How to be more energy efficient in your everyday life

If you’re concerned about the environment and the planet, it’s time to start thinking about ways to
save energy. You’ve probably heard the terms ‘climate crisis’ and ‘energy conservation’ used but it’s
not always easy to understand what this means for us as individuals.
We all can, and should, reduce our carbon footprint, which will also help us to save money in the
process. But how can you do this? By simply following a few of the tips below and changing a few of
your daily habits.

Transportation

The transport industry is one of the largest producers of carbon emissions, equating to 23% of
energy-related issues and 19% of global use. This means that finding sustainable methods of
transportation and utilising public transport more often is necessary. For example, rail networks are
the most energy-efficient mode of transport compared with other motorised transport models.
Plans have already been rolled out to improve vehicle efficiency. One of these is the increase in
electric cars on the road. Electric vehicles like the MG4 do not release harmful emissions as they are
powered by electricity, not petrol or diesel. This makes them much better for the environment than
those running on fuel. There is also potential for efficiency improvements in heavy-duty vehicles.

The home

Heating typically accounts for two-thirds of energy consumption in the home.

It is therefore important that we find ways to reduce this figure as much as possible. One of the easiest ways of doing so is turning down your thermostat lower than you would normally. For example, turning your heating down from 20 °C to 19 °C can reduce your energy consumption by 7%.
Additionally, make sure to turn your appliances off rather than leave them on standby, including televisions, computers and electronic devices. If you do decide to leave the lights on, use energy- efficient bulbs or compact fluorescent lamps, as these generally consume up to five times less energy than conventional light bulbs.

Food shopping

When doing your weekly shop, there are certain choices you can make to ensure you are being as
sustainable as possible. For starters, always look for an environmental logo on the packaging of
products to see which companies are doing their best to reduce their environmental impact.
Additionally, try to buy your shopping in bulk. Rather than purchasing four small bags of pasta, go for
a large one instead. This way, you reduce the plastic packaging being used and will also save you
money. Even choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce your carbon footprint,
since it can take up to five litres of diesel to transport a kilogram pack of strawberries to your house.