With the
stark warning from the IPCC
last month that we could be just 12
years away from irreversible environmental catastrophe
, it has never been more pertinent
a time to look at how we can reduce our carbon footprint, both as individuals
and as a society overall. We have therefore decided to look at 21 ways you can
reduce the carbon footprint of your household, because, while slashing carbon
really needs to be tackled on an international, governmental and corporate
level (after all, 71% of all carbon emissions come from just 100 companies
), we still have a responsibility
as individuals to make changes in our own lives, and demand changes from
others.
1.Insulate your loft and save up to 950kg of carbon per year.
2.Insulate your walls and save up to 1370kg of carbon per year.
3.Make sure your appliances are energy efficienct, but crucially DON’T buy new appliances unless you need them. British homes now use 23% less gas and 17% less power than in 2008, in large part due to the use of more efficient appliances.
4.Switch lighting to LED or compact fluorescent lighting and save up to £240 per year.
5.Turn your thermostat down by one degree to save 3-5% on your energy bill.
6.Learn to use your heating controls: set up a remote system like Hive to ensure the home is only being heated when needed.
7.Move to a 100% renewables energy provider.
8.Invest in solar panels or other renewables.
9.Secondary glaze your existing windows. Using a system such as InvisiTherm® will reduce your energy bills by a minimum of 22.5%.
10.Draughtproof your home throughout to save 9% on your energy bills.
11.Reduce the amount of water you use by timing your showers, using a toilet hippo , etc.
12.Recycle all materials that can be recycled. Large supermarkets usually have recycle stations for things like plastic bags and wrap, batteries, water filters, etc. For example, For glass bottles, 315kg of CO2 is saved per tonne of glass recycled after taking into account the transportation and processing.
13.Buy less new stuff. From clothing to bedding to appliances, books: try looking for second hand alternatives, mend or upcycle what you currently own, swap and share what you need with friends, family or your community to reduce the amount you buy.
14.Batch cook using local ingredients.
15.Use a cooler wash for your laundry.
16.Use the Eco setting on your dishwasher if you have one
17.Invest in a heat pump if your property supports one
18.Reduce the use of your tumble drier and line dry clothes, preferably outside, but if that’s not possible ensure you dry your clothes in a well ventilated room.
19.Make it a habit to check lights, switches, appliances, and HVAC are all turned off when leaving your home.
20.Turn off the lights when leaving a room.
21.Minimise your use of wood fires and wood stoves if you live in a dense urban or suburban area and use wet or poorly seasoned wood.
22.Get a home energy audit from an organisation like Home Energy Scotland (Scotland-wide), South Seeds (Glasgow south side) or ALIEnergy (Argyle, Highlands and Islands).
Cocoon Window Insulation is a trading style of Glaze and Save Ltd