How big is your carbon footprint?

Understanding your carbon footprint

As the effects of the climate crisis become more apparent in the form of extreme heatwaves, wildfires, coastal flooding and intense rainfall, many people here in the UK are looking to make their lifestyle more environmentally conscious. But just how big is your carbon footprint and what can you do to reduce it?

What is your carbon footprint?

First, it’s important to be clear about what we mean by ‘carbon footprint’. The term refers to the effect that your daily choices and activities have on the planet. Certain choices – such as using a gas boiler, driving a petrol car or taking long haul flights – all contribute to the production of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and methane (CH4). These gases settle in the earth’s atmosphere and trap the sun’s heat, causing global temperatures to rise with potentially catastrophic consequences.

While our planet has some natural carbon traps, such as soil, forests and oceans, just under half of CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the most prevalent and harmful gas, and the one of which most people are seeking to reduce their output.

How to calculate your carbon footprint

In order to effectively reduce your carbon emissions, it can be worth getting an estimate of what they currently are. There are several online calculators such as this one from the WWF that you can access to do so. These will ask you a series of questions about your diet, transport choices, home heating and more, using your answers to provide an indication of your carbon emissions.

According to the WWF, the UK average carbon footprint for 2024 is 8.8 tonnes, with the world average slightly lower at 6.3 tonnes. Your results will determine how green your lifestyle is in comparison, and from there you can begin to make changes.

How to reduce your carbon footprint

The good news is that reducing your carbon footprint might be easier than you think. Here are some of the ways – both small and large – in which you can start to lower your emissions.

• Invest in an air source heat pump

If you’re serious about reducing your carbon emissions, you can consider investing in an air source heat pump for your home. Estimates suggest that gas boilers are responsible for around 15% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, so decarbonising your heating is key to the fight against climate change. By having a heat pump installed, you could reduce your household carbon footprint by up to 65%.

If you switch from an oil boiler to an air source heat pump, you could slash your annual emissions from 5,200kg to 850kg. What’s more, while gas and oil boilers emit nitrogen oxides, which exacerbate air pollution, heat pumps don’t.

One barrier to the uptake of heat pumps has been their cost. However, with improved air source heat pump grants available in 2024, these appliances are more affordable than ever.

• Invest in solar panels

Solar panels are another way to reduce your carbon footprint dramatically. They generate clean, renewable energy during daylight hours, reducing your reliance on the National Grid, which still uses fossil fuels to produce much of its electricity. Calling in the solar panel installers can save up to 1.8 tons of CO2 per year—the equivalent of planting 347 trees.

Solar panels have decreased significantly in price over the last decade, and are more efficient than ever. As such they represent a strong investment that may even increase the value of your property. There is currently a 0% VAT rate on solar panels and solar batteries too, making them more accessible.

• Change your transport

Another significant change you can make is to change your transport use. If you drive a petrol car, it may be time to consider a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle. These vehicles ensure that, at worst, short journeys can be made with zero emissions. Switching to an EV from a petrol model will cut your emissions by between 30% and 80%.

If changing your car isn’t an option, you can use public transport more often or choose active travel. Walking and cycling are a great way to get some exercise while cutting down on your emissions. They aren’t the only options either; rollerskates, skateboards and e-bikes are all examples of active travel.

• Holiday nearer to home

Flying is one of the most carbon intensive activities, with aviation accounting for 2.5% of global CO2 emissions. And while improvements have been made in terms of efficiency, viable alternatives to jet fuel are proving difficult to realise. So if you’re trying to minimise your carbon footprint, consider holidays closer to home as opposed to jetting off to exotic locations. Long haul flights in particular are carbon intensive, so if you really do need to hop on a plane, head to somewhere in Europe.

• Eat less meat

It’s easy to be persuaded by the media that going vegetarian or vegan is the best way to reduce your carbon emissions, but according to the soil association, that’s not the only way to eat greener. Instead, the organisation suggests eating less meat that is intensively farmed, choosing organic options wherever possible. Buying organic meat helps the environment because the animals are left to graze rather than being kept inside. This helps to lock carbon into the soil and reduces the need for chemical fertilisers.

• Buy second hand

Fast fashion accounts for 10% of global pollution, producing 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon emissions every year. So a great way to reduce your contribution to that is by buying second hand. There are lots of easy ways to do this, from charity shopping to apps such as Vinted and Depop. Not only will buying preloved clothes help the environment, it’ll also save you money.

• Turn off lights & appliances

One final, super-simple way to be more sustainable is to ensure you turn off appliances when they’re not in use. Switch the TV off at the plug instead of putting it on standby, and turn off lights when you leave a room. Smart technology is helping many households reduce their energy use, so think about investing in smart lights and/or a smart thermostat.

Reducing your carbon footprint

If you’re interested in speaking to solar panel or air source heat pump installers about reducing your carbon emissions, get in touch with Aura Heating today. Our MCS certified installers cover Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset, Sussex, Berkshire and London and will be happy to help you on your journey to a more sustainable lifestyle.