CLIMATE CHANGE - WHAT CAN I DO?

By Maureen Dyroff

– Help by reducing your carbon footprint -

AT HOME

· Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle - Consumerism costs the Earth

· Switch off lights when not in the room

· Switch off standby lights

· Use low energy or LED light bulbs

· Turn heating down in winter and wear extra layers

· Only heat the rooms you are using by fitting and adjusting thermostatic controls on radiators

· Ensure that your house is not losing significant heat by insulating to a high level (advice from Warmer Homes)

· Consider installing renewable energy solutions

· Dry washing outside rather than using a tumble drier

WHAT I CHOOSE TO EAT

· Eating less meat, in particular cutting out beef and dairy products, will reduce your carbon footprint considerably.

OUT AND ABOUT

· Reduce car use by sharing lifts, walking and cycling more and using public transport

· Plan your car journeys so that you do all your errands in fewer trips

· Never leave your car idling as this uses more petrol and pollutes the air

· Avoid flying for holidays

· Shop local where possible and use your own bags

· Buy recycled goods

· Take your litter home to recycle or bin and encourage others to do so

THE BIGGER PICTURE

· Switch to a renewable energy supplier such as Good Energy or Octopus

· Use the ECOSIA search engine which uses profits to plant trees (simply search for Ecosia and download)

· Reduce the climate impact of mobile phones by deleting unwanted photos, videos and emails which use colossal amounts of energy in cooling the data

· Use the narrow margin option when producing documents off the computer that needs to be printed (using less paper)

· Cancel delivery of unwanted mail / catalogues

· Help others to be more aware of what we can do and why it is important, especially children and grandchildren

NATURE AND WILDLIFE

· Keep an area of your garden wild to help wildlife and pollinators

· Install a bee house and hedgehog home

· Plant wild flowers, shrubs and trees

· Avoid using chemicals such as pest control as this can poison other animals and pollute our soil

· Enjoy nature and develop an appreciation of our beautiful countryside

· Take a small bag with you when out and about to pick up litter on paths and in the countryside

· Help to keep our beaches clean

PLASTIC POLLUTION

· Find alternatives to one use plastics or go without

· Take your own cup for coffee ‘on the hoof’

· Use your own refillable water bottle

· Wash clothes only when necessary and use liquid detergent as this reduces the plastic erosion from clothes which goes into the water supply

WATER CONSERVATION

· Don’t waste water. Save the water used to wash vegetables, to water your garden.

· Avoid using a hose to water or wash cars.

· Install a water butt