5 ways to reduce your carbon footprint

Little do we realise, but many of the things we do on a daily basis increase our carbon footprint, from making a cup of tea, to taking a shower and using our computers. The bigger our footprint, the more greenhouse gas we pump into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and climate change.

Suffice to say, if we all made an effort to limit our carbon footprint, we could significantly curb our effect on the planet. Reducing your footprint doesn’t require a complete lifestyle overhaul, either; making a few small changes can have a huge impact in the long run.

Let’s take a look at five simple ways you can minimise your carbon footprint:

1. Cut down on driving

Vehicles are a major cause of global warming, with vans and cars in the UK accounting for 17% of the Britain’s total carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Committee on Climate Change. Think of how you can cut your time spent behind the wheel – can you cycle to work a couple of days a week? Can you walk your kids to school? Use your car less and you’ll not only benefit the plant, but save money on fuel, too!

2. Consider meat a treat

Animals – particularly cows and sheep – emit huge quantities of methane, a potent gas that’s partly responsible for global warming. Widespread adoption of a vegetarian diet could bring down emissions by as much as 63%, according to research cited by the Guardian. If you’re not willing to banish meat from your diet, simply eating less of it will drive down demand and make a difference.

3. Make your home more efficient

It’s tempting to crank the thermostat up to max during colder months, but setting the central heating to high is bad for your carbon footprint. Taking steps to improve your home’s insulation means you’ll be less reliant on heating, with the added benefit of having cheaper energy bills. Some of these steps include:

• Making sure your loft is sufficiently insulated
• Limiting heat loss by drawing curtains during winter
• Considering draught-proofing windows and doors
• Installing a chimney draught excluder
• Only heating the rooms in use

4. Switch to reusables

It’s one of the 3 Rs of more sustainable living: reuse (the others being reduce and recycle). Switching from disposable to reusable products wherever you can will help to conserve natural resources, cut down on energy used in the manufacturing and transportation of products, and prevent our landfill sites from clogging up. Some obvious swaps include:

• Plastic bottles for reusable bottles
• Sandwich bags for a lunchbox
• Tissues for a handkerchief
• Kitchen paper for a cloth
• Plastic straws for a stainless steel or glass straw

5. Only use rechargeable batteries

With 600 million batteries thrown out in the UK alone every year, amounting to 20,000 tonnes of landfill annually, you should also consider swapping your single-use batteries for reusable ones. Our ReCyko+ Pro batteries can be charged over 1,500 times using our charger, which guarantees high-quality and reliable power. Using rechargeable batteries will limit your carbon footprint, give you a constant supply of batteries, and save you cash.

We call that a win-win.