You can do the Green Thing at home and at college by...

Our simple tips will show you how small steps to do the Green Thing by each of us can lead to a big difference.

Energy

• Switch to green electricity
• Plot your carbon footprint. Then make one lifestyle change
• Use your kettle wisely - only heat the amount of water you need for each use.
• Switch to a low energy light bulb whenever you replace a light bulb.
• Turn down the thermostat by 1º C
• Turn off TV, Hi-Fi and ICT equipment, at the wall - don’t leave them on stand by.
• Reduce the use of your tumble drier by at least 50%
• Use the 30º cycle on your washing machine
• Switch off lights when you leave a room
• Consider if you really need the lights or the heating on rather than just switching on automatically
• Shut down your computer when you are not using it - Make sure you switch off your monitor  as well
• Use the stairs rather than the lift - this will help keep you fit too

Waste

• Watch the Story of Stuff: www.storyofstuff.com Then make 1 lifestyle change
• Buy unpackaged goods in preference to any that are heavily packaged.
• Buy clothes from a charity shop
• Take your good quality unwanted items to a charity shop
• Join Freecycle- a group of members who offer unwanted items or ask for wanted things via email. No money is ever exchanged
• Compost all your kitchen waste
• Stop junk mail - sign up to the Mailing Preference Service: Freepost, 29 LON20771 London W1E 0ZT or www.mpsonline.org.uk
• Always carry a shopping bag, so you don’t need a plastic carrier
• Recycle what you can - your college website will tell you what can be recycled in their scheme
• Use the library rather than buying books
• Bring your lunch from home rather than buying pre-packaged products
• If you use the refectory, eat it and use a reusable plate rather than taking a disposable one to your desk
• Avoid buying items in tetrapacks. These are hard to recycle as they contain a mixture of aluminium, cardboard and plastic.

Printing - one of the biggest forms of waste at the college

• Always use print preview to catch any mistakes before you print

• Change the preferences on your printer to print double sided and two pages per sheet where possible

• Read documents on your computer whenever you can and encourage others to do the same

• Use the shared printers rather than having one for your own desk. The small desktop printers are less efficient and more costly to both the environment and your pocket

• Don't use cover pages unless it it really essential, especially for faxes

• Use a font which limits ink use, such as Ariel or Calibri and keep font size to 11pt

Travel

• Pledge not to fly - sign up to stop flying or to reduce your flights: http://www.flightpledge.org.uk/.
• Make no flights in the UK or to France; use train, ferry or coach
• Commit to using public transport or cycling on your commute - if you are not sure, set aside one day each week to try a new sustainable way of getting to work.
• Use video conferencing facilities in place of travel wherever possible
• Try out the Barclays Cycle hire scheme for all or part of your journey. The docking stations nearest to Bloomsbury are:

  • Bedford Way, Bloomsbury
  • Taviton Street, Bloomsbury
  • Malet Street, Bloomsbury
  • Alfred Place, Bloomsbury
  • Bayley Street, Bloomsbury

Water

• Don't leave taps running
• Have a shower instead of a bath and cut the amount of time you spend in it
• Use the 30º cycle on your washing machine
• Install a water butt for the garden
• Fit low flow shower heads and water hippos
• Use a bucket only when washing the car
• Don't leave the tap running when brushing your teeth

Food

• Join a local vegetable / fruit box scheme.
• Use the Farmers’ Market
• Ensure that at least 50% of your food is seasonal European /British
• Support the Fairtrade campaign by swapping at least one item you regularly by with a Fairtrade equivalent
• Try not to buy air freighted fruit or vegetables
• Eat one less meat meal per week
• Eat only non intensively produced (free range) produce