Tackling climate change will be one of the most important things this generation does, and everyone needs to get involved.
Saving Water and Energy in the Home
Burning fossil fuels to heat our homes or produce electricity releases carbon emissions, which cause climate change. The energy used at home is likely to be the biggest contribution to climate change. 80 percent of it goes on heating and hot water, so this is a good place to look for savings.
- Turning the thermostat down by one degree could reduce carbon emissions and cut fuel bills by up to 10 percent.
- Help tackle climate change by looking for the Energy Saving Recommended label or European energy label rating of A or higher.
- Cavity wall insulation costs about £450, can take a couple of hours to install, and could save £92 a year on fuel bills, as well as reducing carbon emissions.
- Low flush volume toilets, water efficient showerheads and aerating heads on washbasin taps help to reduce water use significantly.
- Fixing dripping taps and fitting a ‘hippo’ in toilet cisterns are cheap ways of saving water. Collect rainwater in water butts and use it for watering the garden, instead of a hose.
Travelling More Greenly
Personal travel accounts for around a quarter of all the damage individuals do to the environment, including climate change effects.
- Individual car travel is responsible for the majority of climate change impacts from travel. If buying a new car, look for the fuel efficiency label to choose a more efficient model. This will cut carbon emissions and save money on fuel and vehicle tax.
- Reduce the number of short trips made in the car. Walking, cycling, or taking the bus or train will help reduce local air pollution and the climate change effects of getting around.
- Consider the need for a flight and the alternatives to taking a plane. offset CO2 if a flight is the only option.
Food and Drink Footprints
Producing, transporting and consuming food is responsible for nearly a fifth of our climate change effects. Some foods have a much bigger impact on the environment than others.
- Look for the labels to help choose food that has been produced with the aim of reducing the negative impact on wildlife and the environment.
- Buying food and drink when locally in season, and unprocessed or lightly processed food, is likely to mean that less energy has been used in its production.
- Choosing food that has travelled a shorter distance will help to reduce congestion and transport emissions that contribute to climate change.
The average UK household spends £424 a year on food that goes in the bin - if this ends up in landfill it produces methane, a greenhouse gas judged to be more than 20 times as powerful as carbon dioxide in causing climate change. Throwing less food away produces less methane and reduces other harmful environmental impacts from producing, packaging and transporting food.
Reuse, Recycle, Reduce
Reducing, reusing and recycling waste saves on the raw materials and energy which are needed to make new paper, metal, glass and other items. Saving energy helps tackle climate change.
Avoiding waste in the first place, by re-using and repairing items, is the most efficient way to reduce waste. For example, buy items that can be re-used rather than disposables, and pass things on when they are no longer useful.
Nearly two thirds of all household rubbish can be recycled. Most councils run doorstep recycling collections for paper, glass and plastics, often more. But local civic amenity sites often accept many other things – from wood and shoes, to textiles and TVs.
Composting food waste reduces climate change effects. Many local councils offer subsidised compost bins or home collection for kitchen and garden waste.
Source:
The Greenpeace website
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