Six ways to reduce your carbon footprint
With the threat to our planet from carbon emissions growing by the day, it’s becoming more and more imperative that everyone does their bit and reduces carbon emissions to ensure global warming doesn’t continue at the current rate.
The UK government has set itself the target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and has introduced a huge amount of schemes to achieve this. However, reaching this target will also rely on the help of the UK population which currently produces around 13 tonnes of CO2 per person every year. If you’re eco-conscious and want to find new ways to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, then there are plenty of ways that you can do it.
These fit into many areas of your day-to-day life and we’ve put together a handy list of what you need to do to limit your carbon footprint to a smaller amount. Read on to find out more.
The home
Houses in the UK are one of the main contributors to the country’s total carbon emissions with roughly 40% of emissions coming from here. Some of the different things you can change to ensure your home’s carbon footprint is low include:
- Using energy-efficient light bulbs like LEDs
- Installing solar panels to power the home
- Choosing a more sustainable heating solution such as heat pumps
- Sort through waste correctly
Transport
Cars are known to produce high amounts of carbon emissions and so, reducing your usage of them is an easy way to be more sustainable. Choose public transport where possible or carpool with friends and colleagues to reduce the number of cars on the roads at any one time. You can explore options like using a CTP comparison calculator to find temporary car insurance policies that allow for flexibility, helping to further reduce unnecessary car ownership.
Marc Pell, CEO of short-term car insurance provider Tempcover, supports these claims as he said: “With more individuals now working remotely and embracing alternative transportation options, the need for owning a personal vehicle is diminishing. Instead of committing to traditional annual coverage for a car that spends most of its time parked, opting for temporary insurance and borrowing or sharing vehicles emerges as a smart, cost-effective, and eco-friendly solution.
Carpooling with colleges can now be a more flexible option as the responsibility doesn’t need to sit solely with one driver. Temporary insurance can be used to share the driving, while reducing the carbon footprint associated with unnecessary car ownership.
Embracing this flexible approach not only ensures that you’re covered, but also helps reduce unnecessary emissions and our collective impact on the environment.”
Food
Our food consumption also contributes to our carbon footprint and a plant-based diet could help to reduce yours dramatically. Plus, opting for this diet means that more of the world’s agricultural land can be used for other things like carbon-capturing ecosystems.
Fashion
Avoid buying new clothes where possible to reduce your carbon footprint. Choosing to buy second-hand items from vintage stores or buying and selling websites like Vinted means you can buy great items from reliable sellers and prevent them from ending up in landfill sites.
Finance
There are many banking solutions for you to choose from now with many now positioning themselves as ethical and funders of solutions. Traditional banks have been known to fund fossil fuel companies in the past and can be held somewhat accountable for the climate crisis. Instead, choose alternatives to banks like credit unions or building societies which are far less likely to be funding projects that negatively impact the environment.
Holidays
The aviation industry is responsible for around a billion tonnes of CO2 emissions yearly, which makes it a huge contributor to the world’s carbon footprint. Try to take fewer holidays where possible or opt for a more sustainable transport method if it’s available.
