10 ways to make your house carbon neutral

It’s time to do something about global warming. Here we look at some very simple steps that you can do to make your first steps towards reducing your carbon footprint.

1. Look at where you go on holiday

Flying is one of the highest consumers of carbon. Reducing the amount that you fly will have the greatest impact on the environment. Avoid long haul holidays. You may want to consider even having a holiday at home. Longer holidays (e.g. 3 weeks) less often will typically use less carbon than going away for lots of short breaks.

2. Stop using your car so much

I know, easier said than done. The first step would be to try and get a job closer to home – or even better find a way of working from home. Also try to use your car less often – perhaps every other day. Using a bike will save energy and keep you fit at the same time. If you have two cars you could consider selling one of them.

3. Start wearing a sweater or pullover in winter

My dad used to say that we heat up the space around us, rather than heat ourselves up. If you start wearing a sweater or pullover in winter you will find that you will be able to turn down the controls on your central heating.

4. Switch your electricity supply to a green energy supplier

We are going to need new fuel supplies and I would prefer for them to be renewable than coal, gas or nuclear. Switch to a 100% energy supplier like Ecotricity and all of your money will be put into helping to develop renewable energy. (They are the company that operate the wind turbine on the M4 near Reading).

5. Subscribe to an organic vegetable box scheme

In most areas you can get a box of fresh organic vegetables and fruit delivered to your door. As well as cutting down on food miles, it will be healthy and will put you back in touch with the seasonality of your food. You could even consider growing some of your own vegetables.

6. Start burning wood

If you have a fireplace start burning wood. You can pick up wood that you have collected (make sure that it is not tanalised (or treated wood). Even better you could install a wood burning stove. Burning wood is carbon neutral as the tree took carbon dioxide out of the air.

7. Plant a tree

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and will help to make your more carbon neutral. Just make sure that you do not plant so close to the house that it will affect the foundations. Over time it could be a great source of fuel too.

8. Travel by train (or public transport)

Where possible try to travel as much as you cn by public transport (train, bus or coach) – particularly for longer journeys.

9. Start using the economy buttons

Most people do not realise that on their washing machines, dishwashers and toilets you will often find an economy seting that reduces the amount of electricity or water that you use.

Another great economy is only to fill the kettle with the actual amount of water that you need, rather than filling it up to the top.

10. Turn it off

The biggest saving though would be to hang you clothes on the line in a fine day, rather than using the tumble drier.

You shpuld also get into a routine of going around the house and unplugging any devices that do not need to be plugged in – particularly chargers, computers on standby.

10. Do all the obvious stuff

Make sure that you have done all of the obvious measures like insulating the loft and installing thermostats on your radiators and on the central heating.

Do you have any other ideas? Please add them into the box below. Thanks.