More tips for a greener new year 

• THANK you for your excellent 23 tips for a greener new year (January 5).

Here are a few more:

— Cut back on home improvements (constantly encouraged by adverts and TV programmes). Do you really need a new kitchen or to redesign your patio?

— Get rid of your car. If you live in a town or city, as most of us do, do you really need one?

— Don’t wait until the oven is hot before you put your food in, by the time the oven reaches the recommended heat the food is cooked.

— Cut down on gadget use. Do you need that upgrade? Use a library computer, saving all the hassle of owning your own.

— Cut down on food waste by ignoring “best-before” and “use-by” dates, they are only there to cover the backs of the food companies and shops and to make you buy more food. Instead, go by your eyes and nose.

— Wash your clothes at 40°C or less.

— Stop buying unnecessary presents, it’s hard to choose presents because your friends already have everything they need. How many unused candles do you have?

— Don’t buy from companies that are known to pollute or use excessive packaging, Amazon in particular.

— Don’t buy goods made in China, the most polluting country, if you can help it (often the source of an article is hidden, however).

— Do your own shopping, it’s good exercise. Don’t have it delivered by a fuel-guzzling vehicle.

— “Make do and mend” rather than immediately buy something new.

— Put any money you have with banks and companies that are genuinely contributing too.

— Change your energy supplier to one that is genuinely contributing to combating climate change, not just “greenwashing”.

I am doing all these, and most of your tips, and my carbon footprint is compatible with what is required to keep the planet from heating up any more.

It’s really not that hard.

NIGEL ARMISTEAD
Address supplied