Carbon saving ideas
Every time we burn fossil fuels such as gas, coal or oil, carbon
dioxide is released into the atmosphere. In a natural carbon cycle,
carbon dioxide is re-absorbed by plants and trees. However, we are
now burning fuels where the carbon dioxide has been trapped under
the Earth's surface for millions of years, and we're doing it so
quickly that plants and trees that are alive now have no chance of
soaking it up.
If you are struggling to think about what practical actions you
could take to save carbon, try looking at the list below.
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Zero/low cost; very quick payback and easy to
do: |
Costs incurred; longer-term
payback and easy to do: |
- Walk or cycle short distances instead of driving.
- Wear additional layers indoors in winter.
- Turn off all electrical appliances when not in use (standby
off).
- Don't overheat rooms - turn down the thermostat.
- Draw the curtains as soon as it gets dark.
- Draft-proof your windows and doors.
- Top up your loft insulation.
- Change all light bulbs to energy-saving ones.
- Buy local, seasonal produce.
- Dry clothes on a line rather than in a tumble dryer (this is
the cheapest form of solar energy).
- Change to a water meter.
- Put a 'hippo' bag in your toilet cistern.
- Install a water butt; harvest rain water for watering plants
(or even flushing the loo).
- Bulk buy long-life goods - larger sizes means less
packaging.
- Mend things rather than throwing away and buying new.
- Sell or give away unwanted items. If there are no takers,
recycle wherever possible.
- Make your own compost.
- Don't waste food (know the difference between 'best before' and
'use by').
- If you just want a cup of tea, just boil a cup of water ? no
more.
- Use natural ventilation in preference to air conditioning.
- Avoid printing material that you can easily read on screen; if
you must print, then do so double sided.
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- Replace older appliances (fridges, washing machines etc) with
new A+ rated energy efficiency ones.
- Get an independent energy audit and action plan for your
building (eg Display Energy Certificate).
- Send staff on an environmental awareness or environmental
management training course - for example CIEH Award in
Environmental Principles and Best Practice or IEMA Certificate in
Environmental Management, delivered by a range of organisations,
such as Groundwork.
- Buy rechargeable batteries.
|
| Zero/low cost; very quick
payback; but more complex and may challenge lifestyle or
values: |
Costs incurred; longer-term
payback; more complex; and may challenge lifestyle or
values: |
- Fly less.
- Drive less - use public transport instead.
- Change to a low-impact diet - eat less meat and fish.
- Have fewer children.
- Buy goods with clear environmental credentials - for example
buy only wood that has the Forestry Stewardship Council
certification.
- Grow your own food.
- Plant trees.
- Develop a green transport plan for your organisation.
- Conduct a waste audit - understand the nature of your waste and
then plan a strategy for reduction.
- Use telephone or web conferencing instead of getting people to
travel to meetings.
- Instigate a green procurement strategy including a 'cradle to
grave' analysis of purchases that include running and disposal
costs.
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- Install double glazing throughout your building.
- Install micro-generation systems - for example, wind, solar,
geothermal power.
- Insulate walls (method will depend on wall construction).
- Sell your car - or change to a new energy-efficient hybrid
fuel model.
- Change your old boiler for a new energy-efficient one.
- Adopt an environmental management system, for example BS8555,
Acorn or ISO14001.
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