Possible solutions

Possible solutions
SECTION SUMMARY

• Many countries have signed up to the Kyoto Protocol, promising to reduce their
CO2 emissions according to set targets.
• Reducing the emissions from our use of fossil fuel energy sources is seen as vital
to reducing our GHG emissions.
• Reducing energy consumption by using energy more efficiently is an effective and
low cost way of reducing emissions.

The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement made under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Countries that ratify this agreement
commit to reduce their emissions of CO2 and five other greenhouse gases, or engage
in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emissions of these gases.

37
Possible solutions
Britain is signed up to the Kyoto Protocol. Under
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), emission limits were agreed with
participating countries and they undertook to ensure
they would reach these reductions in GHGs.
• The resulting Kyoto Protocol, adopted in December
1997, agreed emission limits for industrialised
countries for a “first commitment period” of
2008–12 on average from a base year of 1990.
• Russia agreed to the treaty in November 2004,
clearing the way for the treaty to become
legally binding on 16 February 2005 – meeting
the criteria that more than 55 Parties to the
Convention had ratified the Protocol, including
countries responsible for at least 55% of
industrialised countries’ CO2 emissions in 1990
(at the start of 2006 in total 162 countries
had ratified).
• The US and Australia have signed the Kyoto
Protocol, however they have not ratified the treaty
and remain outside the legal requirements of
the Protocol.
TABLE 1 GHG reduction target (1990–2008/12) under the Kyoto Protocol
Switzerland, Central and East European states, the European Union (inc. UK)
United States
Japan, Canada, Hungary, Japan
Russian Federation and Ukraine
Norway
Australia
Iceland
38
In 2003 the UK Government pledged to reduce
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20%, on 1990
levels, by 2010. Currently not only is the UK not
on course to meet this target, but greenhouse gas
emissions are on an upward trend, driven by an
increase from the energy sector. The Government
responded to this trend with the DTI Energy
Challenge announced in 2006 which sets a new
target, to cut CO2 levels to 60% by 2050.
The UK produces energy from a variety of sources
(see page 39). With over 80% of our energy coming
from fossil fuels we generate enormous amounts
of CO2 – a problem that we can deal with in three
main ways:
• reducing CO2 emissions from the power stations
before it is released into the atmosphere
• using sources of energy that generate less CO2
such as nuclear or “alternative” energy sources
(inc. solar, wind, wave etc.)
• reducing our demand for energy by using less
in our industry, transport and homes.
–8%
–7%
–6%
0%
+1%
+8%
+10%
Possible solutions

Energy
SECTION SUMMARY

• All methods of cleaning up thermal power station emissions are expensive.

Those costs will be passed onto industry and the public meaning there will be
higher charges for goods and services for all consumers, and jobs may be lost.
• Renewable energy contributes relatively little towards our current needs and
the Government aims to generate 10% of all UK energy requirements from
renewable sources by 2010 are not going to be met.

Energy sources may be classified as renewable and
non-renewable.
Non-renewable energy sources can not be
replenished (made again) in a short period of time
(e.g. coal, oil, gas and nuclear). Renewable energy
sources can be replenished naturally in a short
period of time (e.g. wind, solar, tidal, geothermal etc.).
By 2004, total electricity production stood at
382.7TWh (up 23.7% compared to 309.4TWh in
1990), generated from the following sources:
• gas – 39.93% (0.05% in 1990)
• coal – 33.08% (67.22% in 1990)
• nuclear – 19.26% (18.97% in 1990)
• renewables – 3.55% (0% in 1990)
• hydroelectric – 1.10% (2.55% in 1990)
• imports – 1.96% (3.85% in 1990)
• oil – 1.12% (6.82% in 1990).
Most of the UK’s electricity comes from thermal
power stations burning gas, coal or oil. Britain is
rapidly using up its North Sea gas reserves and is
already importing additional gas from Holland and
Russia. Some believe UK gas reserves may have
run out in 20 years. Oil is likely to last longer.
The other major contributor is nuclear power. A
modern nuclear power station emits around 16
tonnes of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour. Gas
produces 356 tonnes and coal 891 tonnes. Nuclear
power stations may be cleaner in terms of GHG
emissions but they cost a great deal to build and the
need to deal with their radioactive waste means they
are more expensive once decommissioning costs are
included in the overall costings. However, some
countries like France generate up to 75% of their
energy by nuclear means and the British Government
is likely to replace its current older nuclear power
stations as they reach the end of their life.
The energy industry is under increasing pressure to
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. CO2 emissions
in the UK were over 500 million tonnes in 2005.
Some of these reductions will be achieved by Carbon
Capture and Storage (CCS), where CO2 emissions
from thermal power stations and petroleum
processing plants are stored underground; this
approach is gaining growing attention among power
and oil producers.
The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, now
comprising of 22 countries including the UK, was set
up in 2003 to develop CO2 capture, transportation
and storage.

