Water is becoming scarcer around the world. Hot summers, limited winter rainfall, dried-up rivers and hosepipe bans. It doesn’t take much for water to become an expensive commodity. Add to that the energy required to pump water around the country and already millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide are being released for a product which is considered ‘pure’.

Water is an expensive resource. Not only are you paying for it to be chemically treated and brought to your business, you are also paying for sewage costs to take it away again. This article will help you identify areas where you can reduce your water usage and ultimately your water bills. By installing water saving technology at work and advertising this to your customers, you will gain a good green and socially responsible reputation.

Technology that can help you save water

There is plenty of affordable technology on the market which can help you to reduce your company’s water use. This article will look at the different technologies available for each area that uses water.

• Urinals – urinals are often programmed to flush 24 hours a day at regular intervals, even when nobody has used them. It can be beneficial to install presence detectors to flush when someone is using the urinal. A saving of over £3,800/year in water and sewerage costs can be achieved by installing passive infrared (PIR) sensors at a cost of about £350 and with a payback period of 5 weeks (Envirowise, 2010). You can also get waterless urinals which don’t require water at all. Urinals would just require a special valve fitted so that urine can pass through but smells can’t travel back up!
• Flush toilets – if you can afford to do so, it is worth replacing old six (or more) litre cisterns for newer water efficient models. If this is not financially possible, you can invest in Hippo bags which take up room in the cistern, so that less water can fill it after each flush. An Interflush can be installed so that letting go of the flush will stop the flush.
• Taps – consider installing short burst push taps so that water is not left running. Spray taps also use less water by applying pressure to smaller amounts of water. Spray taps can reduce water use by 60 – 70% compared with conventional taps (Envirowise, 2010). Aerated taps and flow regulators also minimise water use.
• Leaks – make sure that leaks are found and stopped. A 5mm drip from a single tap can cost more than £900/year in water and wastewater treatment costs (Envirowise, 2010).
• If your business uses significant amounts of water in processing, you can reduce water usage by creating a closed system. This means that water is recycled and water bills are significantly lower.
• Does your business have gardens that need watering? A garden sprinkler uses just over 1000 litres an hour (Easy Eco Auditing, McCarthy, 2008). Therefore, it is worth considering installing water butts around the site to collect rainwater for watering plants.
• Rain harvesting – this can substitute more than 50% of your current mains water usage (Good Green Guide for Small Businesses, Impetus Consulting, 2008). It is worth considering rain harvesting to supply water for flushing toilets, especially if you have plenty of roof space. Average rainfall on a UK roof is 35,000 litres a year (Easy Eco Auditing, McCarthy, 2008) which is a considerable amount of water to save on your water bill.

Further help

The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme gives a 100 per cent first-year allowance for investments in certain water efficient plant and machinery (www.eca-water.gov.uk). See what water efficient technologies are eligible here.

UK Rainwater Harvesting Association offers advice on rainwater harvesting (www.ukrha.org).

Waterwise (www.waterwise.org.uk) are the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK.

Envirowise is a government initiative that offers free, independent support to your organisation helping you to become more resource efficient and save money. This link will take you to their water saving section: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Topics-and-Issues/Water/Why-and-how-to-reduce-your-water-use.html

The Federation House Commitment (FHC) aims to help reduce overall water usage across the Food and Drink industry by 20% by the year 2020 (www.fhc2020.co.uk).

Environment Agency has advice for saving water in business and industry (www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/water/38947.aspx

“Businesses are responsible for a large share of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions” (Lynas, Carbon Counter, 2007). It is increasingly important for businesses to reduce their electricity usage, not just to cut carbon emissions but to improve their image among increasingly environmentally aware consumers. And of course, there is the added bonus of cutting your electricity bills, allowing you extra money to reinvest in your business. “The governments Climate Change Levy also penalises private sector operators for excessive energy use” (Lynas, Carbon Counter, 2007), so it pays to try to reduce electricity usage as much as you can.

The Carbon Disclosure Project collects information from companies to find out how they are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers use this information to make an informed decision on which companies they will support. Therefore it is vitally important for businesses to try to reduce their impact on the environment to keep their customers. A good first step is cutting electricity usage. This guide will show you how. If you would like to “find out how organizations and public sector bodies around the world are responding to climate change”, visit the Carbon Disclosure site [1]

There are several ways in which businesses can reduce electricity consumption. However, it must be remembered that all businesses, their premises and needs are different. This means that you will be restricted in what you can do. This guide will show you the options for cutting electricity usage at work. Please note that this guide refers to appliances which use electricity and not any other fuel type.

Ways to save electricity

Cooling

If it is feasible, switch off air conditioning and open windows and doors instead. If you have air conditioning, ensure windows and doors are kept closed in order that the cool air doesn’t escape out of them. “Various studies have found that a traditionally air-conditioned office building can use up to 100% more energy than a non-air-conditioned building of the same size” (Easy Eco Auditing, McCarthy, 2008). There are several ways to cool an office without air-conditioning. Lighting produces heat energy, so turning off lights that aren’t needed can help. Open all doors and windows and ensure windows that face the sun all day have blinds. Opening windows and doors first thing in the morning before it gets hot can help with cooling, as opposed to waiting for it to get warm and then opening them. Heat rises so make sure windows are open on the top floors so heat can be released. If you do have to have air conditioning, 25 degrees Celsius is a recommended setting. Also make sure that air conditioning is switched off overnight.

Heating

Ensure windows and doors are kept closed in the winter so warm air doesn’t escape. If it is too hot with your central heating on and you have to open windows, this can be a good indication that you are wasting electricity. In this case, you will need to check your thermostat settings to turn the temperature down if necessary and set a timer so the heating comes on and off at intermittent periods in the day. “The recommended temperature setting for an office is 19 degrees Celsius” (Easy Eco Auditing, McCarthy, 2008) in the winter. If your insulation is good, then you will not need to have your heating on very often. When summer comes, the central heating boiler can be switched off completely.

