Carbon Emission Reduction Ideas

Carbon Emission Reductionis not just about the obvious large items such as car use that make a difference to your carbon emissions and your impact on the environment. Households, events and businesses can evaluate all aspects of their operations and make large and small changes that result in a reduced carbon footprint.

Here is an outline of where to start your carbon emission reduction.

Households

CO₂ reduction is given as tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (tCO₂e) per year.

Insulation

Cost	CO₂ Reduction (tCO₂e/year)	Option
High	0.4	Major improvement in your home's insulation
High	0.3	Cavity wall insulation
High	0.2	Double glazing
Med	0.2	Increase ceiling insulation, seal doors and skirting boards, etc

Heating

Cost	CO₂ Reduction	Option
Low	0.2	Better controls for electric heating
High	0.2	Buy a wood-burning stove
Nil	0.2	Reduce your thermostat temp by 1 degree
Nil	0.1	Heat one less room

Water and water heating

Cost	CO₂ Reduction	Option
High	0.2	Solar hot water
Low	0.1	Slow-flow showers, not baths
High	0.1	Install a 'grey water' recycling system to take water from your washing machine into your lavatory
Low	0.1	Use showers, not baths. Install a flow-reducing aerator for the shower head
High	0.1	Buy ultra-low water use cisterns, new water-saving dishwasher, washing machine. Recycle old ones
Low	0.1	Install – and carefully monitor – a water meter. Put bricks in all the loos to reduce water. Carefully recycle all waste, compost all organic matter

Power

Cost	CO₂ Reduction	Option
High	0.4	Install 2 kilowatt solar PV panels
High	0.1	Buy a new 5 Star refrigerator and only use a small-screen TV
Low	0.1	Use LED or fluorescent lights where you currently have halogen lights installed
Low	0.1	Buy a timer to turn off appliances when not in use; get a meter to monitor your household
Nil	0.1	Only use your washing machine and dishwasher when full
Nil	0.1	Never use the tumble dryer
Low	0.1	Get rid of the freezer if you can, and replace your small appliances with "eco" varieties

Transport and travel

Cost	CO₂ Reduction	Option
Nil	0.7	Cut your annual mileage in half
Nil	0.7	Sell the second car
High	0.5	Buy a new car with low emissions
Nil	0.4	Join a car club or set up an effective local car-sharing scheme
Nil	0.3	Share car to work
Low	0.2	Go on a day's eco-driving course, fit low-resistance tyres and check air pressure every month
Nil	0.1	Don't ever use a car for shopping. Buy online
Nil	0.1	Work from home one day a week rather than commuting by car
Nil	1.2	Never fly
Low	0.3	Restrict yourself to one short-haul return flight a year on a carrier with a fuel-efficient fleet
Low	0.3	Cycle everywhere
Nil	0.1	Work from home two days a week instead of taking public transport to work

Electronics

Cost	CO₂ Reduction	Option
Low	0.3	Buy second-hand mobile phones and ensure that three of your electronic devices are recycled
Nil	0.2	Keep your electronic devices (e.g. phones, TVs, computers, DVD players, games machines) one year longer
Med	0.1	Switch from a desktop computer to a laptop at home, and recycle the desktop

Food

Cost	CO₂ Reduction	Option
Nil	0.5	Change to an almost entirely vegetarian diet, using mostly unprocessed wholefoods such as grains, seeds and nuts
Nil	0.2	Never buy processed food or ready meals
Nil	0.2	Buy more carefully and never throw food away
Low	0.1	Grow all your own fruit and vegetables

Clothing

Cost	CO₂ Reduction	Option
Low	0.3	Buy 50% second-hand clothes
Low	0.2	Reduce purchases by a more than a quarter compared to last year (eg buy four new T-shirts not the UK average of seven)
Low	0.1	Focus on new fabrics made from bamboo, hemp or other cotton substitutes

Paper

Cost	CO₂ Reduction	Option
Low	0.1	Only buy newspapers, magazines, books, toilet paper and copier paper made from recycled materials
Nil	0.1	Block direct mail, choose electronic bills and statements, buy second-hand books and share papers