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Home, Travel and Food: together they make up more than 60% of the average UK resident's carbon footprint. Here you'll find the latest news, research and ideas to help you cut their impact.

Cut your home’s carbon costsPrint

Simple energy-saving steps can help households save up to 1.5 tonnes of CO2 a year – without sacrificing a cosy home.

How to heat your home efficiently and economically
 Heating our homes and hot water accounts for 13% of the UK's overall greenhouse gas emissions. But it doesn't have to be this way. Improving the thermal efficiency of your home - its ability to trap heat that warms you rather than the air outside - is key to saving money and CO2.

Start at the top
 An uninsulated house loses more than a quarter of its heat through the roof,  that's why insulating your loft is probably one of the most effective - and cheapest - ways to improve your home's energy efficiency.  Lagging from scratch with the recommended depth of mineral wool could save up to 730kg of CO2, a year.

Cut emissions with the right boiler
 Gas boilers produce up to 60% of the CO2 in a gas-heated home  so installing an A-rated condenser boiler is one of the most effective ways to cut CO2 emissions - up to 1,259kg of CO2 a year for a three-bedroom, semi-detached, gas-heated house.

For further savings, turn your thermostat down a degree. This could save up to 284kg of CO2 emissions.

Choose energy-efficient appliances
 Lighting and appliances account for 15% of home energy requirements.  Keep this figure in check by selecting the most energy efficient appliances you can find. Changing an old, inefficient fridge-freezer to a new A++ (the most efficient)  rated model could save up to 138kg of CO2 a year. It's not just white goods that play a part. The energy consumption of your TV is linked to its size, so smaller TVs generally use less energy.


Key facts

  • Every year in the UK, each household creates around 5.5 tonnes of CO2 - enough to fill a hot air balloon
  • The annual CO2 emissions arising from the electricity generated to power all of our washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers are around the same as the emissions from 2 million cars
  • Where the energy goes in your home
    • 57% heating the home
    • 25% heating water
    • 15% appliances and lights
    • 3% for cooking

All calculations based on three-bedroom semi-detached house

* The facts and figures shown in this article have been obtained from a variety of sources, and may be subject to certain qualifications. The sources we've used, and any qualifications, for each fact are available below.

Sources

Heating our homes and hot water accounts for 13% of the UK's overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Information Source: DECC - The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan (Page 80 - Chart 3)

An uninsulated house loses more than a quarter of its heat through the roof
Information Source: Energy Saving trust

Insulating your loft is probably one of the most effective - and cheapest - ways to improve your home's energy efficiency.
Information Source: Act on CO2

Lagging from scratch with the recommended depth of mineral wool could save up to 730kg of CO2, a year.
Information Source: Energy Saving Trust

Gas boilers produce up to 60% of the CO2 in a gas-heated home

Installing an A-rated condenser boiler is one of the most effective ways to cut CO2 emissions - up to 1,259kg of CO2 a year for a three-bedroom, semi-detached, gas-heated house.
Information Source: Energy Saving Trust, Energy Saving Checklist

For further savings, turn your thermostat down a degree. This could save up to 284kg of CO2 emissions.
Information Source:  Energy Saving Checklist

Lighting and appliances account for 15% of home energy requirements.
Information Source: DECC - The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan (Page 80)

Changing an old, inefficient fridge-freezer to a new A++ (the most efficient) rated model could save up to 138kg of CO2 a year.
Information Source: Energy Saving Trust,  Energy Saving Checklist

The energy consumption of your TV is linked to its size, so smaller TVs generally use less energy.
Information Source:  Energy Saving Trust

Every year in the UK, each household creates around 5.5 tonnes of CO2 - enough to fill a hot air balloon
Information Source: Energy Saving Trust

The annual CO2 emissions arising from the electricity generated to power all of our washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers are around the same as the emissions from 2 million cars
Information Source: Energy Saving Trust

Team Green Britain and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies, organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this article. The content of this article has merely been provided as background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures applicable to their particular circumstance. Certain facts and figures shown have been sourced from third parties. Team Green Britain has not verified information sourced from third parties and Team Green Britain cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of these facts and figures.