Here are some easy ways to save energy in the kitchen:

• put lids on pans when cooking to reduce electricity consumption

• use the correct hob or ring according to the size of the pan

• turn the gas flame down - if it is licking round the sides of the pan it is too high - the tip of the flame should touch the bottom of the pan

Have a think about what you can re-use, or what materials are available either free, or cheaply, for your project. Are these materials safe (strong enough, pollutant free)? Do they have to be transported far? Can they be recycled again?

Around 7% of UK energy consumption, and 9% of CO2 production, is produced by the building and construction industry. However the energy required to build an average house is only 5% of that required to sustain the house through its lifetime, so it is worth spending extra time, and extra money, in choosing the right materials for the house that will limit its environmental impact through its life.

When embarking on housebuilding or DIY the three priorities from an environmental perspective are:

• energy efficiency
  
• Sustainable building
• Water conservation

The key principles of sustainable building are:

• Avoid environmental damage – including to people and wildlife
• Use local materials and resources
• Minimise energy use in material production and the building process
• Choose materials that are right for the location
• Choose materials for cost and recyclability

BRE (the Building Research Establishment) has an online bookshop, described as “one of the world’s biggest online construction bookstores”. Titles are on the expensive side, but compared to the total cost of a large project, and the potential savings that can be made, the cost of a book or two is insignificant. A few potentially useful titles are:

‘The Green Guide to Housing Specification’ (£49.35, downloadable)

‘Sustainability and Green Issues Pack’ (£40)

‘Energy Use and Efficiency Pack (£37.50)

Paints potentially contain a number of harmful chemicals, which is the main reason to choose carefully.

Cadmium is a rare, soft bluish-white metal, known to cause cancer. It is a common impurity in Zinc.

It is widely used in batteries, plastic products, and pigments, and is found in solder.

Inhalation results in chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and death.

Every year, a huge area of rain forest is cut down to produce timber, build roads and provide agricultural land, and is not replaced. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that using timber in buildings is BAD, in fact so long as you follow some basic principles WOOD IS GOOD.

Think about it:

An average baby gets through over 5,000 nappies, at a cost of around £1,200 a year to the parent (and that’s for 2 or maybe even 3 years).

Ponds attract frogs, toads, newts and all kinds of insects such as caddis flies, pondskaters, whirlygigg beetles and dragonflies to your garden.

Green Cone is an efficient method of turning all food waste (including cooked waste) into a useful fertiliser. See the Green Cone website.