When most of us think about the problem of global warming, we think about the larger scale. Chinese coal power stations; planes belching out carbon emissions; rainforests being felled for the sake of beef; icecaps melting – they’re all on a global scale because that’s what is under threat: the entire planet. Thinking any other way about it would seem foolhardy. There’s nothing parochial about global warming. However, this mode of thinking does seem to be a rather convenient way of deflecting some of the blame; effectively saying, ‘What difference can one person make?’ It’s an old strategy that merely attempts to justify laziness, and can be countered with the equally ancient riposte, ‘If everyone thought like that, where would we be?’ A cliché, but utterly true of all democratic processes and global crises. When it comes to the environment, every bike ride, every energy saving light bulb counts. So where better to fight the good fight than in the home; where charity begins and the heart resides.

You can pretty much go green in every room of your home. Starting with the kitchen, you can begin by installing a new-fangled condenser boiler in the place of your rickety old box. Not only will it use far less energy to heat your home and/or water, it’ll save you up to a third on your bills. British Gas have some incredible deals on over the summer (the season your least likely to overuse your boiler), with savings of up to £900! Visit their website to find out more about ecologically-sound heating, including baxi boilers. In the garden, make sure you buy only British charcoal when you barbecue to save on air miles. You might also want to consider installing water butts to collect rainwater if you use the hose a lot; and compost is another great way of treating your garden to something wonderfully enriching, whilst saving on waste that gets shipped off to landfill. In the living room, a wood burning stove might be just the thing to turn your house into a relaxing, cosy cottage – and at the same time save you a fortune on central heating bills and run off renewable, sustainable fuel. And if you’re really serious about doing your bit, you could always install a composting toilet, producing plenty of wonderful compost and peace of mind from the most unsavoury aspects of day to day life.

Going green in your everyday life does take a little getting used to, but the rewards are many and wonderful – for both the environment and your pocket.