50 easy ways you can live green (and save money while you're at it)

Being energy-effcient and eco-friendly does not have to be a hassle. Sarah Lonsdale shows you how

1 Light pipes: Light from outside, captured through roof-mounted domes is 'piped' into rooms via reflective tubes. One 12 inch diameter pipe can deliver 400 watts of light. From £198; www.sunpipe.co.uk.

2 Freecycle: A wonderful way of getting rid of unwanted household goods, and acquiring wanted ones for free. Saves millions of tonnes of household waste from landfill. Find your local freecycle group from www.freecycle.org and post wanted or unwanted items which are circulated to group members via regular emails.

3 Clay-based paints won't fill your home with chemical fumes in conventional paints which contain toxic solvents, arsenic, formaldehyde and heavy metals. Earthborn paints use clay and natural pigments and contain zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). £22 for a 2.5 litre pot; www.earthbornpaints.co.uk.

4 Ditch those energy-guzzling outdoor Christmas lights and festoon your garden with firewinders. The wind turns the spirals which power the 14 LED lights and create a magical glow at wind speeds as low as 4 miles per hour. The faster the wind, the brighter the light. Available at £99.95, from end October; www.firewinder.com.

5 Sheep's wool insulation: 100 per cent recycled, breathable, completely natural and giving Britain's hill farmers a market for their products. Approved for loft and timber-framed cavity wall insulation. From £9.50 per square metre for 100mm thick; www.secondnatureuk.com.

6 The Roberts solarDAB is the world's first solar-powered digital radio. Sit on a sunny windowsill and enjoy digital radio quality - powered by the sun. Display includes a 'light meter' to help you locate it in the sunniest part of the house. £80 from www.robertsradio.co.uk.

7 Energy efficient washing machines save on electricity and water too. New ones use 40 litres per wash, compared to 100 litres in older models. A spin cycle of at least 1200 rpm obviates the need for a tumble drier. Latest Energy Saving Recommended model (ESR) is the Hotpoint AQXXD169, retailing at around £335; www.hotpoint.co.uk.

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