The carbon footprint of British homes
The challenge posed by climate change has forced the government into drastic action and it has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the country by 80 per cent by 2050. You may think achieving the target depends on big companies, but as it is estimated that more than a quarter of emissions come from domestic properties, it is clear that everyone will have to take steps to reduce the carbon footprint of their homes.
If you are interested in the environment and informed about the impact of climate change, you will probably have already begun moves to limit your carbon emissions. But even if you are not green-minded, you will find there are good reasons to cut your carbon footprint - not least that you can make sizeable inroads into your energy bills.
What is a home's carbon footprint?
Put simply, your home's carbon footprint is a measure of its greenhouse gas emissions. There are six different greenhouse gases, but you will normally see all figures expressed in terms of carbon emissions.
To work out your property's carbon footprint you will need to calculate your emissions from things like heating, hot water and electrical and electronic appliances. Don't worry too much about working out the figures yourself, as there are several online carbon footprint calculators available.
In an ideal world, everybody would own a carbon neutral property, meaning they do enough to counteract the impact of their emissions. This can be partly achieved by carbon offset actions, such as planting trees - but you would have to plant an awful lot of trees to make up for the emissions from an average 25-year-old house.
It makes more sense to start to cut your carbon footprint by tackling emissions or using renewable energy. If your home is older you are likely to have more work to do, as improved technology, changes to building regulations and greater awareness of environmental issues mean that modern properties often have lower carbon footprints.
The answer, however, is not to replace old housing stock with new, as retro-fitting energy-efficient features has a much smaller impact on the environment than the process of manufacturing the materials needed to construct new homes.
Instead, it is important to carry out work to bring older housing stock up to standard and ensure it is as energy efficient as possible. While some of the work may be expensive, there is a range of grants available to help people reduce the carbon footprint of their home.
What can you do to improve your home's carbon footprint?
There are lots of simple steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint, such as switching to energy-efficient appliances and using a Gas Safe-certified heating engineer to replace your boiler with an A-rated model.
Cutting heat loss is one of the most important steps in reducing your carbon footprint. Loft insulation could help you to lower your carbon emissions by 800kg a year, cavity wall insulation by 610kg and double glazing by 720kg. Having this work carried out to a high standard will also enable you to reduce your energy bills by hundreds of pounds a year.
As well as taking steps to reduce your carbons emissions, you can also improve your carbon footprint by generating some of your own energy from renewable sources. Using solar panels to generate electricity or heat your home's water is one of the simplest ways to do this. However, installing the panels is not a DIY job and you will need a qualified electrician to undertake the work.
Other options for reducing your carbon footprint by generating your own energy include domestic wind turbines and wood-fuelled heating systems. Some choices may require planning permission, so make sure you do your research before starting work on a project.
How can Rated People help you to reduce your carbon footprint?
Although there are simple measures you can take to help cut your home's carbon footprint, many of the home improvement and energy efficiency projects will require the help of skilled tradesmen. Rated People can simplify the process of finding reputable tradesmen with the skills you need in your area.
Just register with the site and post details of the work you need undertaken. Rated People will introduce you to a selection of suitable tradesmen who will provide quotes for the project.
Before making a decision about your choice of tradesman, you will be able to read recommendations and ratings from other people who have used them, helping you to ensure you select someone who you can trust to do a good job.
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