Climate Change
Every day, we're bombarded with news and stories relating to climate change and its effects on the environment. Climate change is a complex issue, but the following information will help you both understand it and make very real changes that will help the environment AND save you money.
The climate of the Earth is always changing. In the past it has altered as a result of natural causes. Nowadays the term climate change is generally used when referring to changes in our climate which have been identified since the early part of the 1900s, which are thought to be mainly as a result of human behaviour rather than due to natural changes in the atmosphere.
The greenhouse effect is very important when we talk about climate change as it relates to the gases which keep the Earth warm. It's the extra greenhouse gases, which are the result of the demands of the modern, industrialized northern hemisphere countries, that are thought to pose the strongest threat.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The Greenhouse effect is at the centre of the climate change debate. It's important to understand how it affects out planet. Greenhouse gases make up only about 1 per cent of the atmosphere, but they act like a blanket around the earth, or like the glass roof of a greenhouse - they trap heat and keep the planet warmer than it would be otherwise.
We're producing too many greenhouse gases, which mean they are absorbing more heat and warming the planet too much - this is called global warming. Human activities are making the blanket 'thicker'. Natural levels of gases are being supplemented by emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas and changes in land use. The fuel used in cars and machinery and the burning of coal and natural gas to produce electricity for our homes all create carbon dioxide. The additional methane and nitrous oxide produced by farming activities also contributes.
If emissions continue to grow at current rates, it is almost certain that atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide will double from pre-industrial levels during the 21st century.
What is the effect of climate change?
Britain's leading scientists predict that over the next 50 years, climate change will increase the risk of widespread flooding across the UK, damaging homes, business and agriculture. Climate change also has the potential to alter Scotland's landscape forever. Hotter and wetter conditions could mean that many plants and animals we regard as Scottish could cease to exist here - by moving elsewhere, in the case of fish or birds, or dying our completely, in the case of trees and certain plants.
How does the way I live my life contribute to climate change?
The average Scottish household wastes up to £200 pounds a year without even realising it, simply by not using household energy as efficiently as we could. Apart from making our gas and electricity bills higher than they ought to be, this wasted energy is also contributing environmental damage through carbon dioxide emissions.
Avoiding wasted energy is something we all have the power to achieve. Taking a few simple steps to become more energy efficient could reduce your energy bills and play a small part but vital role inprotecting the planet.
Top Tips
1. Most homes lighting accounts for 10-15% of the electricity bill. By using energy efficient light bulbs, you can use a quarter of the electricity, helping to cut down on greenhouse gases. They also last up to 15 times longer and could save £7 off your electricity bill each year.
2. By turning down your thermostat one degree a year, you can help to reduce global warming and cut your heating bill by around £30 a year.
3. Water needs to be hot, but never scalding. Set the cylinder thermostat at 60C/140F and save up to £10 a year.
4. Boiling just the amount of water needed when making a hot drink can save enough energy in a week to light a house for a day.
5. When buying fridges, freezers, washing machines or tumble dryers, take a look at their energy efficient label. Models labelled Grade A are most efficient and may only use up half the energy of a similar G-rated model.
6. Replacing a 15 year old boiler could saver over 20% on your fuel bills, around 32% if you're installing a high efficiency boiler, and up to 40% if you install the right heating controls.
7. By switching your washing machine to 40C instead of 60C you can cut its electrivity consumption by one third.
8. Avoid leaving TVs, videos, computers or music systems on standby and remember not to leave appliances such as mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
9. In just one day, a dripping hot water tap can waste energy and enough water to fill a bath. Make sure they're off.
10. When you have finished in the living room, remember to turn the lights off when you leave the room.
Did you know?
- The amount of heat lost in UK homes annually through loft spaces and walls is enough to heat five million homes for a year.
- If every household in the UK fitted just one energy saving light bulb enough electricity would be saved to power lighting in three million homes a year.
- The amount of energy wasted by leaving lights on in empty rooms would be enough to light up over 225,000 Scottish homes for a year.
- If everyone in Scotland boiled only the water they needed to make a cup of tea instead of "filling" the kettle every time, we could save enough electricity in a year to run almost half of the street lighting in the country.
- Swapping one light bulb in your home for an energy efficient one can save up to £7 per year on electricity bills, totalling an estimated saving of £7 million a year for all Scottish households.
- Every year VCRs in Scotland use up approximately £ 4.1 million and TVs around £6.7 million worth of electricity whilst on standby. About 85% of the electricity used by your VCR is consumed while it is not actually on.
For more information about how you can do your bit go to the following websites:-
Scottish Executive's Do a Little Change a Lot website: http://www.dochange.net/
For information on how to become more energy efficient, visit www.est.org.uk
Visit the Scottish Executive's official site on Sustainable Development - http://www.itsourfuture.co.uk/ourfuture/CCC_FirstPage.jsp
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