A 2019 study published in the scientific journal Energy Research & Social Science said that “households are responsible for 72% of global greenhouse gas emissions”. The old saying, “it starts at home”, therefore very much applies to efforts to reduce global warming. Here are 7 ways we can reduce global warming by making changes in our personal and day to day lives.
1) Recycle
Recycling has become a key part of life in the UK, with councils offering a range of collection services. But you can go one step further by also using recycling centres for items that are difficult to put in your bins. For items like furniture and fridges, rather than throwing them away, you can also donate them to charity shops or sell them.
2) Use energy efficient light bulbs
The technology behind energy efficient light bulbs has developed so much that you’re unlikely to notice much difference to older, power hungrier bulbs. By changing the bulbs in your house, you can reduce your electricity needs and, in doing so, reduce your bills.
3) Get a smart meter
Smart meters allow you to see how much energy you’re using on a day to day basis, which is a helpful way of understanding when you’re using more energy than you need to, and how to reduce energy consumption.
4) Don’t waste food, and consider eating less meat
The meat industry is one of the big polluters, and although eating meat itself doesn’t cause climate change, buying it funds the wider industry. Not wasting food is another good way of helping to tackle climate change, as less waste means less empty carbon emissions.
5) Air dry your clothes
Tumble dryers are among the worst appliances for the environment, with the World Wildlife Fund reporting that air drying your clothes in the traditional way saves up to 1/3 of its carbon footprint.
6) Use public transport
For some, owning a car is a necessity, but where possible, public transport is a much more environmentally friendly way to travel. Oxford is set to ban petrol and diesel cars from the city centre, and is instead aiming to promote the use of bicycle lanes, buses and trains to reduce carbon emissions.
7) Consider carbon offsetting flights
If you have family overseas, or need to travel internationally for other reasons, plane travel can be the best way to go. However, plane travel is among the worst travel methods for the environment. Airlines and travel companies are increasingly offering the chance to offset pollution from flights by investing in green solutions. If you need to make that flight, but want to do so with the environment in mind, offsetting is one way of doing this.
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These are just a few of the many ways we can reduce our carbon footprint. To really make a difference, you can also tell your friends, family and colleagues about your plans to reduce global warming. Spreading the word is one of the important ways of creating trends that encourage us all to take the few steps that help to protect our planet.