What we use at home has a big impact on our carbon footprint, and the planet, accounting for around one third of the typical personal carbon footprint with heating, and cooling, being the biggest emitters. Electricity usage from all the appliances we use makes up most of the rest. Here are some ways you can ditch fossil fuels at home and reduce your carbon emissions:
SWITCH TO RENEWABLE POWER
The easiest way to ditch fossil fuels at home is to switch to a green energy supplier that provides electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, solar or hydro. This can reduce your carbon emissions significantly and save you money in the long term. You can also generate your own renewable power by installing solar panels on your property.
DID YOU KNOW?
The first heat pump was built in 1855 by Peter von Rittinger, an Austrian engineer. That’s just before the first electric car in 1870. We don’t need to invent anything to make bit carbon cuts but we do need to implement the solutions we’ve got quickly.
Install a heat pump
The most efficient way to heat and cool your home is to install a heat pump that uses electricity to transfer heat from the air or ground. This can reduce your carbon emissions by over 50% using standard electricity but well over 90% if you also switch to renewables. For the average home that’s likely to be many tonnes of carbon. You can also benefit from grants and incentives to help you pay for the installation and maintenance of a heat pump.
Change to renewable electricity