39
Possible solutions

One possibility may be to store CO2 under the North
Sea. Disused oil fields have the capacity to store up
to 10 years of the UK’s total annual carbon emissions
and old gas fields could offer 30 years’ capacity.
Salt rich layers of rock beneath the sea floor (saline
aquifers) can trap CO2 pumped down into them.
At the moment dumping CO2 in the North Sea is
prohibited but the UK Government is pursuing
amendments to the relevant laws so CCS projects
can be approved.

Renewable energy sources

Alternative energy is a general term for solar, wind, The Government is committed to putting in place
wave, tidal and geothermal power. mechanisms that mean 10% of our energy will come
from renewable sources by 2010 (3% at present).
Britain is the windiest country in Europe, and offshore
Strange but true? wind farms are a viable source of power – 500MW
wind farms are currently being planned, which is
• In theory the amount of energy poured almost as large as some nuclear plants. Wave and
onto the earth by the sun every 15 minutes solar power (by fitting panels on the roofs of all new
is equivalent to all of our energy needs for buildings) could also be used.
one year. But much of it is not captured or
used in any way. Wind power is clean, sustainable and inexpensive, but
• Geothermal power (heat from the ground) many people dislike seeing the turbines on open land
is largely untapped. The heat energy stored and regard them as a form of environmental damage.
in the uppermost 10km of the earth’s crust
A draft Government review says that renewable
is equivalent to 50,000 times the total
energy schemes must be made more acceptable to
energy stored in all the world’s oil and gas.
local communities if they are to succeed.
• The temperature a few metres below
ground in the UK is around 12°C. “Ground
source heat pumps” are now available
to pump this heat from below ground to
warm individual homes.
• Chicken, pig and human excrement are all
currently being used to generate electricity.
The first UK generator using animal dung
began in 2002.
• Bio-diesel to run vehicle engines with far
lower CO2 emissions can be made from
most vegetable oils, including soya bean
oil and the oil from oilseed rape (canola).
Some companies manufacture it from
used oil from restaurant fryers. It can be
mixed with ordinary diesel.

40
Possible solutions

At present 862 turbines produce over 412MW Solar panels were the surprise hit of 2006.
of electrical power, enough to supply more than Many people are now considering trying to
260,000 homes. The Cefn Croes, near Aberystwyth generate their own alternative power just
will supply 40,000 homes. Plans for a 600MW farm for their own homes!
on the island of Lewis, off the west coast of Scotland,
are under way. The Government subsidises wind
power by 3p a unit for renewable energy to
encourage its usage.

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• Roger Osborn, who lives on a Swindon suburban housing estate, has installed
solar water and PV panels reducing his electricity bills to about £4 a week, and
gas to just £7 a quarter. He estimates it would cost about £10,000 to go off-grid
and produce all his own power.

• The CIS tower in Manchester has 7,000 solar panels to supply 180,000 kWh of
electricity a year.

• In Woking, Surrey, the council has used wind power and other renewable technologies
to halve power demand in its buildings. The council saves £1m a year and has cut
CO2 emissions from its buildings by 77%.

Electricity companies are now offering “alternative electricity” that has,

as far as possible been sourced from renewable means.

