Mass media has been going blue in the face talking about going green and climate change. And while most of us certainly want to do the ‘right’ thing environmentally, we also forget our green concerns just a little bit when pushing up that thermostat dial, stuffing our shopping into truckloads of plastic bags and buying airline tickets to holiday hotspots.

The UK’s Environmental Agency has come up with a new publication which has 50 (fairly!) simple things that can be done to help save the environment. The list comes from answers collated from a list of 25 leading environmentalists from NGOs, think-tanks and the media.

Number One on that list, in case you’re wondering, is powering down. The report says that ‘stand by’ modes ought to be banned and all white goods – fridges, airconditioners and washing machines, as well as TVs, PCs and kettles need to be as energy efficient as possible.

There are 49 more interesting things on that list and one that I found remarkable was the publication saying local faith groups need to do more for the environment. Contributors to the booklet say religious leaders of all organised religions need to make the planet their priority and that they have a duty to help spread the message and remind people about their duties towards maintaining the ecological balance of the planet.

I’ve picked a few obvious and not so obvious things from the 50-strong list- not in any particular order. One absolutely practical sensible option is to invest in winter woollies and start taking a brisk walk or run around the block. Like the booklet says, that’s two good ways of keeping the heating down at home, and not feeling cold!

Another cheap and do-able option is getting a bike… and using it! Even though winter’s well under way, and the cold season isn’t exactly the best time to buy a bike- there’s no better time to do so. A bike, says the booklet, is certainly an icon of environmentalism.

Climate experts have told the publication that climate engineering must move from seeding oceans with iron and deflecting sunlight via space shields to creating artificial reflecting ice floes. They also say that packaging has become a blight on society and that it needs regulation to control its use. Other suggestions are to stop chucking things that break down and place more value on durability and longevity of goods.

The panel has also come up with the necessity for a surge in renewable energy from a variety of sources such as the wind and waves of the sea. Also in focus is ocean energy conversion, which uses the difference in surface ocean water and deep sea water to extract heat and turn turbines.

Of course, the experts agree that it’s equally important to bring it all home. They say that a service like Google Earth could be developed which allows people to see what local areas or postcodes will look like and how they will change with the environment. Local pictures will help drive home the message, say the experts!

Interested in environmental issues? You can also read a new report — Renewable Energy Investment in the U.S.