If you only do one thing…

If significant numbers of us change what we do and demand greener products, that will send a huge signal to the market, encouraging the supply of green energy, low-carbon products, organic food and much more.


The scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change presents very serious global risks, and it demands an urgent global response. The evidence shows that ignoring climate change will eventually damage economic growth.
STERN REVIEW: The Economics of Climate Change
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/CLOSED_SHORT_executive_summary.pdf


So if you only do one thing, here are 10 ideas for things you can do in the workplace or at home that will make a difference to the environment…


1 Turn stuff off. Yes, it sounds obvious, turning electrical equipment off when you're not using it really does make a difference. Set up your computer so that the monitor turns off when you're away from your desk to more than 15 minutes. For some ideas of what things on standby actually cost see – http://standby.lbl.gov/summary-table.html


2 Switch to rechargeable batteries for your equipment. Regular batteries use up to 50 times more energy to produce them than they have in them. For a comparison table see: http://conclave.open.ac.uk/SustainabilityActionGuide/index.php/Procurement_Facts_%26_Figures


3 Monitor consumption of electricity, heat and water and look for areas where improvement is possible.


4 Switch to low energy light bulbs. One GU10 11watt low energy light bulb with a light equivalent to 60 W saves 45 kWh of electricity, half a tonne of carbon dioxide and about £35 during its lifetime.


5 Bring your own mug to work and reduce disposable cup waste. Each year in the UK we throw away 182 million vending cups.


6 Have a look at your organisation's environment and sustainability policy – What can you do to contribute? & if you haven't got one...


7 Share journeys to work, use the carpool, cut pollution and make parking easier.


8 Plan journeys to avoid unnecessary mileage. Many businesses have saved tens of thousands of pounds in fuel costs and reduced their carbon dioxide emissions.


9 Don't overheat. Use thermostatic valves on your radiators rather than opening the window reducing the temperature by 1° will save 6% of energy use.


10 Tell other people what you're doing and why you doing it


Finally, for more help and advice, try envirowise: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/