Tel: 03450 450 500
Email: sustainability@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)
About these pages
- The Low-Carbon Living pages have just been launched and are currently under review. You are welcome to send your comments to sustainability@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)
Our Partners
- South Cambridgeshire's Environment Group
Help address the issues and monitor the progress of the Community Strategy, which contains a series of actions to help improve the quality of life across the district and that tackle climate change.
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Climate Change Network
A cross-sectoral partnership providing support to public and private sector organisations as well as local communities seeking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
- South Cambridgeshire Strategic Partnership
The South Cambridgeshire Strategic Partnership (or LSP: Local Strategic Partnership) is a partnership between the council and various partners to work together towards achieving economic, environmental and social standards for the district.
3.1 ENERGY FACTS > IN THE HOUSE
A quarter of the UK's carbon emissions come from energy we use in our homes. Our energy needs (both heat and electricity) seem so insignificant though when we look at the energy consumption of large firms and factories. However if we multiply our energy needs by the number of households in this country, which accounted to 24.7 million in 2004, we can see now how important our individual actions count.
Heat and Electricity
- TVs and other electronic goods such as hi-fi equipment left on standby account for about 10 per cent of the electricity used in our homes.
- Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% - and could cut households heating bill by £80-£100 a year.
- Energy saving light bulbs last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs, and can save up to £100 on electricity over the bulb's lifetime.
- The average household could save up to £300 a year on energy bills by being more energy efficient. Most heat (up to half the total) is lost through the walls of an un-insulated house. Wall insulation can reduce this loss by two-thirds and make the house more comfortable.
- Energy saving light bulbs (also known as CFLs - Compact Fluorescent Lamps) use about a quarter of the electricity and last eight times longer than regular light bulbs.
- As much as 20% of our energy bill can be saved by good loft insulation.
- As much as 10% of heat can be lost through un-insulated floors.
Waste
- There are 2,300 landfill sites in the UK. Existing landfills are predicted to be full within 5-10 years.
- Rubbish from cities is often transported many miles by large lorries burning lots of fuel and creating more pollution.
- The UK produces more waste than many European Countries with 592kg per person, the EU average being 577kg.
- The UK recycles 18% of its waste compared with 36.4% of the EU average, The Netherlands leading the way with 64.4%.
- Burning waste can produce electricity but also release a range of pollutants into the atmosphere including heavy metals, gases that cause acid rain and gases that contribute to climate change.
- Many plastics need quantities of oil to produce them.
