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.
Information: Age of Stupid film clips
The Age of Stupid was 2009's climate change box office
smash. These are a few clips from the film. The Cap
& Trade clip is particularly useful: it's spin-free
and explains the system in simple terms
* Cap & Trade: the 'big
idea' to save the planet - Click here
* War for resources - Click here
* The film's conclusion - Click here
* Bad futures to extinction
- Click here
PDFs
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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