Reducing your carbon footprint is easier than you might think and can often save you money too! Here are are 5 steps which you can utilise to help reduce global carbon emissions.

1. As bizarre as this may sound a significant reduction in carbon emissions can be created using a simple lifestyle change with regard to eating less meat, particularly beef and lamb. This is owing to the fact that Sheep and Cows release immense volumes of Methane, a menacing global warming gas. To put things into perspective releasing 1kg of Methane into the atmosphere is the equivalent to releasing 25kg of Carbon Dioxide. What is even worse is Nitrous Oxide which can be found in a handful of aerosols, commonly whipped cream stocked at your local supermarket. Releasing just 1kg of Nitrous Oxide into the atmosphere is the equivalent of 298 kg of Carbon Dioxide. Making simple adjustments in your diet can make a substantial difference. For example poultry produces 3.7 kg of Carbon Dioxide per 1kg of protein in comparison to beef or lamb which produces anything between 58 - 1,000 kg of Carbon Dioxide per 1kg of protein.

2. Heating your home is indeed a marked area. Dated gas and oil boilers can be tremendously wasteful, sure upgrading to a finer boiler is an option however you still retain the same pipework and radiators. So what other solutions are out there? In recent years heating technology has really advanced. We are now seeing the standard room thermostat sent to the rubbish pile in replacement of a more intelligent monitoring system where specific rooms in your home can adapt temperatures according to the time of the day. The SlimPro electric radiator is not merely an easy to install radiator which does away with pipes and leaks. It is importantly a highly intelligent and accurate radiator that delivers heat when and vitally where you require it. Just a thought, instead of your home central heating system sending heat to every room even if they are not occupied. Combined with heat lost through pipes you begin to see how a room by room system that is programmed around your lifestyle, can help to reduce your energy consumption / carbon footprint.

3. Believe it or not a return air travel from London to New York is the equivalent to 25% of an average persons annual emissions. While travel to New York from London is relatively limited in terms of other viable options such as by sea, which takes 6 days and £1,000 each way. The simplest way to make a difference is to eradicate unessential flights such as Manchester to London and instead opt to take the train as well as walking and cycling where you can.

4. A badly insulated home will mean that your valuable generated heat will be escaping and a much greater rate than a modern insulated home. In turn this will mean that your property requires a greater quantity of heat to maintain comfort. Your main protocol should be to ensure that your loft and cavity wall is adequately insulated, a simple and easy DIY action you can undertake today is draught proofing your home. Draught proofing can be readily bought from your local DIY merchant.

5. Investing in your homes very own renewable energy generator such as solar PV panels or even a wind turbine can often pay back in dividends. While wind turbines may realistically be limited to environmental conditions surrounding your property solar PV panels can be positioned with less limitations. While the UK government has well and truly cut back on subsidies to around 5% it will make more financial sense to generate your properties own self sufficient and 100% renewable electricity source. Combining valuable carbon free energy to power your household appliances and electric central heating is possibly one of the most significant advances you can undertake. Nearly 10 million homes in the UK already have their roofs covered with solar panels and that figure is expected to rise. Ladies and gentlemen we are on the cusp of a renewable electricity revolution.