What you can do to help tackle climate change

How big is your environmental footprint?

A great place to start is to work out how big your environmental footprint is. Use the WWF carbon footprint calculator to see WWF Footprint Calculator

Energy Use

Find out how to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your bills.

The Simple Energy Advice website has advice on ways to save energy, such as:

• insulating your loft and cavity walls
• draught-proofing windows and doors
• upgrading your boiler
• installing double glazing
• using alternative sources of energy, such as solar power

Use the Energy Efficiency Calculator for personalised advice on what you can do to cut your energy bills.

Transport

We all know the benefits of exercise, but for active travel - such as walking, running and cycling - the benefits also include:

• it is a cheap form of transport;
• can help reduce congestion on the roads;
• can reduce the number of cars on the roads, helping to tackle climate change

You could also consider

• car sharing
• increasing your use of public transport

In South Ribble we have been working to provide residents and visitors with a range of safe and picturesque walking and cycling routes,to encourage physical activity and reduce reliance on cars.

Walking Routes

Reduce waste

To protect the environment and eliminate waste the best methods of control are Refuse, Reduce, Re-use, Repair and Recycle before throwing things away. Materials can be re-used in their original form instead of throwing them away or passed on to others for them to make use of.   

• to reduce waste use natural resources wisely.  The less we purchase, the less energy is required to grow or manufacture these goods and transport them too.
• avoid single use plastic where possible - try refillable bottles and coffee cups
• use bars of soap, shampoo and conditioners instead of liquids in bottles
• think refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle before you bin
• make use of your local recycling facilities www.recyclenow.com will allow you to search by postcode and find out what is available in your area
• check who you are paying to take your waste away, so that you know it is legally disposed of
• use a sandwich box or silicone covers rather than clingfilm
• reduce packaging, buy fruit and veg loose where practical
• eat more veggies and less meat.  The committee on Climate Change advises the Government on climate change.  They have suggested measures that need to be taken in the UK to fight climate change.  This includes having more plant-based meal options
• buy local and seasonal.  The other consideration is how far your food has travelled before it gets to your kitchen - known as it's food miles.   As a general rule, the more local, seasonal produce we can buy - be that meat, dairy or salad, the less food miles it will have than an equivalent product that's been flown over continents to reach our plate.
• reduce food waste
• donate unwanted clothes and toys to charity shops

The Council offers residents the facilities to recycle garden waste (by subscription), paper cardboard, cans, foil, certain plastics and glass.

For details of what can be recycled see What goes in which bin? - South Ribble Borough Council

Water

97% of the earth's water is in the oceans

2% is held in ice sheets and snow

1% is available for use by humans, animals, industry and agriculture across the world but it is not distributed evenly. 

To help save water you could:

• use water saving devices. A range of water saving devices can be ordered free from United Utilities - water saving devices 
• take a shower rather than baths
• turn the tap off while cleaning your teeth
• use a bucket to wash the car rather than a hosepipe or car wash
• have a water butt in your garden
• water the garden with washing up water or bath water
• boil the kettle with the right amount of water in it
• drink tap water rather than buying it in a bottle from a shop

You might be able to reduce your water bills by installing a water meter. United Utilities fit meters for free and are offering a two year free trial before you decide whether to swap. Apply for a water meter 

Biodiversity

Check out our biodiversity page for ideas on what you can do to help improve biodiversity.