26 things you can do to make a difference

FACED with the relentless march of climate change it is easy to feel powerless, shrug your shoulders and assume there is nothing you can do, writes John Ingham. But all of us can opt for a greener lifestyle.

And while your actions may feel like mere gestures, when millions more join in they can start to have a real impact. Millions are going green round the world.

These choices can also save you money.Turning the heating down by 1C can save about £80 a year. If every household in the UK did it, that’s around £1.4billion.

So, rather than run up the white flag, why not try some of these options? And if you still have doubts, ask yourself: Why on earth would I choose to do something that damages the Earth when I don’t need to – especially if doing the right thing saves me money?

HOUSING

Housing accounts for 19 per cent of UK emissions – mostly from heating.

Turn the heating down by 1C

Put on a jumper instead of turning the heating up

Insulate your roof – it could save you £315 a year, according to consumer experts Which?

Install double glazing.A detached house could save about £120 a year after the initial outlay

Improve heating of your home by moving furniture away from radiators

Don’t cover radiators with curtains or you’ll mainly be heating the window

Put silver foil behind a radiator to reflect heat into the room

Draw the curtains at night in cold weather to keep heat in

TRANSPORT

Transport accounts for 34 per cent of UK emissions – most of it from cars and trucks.

Reduce car emissions by removing unnecessary loads and top boxes

Check your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.They will be safer – and your car will run more efficiently

Consider making your next car a hybrid – which runs on electricity some of the time – or a fully electric vehicle

Walk or cycle for shorter journeys

Use public transport instead of driving where possible.A full double decker bus could take 75 cars off the road

Reduce the number of flights you take each year

If you do fly, offset the carbon through schemes such as tree planting. I use C Level Earth – clevel.co.uk.A return London to Glasgow flight costs £4.51 to offset the 0.3 tonnes of carbon.

ENERGY

Energy accounts for 26 per cent of UK emissions.

Switch to a tariff guaranteeing your electricity is powered by renewable sources Replace old lightbulbs with LEDs, which last for about 17 years and can save you £35 a year

Don’t leave electrical devices on standby as they continue to use electricity

If you can afford it, install solar panels

Turn lights off when you don’t need them Dishwashers are more efficient when full

In fine weather let the sun and wind dry your clothes instead of a tumble dryer

FOOD

Farming is responsible for at last 8.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.A major source is methane from flatulent livestock. Livestock also requires more land and water than arable crops.

Eat less meat and more plantbased food

If you eat meat, free-range British animals are much less intensely farmed than from many countries

If everyone in the UK ate one less red meat meal per week, it would save greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 16 million cars off the road

Don’t waste food. Brits waste 9.5 million tonnes of food worth £19billion a year – and this mountain produces 36 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, say campaignersWRAP.