Tips to carbon neutralise your home


Carbon emissions are big news. According to recent figures UK homes account for nearly one third of the countries total emissions; the average household creates six tonnes of CO2 a year. With greenhouse gases predicted to continue rising (on average 2.5 per cent annually) the Chancellor is urging all householders to do their bit to make homes more fuel efficient and better insulated by “counting the carbon as well as the pennies”. In March 2007 the Government emphasised the seriousness of the situation through its draft Climate Change Bill calling for a 60% cut in household carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.


Of late, an array of designer and celebrity endorsements has made the concept of eco living fashionable to such an extent, that radical sustainable choices – a la Tom and Barbara in the 70s sitcom ‘The Good Life’ – can improve your street cred ratings. But you don’t have to swap mod-cons for mucking out to carbon neutralise your home; while wind harnessed energy and solar panel heating look set to become commonplace in homes of the future, some simple steps now are just as effective.


  • Insulation – more than half the heat lost in homes escapes through the walls and roof. Installing insulation is one of the most effective ways to reduce your home’s carbon emissions, and lower your energy bill. Cavity wall insulation costs as little as £260, takes just a couple of hours to install and could save you £160 a year on fuel bills. Government grants of up to £2,500 are available to some householders to improve energy efficiency.


  • Turn down your thermostat – reducing your thermostat by just one degree not only reduces carbon emissions but can also cut your fuel bill by up to 10 per cent.


  • Recycle, recycle, recycle – nearly two thirds of all household rubbish can be recycled. Most local councils run doorstep collections (check with yours for details) and offer subsidised compost bins – no excuse then, to clog up landfills with veggie peelings. And don’t give up there; local civic amenity sites often accept additional items – from wood and shoes, to textiles and TVs – while recycled furniture is currently de rigueur among designers.


  • Cut back on water – economise without sacrifice; shower instead of bath – it uses up at least a third less water – put a brick in your toilet, it reduces the water used to flush (without affecting efficiency) and banish the hose pipe, collect rain-water instead. Water butts (available from most garden centres) can be left free standing to collect rain, or be linked to external drainpipes for better efficiency.


  • Use energy efficient products – from light bulbs to white goods switch to a more energy efficient model – look for the Energy Saving Recommended label or European energy label rating of A or above.


  • Re-use and repair – embrace thrift; buy items that can be re-used rather than disposables, and if they are still in good order, pass on to charity or family and friends when you’ve finished with them.


  • Turn off appliances at the wall – the horrors of stand-by buttons on the likes of TVs and DVD players have been well publicised – what you might not know is that they account for a staggering 12% of all household electricity usage.


  • Switch suppliers – consider green suppliers that invest in building more renewable capacity.


  • Wash at lower temperatures – 30 degrees instead of 60, most ‘A’ graded washing machines will clean just as effectively at lower temperatures.


  • Paint it green – paints, stains and other architectural coatings contain damaging toxins and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Switch to low-VOC and non-petrochemical based options from eco suppliers.