It Is Easy Being Green!

We all want to be kind to the environment but sometimes it can seem like a lot of effort to make changes to your lifestyle that will benefit the environment but there are simple steps you can take that will really make a difference to your carbon footprint. Here are ten of the best:

1. Change your lightbulbs

Changing from incandescent to LED lightbulbs can make a massive difference toy your energy bills and your carbon footprint. Low energy bulbs are cheaper to manufacture, do not contain harmful chemicals and will outlast a conventional bulb severa times over, meaning you'll have to replace bulbs much less often.

2. Don't leave appliances on standby

It's completely unnecessary to leave items like TV's, stereos and other electrical equipment on standby. If you're not using it then switch it off completely to save money and energy.

3. Recycle your old computer

Equipment like laptops, PC's and tablets contain precious metals which can be recycled and used again and in many cases unwanted computer equipment can be reconditioned and passed on to someone else. There are a few companies in the UK offering reconditioning and recycling services for electronic equipment so pass on your unwanted items to them instead of letting them end up in landfill.

4. Install an energy monitor

Many householders are installing energy monitors in their homes so they know exactly how much power they're using. Although installing a monitor won't save energy in itself, being able to see exactly how much it costs to carry out certain tasks in the home will certainly make you think more carefully about how much electricity and gas you use.

5. Eat local food

Where possible buy your food from local producers rather than choosing items that have been imported from overseas. Importing food into the UK from around the world means that aeroplanes, trains or lorries are used, releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere. The more local food we buy the less emissions will be caused by getting food imports into the country.

6. Plug up leaks

Leaking taps and toilets can cost you a significant amount of money each year so make sure that all your plumbing is up to scratch. You could install a timer on your shower so you know how much time you're spending in there or fit a water saving shower head too.

7. Stop cutting your grass

Last year over 7 million tonnes of garden waste went into landfill in the UK. Although garden waste is biodegradable it still takes up valuable space unnecessarily. Longer grass tends to be stronger, grow better and require less watering so if you let your lawn grow 2 to 3 inches tall you'll need to water your lawn less often and have a greener and more healthy looking lawn.

8. Choose low energy appliances

Most white goods on sale today come with an energy rating so when you need to replace your fridge, freezer or washing machine choose a low energy model where possible.

9. Fill up your washing machine

Always wait until you have a full load in your washing machine or dishwasher before you turn it on. These appliances use a lot of energy so it's much more economical and eco friendly to wash more less often than to do lots of little loads.

10. Start a compost heap

The majority of food waste in the UK is not recycled and ends up in landfill, so turn your food waste into a valuable source of nutrients for your garden by starting a compost heap.

Check out this cool infographic which shows what happens to rubbish once it's collected and taken away.

So you're thinking of upgrading your ipad, laptop or mobile phone, but have you ever considered what happens to all this tech once you've tossed it away?

Did you know that the manufacture of ipads, smartphones and computers requires the use of precious metals and that billions of pounds worth of these precious metals are thrown away in the UK every year when technology is chucked out.

What's more, most of the electronic equipment that doesn't go into landfill gets shipped overseas to be recycled, meaning that the British economy is missing out on an entire industry which could boost the economy.

On Friday, the government announced that they would to encourage more recycling entrepreneurs to start recycling businesses but Envirocom is one company who are proving to be ahead of the game when it comes to recycling electronic products.

The company's recently opened Edmonton factory, which reconditions electrics and re sells them with the help of the British Heart Foundation, has created over 150 new jobs and this year achieved an annual profit of £2 million. The factory also recycles products when reconditioning is not possible.

The company has proved a rousing success and it's expected that their profits could increase to £20 million next year.

What should I do with my old ipad?

if you're buying a new ipad, laptop or smartphone you've got lots of options about what to do with it. Obviously you can keep it or pass it on to a friend or family member.

if your equipment is in good working order you can sell it on, either privately or through a second hand electronics retailer.

if your equipment needs repairing you can pass it on to a company like Envirocom to be reconditioned or recycled.

