Ten easy ways to save the planet

Making a New Year's resolution to save the world may sound like a tall order - but the fact is that if we all made a few simple adjustments to the way we live, we could make a huge difference for ourselves and future generations. Don't believe us? Here are ten fuss-free ways to be environmentally friendly in 2006

1. Switch to a renewable energy supplier. By heating our homes and using electrical appliances, we are responsible for around a quarter of all the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, which in turn contribute to harmful greenhouse gases. You can reduce these effects by switching to a 'green' supplier, which supports the development of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power - and your bills won`t necessarily be any higher. For more information, visit www.greenenergy.uk.com or www.greenenergy.uk.com

2. Go CarbonNeutral. Another way to reduce the impact of your carbon dioxide emissions is to offset them by contributing to an environmental project. Use the free online calculator at www.carbonneutral.com to work out exactly how much carbon you generate, then find out how you can neutralise it. For example, you can take part in the company's dedicate-a-tree scheme by contributing to forest-planting project. Also look out for companies that operate a CarbonNeutral policy: in London, for instance, Radio Taxis black cabs recently embarked on a programme to measure and reduce its carbon dioxide emissions, and to offset them through renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka and Bulgaria, and forestry projects in the UK and Germany.

3. Switch them off! Appliances still use electricity when they're not being used - unless you turn them off completely. According to the Energy Saving Trust, every year video recorders use £113 million and televisions £50 million worth of electricity while on standby. So save the planet - and money - by turning them off at the wall.

4. Use high-efficiency lightbulbs. They last 12 times longer than normal ones and use only a fraction of the energy. For each bulb you fit, you could save up to £7 on your annual electricity bill.

5. Get your home checked out. For a report on how to conserve power in your house, fill out the Energy Saving Trust's online home energy check at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call 0800 512 012.

6. Be water-wise. Always check that you have turned taps off properly: a dripping tap loses about two drops a second, which is around 90 litres a week. Fit water-saving devices to toilet cisterns and water-saving taps. And if you have a dishwasher, use it sparingly: half-loaded machines use more than half the water of a full load. Skip a wash a week and you'll save 5,000 litres of water a year.

7. Shop ethically. It's much easier than you may think to buy from suppliers who offer goods that are ethically sourced, fair trade, recycled or biodegradable. To help you find out what's hot and what's not, visit www.yourtomorrow.co.uk - a new website dedicated to environmentally friendly shopping.

8. Think before you drive. Car journeys may sometimes be unavoidable - but if you're just popping to the shops or taking the kids to school, it pays to think twice. Each year, parents drive an average of 600 miles on the school run - which across the whole of England, adds up to over a billion petrol-burning miles a year. What's more, children travelling in cars regularly ingest up to three times more pollution than pedestrians on the same route.

9. Think before you bin anything. Use your local council's recycling scheme to dispose of paper, glass and plastics: if they don't collect from your home, log on to www.recyclenow.com to find your nearest recycling facility. And remember, it's not just the obvious items that can be reused. Charities such as Oxfam, RSPB and Guide Dogs collect old postage stamps, and can raise around £1.50 a kilo by selling them on to dealers. Meanwhile, Community Re>Paint collects leftover reusable paint and redistributes it to those who need paint but can't afford it. For details, go to www.communityrepaint.org.uk

10. Start now! Now that Christmas is over, don't just throw all your cards in the bin - take them to WHSmith or Tesco Superstores where the Woodland Trust is organising a special recycling scheme until January 31. Last year, a similar innovation helped to recycle 58 million cards - that's 1,150 tonnes of rubbish kept out of landfill sites. This year, organisers aim to reach their target of 60 million cards. So what are you waiting for? Remember, every little helps.