Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

Did you know that if you go vegan, you could be doing your bit to help the environment? If you have never given veganism any thought before then this guide will help you to not only make the best choices but for you to also really become more aware of how your actions affect the planet.

Combating World Hunger

A lot of food that is grown in the world is not actually eaten by humans. 70% of grain in the US is actually given to livestock. 83% of the farmland in the US is given to those who raise animals as well. Sure, meat is way more dense when compared to plants and they can provide more calories too, but this could all be changed if more land was dedicated to growing various plants. The consequences of overfishing, pollution and even deforestation also drastically limits the capacity on earth when it comes to producing food as well. If the farmland was used to try and grow crops for human consumption, then this would mean that more people could be fed, and it would not have half as much consequence for the planet.

Conserving Water

Millions of people across the world do not have access to clean water right now. So many of them struggle with water scarcity and others don’t have access because water sources are not being managed as well as they could be. The main point here is that livestock drink way more water when compared to anything else and they are also the biggest polluter of water as well. It takes 200 times more water to produce one pound of beef when compared to raising one pound of plants. For every 1kg of beef you cut down on, you would save 15,000 litres of water.

Cleaning the Soil

Livestock pollute water and they also weaken soil. This is mainly because of deforestation, where huge swaths of land are cleared to make room for the livestock. The world is losing forests equivalent to the size of Panama, every single year and this is speeding up climate change. If people went vegan, even just a few days a week then this would make a huge difference as there would be way less strain on the meat industry. Of course, making the commitment to go vegan isn’t easy and at times you may find that you struggle to find food out there when you go to restaurants or anything else of the sort, but at the end of the day, you have to remember that good things take time. If you want some good recipes, you will love this vegan oatmeal!

If you are finding it difficult to go vegan, then going vegetarian first may be a good option. When you do, you will soon find that you are able to ease into it and that you are also able to try and see if it is a good option for your lifestyle. There are plenty of groups out there that you can join as well, if you want a bit of help and support.

This year the world has fallen into a global crisis because of the pandemic. Governments around the world are working hard to save people’s lives on the one hand and save the economy on the other. In between, there is the thorny issue of climate change, which has dogged our species since the industrial revolution.

The issue of climate change has not gone away despite our other problems, and there needs to be just as much effort to reduce our carbon output this year as there ever was. The stakes are high. The rise in global temperatures is largely our fault – that is collective humanity – so it’s up to us to change our habit and prevent runaway climate change that could transform earth into a deserted Venus-like rock. 

Seal Your Chimney

Having an active chimney in your home may not be the best way to reduce your carbon footprint as even burning fuel efficient logs will send extra carbon into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. However, you don’t need to abandon your open winter fire altogether, nor your shallow trench drain systems in the backyard. There’s no need to switch it off at Christmas time and forget about buying your chestnuts – you can still burn your open fire and be energy efficient. 

When you’re burning the fire, the chimney evacuates the smoke; that’s unless you choose to burn smokeless logs, which are available and necessary in some places. But when the fire is not burning, the chimney flue is the same as an open window in your living room. You probably feel the draft from time to time. This open flue will also evacuate the warm air from your house. To prevent it, use a chimney seal or flue balloon to block it off. 

Use Fans for Extra Heat 

One of the best ways to reduce your carbon output is to improve your home’s energy efficiency. There are several ways to do this that will be explored through the article. The first trick is to use a fan. It might seem a bit backwaters to start using a fan in the middle of winter, but it can significantly improve the warmth of your rooms and efficiency of your home’s energy usage.  

Because of the nature of thermodynamics, air rises when it becomes warm. This means that all the heat generated from your radiators and open fire will float up to the ceiling, where it’s of very little use to anyone. Put a fan on the ground and set it to low – you don’t want it to start cooling the room down. The fan’s convected air will help the warm air on the ceiling mix with the cold air further down create a cozy warm space. 

Make the Most of Radiators

For most people, radiators are the main source of heat in the home but depending on how you use them; they can be more or less efficient. If not used correctly, radiators can cost you money and increase your carbon footprint without you realizing. One way this happens is by leaving radiators on around the house. When you switch on the heating, you don’t always consider what rooms are being heated, but doing so can save you quite a bit of energy. 

Make sure all your radiators are on the most efficient settings or switched off in rooms where no one is occupying them. Next, make sure the rooms that are occupied are as well insulated as possible. Heat is lost very easily through the windows, doors, and other small cracks. Remember, the best way to reduce your carbon footprint this winter is to improve your energy efficiency – it doesn’t have to cost you much if anything to do, and it can save your significant money on your annual bills. 

Insulate 

It’s all about the insulation! The better you can insulate your home, the warmer you will be, the less you will pay, and the more you will reduce your carbon footprint. Your home is full of potential heat loss through the walls, the windows, the roof, the chimney, and the floor. This is partly why we need to keep heating our homes so much – particularly older ones are extremely inefficient. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring yours up to standard if you live in an older house. 

Firstly, assess your options. Broadly there are two types of insulation you can use for your home. Cavity wall insulation and loose-fill insulation. Cavity wall is probably the best as it gets into all the little air pockets and seals them up. That’s probably the expensive option, although it will pay off over time. However, for a quick fix this winter, hang heavy curtains to block the windows and use door cushions to keep the heat in. If you do want to invest a little, double or triple glazed windows are an excellent choice. 

Minimize Your Home 

You might have heard of minimalism. Actually, it’s an art movement from the 20th century, but it’s found a new path in the 21st. Minimalism now is a culture of downsizing to improve efficiency and reduce carbon output, thereby helping the planet be more sustainable. This idea extends to the home, where you can utilize an excellent practice this winter to reduce your living costs and your carbon output. 

This practice involves only heating and insulating the rooms that you are using. The rest can be effectively shut down for the winter. When you turn on the heat, you know that only the rooms you are living in will be heated – there will be no heat used and lost in the rest of the house. It might make it a bit chilly to go to the upstairs bathroom, but you can feel proud about how much carbon you’re saving. 

So what does it mean? In short, minimizing your home is about using the space wisely. If you’re in the evening watching television, you don’t need the whole house lit up. You only need to power the living room, and maybe the kitchen. This is a very efficient energy and cost-saving practice.