Climate Change – Are you ready to listen and take action NOW?

In the last week, we have seen many news articles reminding us of the historic event 30 years ago, on 23rd June 1988, when NASA scientist James Hansen recognised climate change and announced to Senate “the greenhouse effect has been detected and is changing our climate now”

In the recent Energy & Climate Change Public Attitudes Tracker (Wave 25) conducted by BEIS in April 2018, it shows that in the UK, our main concern is Climate Change, which showed 74% people are concerned with this and 82% of people believe the world should be fully powered by renewable energy. So we need to make changes faster to save the planet.

So what is global warming and what causes it?

Global warming is the increase in the average global temperature, which increases when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants and greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere. These pollutants and gases absorb sunlight and solar radiation which have come from the earth’s surface, this radiation should escape into space. These pollutants, which can last for years to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and therefore cause the planet to get hotter and the global temperature to increase. This is what is now widely known as the greenhouse effect.

The global temperature has increased faster in the last 50 years and experts predict it will continue to rise.

Corinne Le Quéré, director for the Tyndell Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia has commented about the 2% increase in emissions in 2017 “The aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial times. For that to happen, studies have shown that emissions must peak within the next decade and then decline to net zero” this indicates drastic changes are needed.

What can each and everyone of us do about it?

Its simple, we need to reduce our CO2 emissions. Small differences collectively make a big difference. We can all make small differences in the way we live to help towards making a global difference, for the sake of the planet and future generations. The biggest things you can consider are:

1. Switch to a renewable heating systems for your home – From ground and air source heat pumps, to solar thermal, there are a choice of renewable heating options which may be suitable for your home available and you may also be eligible to claim the renewable heat incentive.

2. Use energy efficient appliances – reduce your energy consumption by investing in energy efficient appliances for your home.

3. Switch to LED lightbulbs – they use 80% less energy than standard bulbs.

4. Unplug unused appliances – Unplug appliances and turn appliances off standby mode. Energy is still being used when they are plugged in and on standby.

5. Buy cleaner energy from your provider – support the reduction by buying green electricity and energy.

6. Switch to a fuel efficient vehicle or electric car – reduce the impact on the environment when you switch your car.

7. Think about the transport you use – Planes, Trains and automobiles, Air travel is the biggest pollute and if you can travel a different way, it will make a difference.

8. Reduce your water waste – Think about how you live and how you could make a difference, collecting rain water and using in the garden, how many times you use.

9. Reduce your waste – only buy what you need, we throw away far too much food, creating more landfill waste, in turn creating more carbon dioxide along with methane.

If you would like to talk about whether a renewable heating system is suitable for your property.  Give us a call on 01603 898904.