Heating water

If you have an electric boiler for your hot water, you should ensure there is a timer set, as most businesses will not need hot water all day and all night. Hot water boilers should be set to 60 degrees Celsius. It is always worth doing a reccy of your business property to look for any other electrical heating systems you may not be aware of. They may be on and costing you money, but may not actually be required. If they are needed, these may need insulating, upgrading or have the settings changed.

Light

Lighting can consume large amounts of electricity especially if halogen bulbs are used. Whereas a house fitted with old-fashioned tungsten bulbs will use up to five times more energy than a house fitted with energy saving bulbs, a house fitted with halogen bulbs can use up to 25 times more (McCarthy, Easy Eco Auditing, 2008). Replacing traditional bulbs with energy saving alternatives can give instant savings on your electricity bill. Switch off lights in empty rooms. They don’t need to be on if no-one is in there. Also consider removing lamps, if the normal lighting is on, lamps may not actually be required. Movement sensors could be installed in rooms which aren’t used much, and also used in security lighting.

Computers

A lot of businesses have already made the transition to flat screen monitors which “use a tenth of the energy of old bulky cathode ray tubes” (Easy Eco Auditing, McCarthy, 2008). So if you are still working on the old style monitors, consider investing in new modern flat screens to drastically cut electricity bills. McCarthy (2008) also states that laptops use only about one third of the energy that a traditional computer uses, so it could be worth investing in these if your business doesn’t require a full desk top PC. Or why not look into an EcoButton when you are not at your desk?

Education

Training your staff to consider their electricity use whilst at work is vitally important. Installing a green working ethos requires education. Staff should turn off lights and appliances when not required. If staff are unwilling, then timers can be installed on appliances and lighting. You can give responsibility to staff by creating Energy Champions. This could ensure that members of staff look after different aspects of energy management mentioned in this article.

Energy hierarchy

A great way to look at your electricity use in the big picture is to consider this energy hierarchy from the Good Green Guide for Small Businesses (2008, Impetus Consulting).

Choose a low carbon electricity supply

Changing to a green electricity supplier can help you get a greener supply of electricity from renewable resources such as wind power, hydro-power and solar power. If you want to stay with your current electricity supplier, you can change your tariff to a green tariff. This means that you may receive less electricity from a green source, compared to using a green energy company, but you will be helping to invest in the research, development and establishment of new green sources of electricity.

Carbon offsetting

You can choose to offset your carbon emissions from your electricity usage if you have the funds to do so. The Carbon Footprint website [2] is a useful tool for calculating your carbon footprint and offers advice on how to offset your emissions.

Business help

If you are stuck on where to go from here, there is help for businesses wishing to reduce their carbon footprint:

• The Carbon Trust [3] offer 0% business loans of £3,000 – £100,000 for organisations to invest in energy saving projects and also offer free Building Design Advice to support you in developing a low carbon solution.
• Envirowise [4] is a government initiative offers free, independent support to your organisation helping you to become more resource efficient and save money.
• The Energy Saving Trust [5] provides a range of resources to help your organisation reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Of course there are others but a quick web search will help you find local support.

[1] https://www.cdproject.net

[2] www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonoffset

[3] www.carbontrust.org.uk

[4] www.envirowise.gov.uk

[5] www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/business

In the UK, electricity is generally made from burning fossil fuels like coal and gas, which contribute to global warming and climate change. By saving electricity you can help reduce fossil fuel emissions.

Shockingly, “more than three quarters of the electricity made by power stations is wasted through inefficient generation, grid transmission and end use” (The Big Earth Book, James Bruges, 2007). This article will look at ways that you may be wasting electricity and how you can save electricity. This will help you to cut carbon emissions, and your electricity bills.

Ways to save electricity

Change your electricity supply – Changing to a green electricity supplier can help you get a greener supply of electricity from renewable resources such as wind power, hydro-power and solar power. If you want to stay with your current electricity supplier, you can change your tariff to a green tariff. This means that you may receive less electricity from a green source, compared to using a green energy company, but you will be helping to invest in the research, development and establishment of new green sources of electricity.

Home energy monitor – Using a home energy monitor is a great way to see how much electricity you are using and the cost of using that electricity. The government claims that “in small-scale trials of home energy monitors, customers have typically saved five to 15 per cent in the first year of owning a monitor, which could be £25 to £75 off a £500 bill” [1]. You can sometimes get energy monitors free from your energy supplier. Some local authorities are lending energy monitors free of charge through their libraries. If you want to invest in an energy monitor, they cost from £25.

Check windows, doors and unused fireplaces - Windows, doors and unused fireplaces can be draughty. It is important to consider replacing single glazing with double glazing. Also check that doors and windows are fully sealed, and ensure there are no cracks or gaps (this includes fixing brushes onto letterboxes and the bottom of draughty doors). Unused fireplaces can cause heat to escape quite freely out of a room. Up to 20% of heat can be lost through an unused fireplace if it is still open to the outside (McCarthy, Easy Eco Auditing, 2008). Consider blocking them up or sealing them.

Insulate - Good insulation is key to saving electricity in the home. By insulating your loft and walls, you can save substantial amounts of money on your electricity bills, and would not need to heat your home so much in the winter as the heat would be retained better.

Lighting - In most homes, lighting accounts for around 20% of the electricity bill (Energy Saving Trust, 2010). If you have not done so already, it is a good idea to change to energy saving light bulbs. The Energy Saving Trust (2010) states that you can save around £37 a year from your energy bill and 135kg of CO₂ by changing all your bulbs to energy saving ones. It is also important to turn off lights when not in use. Halogen bulbs have a huge appetite for electricity. Whereas a house fitted with old-fashioned tungsten bulbs will use up to five times more energy than a house fitted with energy saving bulbs, a house fitted with halogen bulbs can use up to 25 times more (McCarthy, Easy Eco Auditing, 2008). Therefore it is a good idea to replace them with low energy alternatives in order to save money on your electricity bill.

Radiators – Move furniture away from radiators to release more heat. If you have curtains that fall over radiators, you should cut them so that the heat goes into the room, not behind the curtains and out the window.

