Environment

More than 40% of CO₂ emissions are the direct result of the actions taken by individuals.

There are simple everyday steps we can all do to help prevent climate change – and save yourself some money at the same time!

Here are our Top Tips for reducing carbon emissions!

Energy Tips

• Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1ºC could cut your heating bills by up to 10%. You could save around £40 per year.
• Use energy saving light bulbs. Just one can save you £100 over the lifetime of the bulb - and they last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.
• Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat shouldn't need to be set higher than 60ºC/140ºF.
• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.
• Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
• Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.
• If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.
• Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).
• A dripping hot water tap wastes and energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!
• Get your free home energy check and save up to £300 a year on your household energy bills. See www.energysavingtrust.co.uk.

Travelling Tips

• 1 in 4 car journeys are less than 2 miles long. Why not cut out the car and walk or cycle instead?
• 77% of car trips are single occupancy in the Bradford District.
• Use public transport more often and catch the train or bus instead. See the Metro website.
• Car share - join a formal car share scheme such as www.bradfordcarshare.com.
• Share a ride - plan your journey with friends or family and share car rides together.
• If you have to drive, then be a greener driver and reduce CO₂ emissions further by: Check tyres are not under inflated, don't speed, reduce stopping and starting, don't over rev the engine and reduce the use of air conditioning in the car.
• If you are buying a new car, buy a more fuel efficient model or version of the car you are interested in.
• Instead of travelling abroad why not consider taking a holiday closer to home in the UK?
• If you have to fly, one choice is to offset the carbon emissions your trip generates by paying for projects which reduce emissions elsewhere.
• Taking one longer holiday will have a lower impact than going on several short trips if you are flying each time.
• Road traffic is a major contributor to air pollution near airports. Leave your car at home and find an alternative way of travelling to the airport.

Waste Reduction Tips

Reduce

Take measures to reduce the amount of waste you produce.

• Look for products with less packaging or refillable products.
• Buy loose rather than pre-packed fruit and vegetables.
• Reduce paper use by printing or copying on both sides.
• Use mail and fax preference services to cut down on unwanted junk mail. See www.mpsonline.org.uk

Reuse

Consider how much of your waste can be reused.

• Reuse carrier bags for shopping.
• Donate unwanted clothes and household goods to charity shops and good causes.
• Pass on magazines and books to your local doctors, dentist or hospital.
• Reuse envelopes and write on both sides of paper.

Recycle

Recycling is the normal thing to do with your waste, with more and more people doing their bit to look after the place where they live. Bradford Council offer various recycling facilities in order to make recycling as easy as possible.

Such as:

• Recycling collections from the kerbside - green garden waste, paper, plastic, glass and cans.
• Over 80 Local Recycling Centres - you can recycle just about everything, from glass, plastics, wood, shoes, paint, textiles and TVs, to electrical equipment, light bulbs, fridges/freezers and more!

For more information and advice about recycling in Bradford call 01274 43100 or visit www.bradford.gov.uk/recycling.