The Problem: high carbon footprint, fossil fuels, high resource demand
The Solution: reducing appliance use, efficient appliances
Switch off appliances that are not in use. Many electronics use up a lot of energy in the background. Switching off your phone at night or putting it in aeroplane mode are simple actions that mean you can charge it less frequently.
Children are always told to turn the lights off when they leave a room but do you?! Can you used natural light during the daytime instead of artificial lighting? Check your outside lighting too- unnecessary light outside both costs money and carbon and can disturb nocturnal animals and insects.
When cooking, try to use the oven for the minimum time by cooking everything together. If you make a cake during the day, cook it with dinner in the evening.
Avoid using a tumble dryer. Drying your clothes on the radiator or on a line saves so much energy and therefore money.
Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need to boil which will significantly reduce the energy required to heat it.
Technology can have a large carbon footprint. Data requires energy to be stored and transmitted. Simple changes like voice calling instead of video conferencing can have a large impact. Unsubscribing from spam emails can also save a surprising amount of emissions collectively. Ecosia is a search engine which plants trees around the world for your searches using ad revenue- a great carbon positive alternative to other engines.
Think about your everyday hobbies and actions. Do you need to spend 3 hours watching TV or could you go outside for some exercise or read a book instead?