41
Possible solutions
Industry
SECTION SUMMARY
• Industry is looking towards a combination of reducing the levels of energy wasted in
production, distribution and sales by a range of methods as diverse as automatic light
switch-off systems, bio-fuel vehicles, recycling and flexible working arrangements.
“Industry“ is a broad category including all aspects of
primary (extractive), secondary (manufacturing) and
tertiary (service) industry. Some industries are very
heavy users of energy and may emit a lot of GHGs.
Others, particularly in the service sector e.g. shops
and offices may appear to be relatively moderate
users of energy by comparison. However, all require
heating, lighting, communications and transport links.
These form a significant component of the costs of
the industry. As their profitability is directly related to
how much of their income is left after costs (including
heating etc.) have been deducted, they have a vested
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Green-Works
Green-Works is helping to change the way
society thinks about “waste”. A charity and
social enterprise with a difference, Green-Works
strives to ensure that quality but redundant
office furniture from the commercial world is not
only diverted from landfill but passed on at very
low cost to charities, schools, community groups
and even start-up businesses across the UK.
As a social enterprise Green-Works has a policy
of complete transparency. They provide a two-
way audit trail for the furniture and equipment
42
interest in reducing the energy costs they incur. At the
same time consumers of the goods and services they
offer are increasingly discerning when judging the
products competing for their money. Criteria such as
how environmentally friendly products and services
are perceived to be are added to cost as a means of
making a final purchase decision.
Companies that are seen to shirk their responsibilities
in terms of reducing their impact on the environment
have to answer not only to the laws governing
emissions but also potential loss of trade as
consumers choose to shop elsewhere.
supplied, which includes everything from desks
and filing cabinets to conference tables and
chairs, coat-stands, notice boards and stationery.
Every effort is made to label furniture with the
name of the donor organisation and periodically
each donor receives a report letting them know
where their furniture has gone.
The more money that can be saved by
purchasing quality furniture at low cost, the
more scarce resources can be directed at
core activities. The more furniture that can be
re-used, the less waste will be sent to landfill
and the less likely it is that imported furniture
will be made from uncertified wood.
Possible solutions
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Royal Mail – Carbon neutral
Carbon management programme
Royal Mail Group is trying to reduce its carbon footprint and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions (CO2). They are working with the Carbon Trust in their Carbon Management
Programme to assess cost effective, carbon reduction measures.
Their carbon management strategy has three
main strands detailed below:
1. Energy efficiency
Reducing the amount of energy consumed
by vehicles and buildings to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions:
• reducing congestion and CO2 by
choosing the most appropriate method
of transport
• choosing cleaner, lower carbon vehicles
• using vehicles in the most efficient
manner
• sharing best practice.
2. Alternative fuels
Royal Mail need energy to deliver their
services, so they are looking for alternative
types/sources of energy e.g. bio-fuels.
Their original target to source 10% of
their energy from renewable sources
was increased to 50% and has now been
exceeded with 100% of their electricity now
coming from certified renewable sources.
3. Offsetting residual
CO2 emissions
As there will always be some residual carbon
dioxide from their vehicles etc, Royal Mail will
try to reduce their overall carbon footprint
by “offsetting” e.g. supporting schemes such
as the planting of native trees in the UK
(carbon sequestration) and working closely
with the Woodland Trust.
Energy saving
Energy pilot schemes will be rolled out at
several of their offices over the 2005–06 year.
Using Combined Heat and Power (CHP).
They have 30 CHP units at 18 offices,
supplying 51GWh or 12% of their total
electricity consumption.
Using alternative fuel technology in their
road fleet. They currently have 147 Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG) vehicles operating in
London and Perth, along with six electric
vehicles operating in the Oxford area.
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Possible solutions

Transport
SECTION SUMMARY

• Transport policies are beginning to consider congestion charging and pay-per-mile

systems to encourage people to reduce personal car use.
• Air travel has expanded dramatically in recent years with competition forcing the
cost of flights down.
• Rail, underground and bus systems are less polluting per passenger than
individual car travel.
• Public transport is not always perceived as offering the flexibility, reliability and
availability required to tempt more car drivers away from their vehicles.

