Most of us have a vast range of cleaning products in our home, each supposedly formulated to clean one specific item: windows, carpets, cooker tops, sinks, suede, paving – you name it, there are a bunch of products available to clean it.

Around 7% of UK energy consumption, and 9% of CO₂ production, is produced by the building and construction industry. However the energy required to build an average house is only 5% of that required to sustain the house through its lifetime, so it is worth spending extra time, and extra money, in choosing the right materials for the house that will limit its environmental impact through its life. When embarking on housebuilding or DIY the three priorities from an environmental perspective are:

•     energy efficiency
•     Sustainable building
•     Water conservation

The key principles of sustainable building are:

•     Avoid environmental damage – including to people and wildlife
•     Use local materials and resources
•     Minimise energy use in material production and the building process
•     Choose materials that are right for the location
•     Choose materials for cost and recyclability

BRE (the Building Research Establishment) has an online bookshop, described as “one of the world’s biggest online construction bookstores”. Titles are on the expensive side, but compared to the total cost of a large project, and the potential savings that can be made, the cost of a book or two is insignificant. A few potentially useful titles are:

‘The Green Guide to Housing Specification’ (£49.35, downloadable)

‘Sustainability and Green Issues Pack’ (£40)

‘Energy Use and Efficiency Pack (£37.50)

Gardening isn’t just about being kinder to the environment, there are lots of other benefits:

From a green perspective there are lots of things to think about when choosing your destination, in addition to your own personal requirements like sun, sand and s-s-s-so on.

• If you're going abroad, what is the political situation in the country? Is it ethically and morally acceptable to you? For example, what is the human rights record of the country?

• how can you travel to the country? Do you have to fly, or can you drive or better still take a train?

You can make a big difference to the environment in your garden through a few simple changes:

There are many calculators on the web to allow you to calculate your water usage:

BBC water calculator

You can use any number of delicious organic essential oil to fragrance your bath. To help them disperse in the water, mix four to ten drops of your chosen oil with one tablespoon of milk first; the fat in two percent or whole milk acts as a carrier to help distribute the oils evenly around the bath. For the greatest benefit, choose essential oils that match your skin type