-Products/1.u-l415/
• Grow your own fruit and veg. You can do this in pots or a window box or a corner of your garden.
• Fill the kettle with your cup. You will use only the water you need and use less energy.

These tips are easy to do and once you have done them for a week or two you will not even notice you have changed your routine.

Happy St. Patricks Day everyone xx

BY TRACEY