Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
The goal is to produce stamps that change the mindsets of the consumer to undertake practical activities for the future and think of innovative ways to optimise energy and reduce waste in our day-to- day lives. The mantra to employ should be reduce, then reuse and only then recycle.
Energy conservation
Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources. An energy conservation act was passed in 2001.
Energy conservation can result in increased financial capital, environmental quality, national security, personal security, and human comfort. Individuals and organisations that are direct consumers of energy choose to conserve energy to reduce energy costs and promote economic security. Industrial and commercial users can increase energy use efficiency to maximise profit.
Energy conservation in the United Kingdom has been receiving increased attention over recent years. Key factors behind this are the Government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions, the projected 'energy gap' in UK electricity generation, and the increasing reliance on imports to meet national energy needs. Domestic housing and road transport are currently the two biggest problem areas.
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Tips on how to save energy from the BBC - using less energy helps you to reduce the CO2 emissions created in its production, and cut down on energy bills too.
1. DON'T LEAVE APPLIANCES ON STANDBY
TVs: On average a traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) television set uses 100 watts of power when in use and about two watts on standby.
Newer LCD and plasma screens are higher users of energy, with the largest models consuming up to 400 watts when in use and about four watts on standby.
Tips on how to save energy from the BBC - using less energy helps you to reduce the CO2 emissions created in its production, and cut down on energy bills too.
1. DON'T LEAVE APPLIANCES ON STANDBY
TVs: On average a traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) television set uses 100 watts of power when in use and about two watts on standby.
Newer LCD and plasma screens are higher users of energy, with the largest models consuming up to 400 watts when in use and about four watts on standby.
DVD players: Consumers can safely switch off most DVD players/recorders, hard disk recorders or video recorders purchased in recent years, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
They should not need to retune the devices when they are switched back on or have to contend with the dreaded flashing clock as the machines usually retain their settings.
However, manufacturers recommend that some satellite TV receivers be left in standby when not in use so they can receive updates.
Computers: It may not be practical to turn a computer on-and-off if it is to be used throughout the day.
However, the Energy Saving Trust suggests turning the monitor off when not in use. Peripherals like printers and scanners should also be turned off when not in use.
Leaving unnecessary items on standby is said to costs each household an average of £37 a year.
2. UNPLUG CHARGERS WHEN NOT IN USE
If chargers for devices such as mobile phones and MP3 players were unplugged when not in use, the UK could save enough electricity each year to power 115,000 homes.
Chargers are not huge energy consumers in their own right, but across the UK those left plugged in unnecessarily waste over £60m and are responsible for a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
If a charger feels warm when it is plugged in without being attached to a device it is still converting energy.
3. TURN OFF LIGHTS WHEN LEAVING ROOMS
UK households spend £1.9bn on electricity every year for lighting. According to the Energy Saving Trust there is no truth in the belief that turning lights on causes a surge that uses up more electricity.
"If you are going out of a room for half and hour, or even 10 minutes, turn the lights off," said Dr Paula Owen, of the Energy Saving Trust.
"It does not harm the electricity supply or the bulbs. There is no point in burning electricity for no reason."
If all UK households replaced one light bulb with an energy efficient one, the money saved could pay about 75,000 family fuel bills a year.
4. WASH CLOTHES AT LOWER TEMPS
Washing clothes at 30C as opposed to 40C, uses 40% less energy and is generally as efficient, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Modern powders are designed to be more effective at lower temperatures.
Over-dependence on tumble dryers can also contribute to energy wastage.
Consumers are being encouraged to make sure they buy Energy Saving Recommended models when buying new appliances such as washing machines and fridges.
5. TURN THE THERMOSTAT DOWN
Turning the thermostat down by 1C can cut more than 10% from the average central heating bill.
Similarly, reaching for a jumper rather than turning the thermostat up when it gets really cold can be effective.
Check that your water isn't too hot. The cylinder thermostat should not need to be set higher than 60°C/140°F.
And dripping taps can waste enough water in a week to fill a bath.
Households with boilers over 15 years old are also advised to think about having them replaced it with a newer energy efficient model.
