With rising fuel and energy prices in the news, and the COP26 climate conference taking place at the end of this month in Glasgow, ways to save money and save the planet are on lots of people’s minds at the moment. Here are four things to try which can save you money as well as reducing your carbon footprint…
Please don’t idle your vehicle on our sites (or anywhere!)
Air pollution is a serious health issue in our region. Switching off your engine when you’re pulled over is the easiest way to immediately reduce pollution and protect the health of people around us. (It also saves on fuel.)
Air pollution is a serious health risk – it can worsen asthma, lung and heart disease, and contributes to the deaths of thousands of people in the UK each year. Air pollution is also a factor in climate change, learn more here.
Did you know, leaving your engine running for 30 seconds produces almost twice as much pollution as switching off and on again? If your car will be stopped for more than a minute, please turn the engine off.
Try cycling or taking public transport to work
Not only is it good for the planet, cycling to work is also a fantastic way to keep fit and active. You can use the Sustrans National Cycle Network to find out if there’s a cycle route to work that would suit you – you can search by region, distance and whether they’re traffic-free: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/.
And don’t forget, bike storage facilities are available on most of our Trust sites as listed on our Physical wellbeing section.
Our Cycle to Work Scheme also helps you save money on a new bike or cycling accessories, with discounts of 30-37%. To find out more about the scheme, simply log on or register at https://www.vivupbenefits.co.uk/
If cycling isn’t for you, we offer staff an Annual Travel Pass that can get you fantastic discounts if you regularly commute on public transport. Read more about the travel pass scheme. (We are working on rolling out a Travel Pass in Cumbria.)
Replace old appliances with energy efficient ones – and save money with our staff benefits scheme
If your washing machine, fridge or other home appliance is on its way out, you can save money on a new one with our staff benefits scheme, provided by Vivup. By choosing an energy efficient model, you’ll save more money, as it will be cheaper to run.
When choosing a new appliance, look out for its energy label. This tells you how much energy that appliance uses, on a scale of A to G, with A being the most efficient product of its class, and G being the least efficient.
(Don’t replace things just for the sake of it, though – the cheapest and greenest option is usually the item you already have in your house!)
To browse the discounts available on our staff benefits scheme, simply log on or register at https://www.vivupbenefits.co.uk/.
Reduce the heat loss in your home
As the weather gets colder, and with rising utility bills in the headlines, you’re probably much more aware of how efficiently (or not) you can keep your home warm.
If you want to reduce your carbon emissions and keep your energy bills low, installing insulation and/or draught-proofing can help. It could be anything from adding some cheap home-made draught excluders, to investing in some extra wall or loft insultation. This guide from the Energy Saving Trust has lots of information about the different options available.
Want to get involved with our climate and sustainability work here at CNTW? A good place to start is joining our Climate Health Teams space.