What can you do to make a difference?
Energy
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Replace light bulbs with LED or lower emissions equivalents.
Did you know that replacing all the bulbs in your home with LED equivalents could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40kg a year? This is roughly the same level of emission caused by a 140 mile car journey…and that’s not all, if you swapped a single 100w incandescent bulb to an LED equivalent, you could save up to £7 in electricity charges in a single year. The Energy Saving Trust have a really helpful Guide to energy efficient lighting - Energy Saving Trust to help you find out more. -
Aim to heat your house to between 18C and 21C
The heating in the average UK household generated 2,745kg of carbon dioxide in 2017. That’s more than a fully grown Rhinoceros! Reducing the temperature that you heat your house to between 18c and 21c will help. As a country we need to change the way our homes are heated to use more sustainable sources of heat than gas or oil. You can find out more here Help and advice for heating your home - Energy Saving Trust. - Turn off lights and any other electrical items when you don’t need them
- Service your boiler to maintain its efficiency
- Look into installing renewable energy such as solar panels
- Click to visit the Council’s Warm and Well web page for information about support and grant funding Home (redcar-cleveland.gov.uk)
Waste & Water
- If you spent 1 minute less in your shower you would save £30 per person, per year and benefit the environment
- Reduce food waste only buying what you need, and using what you buy through better storage and planning of meals
- Reuse items and sell unwanted goods, instead of throwing them away
- Buy a reusable bottle for water
- Increase your recycling and if possible compost your food waste at home
Transport
- Take the bus or train where you can
- Share car journeys with friends or family when using a car is needed
- If a new car is necessary, consider whether an electric vehicle or a hybrid is possible
- Explore ways to reduce your need to travel, such as working from home or video calling
What you consume
- Consider a meat free day one per week; just reducing meat and dairy can have a big impact on emissions
- The Committee on Climate Change claim that a 20% reduction in beef, lamb and dairy consumption alone would help the UK to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero by 2050.
- Use seasonal locally grown fruit and vegetables, or even better – grow your own!
- Consider preloved clothes and housewares
- Use a reusable cup and lunchbox