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Energy Consumption and Savings

Average Consumption

The average person apparently emits 4.3 tons per person. (Developing countries included). The average European emits close to 10 metric tons of CO2 per year. The average American emits over 20 metric tons - more than 6 times the world average.

In the UK the heating and lighting of the average home is around 6 tons, the average emissions per car per year is around 4 tons and the annual rubbish from a typical home about 0.4 tons.




Long haul flight

The average long haul flight equivalent of UK to Australia return produces around 3.75 tons of CO2

Medium haul flight

The average medium haul flight equivalent of UK to New York return produces around 1.3 tons of CO2

 
Short haul flight

The average short haul flight equivalent of UK to Malaga return produces around 0.6 tons of CO2

Central heating

If you adjust your thermostat by just one-half degree Celsius during winter and summer months, the average household can save 907 kg CO2

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is energy intensive and one of the conundrums of modern living. As the summers get hotter we need to chill our homes, but the more air-conditioning we pump out the more we heat the atmosphere by pumping out hot air (like a refrigerator). When installing an air conditioning unit now it is better to opt for a solar heating option. Apparently just replacing the filter regularly on a traditional air-conditioning unit can save 79 kg CO2. Ceiling fans use energy but far less. A ceiling fan instead of your air conditioning and save 181 kg CO2. Help your air conditioner work smarter, not harder; remember to replace your filter according to recommendations and you can save

Lighting

Use energy-efficient light bulbs: Incandescent light bulbs are becoming a thing of the past. This year, when your light bulbs burn out, replace them with a compact fluorescent light bulb. These fluorescent lamps fit into a standard socket, but have a longer life and better energy efficiency. If you change just 3 light bulbs to compact fluorescent this year, you will save 136 kg of CO2.

Double glazing

Double glazing 6 medium to large windows could save 4,536 kg of CO2

Wall and Ceiling Insulation

Wall and ceiling insulation can save 907 kg CO2 .Think about the savings over the life of your home. Just 5 years with updated insulation will save up to 4,535 kg CO2 .

Weather-stripping

Weather-strip doorways and windows can save 454 kg CO2 each year.

Hot Water

If you reduce the temperature of your water heater from 60°C to 49°C (140°F to 120°F), you'll save 217 kg CO2. Insulate your water heater for an additional savings of 454 kg CO2. If you're in the market for a new water heater, go tankless and save 136 kg CO2.

Fridges

Fridges are high energy users. Position in a cool place to begin with and avoid putting hot food straight into the fridge. Regular defrosting and cleaning of the coils can reduce consumption. It might be worth considering replacing an old fridge with one of the new models which are more energy efficient. An energy efficient refrigerator can save 227 kg CO2 .

Recycling

Increasing home recycling by 10% saves the average household 91 kg CO2 over the course of a year

Packaging

Trimming garbage such as plastic containers and boxes by 10 per cent can save up to to 454 kg CO2 within a year due to emissions from landfill.

 Meat consumption

A diet of 30% meat, dairy and poultry produces 1,485 kg CO2 each year, but a vegetarian diet generates only half of that. Animal flatulence, processing, packaging and transportation of products are to blame. If you replace red meat with fish, eggs and poultry, you can save more than 430 kg CO2 a year. Alternately, eat meat-free meals every other day for a 215 kg.

Reusable Items

Switching to a reusable policy like sponges instead of paper towels and ditching disposable items and fashionable accessories for long-term goods and quality products which can be repaired can save an immeasurable amount of CO2.

Washing machines

A modern energy efficient washing machine can save 199 kg CO2 .

Clothes washing

Hot water is only needed for greasy or extremely dirty items. Washing in cold water can save 228 kg of CO2 a year.

Tumble Drying

Tumble dryers are energy intensive. Forgoing tumble drying represents a CO2 saving of 635 kgs .

