reducing your carbon emissions

Using the carbon emissions calculators will give you a pretty good idea which factor of your lifestyle has the most impact on the environment. And this is where you can start looking at reducing.

on electricity...

Turn power off or switch off appliances at the mains when not using them. The big green switch reckons we use 8-10% of our total electricity is due to appliances left on standby. We don’t think we will feel any bit deprived if we start switching off our tellies at the mains. The future tellies will make it a lot easier for us to achieve this by phasing out the stand by buttons. But why wait when it also save you electricity bill money each month?

Over the last few years, the plight of the energy saving bulb has improved dramatically. There are more decorative options for the home now and can replace almost any traditional type of light bulb. And though I have always been partial to the bluish white light of the fluorescent, they are not for everybody (and the tiny amount of mercury they use is quite harmful to the environment when not disposed of properly). Quite an easy fix, and of course, this saves you money on your energy bills as well.

Gasping for a cup of tea? Don’t fill that kettle with water when you only have one of cup to make. And you get your boiling hot water just a little bit faster. Take it a step further, and invest in a thermos flask. Top up with excess water you’ve just boiled. And the next time you wanted hot water, there’ll be no need to wait for the kettle.

on central heating...

I had heard this a thousand times before from my energy suppliers, but it does work in saving you money and energy – turn down your thermostat by a few degrees. You would hardly notice the difference.

Of course, when you can, insulate your home. Use loft insulation. Double or triple glaze. Heavy drapes for winter. Draught excluders for the doors. Now, I wonder how I can convince my landlord to properly insulate this house...

on petrol...

Can you take the bus or the train instead? It could give you time to catch up on a book and lower your blood pressure by taking you away from all that road rage (no guarantees on a crowded tube).

No alternative form of transport? Have you considered car sharing?

Avoid short trips in the car. Walk or cycle instead. Burn the fat instead of fuel!

We've compiled a few more tips we've seen from Act on CO2, the BBC, and Glasgow university:

• Check your tyres. Under inflated tyres will add 1% to your consumption.
• Open the windows a bit on a warm summer day. Air conditioning leaks harms the ozone layer and adds up to 5-25% on your fuel consumption. Or shut all the windows to make the car a bit more aerodynamic and still save on petrol.
• Avoid excessive braking and acceleration and you’ll save 5-10% petrol.
• This might be harder when you’re always in a hurry - driving at 60mph instead of 70mph will save you 9% petrol. Cut back further to 50mph and you’ll burn 25% less.
• Don’t carry all your junk with you. The heavier the load, the more fuel you’ll use. Take that roof rack off when not in use.
• Can you do other errands on the same trip? Have you got a satnav or planned your route? Plan ahead and you save time, money and the environment.
• Avoid rough roads as they can use up to 30% of fuel.
• This one’s from the Glasgow university website - Park your car such that you begin to travel in forward gear. Reverse gear maneuvres use more petrol. I am not sure how it works if you have to reverse to park properly in the first place.
• Make sure petrol caps are on tightly, else you lose some in evaporation.
• Drive in high as gear as possible.
• Make sure your car is well maintained.

on shopping...

Invest in a sturdy reusable bag and you omit the need for manufacturing the one-use carrier bags.

Be conscious of how goods are packaged. More packaging means more waste. How about buying loose tomatoes instead of those pre-packed ones? You might even minimise food wastage because you only get to buy what you need to use. I wish I could buy eggs loose as well as I always seem to have 2 left in the fridge past its use by date.

out and about...

If you make a habit out of grabbing a cup of coffee or tea on the way to work, carry a thermos flask with you and ask your favourite coffee shop to fill it for you. You will get the funny stares at first, but they will soon get used to it. Though there will be some who will refuse as it will not fit in their machines.

at home or at the office...

Do you really need to print that document? If you have to, then print on both sides of the paper.

Contact the Mailing Preference Service to avoid receiving tons of junk mail. Put a “no pizza/takeway leaflets please” sign on your letterbox. It could work for a few months at least. .