Toolkit - climate hero

Home

• Cavity wall insulation- a well-insulated home is better at retaining heat. Therefore, you will be less dependent on your heating to keep you warm. It could save up to 620 CO2kg. Find out more on the Simple Energy Advice webpage .
• Energy efficient windows- Similarly to insulation in your walls, making sure your windows are keeping in as much heat as possible will also reduce your energy consumption on heating. The Energy Saving Trust has a whole host of information on their website .

Energy

• Renewable energy- generating renewable energy for your home is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint and ensures you require less energy from the national grid. You can find more on our dedicated webpage.
• Offsetting- offsetting involves encouraging activities that will remove carbon from the atmosphere, for example, planting trees and restoring habitat. It works so that the carbon you use, for transport or other activities can be offset by the carbon absorbing activities you have funded.
• Cavity wall insulation - about a third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home escapes through the walls. A well insulated home requires less energy to heat which results in lower heating bills and a reduced carbon footprint.   

Travel

• Go electric- the electric car industry has continued to grow over the last decade and the number of options now available to consumers makes switching to an electric vehicle more realistic. You can find more information on EDF's buying guide  or on the government's Go Ultra Low website .
• Rethink your holiday- taking a long-haul flight generates more carbon emissions than an average person in dozens of countries around the world produces in a whole year. The BBC have an interesting article  on reducing the amount we fly.

Lifestyle/ Consumption

• Conscientious consumption- make sustainability a factor when deciding where to shop and eat. Rather than going out for steak try out a new vegetarian restaurant or choose brands that invest in green initiatives.
• Buy less- products that you buy in the shops, whether it be clothes, toys or electrical goods, all have a carbon footprint. Put simply the fewer things you buy, the smaller your carbon footprint. While it may be a little tricky to become self-sufficient over-night, to take a more carbon conscious approach when buying new things will encourage you to become a more sustainable consumer.

Natural Environment

• Green roofs- planting plants on the roofs of buildings, often sheds creates a whole new habitat and is great for the environment. The Royal Horticultural Society has a whole webpage dedicated to green roofs .
• Tree planting- Planting trees is great for the environment as trees store carbon within their 'biomass'. The Woodland Trust  has lots of advice on planting and growing trees.