SWITCH OFF THE WATER WHEN YOU'RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH

Next time you have a tap running where you would normally let the water just flow away, pop the plug in and have a look at how much water you go through compared to how much you actually use. Just that little bit of knowledge is going to be enough or you to switch that tap off in the future.

WATCH YOUR GRANDPARENTS

They were the last crowd to have to save up for things because they lived before instant credit access.    They recycle anything they can get their hands on and understand that eating sensibly, walking the dog and giving sweets to small children can all trump a lifetime's worth of vices.

PUT UP SIGNS TO CHANGE BEHAVIOUR

Humans are very strongly wired to obey signs. Silly things like a picture of two eyes near your till will significantly decrease what you lose in theft. A "Please Recycle" sign next tot he printer or "Please Save Water" in the bathrooms will keep green initiatives top of mind without having to waste time on memos and meeting reminders.

OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT

We know that the most fuel-efficient way to drive is to keep below the speed limit. Trace back how much money you actually spent on fines in the last year, now set that your goal for the coming 12 months, and ending just 2 days before your birthday. When the date comes, any money that you didn't spend on fines will be put towards a present: to you, from you. You're saving petrol, pollution and money and with some luck, if we all drive slower, the cops will stop hiding in the bushes and actually get on with some more sensible law enforcement.

EAT TOGETHER AS A FAMILY

Surveys show that families that eat together, eat better, more healthily and form better relationships than those who don't. A simple formula for a happier, healthier, easier life, and yet families have dinner tables that have never been used or only used for parties or converted the dining roomm into a playroom. Insist on eating as a family is a cornerstone to a range of good behaviours.

PHONE AROUND BEFORE DRIVING AROUND

We live in an age of the suburban motor car, we often have a misaligned sense of how much energy a trip across town on a Saturday morning actually takes. Apart from the wasted petrol and time associated with driving from shop to shop, we're also more likely to land up buying something based purely on the fact that we've come all this way. Next time, rather phone or use the web to figure out what it is you need and who's got it before you take off.