| Global warming is no longer a theoretical concept. | | | | don't need them. |
| While raising average global temperatures, climate | | | | 2. Turn down the central heating slightly (try just 1 to |
| change could also bring more snow, harder rain, or | | | | 2 degrees C). Overheating our houses is not only |
| heat waves, meteorologists say. Computer models | | | | wasteful but also invites pests and insects. Warm and |
| based on climate data from nine countries indicate | | | | moist areas could also grow fungus and cause rot. |
| every place on the planet will be hit with extreme | | | | 3. Turn down the water heating setting. Just 2 |
| weather events, including coastal storms and floods. | | | | degrees will make a significant saving. Lower heating |
| There is emerging scientific consensus that human | | | | would not only save cost but also save your skin as |
| activity in particular through the emission of carbon | | | | overly hot water is damaging to the skin. |
| dioxide has certainly contributed to drastic changes in | | | | 4. Check the central heating timer setting to shut |
| our climate through global warming. | | | | down your heating or lower after you have left for |
| While waiting for political will and sanity to prevail at | | | | work |
| the global level, each of us could do our part to | | | | 5. Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a |
| reduce our carbon footprint. A Carbon Footprint is a | | | | full load - this will save you water, electricity, and |
| measure of the impact human activities have on the | | | | washing powder. If we have little utensils to be |
| environment in terms of the amount of green house | | | | washed it would be a great idea to wash them by |
| gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. | | | | hand and drip dry them. |
| Calculate your carbon footprint here. | | | | 6. Fill the kettle with only as much water as you |
| Here are 10 simple things you can do immediately | | | | need. |
| that will start to reduce your contribution to global | | | | 7. Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished |
| warming. These things would cost you no money at | | | | charging. |
| all and will in fact save you money. | | | | 8. Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly. |
| 1. Turn off your appliances when not in use. We are | | | | 9. Do your weekly shopping in a single trip. By using |
| all guilty of leaving our appliances on even when we | | | | our vehicles often we not only contribute to carbon |
| are not using them. Chief among them are | | | | emission but also create an unhealthy life style. |
| computers, printers, CD players and others. We also | | | | 10. Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble |
| tend to leave too much lights on even when we | | | | drying it. |