7 tips to save energy from the comfort of your own home
It helps reduce your carbon footprint and saves money
Last updated 27th May 2022
Nations from around the globe will continue discussions to tackle the climate crisis this week at COP26, but what can we do at home to help the environment?
Global leaders have already made a series of pledges at the annual climate summit - like banning deforestation by 2030 and phasing out coal power in the same decade.
All eyes have been on the politicians, but there are things can you do from the comfort of your own home which can make a big difference to the planet.
Tips to save energy - and money
Turn sockets off at the switch
We all have lots of electrical appliances and lamps plugged into sockets around the house.
Flicking the switch off at the socket takes the appliance out of standby mode and stops energy running through them.
Curtains and blinds can act as double glazing
Closing your curtains or blinds traps a layer of heat trapped between the glass and the curtain.
Less heat is then able to get lost into the atmosphere.
Switch to LED lightbulbs
In the UK, lighting accounts for 15% of a typical household's electricity bill
You can save £2-3 per year for every traditional halogen bulb you switch to a similarly bright LED bulb.
Recycle your food waste
As food rots it releases methane into the atmosphere and is one of the more harmful greenhouse gases.
When food is recycled it's put into a bio-digestor where the gases are collected which can be used to generate energy.
Most councils across the UK now offer kerbside food waste collections.
Switch to a green electricity tariff
Green tariffs mean some or all of the electricity supplied to your house is 'matched' by purchases of renewable energy that your energy supplier makes on your behalf.
It costs a matter of pence to switch to a green tariff.
Use a hot water bottle
It might seem 'old-fashioned', but using a hot water bottle instead of turning the heating on full blast saves you energy - and money.
You could also ditch the electric blanket and pop a couple in your bed before you go to sleep.
Shop locally and seaonally
Shopping locally ensures your food's carbon footprint is low as it hasn't had to travel very far from the field to the table.
Most local shops also have seasonal food too - and you're supporting a local business.
Making small changes like this can benefit you, your bank account and the entire planet.
Although they might seem minuscule, the effect of saving energy at home will have a huge impact on people's quality of life, the lives of future generations and is a step in the right direction to keep global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees celcius.
If you have already made some of these changes and what another challenge there are some other ways to help the planet that aren't so obvious.
Palm Oil
Forests around the world are being cut down to make room for palm oil trees.
It's in lots of household prodcuts like cakes, margarine and cleaning products - and can even be found in cosmetics like shampoo and soap.
Trees are the lungs of the earth and are also home to of many animals who are already endangered.
It is possible to buy products which have sustainable sourced palm oil in them - you just need to check the label.
Fast fashion
We all love a shopping spress now and then, but buying little and often can cause more harm to the plane thtan you think.
It takes a lot of CO2 to produce clothes - from the factories where they are made - to delivering them to the high street.
Ways to cut down on buy clothes can involve spending a bit more money on few clothes which will last longer, renting clothes for a special occasion and recycling unwanted clothes or giving them to charity.
Vision21
Vision21 is a Gloucestershire charity hoping to make the county more sustainable.
They provide opportunities for local organisations and voluntary groups to get involved in environmental projects and educate businesses and the public on how to become more environmentally friendly.
"COP26 is a really important milestone", says Dave Entwistle, who works for the charity.
"I'm pleased with what's happening so far but I'm disappointed that we don't seem to be moving fast enough or big enough.
"The scale of what we need to do is vast, but is people make small changes at home it really does all add up and make a difference."
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