Everyone should be looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint right now. It is clear that now is the time for action, and everyone has a responsibility to min-imise their impact on the environment and protect the planet for future genera-tions. The good news is that there are both big and small ways to do this - keep reading for a few of the most effective methods that you can start using straight away.
Transportation
Often, an individual’s largest contribution to carbon emissions comes from travel. Therefore, it is a good idea to walk, cycle, or take public transport where possible. If you still require occasional usage of your car, you could take out temporary car insurance to avoid paying for a full annual policy.
Additionally, air travel is a major contributor to environmental damage. Therefore, you should minimise flights and look into carbon offsetting programs to mitigate your impact.
Heating
In the UK, around 22% of the country’s carbon emissions come from our homes (those cold winters!). Therefore, you need to find ways to be more efficient with your heating at home - in addition to reducing your impact, this will also save you money on energy (a major issue right now). Replacing your heating system gives you an opportunity to slash your energy usage with smart heating controls to optimise your usage.
Another option to consider is insulating the home. Around a third of the heat lost from an uninsulated home escapes through the walls, so this is a good place to start! You can also insulate your pipes and the loft to make further savings.
Diet
The food that you consume has a huge bearing on the diet. Many experts state that a vegan diet is the best thing that an individual can do to protect the planet as there would be a 49% reduction in greenhouse emissions. Of course, not everyone will be willing to do this, so reducing meat consumption is a helpful alternative. It is also worth buying local produce to reduce food mileage.
Shopping
You should also consider your shopping habits - every new item you purchase will have an embedded carbon price tag. This is why you should buy second-hand where possible, avoid fast fashion, and opt for sustainable brands. It is important to avoid buying items you do not need and increase recycling of the items you no longer need.
As you can see, you can make many positive changes to reduce your impact on the planet. Everyone has a responsibility to minimise their impact on the environment, and there are both big and small changes that you can make. Often, you will find that these changes can bring a range of other benefits to life, including saving money!
