Hilly Hannam-Seymour

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Ellie Armstrong

Operations Manager

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Climate change and how to reduce your carbon footprint

This blog discusses climate change and its affects on wildlife, as well as what we can do about it.

“Here in the UK, our winters are getting milder and our summers hotter, which is causing a disruption to interactions between species within their ecosystems.”

Climate change has been a topic of growing concern on a global scale over the last 40 years. It is undeniable that human activities since the mid 1800s have triggered the most recent trend of global warming, with the years 2016 and 2020 tied for the warmest years on record. In November 2021, the UN Climate Change Conference which took place in Glasgow (COP26), brought together 120 world leaders and over 40,000 registered participants to recognise the worldwide emergency, reaffirm the Paris Agreement, and accelerate action across the UN. 

This crisis is already having extreme visible effects on the world as the average temperature is increasing, sea levels are rising, and rainfall patterns are shifting. Unfortunately, these changes in our environment will increase the threat of extreme droughts, fires, floods, and heatwaves which, undoubtedly, are a significant risk to humanity and wildlife living across all continents.

The reality of this international emergency is difficult to face; however, it is important to highlight the actuality of the situation in order to inspire change across the board. The WWF released the report ‘Wildlife in a Warming World’, based on a study by the University of East Anglia, which found that almost half of plant and animal species, located in areas such as the Amazon and the Galapagos, are at serious risk of extinction by the turn of the century if the climate crisis continues without urgent intervention. 

Here in the UK, our winters are getting milder and our summers hotter, which is causing a disruption to interactions between species within their ecosystems. Breeding, food availability, and their environments are being disturbed – especially in southern regions of the UK where the winters are warmer and wetter. This also places many of our much-loved species found in the UK; such as Blue tits, Puffins, bumblebees, a range of butterfly species, and seabirds, at serious risk of decline in numbers.

The urgency of the current situation across the world is irrefutable, however there is still time to make significant changes and even reverse the damage that is being done. Listed below are adjustments you can make to reduce your carbon footprint.

trees representing climate change
climate change and bee
climate change effects on elephants

So What Can We Do About It?

There are numerous things that we can adjust to prevent climate change and our effects on the environment. Simple things like choosing to walk rather than drive, to more complex solutions such as installing renewable energy systems.

1. Walk, Cycle & Public Transport

One of the easiest ways to cut down your environmental impacts is to opt for walking, cycling or public transport over driving. We know how tempting it can be to drive somewhere over walking, even if its close by! But driving vehicles is one of the main contributors to global warming. Experts state that around 26% of all greenhouse gases are produced by cars. In comparison, just 25% of the carbon footprint is caused by the production of energy.

2. Energy Saving Tips

By understanding your energy bills, you can have a clearer understanding of how much energy you’re using and work towards lowering your usage! Our team have the knowledge to let you know where your business could be saving energy, and ultimately come up with a strategy to help you monitor your usage better.

3. Renewable Solutions

Renewable solutions such as Solar PV, means you don’t have to pay for as much energy from the grid, ultimately reducing your expenditure. You are also given the option to sell your excess electricity back to the grid, meaning you could be paid for the energy that you don’t use. There’s no excuses!

 

LED Lighting has many benefits, such as a longer lifespan, massively more energy efficient, improved environmental performance and low voltage operation. Many of our clients are encouraged to think about LED lighting to save money. A 60-watt bulb can cost a business up to £6 over the course of a ten-hour workday. For the same period of time, a 6-watt bulb can cost as little as £1! In terms of percentages, an 83% savings is good.

 

If you’re interested in exploring what renewable energy solutions could benefit your business and the environment, contact a member of our team today and we can let you know how much you could be saving!

4. Cut Waste (Recycling)

Waste is a huge problem. In fact, each year more than 12.2 million tonnes of plastic make their way into rivers and the ocean. While domestic and household trash undoubtedly adds to this total, most of the plastic in our oceans and rivers comes from commercial activities.

 

One thing businesses can do to reduce their waste impact is to educate their staff on recycling. (link to recycling poster)

 

Furthermore, by using reusable items such as water bottles and eating utensils, you can reduce your waste massively!

How We Look After Our Environment

At RES, we do as much as we can to reduce our carbon footprint and effects on our environment. We are lucky to be situated in the Cobalt Business Park, which is surrounded by a 39-acre park dedicated to biodiversity and is teeming with wildlife and gorgeous landscapes.

 

We also make sure we have a recycling bin for every general waste bin and encourage our employees to bring their lunch into work in a reusable container. We provide a fully equipped kitchen area with communal, refillable food items to cut down on waste.

We care deeply about the effects businesses are having on our environment. If we can all do a little bit together, we can make a huge difference. 

To discuss any of the solutions mentioned in this blog, call 0800 989 0143 or book a consultation using the button below.

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We care about our planet, you should too.

Talk to one of our team today about implementing renewable energy solutions into your business.

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