Robin Roy, Professor of Design and Environment, Design Innovation Group, Faculty of Maths, Computing and Technology, on tackling climate change at home...
Homes are responsible for more than a quarter (27 per cent) of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the UK; mainly carbon dioxide released when burning gas for household heating and hot water and generating electricity for lights and appliances. Here are some of the most important things you can do to reduce your own and your household’s climate changing impacts:
Home heating and hot water
Apart from transport, this represents the largest share of most people’s energy emissions. To reduce the amount of fuel you use for heating, insulate your loft (with 1ft-thick insulation) and walls (cavity filling is easiest, but solid walls can be insulated too). Try to take showers rather than baths to save hot water. Consider upgrading your heating and hot water system, preferably to central heating with a condensing gas boiler that is maybe supplemented by a wood stove. Only then install double glazing and/or insulate floors if your home hasn’t already got these improvements. Finally you might consider installing a solar water heating system, especially as by 2012 there will be a ‘renewable heat incentive’ to pay you for any solar hot water you produce.
Electricity for lights and appliances
On average this represents 12 per cent of household emissions. Reduce your electricity consumption by getting energy-efficient appliances (especially fridges and freezers which consume most electricity) and turn off lights and electronic equipment when not in use. Replace ordinary light bulbs with energy-saving ones – there are now lots of types including efficient lamps to replace halogen spotlights and new LED lamps bright enough for proper lighting.
It’s now becoming worthwhile to consider installing a solar photovoltaic system for generating electricity, as there is a generous ‘feed-in tariff’ to pay you for any electricity you generate at home. A solar electric system (best installed before April 2012 when the tariff may be reduced) can now pay back in about 10 years and earn the equivalent of an eight per cent return on your money. However, a much cheaper and easier option is to switch your electricity supply to a ‘green’ tariff; preferably one that relies on 100 per cent renewable sources such as wind power.
Take it further
Discover your own main sources of greenhouse emissions by using a carbon calculator, developed for module Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116), on OpenLearn.
Watch the video tour of the home of Dr Richard Blundel, a Senior Lecturer in Enterprise Development with The Open University Business School, who has spent years transforming his Edwardian home into an energy efficient one.
For more resources related to the environment and climate change, go to www.openuniversity.co.uk/climateweek