Electronic goods – Ensure that electronic items are not left on, left on stand-by or left charging when the item has been removed (McCarthy, Easy Eco Auditing, 2008). Items left on standby use up to 85% of the energy they would use if fully switched on [2]. When buying new electronic equipment, choose energy efficient items. For example, choose A++ products. Washing machines and dishwashers can use a substantial amount of electricity. Make sure that they are full when in use and dry clothes outside if possible. If you do need to use a tumble dryer, then ensure the clothes are as dry as possible after washing, e.g. they have gone through a fast spin so that there is minimum excess water. This will reduce drying time considerably. Also consider washing at 30 degrees where possible. Many detergents are now capable of washing at low temperatures.

Refrigerators and fridge freezers - Ensure that refrigerators and fridge freezers are not placed near sunlight or ovens as they will need to use more electricity to keep cool. Placing them against outside walls is recommended as these walls let heat escape from them more easily than internal walls, therefore keeping cooling costs down. Regularly defrost, check the door seal for damage, and set to a minimum temperature needed to keep food cool. Remember not to put hot food in fridge as it will have to work harder to keep cool, and therefore use more electricity.

Outside the home - Install movement and light sensors for security lighting as the light will only come on when it needs to rather than being on all night. Consider using solar lights which do not use electricity.

[1] http://www.direct.gov.uk/ (2010)

[2] http://www.electricityguide.org.uk/ (2010)

Useful links

www.direct.gov.uk/environmentandgreenerliving

www.greenelectricity.org

www.whichgreen.org

www.which.co.uk/advice/how-to-use-less-electricity

www.electricity-guide.org.uk

Much like mountain biking, snowboarding is a low carbon way of getting down a mountain, however there are still several important issues surrounding winter sports: getting to the mountain requires fuel, such as by plane, coach or car; your kit can be made from heavily carbon dependent materials and the places you stay will be using vast amounts of carbon to heat them. All this contributes to global warming which inevitably is making skiing areas vulnerable to changes in temperature. This is causing melting glaciers, less snowfall (especially in lower altitudes), and shorter winters which affect not just the snowboarding season but also the biodiversity, ecosystems and physical landscape of our mountains.

So it makes sense in this article to look at ways to save on carbon when going on a winter sports holiday, in order to preserve the mountains for future riders and also to protect mountains from the impact of climate change.

The Kit

Snowboards

Snowboards are the main part of a snowboarder’s kit. It is strapped to your feet and it needs to be made from lightweight, strong, durable yet flexible materials in order to give a good performance. Usually snowboards are made of wood, carbon fibre, fibreglass, plastic blends and metals – a high carbon mix! Some snowboard makers are now developing new boards made from bamboo, a fast growing plant, making it a sustainable choice. Burton snowboard factory have manufactured their first green snowboard… made from certified wood, recycled steel, and lacquer free materials [1]. The environmentally friendlier options are out there but further research and development needs to take place in order to get an eco board that performs as well as a normal board.

Snowboard boots

Snowboard boots protect and support your feet, ankles and legs from extremes in cold, wet and action. Eco models available on the market are limited and much more needs to be done in this area to improve the sustainability of snowboard boot design. However, more sustainable models include boots made from recycled content. Salomon and Forum offer boots made from recycled materials. Salomon also did well in an independent report looking at the environmental credentials of several suppliers of snowboarding and ski kit.

Layers

Your clothing on the slopes is very important. Every item has to have technical capabilities to keep you warm, fresh and dry. Patagonia offers clothing which conforms to their e-fibers programme – environmentally friendlier fibres – and includes recycled and recyclable polyester, organic cotton, hemp, organic wool and chlorine-free wool [2]. These materials are much less damaging on the environment and also use less carbon in their manufacture.

Wax

Typical snowboard wax is made from crude oil, petroleum, fluorocarbons, PTFE’s, perfluorocarbons, and other toxic chemicals [3]. Once you are on the slopes, these chemicals are being transferred to the snow and then into the waterways after the snow melts [4]. There are natural alternatives on the market including BeaverWax which is an innovative hand poured wax containing environmentally friendly additives [5]. Enviro Mountain Wax also offers a natural wax which won’t damage the mountain environment.

Resorts

Where you stay when you take part in winter sports is vitally important if you want to reduce your carbon emissions. Most chalets and hotels will use vast amounts of carbon to heat and light rooms and cook food. There is also power required for getting food up the mountains, running the chair lifts and gondolas all day and floodlights for night skiing. There are resorts that are committed to lowering their dependence on carbon and some of these have been listed on the Ski Club’s website. They have a green resort guide which shows whether a resort is accredited to ISO14001, recycles, is a green power user, deliberately reduces traffic, has properly managed sewage, has a climate policy or a green building policy. You can also choose to stay in eco-friendly buildings. For example, there is an eco-lodge in Kicking Horse, Canada, which has an environmentally friendly geo-thermal heating and cooling system. This system uses ground water circulated throughout the building to maintain a constant, comfortable temperature [6]. Other examples of greener places to stay include Mayrhofen, whose lifts run on hydro electricity and Avoriaz in France uses bio-diesel fuel in its piste-bashers [7].

Sustainable travel

You don’t always have to fly to your resort. Across Europe you can catch the train. The Eurostar leaves from London and goes to various destinations in France, making it a greener and potentially cheaper option. Plus the views across the mountain ranges are stunning. Another lower carbon alternative is to consider using the train for airport transfers. Trains carry more people than coaches and are less damaging to the environment because of this. There is a small group of UK based resorts. When the weather is cold and snowy, it may be a good opportunity to use the more ‘local’ resorts instead of travelling across continents and sometimes oceans to get to your resort. Glenshee in Scotland is one example of a well maintained resort for which you don’t have to travel outside of the UK. The only downside is that UK resorts are heavily weather dependent and some years there can be very little snow.

