It’s common knowledge that recycling your waste and buying reclaimed products will help to reduce your carbon footprint - but if your green conscience is niggling you then you needn’t stop there. Here’s how you can apply that same eco-philosophy to every area of your life.
At home: It isn’t just charity that begins at home – the same could equally be said of eco-friendly living. There are plenty of simple things you can do to cut your household’s energy usage, from installing energy-saving light bulbs to turning appliances off standby and washing your clothes on cold. If you’re keen to make some more major changes then consider installing cavity wall and loft insulation, fitting draft proofing and investing in a low flow showerhead. You could also benefit both financially and ethically by taking advantage of the government’s boiler scrappage scheme to swap your current boiler for an energy-saving condensing model.
Travelling and transport: Transport makes up over 20 per cent of the UK’s domestic carbon emissions. The most obvious way to reduce your travel-related emissions is to swap your car whenever possible for public transport, and to walk or cycle on short journeys. Your driving style will also have a real impact on the amount of fuel you use, so try to avoid harsh acceleration and breaking and don’t speed on motorways. Other changes you can make include offsetting when you fly, choosing to stay in eco-friendly holiday accommodation and replacing your old car with a hybrid or highly efficient version.
Finances: When you think about reducing your carbon footprint, giving your finances on overhaul is probably the last thing that comes to mind – but buying ethical and eco-friendly financial products can really help to improve your green record. Next time your car insurance comes up for renewable, opt for a green policy which promotes the planting of trees to offset your fuel emissions. You could also consider swapping your bank and savings accounts to an ethical provider – Legal & General, for example, offer an ethical ISA on their website, which generates returns by investing your money in ethically sound funds.
In the community: Curbing your own carbon usage is only the first step towards salving your green conscience – it’s also important to spread the word. You can help by transferring your political allegiance to a candidate with a sound environmental record, supporting eco-friendly business and school schemes, and joining campaigning organisations such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. Through leading by example and supporting green causes, individuals really can make a difference.