Building and Home Emissions

1. Switch to a Green Electricity Provider

This is about the easiest and quickest thing you can do to reduce carbon emissions. It may even save money too - especially if you haven't switched energy providers recently (e.g. in the last 2 years). If your electricity comes from 100% renewables (e.g. Wind Power, Solar Power, Hydro Power etc.) then you maybe able to use a zero emissions factor when calculating emissions from electricity usage - making your emissions from electricity zero!

2. Turn down the heating by 1⁰C

Reducing your heating by just 1⁰C can reduce your heating energy by 8%. For an average household gas bill of 12,500kWh this will reduce your CO₂ emissions by 184kg - that's £42 (USD55) each year.

3. Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need to boil

Only boiling the amount of water for your hot drink will save 72kg CO₂ a year - that's £23 (USD30) per annum

4. Spend less time in the shower

Spending 1 minute less in the shower can save 23kg CO₂ and £8 (USD10) a year (based on one shower a day and a 9kW shower).

5. Turn electrical equipment off when not in use 

Fully turning off just one LCD TV (rather than leaving it on standby) for 18 hours a day will save about 5kg CO₂ a year - saving £2 a year (USD2.64). Turn off all other electrical equipment when not in use to multiply the savings.

6. At home - hang out the washing instead of tumble drying 

Hanging the washing out instead of using the tumble drier will save about 153kg CO₂ a year - that's £52 (USD68) each year, based on 150 cycles a year. 

Total Potential savings are 437kg CO₂ and £127 each year

Technology based energy savings

The following is a list of items that may take an initial investment, but should pay for themselves through savings on your energy bills.

• Fit energy saving light bulbs - LEDs can save 90% of lighting energy costs
• Install thermostatic valves on your radiators
• Insulate your hot water tank
• Install cavity wall installation
• Install 180mm thick loft insulation
• Replace your old refrigerator / freezer (if it is over 15 years old), with a new one with energy efficiency rating of "A++"
• Replacing your old boiler? Consider replacing it with an Air-source heat pump. Government grants may be available to support this activity
• Install solar panels on your home, and consider adding a battery to the system too, so you can continue using clean solar energy at night
   

Offset Your emissions

It is very difficult to reduce emissions to zero, so think about Offsetting the emissions to compensate those you have caused.