More information

• “POW was started in 2007 by pro snowboarder, Jeremy Jones who, during winter trips, witnessed first-hand the impact of climate change on our mountains. After having been turned away from areas that had once been rideable and seeing resorts closed due to lack of snow, Jeremy saw a gap between the winter sports community and the action being taken by them to address the problem. Protect Our Winters is the environmental centre point of the winter sports community, united towards a common goal of reducing climate change’s effects on our sports and local mountain communities” [8]. More info here: http://protectourwinters.org
• Respect the Mountain wristbands – by purchasing one of these you will be showing your support for tackling climate change and your money goes towards a fund which supports a variety of environmental projects. http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/eskishop/item.aspx?itemID=53
• Ski Club Green Resort Guide – all you need to know about which resort is the greenest. http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/skiresorts/greenresorts/overview.aspx
• Eco Guide to Gear – a green guide to which companies are most environmentally responsible in their manufacture of snowboard equipment. http://www.mountain-riders.org/_EcoGuideMateriel/index.php?lg=en
• Glenshee Ski Centre – UK based ski resort. http://www.ski-glenshee.co.uk/

References

[1] Holiday News (2009) The Eco-friendly and Green Snowboards http://www.holidaynews-direct.co.uk/2009/01/02/the-%E2%80%98eco-friendly%E2%80%99-and-%E2%80%98green%E2%80%99-snowboards/

[2] Patagonia (2011) Fabrics: E-Fibers http://www.patagonia.com/eu/enGB/patagonia.go?assetid=19367

[3] Enviro Mountain Wax (2010) Home http://www.enviromountain.com/default.html

[4] GreenHackz (2009) Eco Friendly Snowboarding http://greenhackz.com/eco-friendly-snowboarding/

[5] Beaverwax (2011) The Beaverwax Story http://www.beaverwax.com/story.html

[6] Kicking Horse River Lodge (2006) Enviro Story http://khrl.com/lodge/enviro

[7] Metro Snow (2011) Going Green http://www.metrosnow.co.uk/action/features/going_green

[8] POW (2011) About http://protectourwinters.org/about/

]]> http://www.energysavingwarehouse.co.uk/learning-portal/save-our-snow-the-green-guide-to-snowboarding/feed/ 0 http://www.energysavingwarehouse.co.uk/learning-portal/lime-energy-saving-plug/ http://www.energysavingwarehouse.co.uk/learning-portal/lime-energy-saving-plug/#comments Sat, 22 Jan 2011 12:03:04 +0000 http://www.energysavingwarehouse.co.uk/learning-portal/?p=244 Continue reading →]]> Unfortunately the LIME Energy Saving Plug is no longer freely available.

Please feel free to read all about how the product works below, and be sure to explore our other ENERGY SAVING PRODUCTS

Now times are getting tighter financially, we are all keen to save money wherever possible. Recently there has been a free energy saving device advertised by a company called LIME. The bonus is that this energy saving device has backing from the government. The device in question is an energy saving plug. It doesn’t sound very exciting but has a very useful function. It enables the user to switch their TV and other devices at the wall off standby without having to leave the sofa.

The plug

Sometimes when it’s the end of the night and you’re ready for bed, getting up to switch all the appliances off at the wall can be just too much or you might be too sleepy to remember to do it. This device lets you use your remote control to switch your plug sockets off, which in turn means you leave nothing on standby. The plug has an Infra Red receiver which has to be placed in the line of sight of your remote control. When you press the assigned button on your remote control, the socket will turn off. In fact, all power to connected equipment will be turned off. To restore the power, you just press the assigned button on the remote control again. It’s that easy.

How it works

The LIME energy saving plug operates with all conventional Infra Red remote controlled appliances such as TVs, DVD player/recorders etc. It can operate on single socket or multi socket extensions.

So for example, to set up a multi-socket extension lead with a TV and DVD player plugged into it, you can follow these simple steps:

• Plug your extension lead into the socket of the LIME energy saving plug.
• Plug the LIME energy saving plug into the wall socket.
• Switch on the mains and the energy saving plug will flash slowly.
• Point your remote control of choice at the Infra Red reader and hold down the on/off button. The light on the unit will flash quickly and will then go off. Your plug is now synchronised.
• To turn your TV and DVD player on and off, press your remote on/off button once.

The good bits

• It’s so easy! You can switch all your appliances off without leaving the comfort of your chair.
• You can save energy and cut your carbon consumption. A TV left on standby can use about 3 watts in standby [1], an average DVD player can use 1.8 watts, an average DVD recorder 6.5 watts, and an average freeview set top box can use 3.5 watts [2].
• Save on electricity bills. If your TV and associated appliances are not on standby all night and possibly all day when you’re at work, then you will be saving on your electricity bill. LIME claim that you can save up to £20 a year by using this device. The average examples above can give you can annual standby cost of over £12. Use this device and cut on your bills immediately.
• There is a maximum load of 3000 watts.
• You can use two plugs in the same room. A lot of us have lots of gadgets in one room these days including PCs, chargers, stereo equipment, speakers etc, so it is useful to be able to use more than one energy saving device in one room.

The not so good bits

• The power is still on…sort of. Although the device cuts all power to your appliances, the switch at the socket will still be on. This is unavoidable, and the power from the socket is used to keep the energy saving plug active so that it can be switched on and off. However the standby power used to power this device is less than 0.5 watts.
• You can’t plug in a Sky+ Box to this device as it needs to be left on at all times to save wear on the hard drive. Also do not plug in fridges, freezers or fish tanks for obvious reasons!
• You need to allow 60 seconds before turning off the energy saving plug after turning it on. So if you switched on the TV to check the time on the morning news for example, but wanted to switch it straight off again, you would not be able to. You could turn off the TV, but you would have to wait for 60 seconds before you could switch off the energy saving plug. Not so great if you’re in a hurry.

Where to order your free plug

If you like the sound of this energy saving plug, then you can get yours for free here until 11^th March 2011.

Go ahead, do your little bit to cut your emissions and save yourself some money.

References

[1] Berners-Lee, M. (2010) How bad are bananas? The carbon footprint of everything.

