2.4 Individual actions: energy efficiency
So far, we have looked at some household basics, including waste and recycling, which help us to think about our lifestyles and how they impact on climate change. However, there is much more we can do as individuals.
Insulating your home is one of the most effective ways of improving its energy efficiency: for example, loft insulation can save around £200 and 1 tonne of CO2 a year. There are many types of insulation: cavity wall, solid wall, floor, loft, draught proofing, tanks and pipes, and double glazing.
Most people use a range of household appliances and electronic goods that use energy and so contribute to CO2 emissions. Therefore, more efficient products can help reduce emissions. One way to approach this is to look for products with the Energy Saving Recommended logo. These have to meet strict criteria: for example, fridges must be A+ (more energy efficient than A-rated products) and washing machines must be AAA – that is, A for energy, A for wash quality and A for spinning. New boilers must be efficiency-rated A or B, and currently only condensing boilers achieve this. The criteria are set by an independent panel and reviewed annually.
The UK's National Insulation Association website gives advice to UK householders.
The Centre for Alternative Technology gives advice on energy efficiency in the home.
Activity 4
Visit the Energy Saving Trust's website to look at the effects of various energy-saving measures around your home and create your own personalised checklist. Relate this to the carbon footprint you created in Activity 1. (Note that this website also has a carbon footprint calculator. If you would like to produce a second footprint for comparison, click the ‘Carbon Cutter’ button.)
Do you know the energy ratings for your household appliances and electronic goods? If not, search the internet to see if you can find out for three of them. If your appliances are not already Energy Saving Recommended, check the availability of energy-efficient alternatives on the Energy Saving Trust's website
2.3 Individual actions: food production and food waste