Simple steps make a big difference

Here are some of the many simple actions we can all adopt in our home, work and social lives to help combat the impact of climate change.

• Britons waste the equivalent of two power stations worth of electricity each year by leaving gadgets on standby.
• If everyone boiled only the water they needed to make a cup of tea, we could save enough electricity to run practically all the street lighting in the country.
• Buying locally will help to reduce CO2 emissions. Transporting food long distances produced 19 million tonnes of CO2 pollution in 2002.
• Between 1990 and 2003, the average distance people walk has fallen by 19%. Walking or cycling instead of driving short distances helps to reduce carbon pollution and is a good form of physical activity.

  These are just a few of the reasons why we should all act now. Below are some actions we could all start to take.

  Download Climate Change Actions file (PDF - 55KB)

Saving energy

Don't leave electrical items (e.g. the TV) on standby

Turn off lights off and reduce (or turn off) the heating in unused rooms

Turn down the thermostat to 21 degrees C (or less)

Put on extra clothing instead of turning up the heating

Transport

If you don’t know already, find out where the local bus services can take you

Make journeys on foot where possible

Combine several purposes in one journey

Cutting waste and recycling

Use your kerbside recycling collection and
local 'bring' sites

Avoid over-packaged products

Use your own shopping bag

Care for where you live

Volunteer with BTCV

Contribute "green" news items to your local newspaper

Get active in a local environment or conservation group

Report fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles

Ethical Shopping

Take a shopping list (and only buy what you need!)

Use local shops and farmers' markets

Buy less "stuff"

Avoid over-packaged products and buy loose fruit and vegetables

At home

Drink tap water rather than paying for bottled water

Put lids on pans when cooking

Boil just enough water for hot drinks

Cut down on meat and dairy produce

Water use

Don't leave taps running

Fit a water saver in your toilet cistern

Collect greywater and rainwater in a butt

Flush the toilet less often

In the garden

Avoid buying peat compost

Slash food miles - grow your own!

Use a watering can (not a hose or sprinkler) and water plants
in the early morning or late evening

On holiday

Take a BTCV Holiday

Avoid souvenirs made from endangered species

Don't change your hotel towels daily

Avoid flying if you can and use local public transport when you get there