[2] Which? (2011) Technology and Standby http://www.which.co.uk/environment-and-saving-energy/energy/guides/how-to-use-less-electricity/technology-and-standby

Paper

A lot of paper is wasted at Christmas. It is estimated that over Christmas as much as 83 square km of wrapping paper will end up in UK rubbish bins, enough to cover an area larger than Guernsey [2]. We also post vast amounts of Christmas cards and many end up going to landfill. Here are some ideas to improve your paper usage:

1. Recycle Christmas cards and wrapping paper – make sure it all goes in the recycling bin, not the general bin. If we all recycled just half of the 8,000 tonnes produced we’d save 25,000 trees [4].
2. Reuse Christmas cards – cut them up and use them as gift tags for next year’s presents.
3. Don’t buy paper Christmas cards; send electronic cards by email instead. Most of the carbon footprint of a Christmas card is from the delivery.
4. Open your presents carefully. You may be able to reuse the paper again for wrapping gifts next year.
5. Don’t buy gifts you have to wrap. Get vouchers or e-vouchers instead. This also reduces waste as the recipient will be able to choose something they want rather than receiving a gift they don’t want and will throw away.

Food

We consume a lot of food and drink at Christmas. The amount of waste we send to landfill is shocking. 30 to 40 per cent of all festive food is wasted by farmers, shops or families [6]. It is not just the food that is wasted but the packaging as well. Turkey foil wrap alone will create 3,000 tons of waste [6]. If you need more food for thought, check out these friendly food tips:

1. Get an organic veg box delivered for Christmas. This saves traipsing through a packed supermarket and you know you have environmentally friendly veggies with minimal packaging, for your Christmas roast.
2. Buy locally reared meat to cut down on food miles.
3. Don’t forget to take lots of reusable bags with you to the supermarket to pack your goods into.
4. Only buy what you need. It is too easy to buy lots of food at Christmas to feed family and friends, only to find that you have bought far too much again and have to throw it away.
5. Check ‘use by’ dates when you do your last Christmas food shop. Try to pick things with longer shelf lives and fresh items that can be frozen if you don’t get round to eating them.

Travel

At Christmas, we typically travel 50 miles each above what we would do anyway [1]. This is usually because we make more of an effort to visit our family and friends over the festive period. There are things you can do to minimise your transportation impact on the environment:

1. Use Skype to contact distant relatives. If you both have Skype you can talk for free for as long as you want, and can also watch a live video of each other if you have a webcam set up. It’s like having them there in your home.
2. Think about what journeys you will have to make over the Christmas period. Can you combine journeys so that you reduce your mileage? For example, do you need to visit shops that are in a similar location, can you visit them both in the same day rather than drive out separately to both of them. The same goes for visiting friends at Christmas.
3. Can you car share? If you can, pick up friends or relatives along the way if you are all meeting at the same place.
4. If you will be racking up the miles this Christmas, make sure you check your tyre pressure to reduce drag and use less fuel.
5. Buy gifts from your local high street. If you’re in walking distance that is even better and saves burning fuel in your car.

Electricity

Electricity is used in vast amounts at Christmas. We cook more, spend more time at home with the heating on and have lots of lights on including the lights on the Christmas tree. In the average household, the fairy lights will burn through about 45 kilowatt-hours [1]. Here are a few ways to save this Christmas:

1. Have LED fairy lights. LED Christmas lights use up to 90% less electricity than conventional incandescent bulbs [3]. This will save you significantly on your energy bills if you tend to leave your fairy lights on all day and night.
2. You may find the heat generated by the kitchen on Christmas day will help to heat other rooms in your home, so you won’t have to have the heating on as well. Remember to switch the heating down or off in the morning.
3. Defrost your freezer before Christmas so it will work more efficiently and create more space to store leftover food, so that it doesn’t go to waste [4].
4. Use candles for your Christmas meal and forget the electric light bulb for a couple of hours [5].
5. Try not to use over-sized pans for the vegetables you cook, otherwise you will be using more energy than you need to, to heat the water.

References

[1] Berners-Lee, M (2010) How Bad Are Bananas: The Carbon Footprint of Everything. Profile Books Ltd.

[2] Waste Online (2005) Cutting Down on Christmas Waste http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/resources/InformationSheets/ChristmasRecycling.htm

[3] Ecocentric (2010) Green Christmas – Top Ten Tips http://www.ecocentric.co.uk/acatalog/green-christmas.html

[4] The Guardian (2007) A- Z of Tips for a Green Christmas http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/ethicallivingblog/2007/dec/12/toptipsforagreenchristmas

[5] Lights 4 Fun (2010) Save Money on Electricity Bills http://www.lights4fun.co.uk/buying_guides/save_money/index.aspx

[6] The Independent (2005) Throwaway Christmas: Britain Set to Dispose of Three Million Tons of Waste http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/throwaway-christmas-britain-set-to-dispose-of-three-million-tons-of-waste-520492.html

Oil is worth billions of dollars a year in the global economy. It forms the basis of everything we do: Fuel for our transport; energy for our homes; plastics; and an ingredient for the production of fertilisers which allow us to grow food to eat. The global dependence on oil is quite scary when one considers that oil production is declining, new oil fields are rarer and global populations are growing at a considerable rate.

What is peak oil?

Oil is a finite resource. It takes millions of years to form and is currently being extracted at a rate higher than that of new oil that is being found. Peak oil is the term used to describe the point when the amount of oil produced globally begins to fall. After peak oil is reached, the amount of oil left for human use permanently falls. The peak of production is normally passed when approximately half the total has been taken, termed the midpoint of depletion [1]. It is important to emphasise that peak oil is not about when we run out of oil but, rather, when the production of cheap oil starts to decline [2]. It is the decline of cheap oil which could cause global tensions, the collapse of economies, a decline in food production, and a complete change in the way the world is run.

When will peak oil be reached?

The amount of new oil discovered each year has been declining for some while [3]. This means that the gap between the discovery and production of oil continues to increase. According to a global oil supply report presented by the Energy Watch Group at the Foreign Press Association in London in October 2007, world oil production peaked in 2006 [4]. However, there are conflicting ideas about when peak oil has happened or will happen. London’s Oil Depletion Analysis Centre, has warned that the global production of all oil will peak by 2011 before starting to slide steeply [5]. Others such as members of oil companies will say that there are three or four decades left until the milestone of peak oil is reached. With so much conflicting information is it hard who to believe. What is certain is that oil is on the decline, increasing population growth will add to the demand on oil and so the price per barrel will dramatically rise in our lifetimes.