So if you do have electronic equipment then make sure it doesn't end up in landfill. Sell it on or send it for reconditioning or recycling.

Read more about ipad recycling in The Guardian

Thanks to extensive media exposure and mass guilt most of us now recycle at home, but it's not always like that in the workplace. Many business owners do not carry out business recycling for a number of reasons, but making sure your business recycling is up to scratch is easy when you employ the services of a waste management company.

BUT if you're not going to recycle paper like you should, here are five fun things that you can do with your office waste paper:

Make Paper Chains

When Christmas rolls around again, you and your colleagues can have hours of fun cutting your waste paper into strips, looping and glueing to make miles and miles of fabulous paper chains! They're great for the festive period but why not keep them up all year round to make every day at the office feel like a party.

Make a Comedy Wig

Got some waste paper? Got a shredder? Then you've got everything you need to make a hilarious comedy wig ideal for spicing up a dull office moment. You can even go the whole hog, cut some shell shapes out and stick then to the front of your jumper to create a 'full scale' mermaid outfit. Make your colleagues laugh or enchant local fishermen with your beautiful singing - it's up to you!

Make Paper Aeroplanes

Why not combine team building with tidying up by making paper aeroplanes in teams and then competing to see whose plane can take the longest flight. You could even try different designs to see which works best.

Make Confetti

If one of your colleagues is about to go up the aisle then don't waste your precious wages buying confetti - make it instead. All you need is some waste paper, a hole punch and several hours to fill. Pass the time waiting for that file to load or that client to get back to you by punching away at your waste paper, before you know it you'll have enough confetti for at least the next six weddings you go to!

Try Office Origami
Who doesn't love to see a swan, pig or frog delicately fashioned from paper? Well, instead of admiring origami aficianados from afar, why not become one yourself. You could learn a new origami animal each day and delight your co workers with your ingenious paper folding skills.

ALTERNATIVELY you could get rid of your waste paper by carrying out business recycling, which is less fun but a lot better for the environment!

Renewable energy is becoming more and more popular and many countries are jumping on the renewable energy bandwagon, but what are the top five renewable energy sources being implemented around the world today? Read on to find out.

Wind Power

Wind power is a great source of renewable energy. It works by using airflow to run wind turbines which creates energy that can be converted into electricity. Wind turbines have caused controversy in recent years because many people claim that they are an eyesore, while others believe that they cause noise pollution for people living nearby. However, many new wind farms are now being constructed out at sea which to many people is a more agreeable option than having them on land.

Hydro Power

Man has been harnessing the power of water for thousands of years, as anyone who has ever visited a water mill will contest. In recent years the practice of converting water energy into electricity has fallen back into favour and many countries across the world are creating hydro electric dams. Run of the river hydroelectricity is also becoming more popular. This method uses kinetic energy from seas and rivers and does not require a dam to be built.

Solar Power

Solar power has gone from strength to strength over the last few decades and is being used far more widely on both a domestic and industrial scale. Fitting solar panels within homes is a great way to harness the natural energy of the sun and has become very fashionable. In many countries, households with solar panels fitted are able to sell any excess power they create back to the grid, meaning home owners can actually make money by fitting solar panels.

Biofuel

There are many different types of biofuels which are made in a number of different ways. These include Bioethanol, which is created by fermenting sugar found in starchy and sugary plants. Biodeisel can be made from cooking oil, animal fat and grease used within industry. Biofuel is used to power vehicles and although its use is growing in popularity, it currently makes up just 2.7% of the total amount of fuel used for transport across the globe.

Geothermal Power

Currently, geothermal power is the least well known form of renewable energy. However, the human race have been enjoying the power of geothermal energy for thousands of years by bathing in hot springs. Geothermal energy works by harnessing the heat created at the earth's core and transforming it into energy.