The night-walkers of Uganda

At breakfast time don’t put too much water in 
the kettle. If you want to make a cup of coffee 
or tea, only put enough water for one cup in the 
kettle. The UK government says that if everyone 
boiled only the water they needed to make a cup 
of tea and did not fill the kettle every time, the 
UK could save enough electricity in one year to 
run nearly half of all the street lighting in the UK. 
Saving energy also produces less CO
2
.
After breakfast you will need to brush your 
teeth, but don’t use running water while you do it. 
You can waste up to five litres of water a minute 
if you clean your teeth with the tap running. 
Either turn the tap on and off as you need it, or fill 
a small glass to use. 
Going to work. Leave your car at home. Why 
not go by bike? Or take a bus or train? If you 
really have to drive, why not offer a colleague 
a lift? Some companies organize car sharing, 
or you could use a website like Liftshare to find 
someone who is making the same journey as you 
each day. 
When you get to work don’t use a plastic or 
paper cup for your tea or coffee. Use a mug 
you have brought from home. Do the same if 
you regularly drink water out of the office water 
cooler. If you use a glass you have brought from 
home, you will save 20 plastic cups every four 
weeks. You could save over 200 plastic cups
a year! 
At lunchtime don’t buy sandwiches with 
plastic packaging. If you’re buying fruit, don’t 
buy grapes in plastic boxes or any other items 
that have unnecessary packaging. Shop at a 
greengrocer’s rather than a supermarket or high-
street sandwich shop. Take your own bag with 
you to put your lunch in – that way you can say 
no to a plastic bag. Even better, make your lunch 
at home and take it with you – and don’t wrap 
it in new kitchen foil. Wash the foil from the day 
before and use it again!