Cars, buses, trains and aeroplanes are helping us make more journeys every year.
All motorised transport produces CO2 but some produce more than others.

Road Rail – passenger

In recent years there has been a 73% increase in Trains are an energy efficient carrier of people
road transport (between 1980 and 2002). This has and goods and hence produce relatively less CO2
resulted in a 39% increase in greenhouse gas emissions per passenger than other modes.
emissions from transport which now accounts for Emissions of CO2 per passenger/km are, on average,
26% of total UK emissions. A typical 1.4 litre family approximately half that of travel by car. Travelling
car driven an average 12,000 miles a year produces by rail reduces your contribution to climate change
around 3.12 tonnes of CO2. You can reduce those but not all journeys can be made by rail.
emissions by keeping your speed down and sharing
your car journeys with others, which is a more
efficient use of energy and reduces CO2 emissions
per person per journey. Cars pollute most when they
are in traffic jams. These mainly occur at rush hours
at the beginning and end of the working day. In the
future more flexible working hours and more people
working from home may help to reduce these peaks
of congestion. Congestion charging (e.g. in central
London) was introduced to tackle problems caused
by slow moving traffic, however a side effect of
encouraging people to switch to public transport or
cycling has been a reduction in CO2 emissions.

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Possible solutions
Rail – freight
Over the last 50 years much of the freight in the UK
switched to lorries from railways as the motorway
network grew and it seemed cheaper to use the
road. However, not all costs are easily measured.
Carrying freight by rail results in an 80% cut in CO2
emissions per kilogram carried compared to road
haulage. In 1998 rail produced only 1% of the UK’s
total emissions so switching some freight traffic
to rail would result in a dramatic reduction in CO2
emissions. However these savings would be reduced
by the need to transport freight by road from the
rail hub to its final destination.
Air
Aviation is the fastest growing contributor to climate
change. The UK Government forecasts 500 million
passengers a year by 2030 – up from 229 million in
2005, with a predicted doubling of carbon emissions.
Aviation accounts for only about 2% of carbon dioxide
emissions globally, according to the International
Air Transport Association, but at high altitudes jet
exhausts may cause a warming effect that is two or
three times greater than that of carbon dioxide.
The effect of condensation trails (“contrails”) in terms
of atmospheric warming is worse at night and during
the winter. Night flights account for only 25% of
the daily air traffic but contribute 60% to 80% of the
warming caused by commercial aviation. At the same
TABLE 2 Pollution by mode
Comparison per tonne–km Road
Climate change particles
59.00
(grams CO2 equivalent)
time, winter flights accounted for only 22% of the
annual number of commercial flights, but they
contributed half of the annual warming effect.
In simple terms the proportion of human-induced
climate change accounted for by aviation is three
times greater than that of the equivalent amount
of ground level emission of carbon dioxide. This is
due to the range of greenhouse gases emitted by
aircraft and the altitude at which they are emitted.
Many individuals are now reconsidering the way they
travel for business and pleasure. Holiday makers
are weighing up the benefits that they gain in terms
of cost, time and convenience against the longer-
term negative impacts they are creating for future
generations. And it isn’t only people being transported
by air. When we see vegetables air freighted from
Kenya or fish from California, USA, the “food miles”
travelled and CO2 damage incurred are not included
in the price we pay.
Water
In the UK, water transport accounts for 24% of
annual goods moved compared to 64% by road
and 8% by rail. There are very sound reasons for
encouraging freight on water.
In the UK The Freight Study Group claims that inland
shipping, including coastal traffic, releases the least
climate changing particles. Some groups suggest that
more could be transported by boat in the future.
Rail–Diesel/electric average Inland shipping
28.00 22.00
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Possible solutions

FIG 17 Energy used by different modes of transport in the UK

46
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Journeys to school
SECTION SUMMARY

• Journeys to and from schools by car have soared in recent decades greatly adding to
rush hour congestion.
• Whilst some pupils do travel further much of this rise is related to changes in attitudes,
lifestyle and safety concerns rather than a lack of public transport or cycle routes.

