Reduce your carbon footprint and save money now!

Everyone can do there bit to reduce their energy use, and their impact on the local and global environment.  Starting with the easy steps detailed below, you can feel empowered to control your energy use, and actually reduce it even further!

• Monitor the energy you use – by increasing your awareness of the energy you are using, and its associated costs, you will be more conscious of using it responsibly

• Make small behavioural changes – turn the lights off when you leave a room for longer than a couple of minutes; don’t gaze into the refrigerator longingly - shut the refrigerator door quickly; and wash your clothes at 40 degrees. See Energy Saving Trust

• Be conscious of your purchases – everything we buy has a story behind it.  Ask yourself where it has come from? How did it travel to be here? What is it made of? How much energy will it use? Think of both what makes the product, and what the product will use in the future

For example, - 1 - making a choice of washing machines should include a lifetime energy use consideration. – 2 – making food choices – both food miles and growing foods outside their normal growing season or location results in a greater energy burden. See Defra energy labelling guidance

• Make energy efficient conversions – Converting all your regular light bulbs to compact fluorescents and LEDs can save 70 - 80% of the energy that was being used previously
  Order them now from the comfort of your armchair from Efficient Light.

• Think before you fly – Is the trip needed? Are there any ways of getting to the final destination other than by air travel? If for business, consider video conferencing / online meetings as an alternative for making the trip. One return flight to New York will emit as much carbon dioxide as released from household emissions per person. Can you take the train or an alternative mode of transport? See The Man in Seat 61; LoCO2

If you are a business or concerned individual that wants to explore further ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint then please see our Energy Management / Carbon Footprint plan pages and contact Ellie La Trobe-Bateman on ellie@blueventures.org.