As the bells chime in New Year, millions of people decide on their resolutions for the coming year. Often these are same every year; go to the gym, eat healthily, quit smoking etc. however, they are rarely achieved. So maybe this year, choose a resolution that helps the environment and saves you money by putting extra effort into energy saving. You could even combine energy saving with getting healthy!
Use your car less – How about combining getting fitter with energy saving?
By walking and cycling more, you are not only saving energy and reducing your carbon footprint but also getting fitter. Depending on where you live, it can often be a lot quicker to walk or cycle than getting caught in traffic congestion or train delays. Even if you have to drive to work, it has been estimated that by swapping smaller journeys such as taking your children to school you can save around £130 and 250kg CO2 each year [1].
Thinking about a healthier diet? Then why not grow your own food?
It is easy and rewarding to grow your own fruit, vegetables and herbs. This helps to save money that you usually spend buying food and cuts the carbon emissions released as a result of the transportation and packaging of food found in shops. There is a huge variety of things you can grow all round the year, regardless of space. Obviously you have more of a choice if you have a large garden, but even people with small flats can grow herbs indoors or vegetables in a window planter.
If you decide to grow your own food, you’ll probably want to keep it as cheap as possible. Composting food scraps such as vegetable skins and tea bags will provide you with a free fuel source for your plants. You can get small composting containers for your kitchen that will decompose your food to a nutrient-rich feed for your plants.
Learn something new – your heating controls!
Using your heating and thermostat controls properly will help to keep your home comfortable more efficiently, saving CO2 emissions and money on your heating bills. Setting your heating and hot water so that they come on and off when you need them will prevent energy being wasted overnight when you are asleep.
Wrap up warm!
If you don’t want to wear extras layers to save on your heating bills, how about wrapping up your loft and hot water tank instead? Loft insulation can save you up to £145 a year and 730kg of CO2 on a “bare loft”, and around £40 and 210kg of CO2. if your existing insulation is not 270mm in depth. Fitting your hot water tank with an insulation jacket can make you £35 richer and save 170kg of CO2 a year.
Keep your resolutions this year!
A lot of these energy saving resolutions only need to be done once for you to reap the benefits all year! If you choose a more taxing one, then the savings and satisfaction you receive are sure to outweigh the time involved.
[1] http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Resources/Features/Features-archive/Resolutions-for-2011
