• Insulate. Did you know that escaping heat due to poor insulation contributes to one third of your gas bill during the cold autumn and winter months? By insulating your windows and doors you will make a contribution to both the environment and your wallet.
• Turn off the lights. Do your lights continue to burn and use up electricity after you’ve left the room? If not, have you still not switched to lower energy light bulbs? The easiest way to give back to the environment and your pocketbook is to turn off lights when not in use. You can even make this a game with family members! And switch to more energy-friendly light bulbs as soon as possible.
• Defrost your freezer.  Your freezer is a life saver during warm months, but all that hard work can cause ice to build up inside if yours isn’t a no-frost model. If you see a layer of ice more than 1cm thick, it’s time to take care of it! Use up the contents in your freezer or move them to an ice chest. Unplug the freezer and leave the door open. In just a few hours you’ll get rid of the ice layer which uses up extra electricity, and you’ll be ready to start fresh again.
• Wash full loads. Who can say no to clean laundry? Those who care about themselves and the environment! When we wash things separately instead of doing a full load, we use more electricity and water and more chemicals from the detergent and softener are added to the environment. For a greener environment and a healthier life, make sure you only run your washing machine and dishwasher with full loads.
• Shower.  Did you know that filling the bath tub uses about 80 liters of water? Conserve water by taking a shower more frequently than a bath or even just taking a bath on special days. We’re not suggesting you don’t bathe! We just want to highlight how much more environmentally friendly and economic shower time fun is instead of bath time fun!
• Wash in cold water. By running your washing machine at a lower temperature, you are doing both Mother Nature and your clothes a big favor by using less electricity and doing less damage to your wardrobe’s fibers. By washing your clothes at high temperatures, you’re stealing from yourself and future generations!
• Unplug. Both large and small appliances still use energy even when they’re turned off unless they’ve been unplugged. This extra energy may not make a big dent in your electric bill, but if 10 homes consume electricity this way, it uses up 360 KW per year, or the equivalent of a light bulb that is left on for 2 years! Make it a habit to unplug your phone chargers, computers, TV and modem, and set your appliances to ‘stand by’ when you leave the house.
• Use what you need. Your electric kettle is one of the key players in your kitchen, and if it’s always full, you’re doing a lot of damage to the environment! Filling it with more water than you need uses more electricity to heat. Instead, measure the water you need plus add a little more for evaporation.
• Re-heat your home. Did you know that with the aluminum foil in your kitchen drawer you can challenge your gas bill and make a great contribution to the environment? With the shiny side facing toward the room, place a sheet of foil on the wall behind the radiator. The foil will reflect the heat which would normally escape through the wall back into the room, creating a simple yet effective form of insulation.
  

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