High efficiency condensing boilers can save a third on heating bills.
A major source of heat loss is through walls and windows so double glazing, closing curtains, cavity and loft insulation can prove to be cost-effective ways to save energy.
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Low impact transport/sustainable transport
Sustainable transport (or green transport) refers to any means of transport with low impact on the environment, and includes walking and cycling, transit oriented development, green vehicles, CarSharing, and building or protecting urban transport systems that are fuel-efficient, space-saving and promote healthy lifestyles.
Sustainable transport systems make a positive contribution to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the communities they serve.
Transport systems have significant impacts on the environment, accounting for between 20% and 25% of world energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from transport are increasing at a faster rate than any other energy using sector. Road transport is also a major contributor to local air pollution and smog.
The social costs of transport include road crashes, air pollution, physical inactivity, time taken away from the family while commuting and vulnerability to fuel price increases. Traffic congestion imposes economic costs by wasting people's time and by slowing the delivery of goods and services.
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Eco- friendly products
Phrases such as ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘recyclable’, ‘biodegradable’, ‘reduces energy consumption’ and others are increasingly being included on a product’s packaging.
Marks and Spencers (M&S), one of the UK’s oldest retailers has introduced fair-trade cotton products, recycled and organic cotton clothing. M&S avoid buying fish where the origin of the catch is unknown, and sell fish approved under the UK Marine Conservation Society environmental assessment scheme. Suppliers of farmed fish are required to work to the M&S code of practice and audit the farming activities. Many M&S stores sell home products. These now include items which make recycling easier, in particular split compartment bins and composting bins. They are also increasing the amount of recycled materials used in their products.
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ECOTOPIA
Environmentally friendly (also eco-friendly, nature friendly, and green) are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment. Companies sometimes use these terms to promote goods and services by making environmental marketing claims and with eco-labels. The term sometimes is used as greenwashing.
Marks and Spencers (M&S), one of the UK’s oldest retailers has introduced fair-trade cotton products, recycled and organic cotton clothing. M&S avoid buying fish where the origin of the catch is unknown, and sell fish approved under the UK Marine Conservation Society environmental assessment scheme. Suppliers of farmed fish are required to work to the M&S code of practice and audit the farming activities. Many M&S stores sell home products. These now include items which make recycling easier, in particular split compartment bins and composting bins. They are also increasing the amount of recycled materials used in their products.
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ECOTOPIA
Ecotopia is part of Ecotricity Group which is a not-for-dividend company. That means we're free to dedicate our money to the things we believe in, rather than paying dividends to shareholders. It's a model pioneered by renewable energy company Ecotricity - where energy bills are harnessed to build new sources of green energy, windmills - or 'Bills into Mills' as we like to say.
At Ecotopia we're dedicating your shopping bills to the creation of new wildlife habitats in Britain - something desperately needed. You shop, the products you buy are green and ethical - and we create nature reserves, for the birds and the bees. We like to think of it as Shopping for Green Britain.
At Ecotopia we're dedicating your shopping bills to the creation of new wildlife habitats in Britain - something desperately needed. You shop, the products you buy are green and ethical - and we create nature reserves, for the birds and the bees. We like to think of it as Shopping for Green Britain.
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Zero-carbon housing
'The majority of newly built homes in the UK should be "zero-carbon" by 2016, according to the pre-Budget report.'
A zero-energy building, also known as a zero net energy (ZNE) building, Net-Zero Energy Building (NZEB), or Net Zero Building, is a popular term to describe a building with zero net energy consumption and zero carbon emissions annually. Zero energy buildings can be independent from the energy grid supply. Energy can be harvested on-site—usually through a combination of energy producing technologies like Solar and Wind—while reducing the overall use of energy with extremely efficient HVAC and Lighting technologies. The zero-energy design principle is becoming more practical to adopt due to the increasing costs of traditional fossil fuels and their negative impact on the planet's climate and ecological balance.
The zero net energy consumption principle is gaining considerable interest as renewable energy harvesting is a means to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional building consumes 40% of the total fossil energy in the US and European Union.
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Reducing water over-consumption
Educating the next generation for a stronger future
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