Sustainability - First steps
First steps: Carbon reduction strategy
Your aim is to use less where possible, offset the rest and have a rolling strategy to reduce carbon output.
1. Assess your carbon output
Use the calculator to asses your primary carbon and secondary C02 contribution
https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/?fbclid=IwAR0_-e8UAXUNFYFGC4ddO3oWzoR0P9PQWxI-OG5wZb4RROj1mvDHx3b2oUs#/
2. Look for ways to cut down immediately
Use the Positive steps guide – Print mark off as you make changes
3. Plan to change for the better - Set a date
List changes and Date when you can make them
4. Check out external influences
Use the hyperlinks in your positive steps guide below
5. Ask your existing suppliers to provide their sustainability policy and carbon reduction strategy and any accreditation they have been awarded
6. Offset what you cannot avoid yet
Join Ecologi to offset your carbon footprint – Become Climate Positive with Ecologi | Ecologi
7. Share best practise / knowledge to increase our capabilities, invite conversation about his
This will lead to External innovations and internal innovations
Do not be disheartened, make the changes you can, small steps still get you to the same place xx
The benefits for businesses
Save money
Boost sales
Ongoing Advertising material
Positive branding
Feel good factor
Your own feel good factor
Below is ideas and links to help both businesses and personal change
There are personal and government grants to support businesses
Primary carbon footprint
Electricity – when combined with your own renewable energy sources or selecting a green energy supplier this is be considered better than gas
Usage
a. Solar panels – Government does grants for this
b. Green energy suppliers - Green Energy UK | 100% green electricity AND gas greenenergyuk.com / Octopus Energy: Switch to affordable renewable energy online -
c. Replace standard light for LED ( the 1/6 of the C02 emission)
d. PIR sensors in toilets and landings
e. Eliminate Vampire power – (un plug idle electronics)
f. Keep thermastate at low tempreture – Use timer
g. Smart meters to track useage
h. Lip on pans when cooking
i. Use smart device automation – Hive heating systems ( they will detect when you no longer need and turn off)
j. washing machine when full and at lower tempreture
k. Do not use a tumble dryer
l. Shower instead or bath after work
m. Do not over fill your kettle, boil only what you need
n. Dishwasher fill properly and sue on eco mode (1/3 carbon)
o. Swap desk top pc to lap top / ultra book
p. Use a low entery ink jet printer rather than an entery guzzling laser printer
q. Replace fridge and freezer if over 15 years old with a energy a++ model
r. fill your freezer up uses less energy ( fill with newspaper in need be )
Gas – Use electric where possible
a. Replace old boilers with an energy efficient condensing boiler
b. Insulation in your studio and house – Government do grants for this
c. Draft proof
d. Shower do not bath
e. Install heavy curtain and make sure closed at night
f. Turn down settings on boiler
g. 1-2 degrees less on room thermostat ( every degree down will save you £50 a year )
h. Use microwave instead of ovens to reheat etc.
i. Improve radiator efficiency
a. Install radiator reflectors behind
b. Install TRV valves
c. Keep system bleed
d. Instal a programable thermostat
Water –
a. Fix leaks ( one drip a second adds to 5 gallons per day ) check your toilet for leaks
b. Do not run water while brushing or shaving
c. Only flush toilets when necessary
d. Have a eco flush toilet or put two bricks in the back of your system
e. Under sink electric heater saves a lot running water to heat. Consider the combining with in house electric supply
f. Kettle – only fill with the amount you need
g. Use a Washing up bowl
h. Take shorter showers – Do not bath – replace shower heads with water saving ones
i. Buy second hand clothes – water used to produce clothes is shocking
j. Replace your dishwasher and washing machine to an eco-efficient one, if over 15 years old replace it, only use when full, use lower temperatures as uses less water
k. Store cold water in the fridge
l. Water butts, keep grass 2-3 inches low as this retains more water
m. Compost food scraps – compost will help plants retain water
n. Don’t wah cars and driveways
o. Reuse left over water – plants like soapy water and it stops bugs / flies on veg
p. Speak to family about how and the importance of saving water
q. Water is linked to energy use
Travel
Save Fuel where possible
Car share where possible
Walk or cycle where possible
How many flights
Take less bags
Other transport – Use public transport if possible ( bus and rail )
Work local – advertise to work local
Reduce face to face meetings – with virtual meetings
Secondary footprint ( purchasing habits )
Food
1. Buy without plastic / also know as vinyl / Acrylic / Polyethylene / Nylon / (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
2. No bottled water – Tap or filtered water in the fridge with reusable bottles ( glass or metal )
3. Food - Eat more vegan ( using 1/3 the amount of Carbon on food alone )
4. Paper based products – magazines – books – newspapers
5. IT equipment -
6. TV / Radio / Phone equipment
7. What car you use
8. Furniture and other manufactured goods (eg. Show banners etc.)
9. Products
10. Promotional materials – Pens to leaflets – show banners
11. Hotels / restaurants and pubs
12. Telephone / mobile data usage
13. Banking and fiancé – Ask for their sustainability policy
14. Insurance – Ask for their sustainability policy
15. Education – Travel / equipment / data storage /
16. Electricity – Choose a green supplier or generate your own
17. Props / clothes bought / buy second hand / antique / upcycle / buy less / do you need it
18. Be aware of environmental damage eg. Don’t use glitter - Add things in photoshop
19. Rechargeable batteries
20. Toilet Paper = Who gives a crap – Recycled, they are sustainability conscious, help build toilets abroad and offset their carbon they cannot avoid yet by planting trees
21. Dish washer tablets - SMOL –
22. House hold cleaners - Splosh
23. Make up wipes - Bamboo pads - Simple Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes -
24. Washing machine - Eco egg
25. Cling film - eco friendly
Photographers =
25. Paper back drops – you will use more, I tape the edge of mine to last longer and I clone out marks - Decompose in 4-6 weeks
26. Click backdrops – pastel and primes = These are advertising as eco-friendly because they are reusable, however they are made from vinyl – Decompose in 450 – 1000 years add to this add link to blog
27. Some ideas for Personal, Home and Studio - Sustainable Home and Studio ! (suzigardnerphotography.com)
Lastly 0ff set – Ecologi planting trees https://ecologi.com/