Travel
|
T01 |
** |
Drive slower (50 mph instead of 70 mph) |
Reducing your motorway speed from 70 mph to 50 mph produces 25% less CO2 emissions. |
T02 |
** |
Next time you buy a car, buy a fuel efficient car |
There is a huge difference in the fuel efficiency of cars. Aim for a car that emits less than 130 grams CO2/litre. Avoid sports cars, 4X4s, SUVs, and people carriers |
T03 |
* |
Share your car journey with someone else. |
38% of all car journeys have only one occupant. See www.carsharedevon.com for more information. |
T04 |
* |
Join a car club. |
Car trips with only 1 driver account for 38% of all car journeys. Exeter has its own car club: Exe Co-Cars. Website: www.co-cars.co.uk |
T05 |
** |
Reduce your number of car journeys by 20%. |
Travel by train, bus, bike or walk instead. Typically travelling by bus will be 2 or 3 times more efficient, by train 5 or 6 times more efficient, and cycling and walking are of course vastly more efficent. |
T06 |
** |
Reduce your number of car journeys by 50%. |
This is quite challenging. Typically travelling by bus will be 2 or 3 times more efficient, by train 5 or 6 times more efficient, and cycling and walking are of course vastly more efficent. |
T07 |
* |
Ride a bike at least once a week |
More people own a bike than a car. But for many it stays in the garage. |
T08 |
* |
Use your bike for all journeys under 2 miles |
25% of all car journeys are less than 2 miles. |
T09 |
*** |
Use your bike for all journeys under 5 miles. |
This is quite challenging. 58% of all car journeys are less than 5 miles. |
T10 |
** |
Ride a bike to work every day |
So far only 3% of people in Exeter cycle to work. Yet the majority of people live less than 4 miles (half an hour on a bike) from work. |
T11 |
***** |
Campaign for better cycling. |
There are not enough people campaigning for better cycling |
T12 |
**** |
Avoid Air Travel for Life |
Travelling by air is the worst way you can travel. It produces about 19 times more greenhouse gases than rail travel |
T13 |
** |
Holiday in Devon |
Is it really necessary to go abroad every year? Devon is the perfect holiday destination. Don’t go abroad until you have discovered every treasure that Devon has to offer. Target: At least half your annual holidays to be in Devon |
T14 |
*** |
Reducing Air Travel |
Set a personal target of flying a 2000 mile journey (e.g. Return flight to Spain) no more than once every 5 years |
Electricity
|
E01 |
* |
Don’t leave electrical items on standby. Switch Off |
If everyone switched their TV off at night, the energy saved would power a city the size of Basingstoke |
E02 |
** |
Turn the iron off when there is only one item left to iron |
Doesn’t sound much does it? But it’s easy to do. It’s many small actions collectively that add up to making a big difference |
E03 |
* |
Buy a windup radio. Buy a windup torch. |
Batteries produce electricity inefficiently. Manufactured by BayGen Freeplay. |
E04 |
**** |
Buy Green Electricity. Switch your electricity supplier. |
Choose Good Energy (unit[e]), Ecotricity or Green Energy. For details about switching your supplier, click on the Green Electricity Marketplace: www.greenelectricity.org/ |
E05 |
*** |
Sign up to the Embrace Wind campaign. |
Wind power in the UK already generates enough energy to power half a million homes. It is creating thousands of new jobs. It is cheap, efficient and clean. Log on to www.embracewind.com |
E06 |
** |
Buy energy efficient household appliances. |
All household appliances (white goods) are now rated "A" to "G". Only buy fridges, washing machines (etc.) that are rated "A". |
E07 |
* |
Don’t buy a dishwasher. |
Dishwashers use a lot of water and energy. And very often don’t clean your dishes properly unless they are already rinsed. Choose a more traditional (manual) dishwashing method. |
Heating and Insulation
|
H01 |
*** |
Turn down the thermostat by 1ºC |
For every degree that you turn down your thermostat, you will save about 10% on your heating bill. |
H02 |
*** |
Fit cavity wall insulation throughout. |
Cavity wall insulation will cut heat lost through your walls by 60%. Saving money and carbon dioxide emissions. |
H03 |
*** |
Maximise your loft insulation. |
You can save up to 20% on your heating costs. Aim to upgrade your loft insulation to at least 200mm (8 inches). |
H04 |
** |
Choose a Condensing Boiler (if your existing central heating packs up). |
Condensing Boilers are the most efficient boilers for central heating. Typically 88% efficient compared to 72% for statndard boilers. |
H05 |
**** |
Super-insulate your whole house. |
Maximise your loft insulation (200mm), cavity wall insulation, double glazing, draught stripping and floor insulation. |
Lighting
|
L01 |
** |
Switch off all lights when not needed. |
Lighting is responsible for 7% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Become the "light monitor" in your household, and your workplace. |
L02 |
** |
Replace all your tungsten light bulbs with compact fluorescents. |
Compact fluorescents use 70% less electricity than tungsten lightbulbs. Not only that, but in the long term you will save money. |
L03 |
* |
Have light, bright walls in your house. |
If you paint your walls white or have light light wallpaper your house will be so much brighter. You won’t need to put your lights on so early. |
L04 |
** |
Sign your business up to "Lightswitch". |
"Lightswitch" aims to give grants to small businesses to install Low Energy Lighting in their business to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Website: www.lightswitch.co.uk. Tel: 08705 133 538 |
Shopping
|
S01 |
** |
Shop locally. Avoid supermarkets. |
Avoid Food Miles. The average item you buy in a supermarket has travelled 1000 miles. Shop at your local farmers market, farm shop. |
S02 |
* |
Buy nothing on "Buy Nothing Day". |
This happens once a year, usually in November. Just once, take a break from the "shop til you drop" culture. You may want to do it more often. Website: www.buynothingday.co.uk. |
General
|
G01 |
** |
Distribute leaflets to publicise "Exeter Climate Action". |
The message is important, but it’s only going to work if everyone knows about it. Contact 07801 136937 to get a bundle of A6 Flyers. |
G02 |
**** |
Join Friends of the Earth |
This is where you can make a real difference. Contact Sue on 01392 276822 or email: exeter.foe@eclipse.co.uk. |
G04 |
***** |
Write letters about Climate Change to the local newspapers. |
This is a great way to keep the issue in the public mind. It also sparks up a debate and allows us all to understand what the real issues are. |