What You Can Do

Ten Steps

We often get asked "But what can I do about Climate Change & Peak Oil?" Strangely enough this is relatively easy to answer: there is a lot you can do. In fact, simply asking this question shows you have taken the first step. There is no one solution, there are many. If we take all the Steps we will solve the problem.

The section below is culled from the 'Post-Carbon Living Ten Step Plan' (published by our Partners at www.Post-Carbon-Living.com).   That web site has many practical examples of making your home & life 'post-carbon' and has been prepared by the current TTHW Chairman. It is a work-in-progress with the latest updates of the new project at the 'Post-Carbon Homes' being posted regularly. This is a project running in Totteridge to create a demonstration home featuring all the best practice in home insulation, energy efficiency and micro-generation. You can contact the Chairman (Mark Brown) if you wish for further advice and help on these matters.

Step 1: Organise

Measure your carbon footprint. Join a Post-Carbon Community Community Action Group (CAG) or Carbon Rationing Action Group (CRAG). Read up on Peak Oil and Climate Change. There is a large selection of web sites, electronic newsletters, books, magazines and DVD's on the topic. There are also events you can attend.

Step 2: Powerdown

Learn to stop wasting energy. Simply switch electrical appliances off when not in use. Buy an Energy Meter. Switch off items from 'standby' mode. If it help purchase a "Bye Bye Standby" product to do this. Watch your driving style and keep within the speed limit. Make sure your car tyres are correctly inflated. Double or triple insulate your home. 300mm of loft insulation should be a minimum and is the most cost effective measure you can take. Get Cavity Wall insulation if you don't already. Modernise your heating control system and get Thermostatic Radiator Valves fitted. Close your curtains at night. Put reflective foil behind your radiators. Get draught excluders. Move your furniture away from Radiators. Get double or triple glazing if you don't already. Fit a modern insulated Loft Door.

In relation to this we found this great DIY Guide and thought we would share it with you:

• The DIY Guide to Energy Efficiency

Step 3: Recycle

Stop throwing useful materials away. Recycle everything that you can. Re-use items. Avoid the purchase of disposable items. If you have downpipes and a garden fit water butts connected to the downpipes to collect rainwater. Use re-usable nappies.

Step 4: Substitute

Fit energy saving light bulbs everywhere that you can. Switch your electricity to a renewable tariff - preferably one that actually spends your money on building new renewable energy systems. If you can get a Wood Burning Stove and/or Wood Burning Boiler (wood pellet, wood chip or log). If this is too expensive at least replace any old oil and gas boiler (greater than 10 years old) with a modern condensing one. Replace your car with a teeny tiny one which emits under 100gm/km of CO2. (Do you need a car at all?) Maybe consider a ground or air source heat pump to warm your home. If you can find a source of bio-fuel made from recycled vegetable oils use that in your diesel vehicle. Convert your petrol car to LPG. Fit Solar Thermal panels to meet up to 60% of your hot water needs over a year.

Step 5: Stay

Travel less. Invest your time and energy at home with you family. Do not fly. Avoid unnecessary journeys by car. Combine journeys, take passengers, take public transport, cycle or walk. Learn to make the most of your locality. Live as close to work as possible. Holiday near home if you must holiday at all.

Step 6: Generate

Fit Photovoltaics to generate your own power. If you have a lot of space install your own wind turbine. Look into getting a combined heat/power boiler.

Step 7: Grow

Grow your own food if you can. Get an allotment. If you can't then at least buy from a local organic box scheme. Participate in your local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Cut your food miles - check the packet. Avoid over-packaged foods. Always buy locally produced product. Buy seasonally produced organic food. If you have a garden that you don't have time to manage then contact Bare Gardens (www.baregardens.org.uk) who can arrange for someone else to make good use of your land for growing fruit & vegetables. Try and cut your meat consumption by 60%. You don't have to be vegetarian but avoid imported meats and those from the factory farm system.

Step 8: Invest

Only after you have done everything you can (OR are in the process of doing everything you can) to reduce your Carbon Footprint (and live sustainably) then invest your money in 'offset' schemes. There are many kinds but your money must go towards the reduction of Carbon someplace else for someone else. You can also invest in tracts of virgin rainforest to prevent its destruction. Invest wisely and never use it as an excuse to break the rules, ie, by flying!

Step 9: Make, ie, Reskill

Invest in your own practical ability to build, make and mend. These skills will come in handy. Get a hobby that gets you out of the armchair and keeps you out of the shops. Do something other than consume. Find something useful to do with your hands that will fill your time productively. Whilst we are about it - get out of debt. Debt makes you vulnerable so pay off those credit cards and live within your means. Find a happier place.

Step 10: Community

Community is the solution. Find yourselve a place within a community that can help you in times of need. Build relationships with your neighbours. Maybe this community is right where you are. Maybe you should move. Get closer to better sources of food and renewable energy. Maybe your community is one you should start to build. Choose self-reliance. Choose local resilience. Alone you are vulnerable. Your community is your strength. Get a job locally. Avoid long commutes. Shop locally and deal with local Businesses owned by local people. Invest in local Shops and Businesses. Buy their products and services. Ensure your community is self-sufficient in all the essentials. Make your community your supply chain.

Summary: Top Ten of Ten

1. Fit your home with 300mm of loft insulation, double glazing and cavity wall insulation

2. Switch to a renewables tariff for electricity

3. Fit those energy saving light bulbs everywhere

4. Recycle like crazy - learn how to mend and reuse

5. Get a modern condensing gas boiler - better still a wood-fired equivalent

6. Fit Solar Thermal Panels to heat your hot water

7. Grow your own food & get out of debt

8. Get the smallest most efficient car you can - if you need one at all

9. Don't fly - stay near home

10. Fit Photovoltaics to generate your own power

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