Click on the image to see the energy savings guidance in more detail.SkipsForYou, and their sister company, AcornWaste (for commercial waste management) are always keen to try to promote responsible waste solutions, and help to provide meaningful advice, especially through their websites. Many UK consumers seem to be confused about how they can best help in slowing down or stopping climate change, and while it is clear that our attitude to rubbish is one part of the jigsaw puzzle, a recent article in Environment (published last year) seems to suggest that with clearer guidelines, ordinary people really can help to save the planet.
The article focusses on reducing carbon emissions and draws attention to how, perhaps unexpectedly, U.S. households create around 38 percent of national carbon emissions. This is a level far higher than in any other country but China and, is in fact larger than the entire U.S. industrial sector.
It highlights 17 actions that can be taken, although there is still room for discussion as to the actual energy savings - this assumes for example that equipment is used until it stops working, rather than replaced - the energy saved is cancelled out by the cost of energy used to manufacture the new equipment. Obviously here in the UK, we are less likely to use air-conditioning, but this is still a useful checklist to use in order to gain a clearer understanding of what we can do to reduce emissions for example. Don't forget to give us a call, in any case, to see whether we can help you with removing any equipment that you are replacing. SkipsForYou and AcornWaste are stringent in meeting ll regulations regarding waste management.
Transport:
Carpool to work. 4.2
Get frequent tune-ups, including air filter changes. 3.9
Avoid sudden acceleration and braking. 3.2
Aim to halve shopping trips – combine errands. 2.7
Cut speed from 70mph to 60 mph. 2.4
Keep your tyres at the correct pressure. 1.2
Total energy saving could be up to 17.6 per cent of previous energy used.
Home:
Replace 8% of our bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Turn down the heat from 72f to 68 in the day and to 65 at night. Turn up thermostat on air conditioner from 73f to 78f.
Only wash clothes on cold or warm wash – cold rinse.
Total energy saving could be up to 26.2 per cent of previous energy used.
Longer term, higher cost actions:
Transport:
Use low-rolling resistance tyres. 1.5
Buy a more fuel efficient vehicle. 13.5
Total energy saving could be up to 15 per cent of previous energy used.
Home:
Caulk or weather strip your home. 2.5
Install or upgrade attic insulation and ventilation. 7.0
Total energy saving could be up to 9.5 per cent of previous energy used.
Long term, high cost actions:
Home:
Install more efficient heating. 2.9
Install more efficient air-conditioning. 2.2
Install a more efficient fridge/freezer. 1.9
Install a more efficient water heater. 1.5
Total energy saving could be up to 8.5 per cent of previous energy used.