Carbon offsetting is the green buzz-word of the moment.  But many critics of carbon offsetting suggest that before people even consider CO2 offsetting as a green option, they need to get their personal carbon dioxide production in check and massively reduce their carbon footprint.....

Here?s our top 10 tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint:

1. Green Energy
   Sign up to a green energy supplier that supplies energy generated by wind or hydro power.  It won't cost you much more that your current supplier and might actually save you money.
   
   
2. Fly Less
   Yes, we agree that it?s tricky when you so look forward to that summer sun, but for shorter domestic journeys, like when your need to travel between London and Glasgow, why not take the train.
   
   
3. Public Transport on Holiday
   When you arrive at your holiday destination, try to stick to public transport rather than making use of a taxi or care hire.  Most major cities have fantastically easy to use and good value public transport networks ? use them. 
   
   
4. Boil Only What You Need
   Only boil the water that you are going to use.  One of the biggest wastes of electricity in the home is a result of boiling a nearly full kettle to make just one cup of tea or coffee.
    
5. Turn Your Central Heating Down by One Degree. 
   Each degree that you turn your heating down by will save you around 10% energy ? with the cost of fuel the way that it is, you?ll save a fair bit of cash too.
    
6. Do Your Shopping in Just a Single Trip
   Better still, where you have the choice of local produce, buy local.  The transportation of food is one of the biggest contributors to co2 so always make careful choices in the supermarket.  Buy UK produced fruit and veg rather than those apples that have travelled half way around the world to make it to the supermarket shelf.  Do the same with wine and beer ? Europe produces some fantastic wine and the UK brews the best beer in the world ? food and drink tastes better when it has small carbon miles!  (why not even try your hand at making home-made wine or homebrew?)
   
   
7. Get Your House Insulated
   Cavity wall insulation for a three bed semi will cost you around ?300 and will save about ?100 on your heating bills ? for this return on your money; this has to be one of the best investments that you can possibly make.
   
   
8. Stop Using The Car So Much
   Stop using the car for work or the school run.  Lift share instead ? take it in turns with a friend to do the school run ? as well as reducing emissions, it?ll give you more free time for yourself.  Start catching the train or bus to work ? it?s less stressful with someone else doing the driving and will give you time to relax reading the paper or a book.
    
9. Swich-Off
   Don?t leave your electrical appliances on stand-by.  It?s often publicised that if everyone in the UK completely switched off their TV, DVD, stereo or computer, one less power station would be needed.
   
   
10. A Green Workplace
    Don?t forget about being green at work too.  Just because it?s someone else paying for electricity and heating don?t waste it.  Get your employer to write a green policy to raise their awareness.  A company that operates with green principles in mind is likely to save money and therefore be more profitable.

Did we miss something that you think should be in the top 10?  Please post your comments.

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Comments (9) >>

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Craig said:

Here's another aspect to consider though: http://www.celsias.com/blog/2006/12/11/the-cow-public-enemy-number-one/

December 12, 2006

Joe said:

What kind of advice is that? "One of the biggest wastes of electricity in the home is a result of boiling a nearly full kettle to make just one cup of tea or coffee." REALLY? Well, then I'm doing REAL GOOD! I don't even own a kettle! You guys are cracked!

March 05, 2007

Sanna said:

Joe's comment above illustrates how "holier-than-thou" attitudes to sustainable living can interfere with our ability to effect change. I don't own a car, but I would not criticise that particular tip simply because it doesn't apply to me. Everyone lives differently, and therefore different suggestions for improvement will apply. Joe might not have a kettle but millions of people in the world do; sustainable living is about working together, not being sanctimonious when we have one thing right.

March 25, 2007

Simon Pallister said:

Humans produce more CO2 than motor vehicles, before you reccommend walking rather than using the car can you prove that this will result in less CO2 being released?

March 28, 2007

sula said:

Eating meat everyday is an indirect cause of Co2 emmissions. Cattle are one of the biggest Co2 producers in the world. There are many vegetarian and vegan foods wich are healthier and contribute to a smaller carbon footprint

March 29, 2007

Joe said:

No excuses, do something about it and reduce your carbon footprint.

April 23, 2007

Simmons said:

http://thethoughtsontheworld.blogspot.com/2007/07/simplest-and-most-effective-way-to.html Not drinking bottled water is the one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

July 06, 2007

Natalie said:

recycling should be on there to

August 14, 2007

Devilish Daz said:

I’ve been looking at ways of reducing my carbon footprint and stumbled across the following website www.pegog.com I have to send gifts to Australia each year from the UK and unless I said them surface mail (the cut off is 1st October each year) they end up being sent by air. I can now use pegog to order my gifts as late as I want, (within reason) as the retailers are Australian and they gift wrap and send the gifts locally, not only reducing my carbon footprint but also saving me money. The site also allows my family to do the same ordering from UK retailers. It’s only a small thing but the more people who use it the bigger impact you would think it would have.

September 24, 2007

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