Affordable and Clean Energy

The way in which humans create, source and utilise energy is the greatest cause of climate change and is responsible for 60% of all greenhouse gas emissions. As our industries have developed and demand has increased, so has our use of energy—in our homes and offices, in our factories, our transport and through our growing consumption of electricity.

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This is problematic.  The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil typically used to create this energy releases carbon into our atmosphere, and is impacting the environment and our health adversely.  Carbon based sources of energy must be replaced by sustainable and replenishable alternatives, known as ‘renewable energy’, if we hope to reduce the negative  impact on our environment and save Earth from a global warming crisis.

 

What can YOU do to help?

Encourage everybody you know to swap their energy supply to a renewable source

If you live in the UK you may even be eligible for a home energy grant from the Government to help fund green changes to your home.

Save energy...

by turning off plugs, lights and electricals, only boiling as much water in the kettle as you need and turning the thermostat down/up by even a single degree. Look for energy saving products when replacing appliances, such as fridges and low-flow shower heads.

Flush the toilet less!

According to an article on Bisnow, every gallon of water that goes through the cycle is the equivalent of burning 0.003 pounds of coal. A standard toilet holds 1.6 gallons of water… if you multiply that by the number of toilets in the world, and the number of times we flush per day, the energy emitted is enormous!

Use public transport more

Or walk or ride a bike if travelling locally—this will help to limit the amount of CO2 emissions from vehicle use.

Use less energy overall

Increase activities that do not depend on electricity, such as reading or going outside.

Dry clothes on an indoor rack or old-fashioned clothes line

Instead of in a drying machine why not let things dry naturally? And wash clothes in cold water (unless exceptionally dirty, there is no need to use hot water!)

Keep doors and windows closed

This keeps the house warm in the winter or cool in the summer, reducing excessive need for heating or air conditioning.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

Check out your local recycling rules and utilise organisations such as Terracycle who provide recycling for items you cant at home… your school or company could even become a collection point! Read our Solution page on Waste for more ideas.

Avoid palm oil from non-sustainable sources!

The unsustainable production of palm oil is a cause of deforestation. Read more about palm oil on the Planetary Life on Land resources page!

Young People in Action!

William Kamkwamba

At the age of just 14, William Kamkwamba read a book about energy that he found in a library, and used scraps and spare parts to build a windmill in his small Malawian village. His invention provided his home and community with water and electricity which ultimately saved them from famine. William is now a best selling author through sharing his inspiring story with the world, ‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’, which has also been turned into a successful film.

Useful Links

United Nations Link sustainabledevelopment.un.org
The World's Largest Lesson Link worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org
National Geographic Link nationalgeographic.org
Terracycle Link terracycle.com
Simple Energy Advice uk simpleenergyadvice.org.uk
NowThis World net nowthisworld.net