When you're making home improvements it is worth remembering that items such as furniture and flooring take a lot of energy to make and so a lot of CO2 is emitted during their manufacture. You can help reduce your personal carbon footprint by following these simple rules for 'Greener DIY'.

1. Go for low energy lighting options
Not only do energy saving bulbs save you money on electricity bills, they last significantly longer than non-low energy alternatives.

2. Recycled furniture
You don't always have to buy brand new furniture. Buying second hand furniture saves money and saves energy as a new item of furniture does not need to be produced. There are even sharing schemes through which you can get items for free.

3. Go for quality
New products take a lot of energy to make, and so if you buy low-quality products you may need to replace them more often. Buying better quality products may save you money in the long run and can also reduce your carbon footprint.

4. Don't buy...hire!
Making tools costs energy and resources, which is a lot as the average power drill is only used for less than 15 minutes. Borrow tools from neighbours or friends, or even hire a tool for the day rather than buying one yourself.

5. Recycle
Don't throw your furniture away when you are redecorating, donate it to charity or pass it on through a sharing scheme.

6. Sustainable wood
Trees being cut down are a vital part of the reason whyCO2 levels are increasing. Source your wood from sustainable forests and look for labels and endorsements from forest friendly certification schemes.