The future of oil

China is increasing its use of oil by 15% a year and India’s consumption is booming [6]. Falling supply will not be able to match rapidly increasing demand [5]. The world will need to find new sources of oil if it is to continue with its heavy dependence. One area which has potential for oil to be recovered is oil and tar sands. However, the oil has to be separated from the sand and this is a highly expensive and energy intensive operation. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects oil produced from non-conventional sources, such as Canada’s oil sands, to play a decisive role in keeping up levels of output [3].

Where oil reservoirs are almost empty, like in the North Sea, there is the potential to fill the reservoirs with excess carbon dioxide. Excess carbon dioxide could be pumped into oil reservoirs that are on their last legs so that gas forces out the final dregs of the oil [7]. This is called enhanced recovery, but again is extremely expensive.

The price of oil fluctuates, depending on conflict, natural events and recession but, in due course, it will rise remorselessly [6]. It is up to us as consumers to try to reduce our dependency on oil. We must embrace new technologies, endeavour to reduce our carbon footprint and try to live a more simple life – which is easier said than done! Reducing our dependency on oil is vital to conserve existing supplies and to prepare us for a less oil rich future.

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about peak oil, statistics, timelines and the implications for the global economy, check out these websites:

• Hubbert Peak of Oil Production
  
• Post Carbon Institute
  
• Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas

References

[1] Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (2010) About Peak Oil. http://www.peakoil.net/about-peak-oil

[2] Wolf at the Door (2010) Introduction. http://www.wolfatthedoor.org.uk/

[3] Giddens, A. (2009) The Politics of Climate Change. Polity Press.

[4] Jackson, F. (2009) Conquering Carbon: Carbon Emissions, Carbon Markets and the Consumer. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.

[5] McGuire, B. (2008) Seven Years to Save the Planet: the Questions…and the Answers. Weidenfield & Nicolson.

[6] Bruges, J. (2007) The Big Earth Book: Ideas and Solutions for a Planet in Crisis. Alistair Sawday Publishing.

[7] McGuire, B. (2005) Surviving Armageddon: Solutions for a Threatened Planet. Oxford University Press.

Source: Adapted from Berners-Lee (2010) [1]

Very quickly we can see the worst offenders. This article aims to explain which method of commuting is best for your circumstances and which methods are the worst and why.

Car

Almost two-thirds of commuting is by car [2]. As we can see from the table above, depending on when you drive, what car you drive, how you drive it and how many people you take with you, can all affect your commuting carbon footprint. Driving a smaller car can cut your carbon footprint, as can driving at a slower speed on the motorway. Driving at peak rush hour can increase your carbon footprint. This is because you are likely to be crawling along the road, stopping and starting. Accelerating, decelerating and braking use considerable amounts of fuel and increase your CO²e emissions. By sharing your car with other people, you will be sharing the CO²e emissions between you and taking cars off the road.

Train

Travelling by train is as efficient as travelling by bus. However, if you are lucky enough to be able to afford to travel first class, you may be doing more harm than good. There are half as many seats in first class than in standard class, therefore the amount of CO²e emissions is divided by fewer people (or passengers). The table above shows that a car full of people will have a lower carbon footprint than a train journey. This is surprising as public transport is presumed to be greener than cars. However, this can be attributed to the number of stops a train has to make. Each stop wastes energy [1]. Also trains are far heavier than cars, and it takes a lot of energy to get them moving and slow them down. This all contributes to higher CO²e emissions than would be presumed. However, taking the train is still more efficient than if you were to drive alone to work.

Bus

It is fair to say that if you live in a town or city, it is far more efficient to take the bus. This is because more people will be on the bus, and so the carbon emissions will be divided by however many of you are on the bus. In the countryside, the bus service is used far less. This is due to accessibility problems, the poor frequency of the buses and the higher costs with travelling more miles. Therefore travelling by bus needs to be considered depending on your personal circumstances.

Cycling

Cycling is a low carbon way of getting to work. If two people in a household commuted to work by bicycle every day, they would save a tonne of carbon dioxide a year [3]. There are more dedicated cycle tracks to and from cities making the daily commute that much safer, healthier and more relaxing. Sustrans is an organisation dedicated to developing cycle tracks and promotes cycling to work. You can access a copy of the National Cycle Network on their website, which they claim is available to everyone and passes within a mile of 57% of the population [4].

Cycling still has carbon emissions because you will be eating more to give you the extra energy to ride your bike. It is the extra calories from food production which causes the carbon emissions in this instance, not the actual bike itself. Many companies are now offering Cycle to Work Schemes. This allows the employee to rent a bike from the employer for several months, and then buy the bike from them at a second hand price at the end of rental period. This is a great way to reduce your carbon emissions at low cost. Folding bikes are also a good investment if you use public transport. Getting a folding bike can help you commute between your home and the train station and your workplace, cutting commuting times.

Walking

In an ideal situation we would all walk to work. Not only would it keep us fit, but we could get some oxygen to the brain before we started work and we would also be keeping our commuting carbon footprint to a minimum. Being able to walk to work means moving nearer to your work place. This is not always possible in cities where homes near to the centre are priced at a premium. However, if you do have the financial means to live nearer to your work place, it is worth the consideration of moving in order to be able to commute on foot in a greener, more relaxing way.

Home working

Many companies are introducing home working as a way to cut their carbon emissions. This cuts out the daily commute altogether. Many companies will trial home working for part of the week and find it cuts other costs at their end. Speak to your employer about embracing this form of working to cut down on your carbon footprint.

Plan your journey

Up-to-date local knowledge can help you avoid congestion and roadworks, keep your travel time down and make sure you don’t get lost [5]. Check travel news websites before you leave for work to keep abreast of areas of congestion and road accidents that you can avoid and get to know quieter routes in your local area. This can cut down on carbon emissions and save you time and money on your daily commute.