Journeys by car are a significant contributor to As you read the case study remember that many
carbon emissions. Many of these journeys are thought people think that:
of as essential by those driving to work or school,
• roads are too dangerous to cycle on
but there are alternatives. One initiative has looked
closely at journeys to school. Thirty years ago most • arriving by expensive cars is cool whereas
seven-year-olds made their own way to school. bikes aren’t
Today, less than one in 10 does. Even in recent years • cycling makes it harder to carry the stuff you
the changes have been surprising. From 1991 to need for school
2004 the percentage of primary pupils taking the car
to school increased by 14% to 41%; another 8% of • expensive bikes are targets for theft and
secondary pupils travelled by car driving the figure vandalism in schools.
up to 22%. At peak times in urban areas as many as
25% of all the cars on the road may be on a school What has the school done to overcome
run. In part this reflects the fact that we often have these barriers to cycling to school?
longer journeys to school these days as people
increasingly live further away from their nearest
school. However, this doesn’t fully explain the pattern.
The vast majority of pupils live within easy cycling
distance of their schools but despite the boom in
the sales of bicycles in recent years, nationally only
2% of pupils cycle to school. The case study on
page 48 looks at one school that has taken the lead
in changing the way pupils travel to school and has
directly done something local to help solve a global
carbon problem.

47
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Kesgrave High School
Kesgrave High School (11–18), near Ipswich in
Suffolk probably has a higher percentage of pupils
cycling to school in the UK with around 61% using
a bike (similar to the percentage for Denmark and
The Netherlands, known to be cycle friendly
countries). That means up to 740 pupils a day!
The school actively encourages cycling in the
following ways:
• Secure cycle parking and lockers for
possessions are provided.
• A positive attitude is adopted and bike sharing
and school trips by bike are encouraged.
• High levels of cycling at the school and the
extensive network of safe routes mean that
pupils are able to go on many more school
trips and participate in more out of school
activities than they could otherwise expect.
How pupils travelled to the school was surveyed in October 1995 and early summer 1998.
Walk
1995 35%
1998 15%
48
• The school also promotes the link between
cycling, fitness and well being.
• An established network of safe cycle routes
and subways in the area has led to high levels
of cycling in what is an area with high levels of
car ownership.
• Many of the pupils who don’t cycle use the
bus (emitting less carbon per passenger
than cars) as there is an excellent bus service
linking Martlesham and Kesgrave with the
town centre.
• The school prohibits parents from driving into
the grounds for safety reasons and because
there is very little parking space. There is a
short lay-by outside the school which has
space for roughly 10 cars.
Cycle Bus Car
45% 12% 8%
61% 16% 8%
Possible solutions

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£5 million to help pupils
cycle to school in Scotland
29 November 2006

New safer routes to schools, improved cycling training for children and secure
cycle storage in playgrounds are all part of a nationwide plan to encourage more
pupils and parents across Scotland to choose to walk or cycle to school.

The plans were unveiled as part of a £5 million funding announcement by

Transport Minister Tavish Scott to help tackle the school run, while supporting
schools in promoting healthier ways of getting to and from the classroom.

The breakdown of the funding is as follows:

• £2.4 million for new and safer routes to schools

(co-ordinated by sustainable transport charity, Sustrans).

• £1.2 million for cycle training for children

(co-ordinated by Cycling Scotland).

• £1.4 million for school

infrastructure changes
such as more cycle
racks and shelters
(co-ordinated by Sustrans).

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Possible solutions

FIG 18 Sustrans supports school cycle trains for younger pupils

J Bewley/Sustrans

To find out more about Sustrans projects, visit the website www.sustrans.org.uk

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Possible solutions

Home
SECTION SUMMARY

• Homes in the UK are rarely built to high energy efficiency standards. Planning
regulations address “conservation of fuel and power” and there are grants and
tax breaks for incorporating certain energy efficiency measures in new or existing
houses; but the final decisions on how energy efficient our homes are are made
by individual home owners and developers.
• Steps including more effective insulation and the use of energy saving appliances
will become more common as energy prices continue to rise.
• Some structural changes involve cost to the home owner.
• The behavioural changes that require minor personal sacrifices are achievable
with relatively little inconvenience.

