‘The end of the world is nigh!’ or so you might believe, given the media preoccupation with messages urging the general population to take action against climate change.
Whether you’re a climate change sceptic or a ‘light green’ embracer of the need to cut down on our level of energy consumption – there are changes that can be made that don’t have to mean massive upheavals to your day to day routines…
Here are our top 10 little changes which, if we all did them, would have a hugely positive effect on the environment:
1. Switch off electrical equipment… at the wall!
No excuses. There is simply no reason for your electric equipment to be turn on when not in use.
You may think that your impact is small in the whole scheme of things, which is exactly what the rest of the nation thinks too. The US wastes $100 million worth of energy each year this way. In the UK the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) revealed that if electrical equipment was turned off when not in use, massive savings in CO2 emissions could be accomplished.
2. Check your tyre pressure
The average person who drives 12,000 miles annually on under-inflated tires uses roughly 144 extra gallons of fuel ($300-$500/£190-£320 a year). This equates to 1.5 extra tons of greenhouse gas.
3. Give to charity
There are countless charities which spend 100% of their time pursuing environmental challenges and trying to create a greener planet. Why not pick the one which addresses your specific concerns? You don’t have to give much, but every penny you do give can make a difference.
4. Use rechargeable batteries
Bit of a no-brainer – non-rechargeable batteries are wasteful and expensive.
It is thought that the environmental impact of using rechargeable batteries is 23 time less than their non-rechargeable family members. A good way to put this into perspective is that to produce 1kWh from a rechargeable battery is comparable to extracting 1kg of petroleum. In contrast using a disposable battery would be like extracting 19kg of petroleum.
5. Drink filtered water
The amount of bottled water consumed has spiralled in the last ten years. Subsequently the amount of plastic required to hold the extra liquid topped 1.9 million tonnes in 2015. Your impact can easily be reduced by using a water filter and refillable bottle. Or better still – drink water from the tap – it tastes better than you might think!
6. Use unbleached coffee filters
It might just be me… But won’t they go brown eventually anyway? J
7. Ride or walk
Of course sometimes this just won’t be an option.
But if you can, it really is a great way of reducing your impact on the environment. By not getting into the car you will be reducing air pollutants, and not burning any fuel. Plus you’ll be getting fresh air and having a work out – it’s a no brainer win-win.
8. Buy organic fertilisers
Most keen gardeners utilise the power of fertilisers.
The majority of fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorous, or some other chemical that induces growth in plants. Delicate aquatic eco systems are damaged by run off from phosphate and nitrate based fertilisers. Also, an excess of nitrogen in drinking water can lead to adverse health effects in the people who consume the water.
Using organic fertilisers will improve the taste of your crop, reduce nitrates leaking into the water table, and will be cheaper too…
9. Insulate your home
This step might not be the easiest on the list – but it has massive returns from a money saving point of view, and also from an environmental viewpoint.
Simply insulating your roof and ceiling can save 2000lbs of CO2 annually… Put into perspective that could mean reducing your heating bills by 25%!
New building regulations in the UK mean that new homes must be build using doors and windows that will prevent energy loss. Insulating your home can be as quick and easy as fitting strips and excluders to draught proof around leaky door and window frames, through to replacing heat leaking wooden and old UBVC doors with composite doors with a low u-value.
10. Use 100% post-consumer recycled printer paper
By switching to using 100% post-consumer recycled paper you could save up to 5lbs of CO2 per ream. According to friends of the earth in the UK over 6 million tonnes of paper and board is used only once despite the capacity for recycling.
