Environment 6

Climate change and the environment is top of the global agenda today as the need to cut down on carbon emissions becomes increasingly apparent. As world leaders negotiate to come up with a plan to halt climate change and cut down on emissions, we can also play our part. Reducing the amount of energy we use in our home, in our workplace and in our cars can have a significant affect on emissions. Not only that, it can save you money too. If everyone makes an effort in their lives, it can make a huge difference on a global scale. Here is some advice on how you can cut down on your energy usage. In the home * Switch to energy-saving light bulbs. They cost slightly more, but save up to ten times their price over their lifetime. * When you are boiling water, or heating anything, only boil the amount you need. You do not need a kettle full of boiling water for one cup of tea. * Switch off appliances when you are not using them to save money and energy. TVs, videos, stereos and computers left on standby can use use a lot of energy. * Recycle everything that you can. We throw away our own weight in rubbish every month, but bottles, cans, paper, card, plastic and aluminium can all be reused or recycled which saves energy. For example, it takes the same amount of energy to make 20 cans from recycled material as it takes to make one can from scratch. Recycling will also save you money on refuse charges. * If you live in a sunny area you could potentially meet all your energy means using solar panels. * Turning down your thermostat by just three degrees will save you 10 per cent in energy costs. Also, make sure that your home is well insulated so that it keeps the heat in. * When washing clothes and dishes make sure the appliances are full. Also, try using lukewarm water. * Keep the lid on pots and pans when you are cooking. In the office * Where at all possible, store all documents in digital format on your computer or another storage device. If you must print something, use...