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We all live busy lives and all we want is an easy life. But this decade the UK uses 50% more energy than we did last decade. Do we need to use this much energy? All will be explained. How much fuel we actually use in our daily lives, how we can reduce our own carbon footprints, and why it is so important to start using renewable fuel. We don't even need to use this much energy. 4 out of 5 people in the UK use too much energy. In the UK we use more in a week than a developing country uses in a year. Energy over-use has been increased all over the world as more people have better lifestyles in countries that were once considered developing like India and Africa. It is hard to think what can be done about it as we are just one in a million people getting on with our lives, using energy, appliances and transport that are supplied for us. Each individual can make a difference as 40% of carbon emissions are what we use as individuals. Also every £3 of energy used £1 of that is wasted immediately. The best way to make a difference is to learn about our carbon footprint and how we can reduce it. What is a Carbon Footprint? A Carbon footprint measures a human's impact on the environment. This is measured by the amount of green house gases produced and is measured in units of Carbon dioxide. By measuring this, it takes into account all areas of an individuals or a household's life. This includes electricity, gas, oil and coal usage as well as own transport, public transport and holidays in the year. An average person in the UK has a Carbon Footprint of 5.01 tonnes a year. An average family household uses around 12.03 tonnes. A secondary carbon footprint exists and this is the lifecycle of products we use. This includes food, clothes, car manufacture, appliances and services we use. An average person has a 5.95 tonne secondary carbon footprint. How can we reduce our carbon footprint? We can reduce our carbon footprint just by making small changes around the house. These small changes will reduce the energy you use, so not only will you be helping the environment you will save money. Change your light bulbs from 60W to energy saving and save your self £28 a year. Use loft installation and save £220, turn your appliances off not just on standby and save £11 a year and get an energy condensing boiler and save £190-£240. Turning your thermostat down just 1 degree will save you £40 a year and draught proof windows will save you up to £20 a year. Small changes can make a huge difference like only use the amount of water you need in a kettle and save £25, only put a full dishwasher on saves you £13 and a 40 degree washing machine will cost £11 cheaper than 60 degrees. In the winter you can save money by setting your heater to times when you are in the house, this saves £42 a year. Recycle your bottles, cans, paper and plastic, they can be taken to recycling units in many public car parks and some even pick up from the house. Use public transport so you can share your carbon emissions with twenty other people as well as check your energy supplier to see what they are doing for greener gas. British Gas is investing £750 million in renewable energy and will spend £130,000 on wind farms. Government Action The government also has many plans for greener energy which will help you live your life in a more energy saving way. The government plans to: eventually phase out inefficient light bulbs, work with manufacturers to remove inefficient white goods (fridges etc.), building homes near to a good public transport systems and having energy efficient regulations on these new homes. The government also plans to give people more information about how energy efficient there homes and lives are, as well as introducing renewable energy resources into peoples' homes, like solar panels. Public transport will hopefully be improved to encourage people to leave their cars at home. More carriages will be added on to trains, encouraging workplace and school travel plans and providing cycling training for children. The government will also be doing more for recycling, firstly by providing recycle units in more public places and near offices and encouraging single use shopping bags. All these energy saving suggestions can be done easily in each household. Try them all and see if it can save you money on your bills too.
Staff editor, Gas & Electricity Section, November 2007 |