Top ten tips for a greener commute

• If you are travelling alone, use public transport or get on your bike.
• Car share to spread the carbon footprint between yourself and your friends and colleagues.
• Drive a smaller car. Smaller cars tend to get more miles per gallon of petrol, thus saving CO²e emissions and money.
• Make sure your tyre pressure and tracking is correct. The wrong tyre pressure can make your car consume more petrol and increase your carbon footprint.
• Slow down. A 60 mph car journey will produce 10% less CO²e emissions than a journey at 70 mph.
• Take advantage of flexi-time at work to avoid rush hour on the roads. Traffic jams can dramatically increase your CO²e emissions.
• Don’t use your air conditioning unless you really have to. Air conditioning uses extra fuel, thus increasing your CO²e emissions.
• If you live in the countryside, a car journey may be better than a lone bus journey.
• If you are cycling to work, eat a low-carbon calorific breakfast.
• Accelerating and decelerating gently can save up to 20% in urban conditions [1].

References

[1] Berners-Lee, M. (2010) How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything. Profile Books Ltd.

[2] Vaze, P. (2009) The Economical Environmentalist. Earthscan.

[3] Burley, H. And Haslam, C. (2008) How Can I Stop Climate Change? HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

[4] Sustrans (2010) National Cycle Network http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/national-cycle-network

[5] Energy Saving Trust (2010) Planning Your Journey http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Travel/Alternative-transport/Planning-your-journey

Ventilation

Older homes are quite often deliberately draughty, and not poorly built, as one might expect from a draughty old building. Old homes are made from porous materials such as brick, timber and limestone. These materials will soak up water and dry out again when well ventilated. Therefore ventilation is vital to ensure an old home does not become damp and mouldy. New builds, on the other hand, are made from water resistant materials such as cement and plastic and do not tend to be draughty or damp. Here are some ideas for improving ventilation in your old home:

• Draught stripping is the placing of a strip of material over a draughty door, window or other crack to stop cold draughts from coming in and taking warm air out.
• Extract ventilation is the use of extraction fans in rooms which are prone to dampness such as kitchens and bathrooms. This allows the damp air to be pulled out of the room whilst maintaining heat.
• A trickle vent can be installed when replacing window frames. It is a small adjustable opening which allows the home owner to manually control ventilation in a room.
• Ventilate loft space. The original purpose of any loft was to act as a cold ventilation space that would expel any damp caused from rain or condensation [2]. Therefore it is important to maintain ventilation in this space and if converting your loft, you will need to consider how the house will ventilate itself when this cold area is removed. Special roof vents can be installed by roofers.

Insulation

Insulation plays a big role in improving the energy efficiency of an old house. However it must be done in such a way as to respect the ventilation of the property. Here are some insulating ideas for consideration:

• Internal wall insulation. This involves attaching insulated plasterboard to the inside walls of a house. This can be done in many ways. Where there is a lack of floor space, the plasterboard will be applied directly to the inside wall. Where there is more room, the plasterboard will be applied on top of a secondary insulation layer.
• Double glazed windows use two sheets of glass with a gap between them which creates an insulating barrier [3]. This keeps your home warmer.
• Cavity wall insulation can save you around £110 a year on your fuel bills [4]. This is the filling in of the gap behind your walls with insulating material if your house was built after 1920.
• External wall insulation involves adding a decorative facade to the outside of your home which has insulating properties.
• Insulate your loft by laying down special insulating quilts or get a professional to blow fire safe insulating material into your loft space.
• Insulate water pipes to retain heat so keeping hot water hot for longer.
• Insulate floors by laying a mineral wool underneath and filling in skirting board and floorboard gaps with sealant.
• Cheaper insulation options include putting up blinds and heavy curtains, which can almost halve the heat loss in old homes [5].

Heating

Upgrading your heating system in your old home can show drastic improvements on energy savings and utility bills. Three key improvements are:

• Insulate your hot water cylinder to keep water hot for longer and to save on reheating the water.
• Improve controls on your heating system. By doing this you can take more control of the amount of electricity being used to heat hot water for example, control room temperature so it is maintained at a minimum level, control when boilers are heated to take advantage of cheap electricity tariffs on Economy 7.
• Fit a replacement combi boiler. A combi boiler is both a high-efficiency water heater and a central heating boiler, combined within one compact unit [6]. No separate hot water cylinder is required as hot water isn’t stored but heated directly from the cold mains. A condensing combi boiler is more efficient due to its ability to extract more heat from the flue gases normally lost to the environment through the flue system [7].

Low carbon energy sources

If you wish to source your energy from a lower carbon option, then you will have to undergo planning permission. For older houses, this can be a tricky area, especially if the house is historically recognised or if you live in an area where a wind turbine or solar panels on your roof would present a problem to the overall look of an area. Low carbon and renewable energy solutions which potentially have the least visual impact include: ground source heat pumps; air source heat pumps; and water turbines [8].

Some inspiration

For some inspiration on how you can improve the energy efficiency of your old home, visit www.sustainable-energyacademy.org.uk [9] which aims to have an old retrofitted home publicly accessible within 15 minutes of everyone as part of their Old Home SuperHome project.

References

[1] Cook, M.G. (2009) Energy Efficiency in Old Houses, Crowood Press Ltd.

[2] What Price? (2010) Keeping a Loft Conversion Well Ventilated http://www.whatprice.co.uk/advice/building/loft-ventilation.html

[3] Energy Saving Trust (2010) Glazing http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Home-insulation-glazing/Glazing

[4] Energy Saving Trust (2010) Cavity Wall Insulation http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Home-insulation-glazing/Cavity-wall-insulation

[5] Energy Saving Trust (2010) Insulation Most Important for Preserving Old Homes http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Resources/Energy-saving-news/Insulation-and-glazing/Insulation-most-important-for-preserving-old-homes

[6] Worcester Bosch (2010) What is a combi bolier? http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/homeowner/products/what-is-a-combi-boiler

[7] Combiboiler.net (2010) Combi Boiler Information http://www.combiboiler.net/

[8] Peak District National Park Authority (n.d) Conserving Your Historic Building: Sustainability and Historic Buildings http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/sustainabilityandhistoricbuildings.pdf

[9] SEA (2010) Sustainable Energy Academy http://www.sustainable-energyacademy.org.uk/

Carbon is a chemical element present in all organisms on earth. Carbon is present in particular abundance in a solid and liquid form in trees, other plants and soils, and in various forms in all fossil fuels, including coal (solid), petroleum (liquid), and methane (gas) [1]. Carbon matters because it is everywhere and without it we would not exist. There are problems with carbon and it has become increasingly apparent that humans are contributing to climate change through their use of carbon. Carbon bonds with oxygen in the atmosphere to form carbon dioxide [1]. It is this greenhouse gas which has been contributing to global warming along with other greenhouse gases such as methane. Human use of carbon is an increasing worry as populations continue to rise dramatically. There is pressure to burn more fossil fuels, produce more food and support a burgeoning global population.

