Reducing your carbon footprint
How to reduce your carbon footprint
Making simple changes to our day to day lives, like using less energy, driving less and recycling, makes a difference. There are lots of things people can do as an individual, without overwhelming changes to our lifestyle. Many of the actions we can take also make a very positive difference to our wellbeing and save us money in the long run.
The United Nations have provided a list of 10 simple actions that everyone can take to reduce their carbon footprint and many of them could save you money too. You can also use this carbon footprint calculator to help you understand your carbon footprint.
In Derby, these are the top three actions residents can take to reduce their carbon footprint:
- Reduce energy usage and loss from homes and buildings.
- Change how you travel.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle.
Reduce energy usage and loss from homes and buildings
That might be from getting into the habit of turning off appliances you aren’t using, turning down the heating or investing in better loft insulation.
You can find more information and advice on our Home energy advice pages.
Change how you travel
Driving less, walking or wheeling more or even getting on a bike are all great ways to cut your travel carbon footprint and the cost of travel. Also use public transport where practicable.
We are making huge investments to improve travel in the city and give residents more active and sustainable options. This is part of the Transforming Cities and Active Travel Fund.
More information about public transport can be found on our Public transport pages.
Improvements in the cycle infrastructure can be found on our City wide cycle improvements page.
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Food waste makes up around a third of the waste in your black (general) waste bin!
With food prices rising, reducing what we waste makes financial sense and it’s something everyone can do. By spending just a few minutes to plan what you’re going to eat, making a list and sticking to it, the average family could save £70 a week.
Find more ways to reduce, reuse and recycle on our website.