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
