Transport
Shopping
Spreading the word

You don't have to leave the fight against climate change at home, you can take your good energy habits with you!

Transport

Driving People get very defensive when told to not use their cars, so much so that they might not hear the message that we are trying to get across. You can use your car but try to use it efficiently, there are simple things you can do to your car or to your driving habits to make sure that all is running as well as it can:

• Make sure the tyres are up to the right pressure
• Avoiding heavy braking or acceleration
• Using the gears properly

Will all help get the most from your car. It will save you money on your fuel bills too!

Check out the Energy Saving Trusts section on Eco-Driving and you could save £120 a year.

If you are getting a new or second hand car, why not look for one that is appropriate to your needs and check for the fuel efficiency figures. Remember more efficient cars save you money on fuel and on road tax, as well as producing less pollution.

New cars should have energy efficiency stickers on in the showroom rating them from A (the cleanest) to G (the most polluting).

There is another way

Instead for driving, why not look at the alternatives

Make the commute more social

Halve your fuel costs, get money towards the upkeep of your car and make new friends! The Surrey Car Share website will do all the hard work for you. You register your route and can specify timing, gender, and smoker or non-smoker to find your perfect match.
Check out Surrey car share here.

Fancy a shiny new bike? The cycle-to-work scheme offers you or your employees the opportunity of a new bike and associated equipment, tax-free. The scheme is easy to set up and will save you up to 50% of the total cost. All you need is to be on paid by PAYE.

What more encouragement to get to work and get fit in a sustainable way do you need?

Here is the official website for the full details.

Public Transport It is improving all the time and will be increasingly cost effective as fuel bills and road tax increase. You can also indulge in a good book or the morning paper while someone else worries about getting you there on time.

For information on the services and a route planner, use TransportDirect.

Shopping

It might not be instantly obvious, but the energy cost related to the food and goods that you buy can vary dramatically.

Try fair-trade, organic or local products Clothing, food, household items are all becoming available in more ethical forms.  By choosing fair-trade you make sure that the producers of the goods are getting a fair wage and working under safe and healthy conditions.

By choosing organic you are reducing the impact that was made on the environment in producing the product. By not engaging in heavy chemical use (fertilizers, pesticides etc), the soil and surrounding areas, and even the workers can be healthier. You can also be safe in the knowledge that the product does not contain any of these harmful chemicals.

By choosing local you reduce the amount of miles that the product has travelled. This reduces all the environmental problems associated with the transport such as carbon dioxide emissions. You also help the local economy by supporting the businesses in the immediate area.

Why so much packaging?

Packaging has hit the headlines recently as people are starting to get annoyed with having to fill their dustbins with excess amounts.  Not all products need so much protective packaging. In fact many fruit and vegetables do not need them at all.

By making sensible choices in the shop, by picking similar items with less packaging or leaving the excess in store, you reduce the amount you take home and also send a message to the shop that you don’t want or don't need it all.

It is also good to pick products were the packaging is easily recyclable in your doorstop collection or local bins.

Reuse your plastic carrier bags

Either take them back to the store for recycling, use them for your shopping again or use them round the house for bin liners. But certainly don't throw them away!

Spreading the word

When you have found out how easy your new, lower impact lifestyle is to maintain, why not let you family and friends share the knowledge? Let them know how much money they could be saving, as well as doing their bit to combat climate change.

Also, check out our links page where you will find contact details of organisations campaigning for action on climate change and other environmental issues.