How to reduce your carbon footprint at home.
Whilst the lockdown has been tough on us all, it has brought out some positives. You’ve finally been able to do all those DIY tasks you’ve been putting off, you’re spending less money in the canteen and your commute consists of walking the 10 steps to your kitchen. However it’s also had wider effects including reducing your carbon footprint. During the peak of lockdown scientists estimate that daily global emissions of CO2 fell by 17%(1), with almost half of it due to there being less cars on the road. At some point the world will return to normal, so what are the little steps that you can take around your home to reduce your carbon footprint? Let’s find out.
Check your home is energy efficient.
Sounds simple enough, however by doing an energy audit of your property you can identify where your home is wasting energy and where you can save. You can get it done by a professional, however here’s a checklist so you can do it yourself in lockdown:
Air leaks - these could be around windows, doors, electrical outlets and fireplaces.
Insulation - heat loss through your ceilings and walls could be very large if your home isn’t insulated properly.
Heating equipment - if your boiler is over 10 years old then it might need replacing.
Lighting - have you switched over every light bulb to an energy saving alternative? If not then it’s probably the time to do so.
Electronics - make sure to unplug your appliances if not in use as well as switching them off stand-by.
Get your five-a-day.
We all know the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, even if you can’t always get over the taste of avocado, however there are also benefits to the planet. Meat and dairy production is responsible for 14.5 percent of manmade global greenhouse gas emissions(2). Every day that you can avoid meat and dairy, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 8 pounds - that’s 2,920 pounds a year(3)!
Lights. Switch. Save.
We’ve got a handy guide to help you switch over your light bulbs to energy saving alternatives, which is a simple way for you to save energy and money. Just make sure you buy the right sizes.
Avoid the binge.
We know how easy it can be these days to get lost in a tv show binge until you get the warning asking if you’re still watching because you’ve not touched the remote in an hour. However why not try some less energy intensive activities such as reading, gardening or any other hobby that takes you fancy.
Choose a renewable electricity supplier.
All of our electricity tariffs are backed by 100% renewable energy*, so take a small leap and switch to us today and do your bit to help us achieve a carbon neutral tomorrow.