From buying stapleless staplers to ‘greening up’ your sex life, the internet provides a wealth of energy-saving tips.

1 AT HOME: www.est.org.uk

Start small and make huge savings by learning how to make your home carbon-friendly. In 2005, 27% of UK carbon emissions came from powering our houses. The Energy Saving Trust website teems with useful tips on cutting your energy use, from not over-filling your kettle to buying a condensing boiler, which could cut your heating bill by 30%.

2 RECYCLE: www.freecycle.org

Reduce waste, save resources, ease the burden on landfill sites: that’s the motto of the global reuse network Freecycle. The site is a forum for giving items you no longer want (like furniture, clothing or books), which are then handed on to someone specifically in need of them. Membership is free and there are 451 Freecycle groups in the UK.

3 PHOTOGRAPHY: www.planetark.org

Nothing drives the message home as strongly as a photograph, and Planet Ark aims to ‘inspire us to action’ with its daily environment news stories. It also has a stunning news in pictures archive. Click through photographs which have been taken all over the world, from white lion cubs in Belgium to a Brazilian forest fire. You can also join the daily mailing list and get free environment news updates.

4 ECO TRAVEL: www.climatecare.org

Carbon offsetting has a bad press: it seems like throwing money at the problem to give us guilt-free holidays. Experts tell us aviation will account for 15% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Climate Care lets you calculate the environmental cost of your trip, then invites you to pay the balance. The money funds its carbon-cutting projects.

5 FOR KIDS: www.recyclezone.co.uk

Recent polls reveal that climate change is a chief source of worry for UK children. Recyclezone shows how kids can make a difference in a fun and accessible way. A robot called Recycle teaches children the importance of the new three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. Go to the Fun Zone for informative games, activities and the Recycler’s Rubbish Rap.

6 ECO GADGETS: www.wow-wow.co.uk

Going green needn’t mean sacrificing your mod cons. Gadgeteers can find eco-friendly, ethically sourced products at this site, from stapleless staplers to furniture made from recycled bottles. They even have an advice service on how to cut the financial and environmental cost of running your home or business.

7 NEWS: www.treehugger.com

'Treehugger is trying to get the masses hooked on sustainability,’ this site, which has 1m viewers, proclaims. With an up-to-the-minute blog, its own radio show, daily newsletters and even a video segment, it’s clear Treehugger is pulling out all the stops to make going green mainstream. Even its how-to tips are a little different — learn how to ‘green your sex life’ by opening ‘new doors to deeper pleasure, satisfaction and romantic connection’.

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