Tips to Reduce your Carbon Footprint
By admin on Jul 29, 2007 in Featured, Environment, Home & Garden, Energy, Guides, Business
With climate change becoming increasingly higher on both the political and media agenda, there has never been a better time to start taking steps to reduce your own carbon footprint.
As well as being of great benefit to the environment, many of the tips to reduce your carbon footprint described below will also save you money.Â
- Sign up to a green energy supplier. Green energy suppliers are those that supply electricity from renewable sources, such as wind power and hydroelectric power.
- Turning down the thermostat on your central heating and water heating by just one or two degrees makes a big saving on CO2 emissions.
- When electrical items are not in use - TURN THEM OFF! Leaving items on standby or in sleep mode STILL uses quite a considerable amount of energy which contributes to CO2 emissions.
- Whenever possible try to walk rather than going by car. Reducing your driving by just 20 miles per week can save around 900 pounds of CO2 emissions over a one year period.
- If you have to drive to work or drive kids to school, try to share the driving with a work colleague or neighbour. This will not only reduce CO2 emissions but can also save you a lot of money.
- Check the tyre pressure of your car on a regular basis to ensure the tyres are not under inflated. Under inflated tyres reduce fuel economy which then leads to higher CO2 emissions.
- When boiling a kettle only fill the kettle with as much water as you need.
- Try to reduce the amount of waste you generate, and recycle as much of the waste that you do produce.
- When charging your mobile phone make sure you unplug your mobile as soon as it has finished charging. Even when the battery is fully charged it will continue to use energy until it has been switched off.
- When using a washing machine or a dishwasher, make sure you have a full load. If you only have a small amount, wash these by hand instead.
- Providing it is not raining hang your clothes out to dry rather than using a tumble dryer.
- Install thermostats on your radiators. You can then turn down the heat in rooms that are not used as often, such as spare rooms and utility rooms.
- When you replace your light bulbs, try to replace them with energy saving light bulbs.
- Insulating your house can help to prevent heat from escaping through the roof and walls. Although there is obviously a cost involved in this, it should help to save a considerable amount on your heating bills.
- When doing your shopping try to buy local produce, rather than produce that may have been flown in from hundreds of miles away.