Our homes generate nearly 30% of the UK’s carbon

FACTS – AMAZING! Britons waste dioxide emissions. It is estimated that the average
the equivalent of around two power UK home produces around 5.6 tonnes of CO2 per
stations’ worth of electricity each year – from heating, lighting and running kitchen
appliances. The British Government estimates that
year by leaving TV sets and other
56% of energy used in UK homes could be cut using
gadgets on standby. Electrical
currently available technologies. The way homes and
equipment in “sleep” mode used communities are developed affects the way we live
roughly 7TWh of energy and emitted and therefore the overall “ecological footprint” of
around 800,000 tonnes of carbon. residents. Providing easy access to local amenities,
public transport, local food links and recycling facilities
enables residents to choose more sustainable options
and reduce their ecological footprint.
Ecological Footprint
The phrase “ecological footprint” is a
metaphor used to depict the amount of land
and area of water a human population would
hypothetically need to provide the resources
required to support itself and to absorb its
wastes, given prevailing technology. The term
was first coined in 1992 by Canadian ecologist
and professor at the University of British
Columbia, William Rees.

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Possible solutions

The way we use energy in our homes directly affects
the overall demand for energy in the UK and
therefore the amount of GHGs that are released.
However, it isn’t as straightforward as looking at
how much electricity or gas we use to heat, cook
and wash. Everything we use in our house requires
energy to be produced in the first place. Waste from
our homes can be dumped in landfill sites – only to
release methane (another GHG) later on.
New homes are built to increasingly strict regulations
but some organisations are looking for even
more radical designs to make better use of more
environmentally friendly materials, layouts and
energy/waste management systems. Not all of the
features listed below are necessarily possible in any
one new house or suitable for all areas, but they give
an idea of what can be done to make a difference:
• Higher than normal levels of insulation.
• Natural materials used in the building,
e.g. timber frames, wool insulation, straw bale
walls, organic paints.
Some of these methods aren’t really suitable for a
house that has already been built but there are lots
of ways we can help reduce our ecological footprint.
What can be done to use less energy in the
home? Some surprisingly small changes in our
behaviour can dramatically affect our energy
consumption:
• Replacing an old energy inefficient dishwasher
with a new “A” rated appliance can cut energy
use by nearly half and energy efficient tumble
dryers cut it by a third.
• Recycling an aluminium can saves up to 95%
of the energy needed to produce the amount of
aluminium ore required to make a new one.
• 85% of the total energy used, over time, in the
average video recorder in Britain, is used while
it is on standby. In Britain, that means £163m of
electricity is used every year by TVs and videos
left on standby.

• Solar thermal hot water heating systems on

the roof.

• Photovoltaic panels on the roof for generating

electricity.

• Wood fired central heating systems.

• Rainwater harvesting for flushing the WC.

• “Grey” water collection (from sinks and bath)

for watering the garden.

• Composting toilet.

• Large amounts of glazing to allow lots of daylight.

• Heat recovery systems for space heating.

• Passive solar orientation – a southerly orientation

and larger amounts of glazing facing south means
housing gains free light and heat.

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Possible solutions

FIG 19 The ideal sustainable house

An interactive version of this illustration can be

found on the Climate Change Challenge Pack CD

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Possible solutions

This section looks at some small and not so small changes that could help us all
make a real difference.

