By Dave Reay, 10th September 2005, NewScientist Magazine
Great article, available online (subscription required) that highlights how we (individuals) can actually make a difference - and should, given how long it is taking for governments to do anything productive (think Kyoto agreement for starters). Note: I don't personally agree with the title - this isn't about 'saving' the planet, it's about saving an environment that can sustain our existence. The planet will keep on spinning and orbiting, with or without us.
In the UK, per capita greenhouse gas emissions = 11 tonnes per year (in US and Australia, they top 20 tonnes per year). The breakdown is (roughly):
| Workplace = 50% | Travel = 23% | Home = 27% |
| Everything - buildings, output etc. | Cars = 20%, Flights = 3% | Household = 18% Food = 6%, Waste = 3% |
So here are the steps (reduced to 7 because 2 were repeated and I'm not mentioning the 10th):
40% of emissions from houses come from heating and cooling the home, so put a jumper on in winter (and take it off in the summer) before turning on the heating or air conditioning (saves up to 30%). Other ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions from homes include not using stand-by power (5 - 10%), efficient lighting and appliances (15 - 30%), and better insulation (up to 40% saving). Annual saving = 0.33 to 2 tonnes
Whilst there are new innovations like dual-fuel and hybrid cars (saving 20 - 40%) and Biofuel cars (saving 100%), simple measures such as buying a car with a smaller engine can save up to 75% of emissions (an SUV can spew out 12 tonnes per year), and changing driving habits (stick below speed limits, car pooling, use public transport) can save up to 50% of emissions. Annual saving = 1.5 to 12 tonnes.
Two-thirds of food that is thrown away could be composted instead of going to landfill sites. Compacted down in landfill, 1 kilogramme of waste food can produce around 2 kilograms of methane. Even if you don't want your own compost bin, many areas now have 'compost collections'. Annual saving = 1 tonne.
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) predicts that the contribution flying makes to greenhouse emissions will have quadrupled by 2050. Going by train instead of plane on a short haul journey can reduce your personal contribution to emissions by 75%. Annual saving = 1 to 3 tonnes.
Yes, you did read the title correctly! A cut of just 2 cow-based meals a month can reduce a household's annual emissions by a third of a tonne due to reduced farting! There's also the more serious side - clearing forests and woodlands to allow for grazing cattle and intensive arable farming methods produce large quantities of greenhouse gases. Also, look where your food comes from next time you're shopping. Eating local produce can reduce your food-related emissions by 90%. Annual saving = 0.33 to 3.6 tonnes
"Reduce, reuse, recycle". Reduce is king - avoid unnecessary items, especially packaging (simple example - cucumbers bought at grocers and farm shops don't have the plastic shrink-wrap coating that supermarkets use). Reuse - if everyone in the UK used each plastic bag twice, it would save the energy used to produce 4 billion bags each year. Annual saving = 1 tonne.
Turn the lights off, including your PC and especially the monitor. Use both sides of the paper for printing, and make sure all discarded paper gets recycled. Annual saving = a lot!!! (workplace = 50% of total).
Dave Reay is an environmental scientist at Edinburgh University, and editor of the climate change website www.GHGonline.org.