Measuring your ecological footprint takes less than 5 minutes and could set you on a life-changing journey...Start the calculator

GHP's profile

1.82 planets

Interested in environmental issues. Active in Local Agenda 21

Add GHP to your friends

Food
Drink tap water instead of bottled waterHelp

Did you know: Bottled water costs around 500 times more than tap water, and the industry emits thousands of tonnes of CO2 every year. In the UK, we have a reliable and safe supply of mains drinking water, and therefore drinking bottled water offers no proven health benefits. Because no materials are used in its individual packaging, and it is generally sourced locally - rather than in Fiji or the Alps! - drinking tap water is a greener, and much cheaper, option. The Food Standards Agency recommends we drink 1.2l of water a day, so if you do want to carry water with you, re-use another bottle.
Travel
Take fewer but longer holidays
Home
Avoid power showersHelp

Did you know: Power showers can use more water than a bath so look out for high performance lower flow showers instead.
Stuff
Donate items to your local charity shop

Food
Get involved in community composting projects
Travel
Reduce your flying as much as possible. When you must fly use a Gold Standard offset scheme.Help

Many companies are now offering to "offset" emissions from activities such as flying - this means that they promise to invest your money in reducing emissions in other countries. However, it is vitally important that we in the UK reduce our own emissions - and offsetting should not be used as an excuse for people or companies in the UK to continue high-carbon or polluting activities that could easily be avoided. Another concern is that there are no clear rules to guarantee that offset providers are selling genuine emission reductions. WWF recommends that if you do use an offsetting scheme, make sure it is certified to the Gold Standard, an independent scheme set up to make sure that emission reduction projects are truly sustainable. Some offset providers that offer Gold Standard schemes include Myclimate, Atmosfair and Climate Friendly.
Home
Draughtproof the houseHelp

Draughtproofing the house is the easiest and cheapest to improve your house's energy efficiency. If everyone in the UK draught proofed their homes, we'd save around £114m.
Stuff
Reuse ice cream/plastic tubs

After all this, GHP will have a footprint of 1.80 planets, and a carbon footprint of 6.75 tonnes per annum