10 Ways To Cut Our Carbon

To register for future updates on the progress of this campaign, E-mail Bill (rammellb@parliament.uk) 

Last Summer was one of the hottest ever.

Each of the last five years has been one of the ten hottest on record.

There was an increase in global average surface temperature of about 1°F in the 20th century.

Scientists think the earth's average surface temperature will increase between 1.4 degrees C and 5.8 degrees C by the year 2100 if no major efforts are undertaken to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Change is science fact, not science fiction.  Yet many people feel helpless, not knowing what they can do to make a difference.

We need to reduce carbon emissions by delivering the Kyoto agreement, encouraging low carbon energy, investing in renewable energy and leading international efforts to reduce carbon use. Because of measures like the Climate Change Levy, UK carbon emissions will fall by 7-12 million tonnes by 2010, 15-18% below 1990 levels. I supported those measures in Parliament.

But the environment is an issue for all of us, not just politicians.

The average household is directly responsible for about 10 Tonnes of carbon per year. Our decisions have a major impact on the environment.

The energy we as individuals consume - in electricity, gas and transport - makes up almost half (44 %) of total greenhouse gas emissions.

So if each of us used just a little less energy it would make a real impact on our carbon emissions. Simple small measures – from turning your TV off rather than leaving it on standby to turning your heating down a couple of degrees make a difference, which if we all make the change will be significant. I’ve pledged to take as many of the ten simple steps as I can to reduce my energy use. I hope you’ll join me.

Of course we need to do more, but let’s do what we can immediately, then campaign to put the at the top of everyone’s agenda

Ten simple steps to tackle climate change

1. Turning your thermostat down by 1ºC could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent and save you around £40 per year.
2. Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat shouldn't need to be set higher than 60ºC/140ºF.
3. Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows. 
4. Always turn off the lights when you leave a room. 
5. Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily. 
6. If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme. 
7. Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).
8. A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!
9. Replace your light bulbs with energy saving ones: just one can reduce your lighting costs by up to £100 over the lifetime of the bulb.
10. Do a home energy check. Just answer some simple questions about your home and get a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £300 a year on your energy bills. Visit www.est.org.uk for more details.