Take up Plymouth’s top 10 green tips challenge

Tip one: Measure and reduce your carbon footprint

Measure your carbon footprint using a fun, free and easy to use carbon calculator and Act on CO2

Your carbon footprint is the sum of all carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions created by your activities – usually calculated over the period of one year.

All sorts of things that most of us do on a regular basis - from running a car and using plastic bags and bottles to eating burgers from fast food outlets - contribute to the overall size of our so-called carbon footprint.

On average, our carbon footprint in Plymouth is six tonnes of C0₂ per person – that’s 2.8 tonnes lower than the rest of the South West and 3.3 tonnes lower than the national average.

Find out how your footprint measures up against the national and regional averages and get your free action plan packed with useful ideas for cutting the amount of C0₂ you’re directly responsible for. Measure your footprint again in six months to see how much greener you’ve become. You’ll be amazed at just how easy it is to make a real difference to your life, your city and your planet!

Tip two: Save your pennies by saving energy

We’re doing our bit at the Council and we’re committed to doing better. How about you?

• Don’t overfill your kettle to make one cup of tea
• Don’t leave your TV, PC etc on standby
• Save water – have a shower or take a bath with a friend!
• Fit at least one energy saving light bulb
• Turn off unnecessary lights
• Turn your thermostat down by 1°C – you won’t even notice the difference!
• Turn off appliances at the mains
• Fit draught excluders to doors and windows
• User heavier curtains during the winter months
• Buy A graded energy efficient appliances
• Fit solar panels or a micro turbine
• Sign up to the green tariff offered by your energy supplier
• Hang out your washing on warm days instead of using the tumble dryer

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Tip three: Cut the amount of rubbish you produce

• Say ‘no’ to plastic bags – take your own bags with you when you go shopping
• Use both sides of every piece of paper
• Use a mug instead of a plastic or paper cup
• Report fly tipping to the Council (telephone 01752 668000)
• Avoid unnecessary packaging

Tip four: Make sure your garden’s squeaky green

• Avoid using pesticides and herbicides in the garden
• Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds and lacewings to keep aphids at bay
• Save water – buy a water butt or recycle your bath water
• Use plants suitable for your garden – don’t waste your time, money and water trying to nurture plants which just aren’t right for your garden (because of the soil, light levels, weather etc)
• Invest in a wormery to create a rich compost out of your organic matter
• Buy wood products – fencing, decking, planters etc – certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council to ensure the wood has been harvested in a responsible way
• Avoid using tropical timber – its overuse is causing serious deforestation and an increase in C0₂ in the atmosphere
• Avoid peat based products – its excessive extraction from natural wetlands destroys important wildlife habitats

Tip five: Reuse and recycle everything you can think of

The average UK home throws away more than one tonne of rubbish every year. Here are just a few ideas for finding new homes for your unwanted clutter:

• hold a clothes or book swapping party
• recycle unwanted mobile phones, PCs etc – there are plenty of companies which can put your old IT and other equipment to good use. They might even pay you for it
• donate unwanted items to charity
• use your kerbside recycling collection
• use our website to find out what you can take to our local recycling centres

Find all the information you need to start recycling more at home, at school or at work by visiting our recycling page.

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Tip six: Buy local produce

In the UK we import more than half of the food we consume. Buying locally grown, seasonal food means we reduce our food miles, use less packaging and enjoy fresher fruit and veg that doesn’t need freezing or chilling.

• Check where your food comes from – read the labels
• Use local shops selling local produce
• Sign up to a local organic 'veggie box' delivery service – get the freshest organic fruit and veg delivered free direct from the farm to your doorstep at prices which often beat the supermarkets
• Try growing your own - you don’t need a big garden. Tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes, herbs, radishes, beans, courgettes, rocket and salad leaves can all be grown in hanging baskets or in patio pots

Tip seven: Get out and go wild

Ditch pricey indoor past times in favour of healthier more eco friendly leisure pursuits like rock pool rambling and bug hunting. Plymouth is surrounded by some of the best countryside and coastline in the UK – and much of it is accessible without using your car.

Whether you’re mad about moths, batty about bats or you’ve been bitten by the creepy crawly bug, our website offers plenty of ways to walk on the wildside with fellow enthusiasts. Check out our Wild About Plymouth pages.

Mount Edgcumbe Country Park offers wonderful (and free!) walking trails as well as many events offering a fascinating insight into the estate’s wealth of flora and fauna.

Tip eight: Cut down your car use

• Take public transport when you can
• Get out and about on foot or on your bike – get fit while saving the planet
• If you must use your car, drive efficiently and keep your speed down
• Ease congestion – let at least one car in on every journey!

Tip nine: DIY the green way

• Use eco-friendly paints
• Avoid toxic products – try old fashioned remedies instead such as lemon juice or bicarbonate of soda as a cleaning material
• Buy from charity shops and recycle pottery, glass and other household items.

Tip ten: Go on green holidays

• Take only photographs and leave only footprints
• Stay local – investigate what’s in your own back yard
• Travel efficiently – book the most direct route
• Leave the car at home
• Reduce the number of flights you take
• Buy local crafts not mass produced souvenirs
• Respect local customs and traditions

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