How to reduce your carbon emissions at little or no cost

The biggest fallacy is that it's expensive to be green. Most of the following simple tips will either cost nothing or could save money.

Switch it off!

The simplest and most effective action you can take is to switch off electrical devices when you've finished using them and that also means not leaving them on standby. The International Energy Authority estimates that devices on standby cost the world a staggering 1 per cent of our greenhouse gas emissions - which is nearly as much as the entire aviation industry. Simple actions like turning your thermostat down a few degrees, changing to energy saving light bulbs and investing in a 'smart meter' which shows you exactly how much electricity you are using, can cut emissions even further.

Use Green energy

Consider switching to a company which supplies renewable energy. Some of these, such as Ecotricity, will pledge to match the charges of your existing supplier.

Cut food miles

If possible, buy fresh, local, seasonal produce to minimise the emissions from transporting and processing it. If you want food which is out of season locally then it may be more energy efficient to buy it imported rather than grown in UK greenhouses with all the associated heating and lighting. Consider growing your own fruit and vegetables in your garden or starting an allotment. Resist the tactics from supermarkets to persuade you to buy more than you need. An obscene 4.1 million tonnes of edible food is thrown away in the UK every year, much of it not even unwrapped.

Reduce waste

Avoid items with excess packaging, register with the Mail Preference Service to stop junk mail and reject disposable products designed for a short life span.
Re-using a plastic bag just once reduces the energy needed to make more. Support Charity shops and the Freecycle Network to keep good quality items in use and out of landfill. Remember to recycle your paper, cans, plastics and glass. Making compost will cut your rubbish by a third, prevent production of methane in landfill and provide you with your own fertiliser.

Cut down car use

Road vehicles account for 10% of all global greenhouse emissions and 40% of UK car trips are below 3 miles. Are there any situations when you could walk or cycle instead? If your child's school offers a 'walking bus' service, try to support it to cut down school-run traffic. Consider car-share schemes and using public transport where possible. Trains have a tenth of the emissions per passenger of a typical car. If you buy a new car, consider a hybrid or one that will run on biodiesel. There are now 'eco-driving' courses where you can learn to use your car to the maximum possible efficiency.

Fly less

Flying will add hugely to your carbon footprint. Aircraft contrails and nitrous oxide emissions at high altitude mean the overall climate impact is triple that of the CO2 alone. If you do need to fly, consider offsetting the emissions.