Save cash and the planet
WITH a few simple steps, you can cut your carbon emissions and your household bills at the same time.
While three out of four people want to live sustainably, two thirds think there is a price to pay and are put off trying as a result, according to new research from renewable energy supplier Pure Planet.
The Daily Express has launched a Green Crusade to live in a greener, cleaner way, and Pure Planet co-founder Steven Day said some quick switches can improve your carbon footprint and save money, and that “many of them are surprisingly simple”.
SHUN FAST FASHION
Younger fashionistas can make their wardrobe green by turning their backs on fast fashion. In 2018 the fashion industry produced 2.1 billion tons of carbon, equivalent to 4 per cent of global emissions, according to management consultants McKinsey. “Buying second-hand, swapping with friends or using fashion marketplace apps such as Depop can save you money and cut emissions,” Day said.
EAT YOUR GREENS
A quarter of global emissions come from food, with animal products a major contributor. Reducing meat or dairy consumption will save you cash. A main meal with meat or fish costs on average £1.77 per person, while a plant-based dish costs £1.06, says data analytics group Kantar.
AVOID FOOD WASTE
Britons bin more than 4.5 million tons of edible food a year, costing the average family £700, says waste advisory body WRAP. This accounts for 8 per cent of global carbon emissions. “Plan meals and use what you have left in the fridge instead of throwing food away,” Day said.
COOL YOUR WASH
It is as effective to wash clothes at 30 degrees as 40, Day said: “Yet you use a third less energy. Clothes washed at a lower temperature also last longer.”
Using a tumble dryer twice a day can cost up to £228 a year. Air drying instead will reduce your carbon footprint by 90kg a year.
DIAL DOWN THE HEAT
Turning your heating down by one degree could cut your bill by 10 per cent, the Energy Saving Trust calculates. And appliances use energy when left on standby, so switch them off at the wall or invest in smart plugs.
MAKE THE BIG SWITCH
Switching energy supplier can save you money and if you switch to one that uses renewables, you can reduce your carbon footprint too. A range of specialists offer green tariffs. Many of the Big Six offer green options too.
GO ELECTRIC
Electric cars still cost more to buy, but the Government’s plug-in grant cuts £2,500 off the cost, and ongoing fuel and maintenance bills should be lower. The average electric car costs £52,133 over its lifetime, compared to £53,625 for a petrol model, Direct Line calculates. Going electric could also drive down your carbon consumption by 1.95 tons a year.