Are you trying to go green, but you don’t know where to start?

Here are a couple of handy tips that will transform the way you live and set you on the green path.

Don’t purchase bottled water. Not only is bottled water an expensive option, but millions of containers are left to waste every year. Contribute to minimising this problem by using a water filter to purify tap water and drink from a reusable water bottle (preferable aluminium).

Buy secondhand items whenever you can. One of the greatest sources of pollution is the endless production process that sees new items hitting the market every second of every day. Most of the time you can find perfectly useable, clean and suitable items secondhand. Check garage sales, swapmeets and online auction houses.

Keep your electrical devices out of trash bins. Hold on to your mobile phone, computer, MP3 player and GPS system as long as you can, because it becomes pollution when you ditch it. When it comes time to get rid of a device, don’t lug it into the bin; recycle it responsibly or give it to someone who wants to use it.

Take shorter showers. When you use water you also use energy, so minimise the amount you use of both by hopping in and out of the shower in just a couple of minutes. Install a low-flow showerhead, because this will give you the same clean for fewer litres.