Household
waste hierarchy
None of the suggestions are new; some are easy to put into practice, others need more time and financial commitment
Energy Saving
Switch off appliances after use: leaving them on standby uses a lot more energy than most of us think; include plugs incorporating transformers eg mobile phone chargers and some digital radios
Change to low energy light bulbs: there are a wide variety of designs now available
Fit a cylinder jacket: around your hot water tank
Turn down your heating by one degree on your thermostat or one setting on your gas or electric fire
Change transport habits: fill your car with people before making a trip; walk on journeys less than 1km; take the bus, tram or train; get on your bike and cycle; consider running your vehicle on locally produced bio-diesel
Change shopping habits: buy local produce including organic from local markets and retailers; change to a ‘green’ electricity tariff
Upgrade the insulation in your home: fit draught excluders around doors and windows; install loft insulation to a depth of 270mm; fill existing cavity walls; add internal or external cavities; you may be eligible for a grant
Upgrade your central heating boiler: condensing gas boilers are an energy efficient choice
Install alternative energy devices such as: solar powered garden and shed lights; solar thermal water heating systems; wood fired space and water heaters
Recycling
Use your council ‘green’ bin to recycle paper, metal cans, glass and garden waste
Compost food waste except meat using a garden composting bin
Batteries: use rechargeable types for remote controls, torches and cycle lamps, radios and toys; anything that uses sizes AAA to PP3. Most light to medium ‘weight’ power tools use rechargeable supplies
Plastic bags: Woven polypropylene or Hessian types can be used again and again for all kinds of shopping
Household Recycling Centres: will take most materials including cardboard, plastic bottles, tetrapaks, electrical appliances, clothes and shoes, construction rubble and waste oil
Water: if you drink bottled water, try a stand alone gravity filter or install a filter system that taps into your water supply; for gardeners, use a water butt to collect rainwater
Energy Audit
If you plan to move home, you will come across the Home Information Pack which is now compulsory. Within each pack is an Energy Performance Certificate. If you want to act now and not wait until you move, check out the links below for help in working out your energy consumption and ways to reduce it
Act on CO2 - Direct Gov
Home Energy Check - Energy Saving Trust
Carbon Calculator - Warwick University
Carbon Counter - Resurgence
Energy Saving
Energy efficiency -
Cycling -
Wolverhampton Car Share -
Heat Project -
The Phoenix Project -
Transport Direct -
Traveline -
Goodbehere Ltd -
Grow Your Own Energy -
Energy Efficiency Advice Line -
Lion Victory Bio Diesel -
Energy Saving Trust -
Recycling
Kerbside Collections -
Household Recycling Centres -
Composting -
Wolverhampton Freecycle -
Recyk -
Pride in Penn Fields -
eCycle -
ASAN Recycling Service -
ASAN Green-Works -
Environmental Auditing
Resurgence -
Carbon Calculator -
Home Energy Check -
Act on CO2 -
Headlines from other sections:
