Being environmentally aware is the first step. Watch the news reports on the TV and the special programmes. Look at these sites on the Internet http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ and http://www.together.com Read all the articles you get your hands on. Secondly you have to actually do something about it. Remember almost half of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions come from energy we use every day - at home and when we travel. By saving energy we can all help prevent climate change. Below is a list of money saving tips and general tips on reducing waste and making a difference at home.

SAVING ENERGY-SAVING YOU MONEY

LIGHTING For instance by changing over to user–efficient lightbulbs in your house is an easy way to save energy. They last up to 12 times longer than a conventional bulb and each bulb could save you as much as £100 in lighting costs over its lifetime. Ever wanted to make a real difference to the world but never seem to have the time?

TV, STEREO, COMPUTER By turning off electrical equipment instead of leaving it on standby you could save £50 plus a year.

CENTRAL HEATING In the Winter by turning down your central heating thermostat a couple of degrees you could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent, saving you £40 per year. Also turn the central heating down or off when the house is empty and do the same at night when you go to bed. If you have rooms in your house that are permanently empty turn the thermostat down and keep the door closed. Reduce the temperature of your domestic hot water. The hot water cylinder shouldn’t need to be set higher than 60 degrees C/140 degrees F. In the summer your domestic hot water temperature can be reduced further and you can make more savings.

CURTAINS Close your curtains at dusk to reduce the amount of heat escaping through the glass. Invest in heavyweight curtains and linings.

DOUBLE GLAZING If you haven’t had Double Glazing fitted it consider it because it will greatly reduce the amount of heat escaping through the windows and you will easily recover the installation costs over the lifetime of the Double Glazing.

CAVITY INSULATION Cavity wall insulation is a way to significantly reduce the amount of energy you need to heat your home. The average house could reduce heating costs by over a third.

LOFT INSULATION Loft insulation is also worth investing in. You could save as much as £180 - £220 a year and insulating your loft is a simple and effective way to reduce your heating bills and you can even do it yourself. There are also grants and offers available from the council to help you pay for loft insulation.

WATER Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle). For instance fill the kettle with enough water to cover the element. Empty the water into a measuring jug and note the amount on the scale. This will be all you require the next time you want a single cup of tea. If you want a pot of tea (say 4 cups) fill up the measuring jug with four cupfuls of water note the amount on the scale. Every time you want a pot of tea simply fill the jug up to the scale with water and add it to the kettle.

TAPS Make sure you turn off the taps. A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath. Also fix leaking taps. If you are paying for your water on a meter you could be paying twice: once when you heat it and again for the meter charge.