Top tips for living a greener life:
Small lifestyle changes have a big effect
on greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2):
- Insulation can save up to 630 kg per year CO2
- Switch to green energy and save up to 520 kg per year
- Double glazing can save up to 350 kg per year
- Turn down your heating by 1° and save up to 300
kg CO2 per year
- Dry clothes naturally: save up to 280 kg per year
- Replace 5 old bulbs with low energy bulbs: save up
to 250 kg per year
- EU Grade A+ refrigerators save up to 210 kg per year
- Electrical equipment on standby can use up to 80% of
full power
25%
of CO2 emissions in the EU come from travel:
- Reducing car speed from 130 kph to 110 cuts CO2 by
30%
- A static car uses more fuel in 10 seconds than
restarting the car
- Air conditioning increases fuel use and CO2
emissions by 5%
- Roof racks increase fuel consumption and CO2
emissions by up to 10%
- Flying from London to Brussels uses 160 kg CO2: by
train, 18 kg
- Keep fit: cycling burns 300 calories per hour
The
chairman of the UN panel on climate change says one meat-free day a
week is the best way to combat climate change:
- Livestock generates more greenhouse gas – 18% – than
transport
- It takes 16 times more fuel to produce meat than
vegetable equivalent: this is reflected in the cost
- A meat-free diet is as effective at lowering
cholesterol as statins
- Among vegetarians, cancer mortality is 39% lower and
heart disease
28% lower, while all causes of premature mortality are 20% lower
Other general tips:
- Conserve energy
by: using energy saving bulbs (each bulb uses a quarter of the
energy of an incandescent bulb, lasts up to 10 times longer and the
energy saved keeps CO2 out of the atmosphere), turning off lights when
you don't need them, turn your computer off when you don't need it - or
stick it on hibernate, don't use standby on TVs, stereos and DVD
players etc., wash clothes on colder cycles, turn your thermostat down
1 degree.
- Conserve water by:
fixing leaky loos, use watering cans instead of hoses, use the washing
machine/dishwasher only when it's full, and collect rain water to water
the gardening
- Recycle everything
you can - details of recycling services can be found by clicking here
- and bring
your own bags when you shop.
For pdfs with more detailed suggestions -
click the links below which take you to files prepared for IoM FoE by Manx Tails' Green
Columnist ffinlo Costain. Quick guides to:
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