Going green isn't just for hippies or treehuggers anymore. You can save energy and cut utility bills by improving the efficiency of lighting and heating, and reducing water waste. Reusing and recycling waste can also cut costs, and slash the amount of space needed to store rubbish. In this article, Antonia Chitty from www.acpr.co.uk looks at ways you and your family can help.

Energy
There are many ways to save energy round the house that don't cost you anything. Get the kids to make sure that they switch the TV off, rather than leaving it on standby, and the same goes for the computer too. It's easy to put the lids on the pans when you're cooking, and it means that food heats more quickly. And only boil the water you actually need in the kettle, to save on energy. Other tips to cut down on electricity use and save a bit of cash in the process include switching lights off in empty rooms, and closing windows when the heating's on. Check your thermostat to see how high the heating is set - 16-20 is the recommended temperature for children's rooms. You can often turn the heating down by a degree or two without any problems. In the summer, hang your washing out to dry rather than using the tumble drier. The sun can help bleach out stains too and keep your whites white. No-cost activities such as these can save you up to £40 per year.

Check the seal on your fridge door by inserting a piece of paper between it and the fridge door. If the paper moves, or falls out, it needs replacing. A faulty seal means that your fridge has to work harder to keep things cool, using more energy. Checking that the fridge is at the right temperature (2-3° C for a fridge & -15° C for a freezer) can save energy, as can making sure there are a few inches behind the fridge to allow air to circulate, and defrosting regularly. A dripping tap can waste a bathful of water a week. So turning off taps completely and fixing dripping taps can actually make a big difference.

Another way to save money is to check whether you're using the cheapest energy supplier. You may be able to save money by switching - look at www.u-switch.co.uk  for example. Or opt for a green tariff instead. Most of the major companies now offer a green tariff and many are the same price as standard electricity. Companies such as Good Energy and Green Energy UK invest in building renewable energy projects so that they actively cut the amount of fossil fuels burned and reduce global warming.

There are several things that you can do that only cost a little - for example low energy light bulbs cost less than £10 each, and can save you that in a year. Typically they last for 8000 hours of usage too. Energy-saving bulbs are ideal in areas where you have a light on for a long time. If the kids have lots of battery powered toys, rechargeable batteries can save you money, as well as grief when a favourite toy expires at just the wrong moment. If you can do a little easy DIY, putting tin foil behind radiators that are against outside walls will help conserve energy. The foil reflects heat back into the room, meaning you can turn down the thermostat. You can use normal kitchen foil or buy special foil from a DIY store. Putting shelves above your radiators may sound odd, but it ensures that as much heat as possible is deflected out into your rooms, and can save you around £5-£10 per year. The shelf should be slightly above the radiator. It will help too if you avoid putting furniture in front of radiators.

You can often safely reduce the amount of water released by each flush of the toilet - which saves money too if your water is metered. A product like Ecoflush regulates the amount of water used in each flush. Costing about £19, you can install it yourself - for more, see www.ecoflush.com. A toilet hippo will cut the volume of water flushed down the loo by a third - it's especially useful in toilets installed before 1993, which have a larger cistern. Some water companies supply hippos free of charge. See www.hippo-the-watersaver.co.uk. If you lag the pipes that deliver your hot water, you should be able to turn your hot water temperature down a little. You can buy pre-formed foam tubing to wrap over your pipes. If they are in a tricky position, use double thickness lagging felt instead.

Transport
Look into alternative ways to travel. For shortish trips you can't beat just putting one foot in front of the other - short journeys, before the car is warmed up, cause the most pollution. Walking is great exercise and the most environmentally friendly way of travelling. Walk the kids to school, try out the bus, or see if you can get together with another family and take it in turns to collect the children from school or other activities. That'll save you time and money as well as helping the planet. If a number of children in your street go to the same school, organise a walking bus - the kids all walk together with one parent at the front and another at the back - so parents get to take it in turns to take the children in.

Cycling is one of the quickest ways to travel especially in big cities.. If your bike has been gathering dust in the garage for a few years then it's worth getting a cycle shop to give it a service. It won't cost much and will give you a safer and smoother ride. Most shops can also advise you on the right sort of safety gear - a helmet is a must - and will be able to help with child seats too.

The average person in the UK drives their car 5,433 miles per year, takes the bus for 207 miles per year and uses the train for 325 miles per year. If you're willing and able to leave your car at home, public transport is a great green option. On average, it uses less than half as much fuel per passenger mile than a private car. And when all costs are taken into account (including car maintenance, road tax, insurance and so on) using public transport all the time can be cheaper than using a car.

Greener transport isn't just about getting on your bike - your car can run more efficiently too. Cars are not going to go away and you may need them to get to work, but there are a few things you can do to lessen their impact on the environment. Turn off your engine if your car is stationary for two minutes or more. Don't bother if you're stationary for less than that, it can actually be more polluting turning your engine back on. Inflate your tyres to the correct pressure. This can save as much as 5% on your fuel bill. Remove unnecessarily heavy loads from the boot or roof of your car, they just make you use more fuel. Braking or accelerating sharply - as well as being dangerous - is bad for fuel consumption. Park in the shade if possible - the sun on a hot engine increases emissions causing a kind of smog which can trigger asthma and other breathing conditions.

If you're looking for a new car, you could choose an alternative fuel vehicle, or look for fuel-efficient model that satisfies your needs. Generally, smaller cars use less fuel. The Environmental Transport Association publishes a useful list each year. The more fuel-efficient your car is, the less polluting it will be.

In part two of this article, we'll look at ways you can reduce the amount of waste your household generates, and how all of these changes work out financially.