What you can do

Save energy and water

• Switch off all lights and electrical appliances when you're not using them.
• Choose energy-efficient appliances (those with 'A' Energy ratings) and turn down the thermostat on your central heating - just 1°C difference can save up to 10 per cent on heating bills.
• Draw your curtains at dusk and maintain the heat in your rooms.
• Wash clothes at lower temperatures, and in full loads.
• Fix dripping taps - one drip a second can waste up to 13 litres of water a day.
• Install a Hippo Water Saver in your lavatory cistern to save up to 3.5 litres of water each time you flush.
• Consider loft and/or cavity wall insulation and installing double or triple glazing.
• Get a free home energy check from the Energy Savings Trust  (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk). 
• Hire or borrow items such as power tools and DIY equipment if they’re only going to be used from time to time.

 

Reduce waste and recycle

• Recycle as much waste as you possibly can, including batteries, mobile phones and other electrical items. Find your nearest recycling points at www.recyclenow.com and www.recycle-more.co.uk.
• Use a mug instead of disposable paper or polystyrene cups, and buy products with reusable containers.
• Send your children to school with flasks instead of throw-away drink cartons.
• Cut down on junk mail. To get your address deleted from around 90 per cent of junk mailing lists, register with the Mailing Preference Service, www.mpsonline.org.uk.
• Take waste cooking or fuel oil to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. It is illegal to put waste oil down sinks or drains.
• Donate items you no longer need to charity shops or community projects such as Freecycle (www.freecycle.org). Unneeded paint can go to www.communityrepaint.org.uk.

 

In the garden

• Let your grass grow a little longer it will need less water.
• Start a compost heap or wormery. These recycle organic waste, including food, and produce excellent compost for your garden. See www.recyclenow.com/home_composting.
• Plant a tree. Trees provide shade, filter carbon dioxide and attract local wildlife.
• Avoid using household pesticides.
• Install a water butt to catch rainwater for watering your garden.
• Use non-toxic organic fuels for your barbecue.
• Grow fruit, vegetables and more in your garden or rent an allotment from your council.

 

Travelling

• If you drive to work, try to share your journey with colleagues who live near to you. See www.liftshare.com.
• Walk or cycle for short trips and get fit in the process. The website walkit.com can help you by generating walking routes and travel time estimates for many urban locations.
• Take the bus or train if you can. For more information on public transport in the UK see www.transportdirect.info or for overseas train networks see www.seat61.com.  
• Turn off your engine if you are going to be stationary for more than two minutes.
• Save fuel by driving smoothly and regularly checking tyre pressures.
• Drive a fuel-efficient car, which is cheaper to run and has lower emissions and lower vehicle tax. See the DirectGov website (www.direct.gov.uk) for more details.
• Consider taking your holiday in the UK to reduce carbon emissions from flying - air travel is currently the fastest growing source of CO ₂ emissions.

 

Shopping

• Be an ethical shopper. Consider Fairtrade, organic, products made from recycled materials and cruelty-free produce and try to avoid battery eggs and GM foods.
• Buy fruit and vegetables that are in season. Waitrose always tries to source from Britain when products are in season and at the peak of freshness and flavour. Also look out for Waitrose 'Local and Regional' produce in your local store.
• Buy recycled paper products such as lavatory paper or stationery, and recycle paper instead of throwing it away.
• There are endless possibilities to use environmentally-responsible products throughout the home - cleaning products, toiletries, pet products, clothes, nappies etc. Both Waitrose and John Lewis sell a range of such products. Read more about sustainable products.
  
• Take your own carrier bag shopping or consider buying a Waitrose or John Lewis Bag for Life or reusable bag.

 

Get Involved

• Find out how you can get involved in national and international activities and programmes with our calendar of events.

• The Partnership supports the Prince's Rainforest Project (PRP) and encourages others to join us in the call for urgent action to tackle climate change by addressing rainforest destruction. One of the ways you can help is by signing up at the PRP website (www.rainforestsos.org).