District Council
Home energy efficiency: environmental benefits
The energy we use to heat and light our homes, cook our food and power our household appliances is produced largely by burning fossil fuels.
This energy-making process produces greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), which directly cause global warming and climate change.
Over a quarter of the UK's CO2 emissions come from household energy use. So we can make significant reductions on CO2 emissions by making our homes energy-efficient.
What are the consequences of climate change?
Climate change is a global phenomenon, and is linked to the general warming of Earth's climate. The impact of this is huge.
Just one consequence of the rising temperatures is the melting of the polar ice caps and glaciers. This in turn means an increase in sea levels, causing many low-lying areas around the world to suffer increased flooding.
Climate change is also likely to bring more 'freak' weather events: the flash floods at Boscastle in Cornwall in 2004 is the kind of unusual weather event that is on the increase. The precise effects of climate change are still not fully understood, but the phenomenon will have a significant impact on our wildlife, our landscape and even our urban environments.
Photographer: Darin Smith
Species at risk
The wide-ranging impact of rising sea-levels can be seen in the fortunes of two very different species (of the many at risk): the polar bear and the water vole.
Melting polar ice means a loss of habitat to polar bears, and the species will disappear from the planet in a few decades if temperatures continue to rise.
At the same time, the humble water vole is losing its own habitat, as increased flooding in rivers and streams puts its burrows underwater; particularly in breeding season.
Unlikely victims
Another immediate impact of climate change close to home is the effect on bluebells in our woodlands.
With the milder winters and early springs, bluebells will face greater competition as their rapid growth period is brought closer to that of its competitors on the forest floor. This could spell the beginning of the end for bluebells and the common spring sight of blue-carpeted woodlands.
We can make a difference by making improvements in our energy efficiency. By taking small steps at home, we can start to slow down the rate of climate change, and make a big difference to the planet's future.
Related information
Information:
Contact details:
Telephone:
01722 434349
email:
raross@salisbury.gov.uk
Postal address:
26 Endless Street
Salisbury
SP1 1DR