The Government has launched a home energy saving campaign “Saving your 20%”
which offers advice and guidance, and practical tips to help reduce energy consumption
in the home. For more information visit: www.est.org.uk/commit

Immediate and no cost Changes for the future or

• Turn off lights when you leave a room.
• Only boil the amount of water you need in
your kettle.
• Turn off televisions, videos, stereos and computers
when they are not in use – they can use between
10 and 60% of the power they use when on.
• Don’t leave fridge doors open for longer than
necessary, let food cool down fully before putting
in the fridge or freezer, defrost regularly and keep
at the right temperature.
• Close curtains at dusk to keep in heat.
• Let your clothes dry naturally rather than using
a tumble drier.
• Turning down the thermostat for your heating by
one degree could cut your heating bill by 10%.
with an initial cost
• Put foil behind radiators fitted on external walls.
• Use energy saving light bulbs – they use a quarter
of the electricity and last much longer.
• Insulate your hot water tank and pipes.
• Speak to your energy provider about their “green
tariff” – they may be able to match your energy
consumption with an equivalent amount of energy
from renewable sources.
• Fit seals to external doors, skirting boards and
floor boards to reduce heat loss – 15% of heat is
lost through draughts and 15% through the floor.
• Make your windows draught proof or fit double
glazing – this cuts heat loss in half. Up to 10%
of heat is lost through uninsulated windows.

• Set your water thermostat for 60°F (approximately • Fit loft insulation, which should be at least
15.5°C) – this is plenty warm enough for bathing 200mm thick to be most effective. 25% of heat
and washing and will save money too. is lost through an uninsulated roof.

• Use economy programmes on dishwashers or • Fit wall insulation – up to 33% of heat is lost
washing machines. through uninsulated walls.

• Where possible don’t stand cookers and • Replace old inefficient boilers.
fridges/freezers next to each other. • Fit solar panels or solar tiles to your roof.

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Possible solutions

Water Waste
The water we use has to be purified before it The products we use all take energy to make
reaches our home. This uses significant amounts and involve journeys when they are disposed of.
of energy. By recycling we can save significant amounts
of energy:
Inside:
• Reuse as much as possible – envelopes, carrier
• Use the plug in the basin or sink – don’t leave
bags... In the UK we generate enough rubbish
water running unnecessarily.
to fill the Royal Albert Hall in just one hour.
• Always wash a full load in the washing machine
• Sell unwanted things or donate them to
or dishwasher. Choosing a 30°C wash cycle will
charity shops.
use 40% less energy than a 40°C cycle.
• Recycle as much as possible (glass, cans, paper,
• Fix dripping taps and make sure that they are
plastics...). In the UK we recycle about 25% of
turned off fully – in one week a dripping tap can
our paper compared to about 60% in the rest
waste a bathful of water.
of Europe.
• Have a shower instead of a bath – an ordinary
• Recycle organic waste by making a composter
shower uses two-fifths of the water in a bath
and use it on your own garden – up to 20% of
but power showers use four times as much hot
household rubbish can be turned into compost.
water as a normal shower.
• Use “terry” nappies and a nappy washing service
• Fit a water saving device in the toilet cistern or
rather than disposable nappies.
fit an “eco-flush”.
• Speak to your council about recycling “white goods”.
Outside:
• Collect rainwater for watering plants.

• Water plants in the early evening – less water

will evaporate.

• Water plants at their roots.

• Avoid using sprinklers – they can use up to

1000 litres of water an hour!

• Select plants that don’t need constant watering

(ask at your garden centre for advice).

• Don’t use a hosepipe to wash the car – use a

bucket instead.

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Possible solutions

e s t u d y
cas
Findhorn
Ecovillages strive to live sustainably combining a way of life that has a low
environmental impact with a supportive social community. One of the best known
ecovillages in the UK is the Findhorn Foundation and Community in Moray,
north-east Scotland. Findhorn’s purpose-built eco-homes and community
buildings are an excellent example of sustainable housing and the community
has an ecological footprint of less than half the national average.

Findhorn’s houses are constructed from locally

grown and harvested timber from sustainable
sources, and organic paints and wood
preservatives are used to avoid pollution from
toxic fumes. A unique construction system,
a “breathing wall” has been developed.This
technology allows the fabric of a building to
moderate humidity and air quality – similar to
the technology behind mountaineering jackets.

