Little | Hang out the washing instead of tumble drying |
steps | Only put the washing machine or dishwasher on when full |
Turn down the heating by 1°C | |
Spend less time in the shower | |
Turn electrical equipment off when not in use, including items on standby | |
Fit LED bulbs | |
Seal draughts (but watch out for condensation) | |
Install thermostatic valves on radiators | |
Install thicker loft insulation | |
Replace old freezer/fridge with new energy efficient A++ | |
Install cavity wall insulation | |
Replace old boiler with new
condensing boiler | |
Big | Install solar panels |
steps | Replace boiler with air source
heat pump |
|
Little |
Walk or cycle more for short journeys |
|
steps |
Car share for work or the school run |
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|
Use the bus or train rather than your car |
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If possible, work from home some days of the week |
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|
Change your car for something
smaller and lower emission |
|
Big |
Change your car for an electric
vehicle |
|
steps |
Cut out some holiday flights
with staycations or using Eurostar to |
|
Little |
Don’t buy bottled water but use the tap |
|
steps |
Buy local fruit and veg or grow your own |
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|
Buy foods in season and avoid foods flown in |
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|
Reduce your consumption of meat and dairy |
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|
Reduce consumption of beef and lamb in favour of pork and chicken |
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Ensure no food wasted; take care with shopping list, freeze leftovers |
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|
Keep to the above when eating out and/or reduce eating out |
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Big |
Become vegetarian |
|
Steps |
Become vegan |
Diet makes up 25% of the average person’s carbon footprint, so is a ripe area for reductions. Our suggested carbon calculator only gives a rough estimate of the total emissions in this category. If you would like to look at your consumption in more detail, you can download a spreadsheet here. It could be an eye opener! [Note that the spreadsheet will open as a Google Sheet. If you wish to use Excel then click on File/Download and store as an Excel file on your computer.]
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Little |
Repair rather than replace your aging stuff |
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steps |
Upcycle rather than buying new |
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Do you really need that gadget/fashion item, or could you buy second hand? |
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Keep your electronic equipment for longer |
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|
Cut out paper-based newspapers, magazines and new books, rather read online |
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Big |
For every new purchase, don’t think can I afford it, rather do I really need it |
|
Steps |
Swap high emission leisure
activities for lower impact choices |