Seven steps to preserve the mountains
There are lots of actions you can take when you are on your ski/snowboard holiday and also in the planning and preparation for your holiday. The Ski Club have devised some guidelines for acting more responsibly when in the mountains. These are our 7 steps to preserve the mountains.

1. Be aware of your environmental impact
Educate yourself about your environmental impact on the mountains, and what you can do to minimise it.

2. Encourage tour operators to adopt green policies
Find out if your tour operator offers train travel as an alternative to flying, if they use paper from sustainable forests for their brochures, if they use, for example, low-wattage light bulbs in their chalets and bio-degradable detergents.

3. Choose a green travel mode
By flying fewer miles, or switching from air to rail, you can help reduce greenhouse gases, noise, environmental stress and pollution. When possible, use your bike instead of your car.

4. Choose a resort which uses environmentally friendly practices
Many resorts now use bio-diesel fuel in piste-bashers, solar panels for heating, hydro-electricity/wind energy for power and a host of other initiatives. Some resorts use the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 14001 as a mark of their environmental credentials.

5. Respect the natural habitat
Many areas are out of bounds, not just for safety reasons, but also to protect the natural habitat of animals and plants.

6. Keep the mountain clean
Bin it or take it home. If you find litter on the slopes, do the right thing - pick it up.

7. Do your bit to reduce global warming on holiday and at home
Re-use your towels each day, re-cycle household waste and switch off electrical appliances when not in use.

Things you can do to help in everyday life

Although we may witness the effects of climate change more on the ski hills than at home, this does not mean that we should not consider the impact of our actions when we get home. Good practices should be applied at home, as climate change is a global phenomenon. Most green practices are not only planet-saving but also money-saving and health-enhancing, making life better all round, so get onto it!

Start by checking that your cavity walls and lofts are fully insulated; you could cut your energy bills by 40% - why pay to heat the street?

Use your feet! Walk, cycle or skate as much as possible. This will not only help cut your carbon footprint, but also save you cash and keep you in shape for your next ski trip. But most of us do need a car at some point, so when you’re buying your next vehicle, make it an energy efficient one. For more information visit www.green-car-guide.com.

The list of simple actions we can take to shrink our carbon footprint is endless, from boiling only the water you need to turning appliances off standby. The WWF provides a great list of steps we should all be taking in all aspects of daily life. Visit www.wwf.org.uk.