Reducing carbon usage in the food supply chain

Carbon plays a significant role in the food supply chain. It is present in all stages, and depending on the product, can be used in large amounts, with a detrimental impact to the environment. There are several stages involved in the food supply chain that consume carbon. It is likely that your company will be involved in at least one stage of the food supply chain. The descriptions below show the importance of carbon at each stage and how reductions in carbon usage can be made.

Raw Materials

Raw materials form the basis for all man-made products. They include coal, oil, gas and wood/plant materials. Raw materials are carbon stores. Removing them from the ground uses carbon and produces carbon emissions. Once they have been removed from the ground and processed, they will continue to emit carbon into the atmosphere through their usage. In the case of fossil fuels, this can be through burning and plant materials can be processed and eaten. In a forest, carbon is stored in plant tissues (through photosynthesis) and is emitted back into the atmosphere through respiration [2]. Once a tree has been removed it is no longer a carbon store.

Carbon usage occurs in the extraction, transportation and processing of raw materials. For example fuel is spent when harvesting fields of crops or digging coal out of the ground. The raw material has to be moved to a processing plant or manufacturer. This again uses fuel, which is usually derived from oil. If you dig a crop out of the ground, then it usually has to be processed by machinery, powered by electricity, in order to turn it into a viable product for a manufacturer.

Ways you can cut carbon usage in raw materials:

• Reduce packaging – ask yourself, is it really needed, is there anywhere I can reduce the amount of packaging I use?
• Reduction in transportation by increasing localisation – improve your local markets. By sending your raw materials to local manufacturers and processors, you will ultimately use less fuel in transportation.
• More efficient processing – newer processing facilities are more likely to be more energy, and thus carbon efficient.
• Fewer inputs in farming and growing – cut down on artificial fertiliser and pesticide use (both derived from carbon heavy activities). Embrace more organic and traditional farming methods to do this.

Manufacture

Making something out of raw materials uses energy. Carbon is high in energy and is a necessary ingredient of food manufacturing. Coal can be burned to provide electricity to power the processing plants which make food products. Oil can be transformed into plastic packaging to protect food products from spoiling.

Carbon usage primarily occurs in the energy intensive activities of packaging production, food preparation, warehouse environmental management (they can use a lot of electricity to light and heat), and waste (including waste water) which has to be processed or disposed of.

Ways you can cut carbon usage in manufacturing:

• More efficient processing technologies
• A review of environmental management systems – looking at ways to reduce energy and carbon use in buildings
• Recycling more waste materials where possible
• Sourcing ingredients from local suppliers – thus cutting down on food miles.

Distribution and retail

Distribution and retail are mainly involved with the movement and the showcasing of products. The biggest carbon eaters in this sector are transportation, packaging (to protect the product and make the product more attractive to the consumer) and storage such as refrigeration which uses large amounts of electricity 24 hours a day.

Ways you can cut carbon usage in distribution and retail:

• More efficient refrigeration – make sure refrigeration units are as new as you can afford to ensure good efficiency ratings. Also ensure they are regularly serviced to check for leaks which can waste electricity. The refrigerator can waste a lot of electricity trying to compensate for the cool air it is losing.
• Better stock control to reduce waste – for example, keep an eye on weather reports. If there isn’t going to be a barbeque summer, then you may not want to order so much meat in.
• More intelligent packaging design – by working with your packaging provider, you can look at ways to cut down the amount of packaging you use, saving money, carbon and resources.
• Fuel efficient transportation systems – for example, newer more efficient vehicles; vehicles run on biofuels; or electric powered vehicles.

Consumer use

Consumers are also part of the food supply chain, and play a large part in carbon usage. This can be in waste packaging, such as putting vegetables in a plastic bag when they don’t really need to be in a bag at all. Transporting the food they have bought to their homes. With ‘out of town’ shopping centres, this can increase the food miles travelled. End-user storage, for example fridges and freezers also use energy. Food waste also goes to landfill which biodegrades as methane and carbon dioxide.

Ways you can cut carbon usage in consumers:

• Educate the consumer – you can advise a consumer on your packaging about the best way to dispose of the product.
• Encourage consumer to bring their own bags
• Minimise packaging in the first place – to reduce the amount going to landfill
• Avoid special ‘Buy One Get One Free’ deals – especially in fresh produce with a short shelf life. They encourage the consumer to buy more than they need, leading to more waste going to land fill.

Disposal/recycling

This is the end of the line for many food products and carbon usage occurs in the transportation of waste products to their end destination. Recycling plants can use energy in the recycling process. Commercial composting uses a lot of energy in the heating of organic matter in order to sterilise and biodegrade it to compost. Food which goes to landfill produces greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. Incinerating waste also produces carbon dioxide through burning.

Ways you can cut carbon production in disposal and recycling include educating the consumer so that they can make the best disposal choices. Also better organised recycling can drastically reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

References

[1] American Hotel and Lodging Information Green Glossary (2010) http://www.ahla.com/green.aspx?id=25018

[2] University of California, Climate Change Terms and Definitions (2007) http://climatechange.ucdavis.edu/terms.html

]]> http://www.energysavingwarehouse.co.uk/learning-portal/the-importance-of-carbon-in-the-food-supply-chain-a-guide-for-business/feed/ 0