How can you quickly and easily reduce your households carbon emissions? Here we explain some simple tactics almost anyone can employ.
The UK is on course to achieve Net Zero also referred to as Carbon Neutrality by 2050 and so to reach that destination everyone in society will need to play their part.
Currently, around 22% of the nation’s carbon emissions come from our homes.
Thankfully, reducing your carbon emissions isn't all difficult or expensive and there are a range of steps you can take that are both cheap and easy.
Let's explore...
How to Reduce Your Home's Carbon Emissions UK
In the infographic below, we've summarised some steps you can take to easily and quickly reduce your carbon emissions, along with estimated annual savings you can expect.
1. Insulate Your Home
Heating accounts for 50% of home energy use, so it’s essential to reduce heat loss as much as possible to help prevent heat waste.
For example, a quarter of heat is lost via the roof in an uninsulated home, so installing loft insulation can make a huge difference to your home's energy efficiency.
2. Install Draught Excluders
Draughts are currents of cold air commonly located in gaps around doors and windows.
Installing draught excluders in your home could save as much as £200 each year and the best part is that it’s an easy DIY project that doesn’t need a professional.
3. Choose a Renewable Heating System
When it comes time to replace your existing heating system, opting for a renewable system like an air source heat pump can help you escape the carbon emissions of a gas or oil boiler.
Air source heat pumps are a renewable form of heating that emit no carbon dioxide.
Energy Help Guides:
4. Upgrade Your Old Boiler
If you have an old non-condensing boiler that is G-rated, you could save as much as 1,220 kg of CO2 each year by replacing it with a modern condensing boiler.
5. Transition to Low Energy Lighting
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) use up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs, they also last much longer.
If you replace all your home's bulbs with LEDs, you could reduce your carbon emissions by 65kg per year.
6. Utilise Smart Heating Controls
By making use of a smart thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves you could save money and reduce your carbon emissions.
In fact, by installing a smart thermostat, you could save up to £75 and 330kg of carbon a year, thanks to its adaptable learning schedule.
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7. Optimise Your Boiler Settings
By reducing your boiler’s flow temperature, you could save up to 8% on your heating bill and reduce your annual carbon emissions.
Reduce Carbon Emissions Conclusion
As you can see there are many easy steps you can take to reduce your household's carbon emissions, with some of them being both cheap and straightforward to execute.
If you are considering upgrading your heating system, you should also consider looking into a Hybrid heat pump, which is a perfect solution for much of the UK's older housing stock.
Data sources:
Energy Saving Trust
