Green resolutions for 2009

2008 brought more energy saving light bulbs, fewer plastic bags, a new energy saving package for home insulation and more. Help keep up the green trend in 2009 - try out our 5 green new year's resolutions.

Plus we revisit last year's green resolutions. Did they make a difference to your energy use?

• Ditch those plastic bags
• Swap your light bulbs
• Insulate
• Say goodbye to standby
• Turn down your thermostat
• 2008 resolutions revisited

Ditch those plastic bags

Grab yourself a trendy cloth bag for your shopping and add to the trend that has already saved billions of bags from landfill.

• Create a routine: get a set of bags that fit your weekly shop and take them every time.
• Be prepared: for those unexpected shopping trips, keep a fold-up bag in your pocket or handbag.

In 2008: many supermarkets changed their bag policy - meaning that you'll now only get a plastic bag if you ask for it. In fact, the main supermarkets have just signed a deal with the Government to cut plastic bag use by half by Spring 2009.

Swap your light bulbs

Switch every light bulb in your home for an energy saving bulb - you could save around £50 a year and your bulbs will last up to 10 times as long.

In 2008: UK retailers and manufacturers began their plan to phase out all inefficient light bulbs by 2012. Read about the light bulb phase out

Insulate

Insulation is one of the best ways to save energy, plus it makes your home warmer and more comfortable.

Check that your insulation is up to scratch:

• Are your cavity walls filled?
• Do you have 270mm loft insulation?
• Are your windows double glazed?
• Do you have a jacket for your hot water tank?
• Is your home draught proofed?

If not, get insulated - and you could get a grant for cavity wall or loft insulation to help. Check our grants and offers database

In 2008: the government announced a new energy saving package to help everyone insulate their homes. Read about the Home Energy Saving Programme

Say goodbye to standby

Leaving gadgets and appliances on standby across the UK wastes over £900 million worth of energy. Cut your consumption and your bills by cutting standby out of your life:

• unplug appliances at the wall when they're not in use
• don't leave chargers plugged in
• don't leave TVs, computers etc. on standby
• use intelligent mains panels to switch off lots of appliances at once

In 2008: MEPs backed plans to cut the standby energy consumption of appliances. Read the story on our website

Turn down your thermostat

Put those Christmas jumpers to good use - wrap up warm and turn down your central heating. You could save around £60 a year on your heating bills by turning your thermostat down just 1°C.

In 2008: rising energy costs made us all that much more energy aware, with a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development revealing an energy price rise of 29.7 per cent within a year.

2008 resolutions revisited

How did you do at our 2008 resolutions? We challenged you to:

• cut down on water wastage
• make your computer energy-smart
• commit to saving your 20%
• aim for greener journeys
• green up your house

Need to refresh your memory? Read the 2008 green resolutions article
Want to see the impact on your carbon footprint? Use our carbon cutter

Find out more

• What is a carbon footprint?
• Find your carbon footprint with our carbon cutter
• Find grants and offers for green home improvements
• Find energy saving appliances and other products