At home we all try and do our bit: make sure the telly's not left on standby, turn the light off as we leave the room and recycle those old news papers. See the energy saving tips - link below, which will help you improve your energy efficiency.
Energy
There are some easy changes you can make that will see some of your energy bills come down. Our home energy efficiency pages - see link below, can give you advice on help available through grants so you can improve your wall and loft insulation.
Travel
Personal travel is a major area where we can reduce our carbon emissions and save money at the same time. If you are able to make a change to how you travel, even for one day a week, you can make a real difference.
Short journeys
A quarter of all car journeys are under two miles which could easily be replaced by more sustainable means of transport such as cycling or walking. The government’s act on CO2 website estimates that by cycling all two mile journeys you could save over £600 each year in fuel. Walking and cycling are also the best for the environment and are great for your health.
Many organisations and companies now offer the Bike to Work Scheme which allows employs to purchase bicycles for commuting which are tax-free. See the Department for Transport website - see link below, for further details on how your organisation can introduce the scheme or look out for a recycled bike on the freegle website detailed above and save yourself further money.
Warrington benefits from the Trans Penine Trail and numerous cycleways. Details of these can be found on the downloadable map from the Warrington Cycle Forum - see link below, along with other excellent links relating to cycling.
Longer journeys
Warrington has good public transport links around the local area and to surrounding cities. Travelling on bus or train can often be cheaper, quicker and less stress free than travelling in a car. Visit the transport pages to find out more.
The council also runs a car sharing database to link people with similar journeys. The aim it to reduce fuel consumed, save on fuel costs and reduce the number of cars on the road. Further details can again be found on the transport pages.
If you are reliant on the car you can still make a difference by changing the way you drive. You could save the equivalent of one month worth of fuel every year through smarter driving. To find out how visit the Energy Saving Trust website - see link below or call 0800 512 012 for free impartial advice.
If your about to buy a new car, advice is available to make sure you get the most fuel efficient vehicle. Act on CO2 - see link below, has a tool to compare the fuel costs and CO2 emissions of new cars, meaning that you can find the most eco friendly car that suits your needs. You could save money on your fuel and your tax.
Waste and recycling
Are you struggling with recycling? Or maybe you're not sure what waste goes in what bin? The recycling, rubbish and waste pages can help answer all your questions about recycling unwanted goods and waste.
Have you got good quality items which you no longer want or need? Don't throw it away - give it away!
Freegle stands for Free Giving, Locally, Easily. Warrington Freegle matches local people who have things they want to get rid of with local people who can use them - keeping usable items out of landfill.
When you want to find a new home for something - whether it's a chair, a fridge, a piano, or an old door - you simply send an email offering it to members of the local Freegle group. If you're in need of something, you can post a request. See links below.
Shrink your carbon footprint.pdf