Quiz: How Green Is Your Life?

Climate change is no longer a distant threat. Flooding and extreme weather are visible across the UK. Most people know they should live more sustainably, but knowing and doing are different things.

You might recycle your glass bottles and remember to take a bag to the shops. But how green is your lifestyle really? Are you making changes that actually matter, or just ticking easy boxes?

This quiz gives you an honest picture of where you stand. Twenty questions about your daily habits. No tricks, no perfect answers required. Just a realistic look at how sustainable your current way of life is.

The Quiz

For each question, choose the answer that describes what you actually do, not what you think you should do.

1. Do you turn off lights when leaving a room?
a) Rarely remember to
b) Usually, but not always
c) Every single time

2. When buying light bulbs, do you choose LED or energy-efficient options?
a) Just buy whatever's cheapest
b) Sometimes choose efficient ones
c) Always buy the most efficient available

3. Do you keep exterior doors closed to prevent heat loss?
a) Often leave them open
b) Remember about half the time
c) Always close them promptly

4. How often do you recycle glass, cans and paper?
a) Rarely or never
b) Most of the time
c) Everything that can be recycled

5. Do you recycle cardboard packaging and food cartons?
a) Usually goes in general waste
b) Recycle the obvious stuff
c) Check and recycle all suitable packaging

6. What temperature do you use for washing clothes?
a) Hot washes for most loads
b) Mix of temperatures
c) Cold or 30-degree washes whenever possible

7. Do you wait for full loads before using the washing machine?
a) Run it when convenient
b) Try to wait but sometimes don't
c) Always wait for a full load

8. For local journeys under a mile, do you walk or cycle instead of driving?
a) Nearly always drive
b) Sometimes walk or cycle
c) Default to walking or cycling

9. What happens to clothes and household items you no longer want?
a) Most go in the bin
b) Some donated, some binned
c) Donate, sell or give away almost everything

10. When buying appliances, do you check energy ratings?
a) Price is the main factor
b) Glance at ratings sometimes
c) Always compare energy efficiency

11. Do you compost food waste?
a) No composting system
b) Compost some things
c) Comprehensive composting or food waste collection

12. Do you collect rainwater for garden use?
a) Use mains water for everything
b) Occasional rainwater collection
c) Water butt or system for regular collection

13. How often do you buy locally produced food?
a) Rarely think about food miles
b) Sometimes choose local options
c) Actively seek local suppliers

14. For work or regular journeys, do you use public transport or car share?
a) Drive alone most of the time
b) Occasionally use alternatives
c) Regularly use public transport or share journeys

15. Do you avoid unnecessary packaging when shopping?
a) Don't really consider packaging
b) Sometimes choose less packaged options
c) Actively avoid over-packaged products

16. How often do you buy Fairtrade or ethically sourced products?
a) Rarely or never
b) Occasionally
c) Regularly check for ethical options

17. Do you shop in charity shops or buy second-hand?
a) Rarely
b) Occasionally browse charity shops
c) Regularly buy second-hand items

18. How do you dry your washing?
a) Tumble dryer most of the time
b) Line dry in good weather
c) Air dry whenever possible, minimal tumble dryer use

19. Do you switch off electronics rather than leaving them on standby?
a) Usually leave things on standby
b) Switch off some devices
c) Switch off everything at the plug

20. Do you use reusable bags for shopping?
a) Often forget and buy bags
b) Usually remember to bring bags
c) Never need to buy disposable bags

Green Living Score

Answer a few quick questions about your daily habits and find out how sustainable your lifestyle really is, with personalised tips to improve.

Try our Green Living Score free, here on this site →

Working Out Your Score

Give yourself 2 points for each 'c' answer, 1 point for each 'b' answer, and 0 points for each 'a' answer. If circumstances genuinely prevent you from doing something (no public transport in your area, for example), score that question as 'b' rather than 'a'.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

What Your Score Means

35-40 points: Green champion
Your daily habits show real commitment to reducing environmental impact. You've made the big changes and got the details right too. Look at your lowest-scoring areas for potential improvements.

25-34 points: Good progress
You've made solid changes and are clearly thinking about sustainability. There's room to build on what you're already doing. Focus on the areas where you scored lowest to make the biggest difference.

15-24 points: Getting started
You've begun making some green choices, but there's plenty more you could do without major lifestyle changes. Pick a few areas where you scored zero and work on building those habits.

0-14 points: Early stages
Your current lifestyle probably has a significant environmental impact. Small changes can make a real difference. Start with the easiest switches and build up gradually.

Next Steps

This quiz is a general guide and not exhaustive. Recycling rules vary between councils, so check your local guidelines. Consider looking into government grants for energy efficiency improvements or electric vehicle incentives as the UK phases out petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

Remember, this isn't about being perfect. It's about understanding where you are now and identifying realistic next steps. Small changes, when adopted by millions of people, have significant collective impact.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Green Living Score lets you answer a few quick questions about your daily habits and find out how sustainable your lifestyle really is, with personalised tips to improve. Try it now →