The buildings incorporate design features that
invite passive solar radiation such as south-
facing windows and conservatories and minimal
wall openings on north walls to reduce heating
needs, Sustainably harvested wood provides
space heating for both new and older homes.
Many houses are deliberately made smaller than
an average semi-detached home so that they
are easier to heat. In contrast to a typical home
the bedrooms are downstairs, with the living
areas upstairs to make the most of hot air rising.
Four community-owned wind turbines supply
more than 100% of Findhorn’s electricity needs.
The system is unusual in that the community
has its own private electricity grid. When the
wind blows the electricity is used on site, and
if production exceeds demand the surplus is
exported to the grid. If the wind doesn’t blow,
then the site imports from the grid. Overall
Findhorn is a net exporter of electricity, and
green electricity generation is one of their
successful community businesses.
Heating for the homes is provided by roof-
mounted south-facing solar panels. These,
together with state-of-the-art “heat sink” boiler
systems that heat water, and energy storage
coils from the panels, mean that many homes
are self-sufficient in power.
Architects are encouraged to incorporate energy
efficiency considerations into every building
design. The guidelines for new buildings in
the ecovillage encourage very high levels of
insulation, and double- or triple-glazed windows

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Possible solutions

ed
continu
Mark Major
with low-emission window coatings. Energy
efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs are
installed in many residences, businesses and
community buildings. “Electrosave” gadgets
allow the residents to keep a close eye on
exactly how much power they are using and
its respective cost per hour.

Waste water and sewage from the 57 properties

in the ecovillage is processed at the Living
Machine®, a process which uses natural
non-chemical biological systems to clean the
waste and create a mini-ecosystem within a
greenhouse environment, mimicking nature’s
own water cleaning system. Domestic water
consumption is kept to a minimum by using
showers instead of baths, low-flush toilets and
self-closing taps. Rainwater is also collected
for garden use.
Mark Major
So what’s in store for Findhorn in the future?
It’s a constantly evolving model so is always
looking for ways to improve. Ideas include
offering cheaper energy with a “traffic light”
system showing when wind energy is being
generated. They are looking at a hydrogen
fuel cell plant in the future to power vehicles
and to generate power when the wind isn’t
blowing. Look around Findhorn and you’ll still
see LPG bottles, so there is room for improve-
ment. It’s also important that eco-houses
don’t become a reserve of the “middle classes”,
so they are looking at the development of
eco-“affordable” housing.

Environmental, economic and social benefits

aside, Findhorn residents must feel good
knowing that they are doing all they can to
minimise energy use and live in harmony with
Even if we’re not all in a position to be able to
nature. Now that we know the damage being
build our homes from scratch, we can learn from
caused to the environment, and the importance
the “green” technology that works so well here
and urgency of being energy efficient, we
in helping to reduce the impact of our homes
can begin to question why all new properties
and way of life on climate change. Ensuring our
aren’t built following Findhorn’s example.
lofts are properly insulated, installing double or
secondary glazing, fitting draught excluders and
switching to a green energy tariff are just some
of the simple steps we can take to make our
homes more energy efficient.

57
 Possible solutions

Shopping
Journeys to increasingly distant shopping malls and
supermarkets selling products in wasteful packaging
cost the environment more than we think:

• Make a shopping list so that you only buy what

you need and are going to use.

• Buy recycled goods and goods with recycled

packaging (e.g. milk bottles can be recycled up
to 100 times).

• Buy organic products (using fewer chemicals that

are created using energy intensive processes).

• Buy goods with minimal packaging.

• Don’t buy disposable/throw-away goods when

it is possible to buy goods that are durable.

• Reuse shopping bags or take your own.

• Use freezer bags when buying frozen goods so

that your freezer has less work to do.

• Buy refillable products and refills where possible.

• Buy environmentally friendly cleaning and

washing products.

• Buy in bulk if possible.

• Cut down on visits to shops by shopping more

efficiently when you go.

• Buy “Fair Trade” goods.

• Buy recycled paper or wood from sustainable

forests.

• Grow your own vegetables.

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