Baths and Showers

A bath can take up to 190 litres of water? If you forego a bath in favour of a shower just once a week, you can save 45 kg of CO2. If you do this daily, it adds up to 317 kg of CO2

Showers

Showers account for 2/3 of water heating costs. Long showers are the worst offenders. Each minute under an average showerhead uses more than 9 litres of water. Cutting down on shower time results in CO2 savings of 159 kg each year . If you change two showerheads in your home to low-flow heads, you'll save 136 kg of CO2 each year.

Computers

Idle computers across the world alone generate 45 million metric tons of CO2, enough gas to fill 810,000,000,000 (810 billion) balloons.

Electronic devices

Electronic devices, such as mobile phones, hair dryers, kettles, etc, even when not in use, use electricity just by being plugged in. By unplugging the average person can prevent 567 kg of CO2 from being released into our atmosphere.

Junk Mail

Junk mail is more than just a nuisance: 1 million trees are used to create junk mail each year, and transporting this mail via CO2-emitting vehicles costs €405 million (£275 million). The average adult gets 19 kg of junk mail per year. If you cut down on this waste, you can save up to 104 kg of CO2 every year.

Shop Locally

Supermarket food travels on average 2,500 km before it gets to you. Each of those miles involves the emission of CO2. To avoid this contribution, support shops that sell regional produce. If you eat local food just once a week, you can save 2,268 kg CO2 over the course of a year.

Lawn Mowers

Modern reel push mowers are easier to use than they use the older versions. Hand mowers save 36 kg CO2 in a year.

Cars

The car we choose depends on what we need the car for and what we want to get out of it. Whether it’s performance, size, safety, business use, family trips or both, you don’t need to compromise in order to reduce CO2 emissions. Simply choose a more fuel efficient version or model of the type of car you’re interested in. The more fuel efficient the car, the less fuel it burns so less CO2 is produced. In fact, if everyone buying a brand new car chose the most fuel efficient car in its class we could reduce CO2 emissions from new cars by 24%.

Buying a new car

Consider the size of car you want. In very general terms smaller cars tend to be more fuel efficient and emit less C02, so ask yourself questions about what you want the car for. The engine matters when it comes to CO2 emissions. Once you’ve decided on the type of car check out the different makes, models and engine options. Most models offer a range of engines that vary in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.

Petrol and diesel engines have different effects on the environment. Engines powered by diesel generally produce less CO2 but more than their petrol counterparts. If most of the driving you do is long distance or motorway driving then consider a diesel engine for fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. If you spend more time in town, where air quality is a greater consideration, then a petrol engine may be the better choice. Most new cars in a car showroom have a colour-coded fuel efficiency rating from band A to band G, with bands A and B representing cars that emit the least CO2. The lower the emission band, the lower the tax you’ll pay. The label is also a guide to the running costs you can expect for that car over 12,000 miles so you can compare how much different cars cost to run. Fuel efficiency is an important factor. ‘Particulates’ are emissions released when fuel is burned that are harmful to local air quality but on some cars a filter can be fitted such as those with diesel engines.

Driving Slower

Driving slower means less carbon emissions.

Consider Smaller Families

According to the Optimum Population Trust (OPT) having two children instead of three can reduce a family’s CO2 output by 620 return flights a year between London and New York.

Other ways to help the environment

Tree planting

Trees absorb the CO2 in our atmosphere while creating oxygen. While tree planting has come under scrutiny recently sensibly placed trees planted domestically (tree roots can cause pipe damage which can also be environmentally unfriendly) can do a lot to provide shade and shelter.

Estimates on savings differ. Planting a tree native to your region in your garden can apparently save 2,268 kg CO2 per year.

In fact the USDA Forest service estimates a single mature tree can absorb carbon dioxide at a rate of 48 lbs. per year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support 2 human beings.

An acre of trees absorbs enough CO2 over one year to equal the amount produced by driving a car 26,000 miles.

If every American family planted just one tree, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would be reduced by one billion lbs annually. This is almost 5% of the amount that human activity pumps into the atmosphere each year.

Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion.