David Hartley offers some tips to help people keep their 2019 pledges.
Every January we set ourselves goals to achieve over the coming year, such as getting in better shape, saving money, being greener or getting involved in our local communities.
Keeping resolutions can be difficult and a large majority of them fall by the wayside by the time February rolls around. Research shows that 66% of us failed to keep our resolutions – that’s why here at Anglian Water, we have come up with some simple suggestions to help you keep your promises.
Top five New Year’s resolution tips:
Promised to get fit?
Visit an Anglian Water water park and take a walk, ride your bike and see some wildlife in beautiful surroundings – practically on your doorstep in some places.
Anglian Water has nine water parks of various sizes: Rutland Water near Stamford is the biggest, plus Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, Pitsford Water in Northamptonshire, Alton Water near Ipswich and Taverham in Norwich, as well as Covenham, Ardleigh, Raventhorpe and Hollowell Reservoirs, which all have short walks available. With many miles of footpaths and cycleways to choose from, they are ideal for helping us keep to those resolutions to get outside, keep fit and fight the festive flab.
Pledged to get involved in your local community?
If you want to make new friends or give something back to your community this year, a RiverCare or BeachCare group could be just the thing for you. The initiative is a collaboration between Anglian Water and Keep Britain Tidy and it encourages people to look after their local waterways and coastline. Volunteers are given all the tools, training and support to carry out regular river clean-ups to help their local environment flourish.
You can find your nearest group at www.keepbritaintidy.org/rivercare/551
Want to help the environment?
Why not start by saving water to help care for our natural resources. We offer a free water saving home visit to our water customers and free water saving devices that could be just the kick-start you need to hit that resolution target.
Our home visit will also give you loads of useful tips on how to save water and if you’re on a metered water supply, they should help you cut your water bills too. See www.anglianwater.co.uk/environment/how-you-can-help/using-water-wisely/we-products/survey. Another way you can help protect the environment is by responsibly disposing of fats, oils and greases, which cause round 40,000 sewer blockages each year. By putting these substances in the bin rather than down the sink, you are playing your part to protect the environment.
Looking to save money?
If you want to save money one of the best places to start is in the home. By switching to a water meter customers save an average of £100 on their water bill.
By using less water you’ll be saving money on your bill and you’ll also be heating less water and helping reduce your energy bills too. Did you know washing machines are one of the biggest energy users in the home? Around 90% of the energy washing machines use is for heating water, and just by reducing a wash temperature from 40 to 30 degrees, you can cut the energy used by an impressive 40%.
Aiming to get organised?
Many of us make the resolution to be more organised and prepared over the coming year.
Winter is well and truly here and temperatures have dropped since Christmas Day. We never know what may be waiting around the corner and taking some small steps can help protect your home against water damage caused by burst pipes and reduce your energy bills too. Insulate your pipes and water tank, especially those in the loft. Pipes can be protected using wool matting or ready-moulded lengths of insulation foam. Another way to protect your home is to make sure you’ve disconnected the hosepipe from your outside tap to prevent it from bursting in cold weather.
We all find excuses at the start of the year to avoid those difficult challenges. We’re encouraging everyone to tackle 2019 head on and use some of our handy tips to get back on the wagon and make this year the best one yet. Take a bike ride, reduce water consumption or get yourself organised. It doesn’t take a lot of effort and the smallest changes could make all the difference.
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