A Sustainable Future at the 2008 Show was an area where visitors came to learn about ways to reduce their carbon foot print. Did you know that:
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Carbon Dioxide levels in the Earth's atmosphere have increased by 30% in the last 200 years alone.
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Concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are currently at their highest for 800,000 years.
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We can reduce CO2 by implementing some very simple changes in our every day life.
Take a journey around the feature to find out how to make a difference.
Almost half of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, the main greenhouse gas which causes climate change, actually come from the things we do every day. Things like leaving lights on unnecessarily or overfilling the kettle all waste energy and result in needless carbon dioxide emissions. Energy Doctors from the Energy Saving Trust were on hand to advise on simple steps that you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.
‘In the UK, we produce enough waste to fill the Albert Hall every two hours and most of this will end up in landfill sites’
Supported by Waterwise, the UK NGO focused on decreasing water consumption, we highlight some surprising facts about water consumption and also show you simple ways and products that could help you everyday to save water.
‘Each person in the UK currently uses about 150 litres of water every day, which has been rising by 1% a year since 1930 and much of this is wasted, disappearing down the plughole, or being flushed down the toilet!
Boxed allotments with planted vegetables and graphics highlighted the benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables. Hannah Genders, our resident expert on sustainable gardening, was on the Sustainable Future Allotment every day to show how simple it is to plant seeds and grow your own delicious vegetables at home. Hannah has run her own landscape design business for fifteen years, and has passion and expertise on eco friendly gardens that celebrate the local environment and encourage wildlife.
‘Over 13 billion plastic bags are distributed in the UK every year. That's around 215 per person for the population of the UK. Reuse your plastic bags as often as you can or take a Good Food Show bag and take it everytime you go shopping’
10 simple steps to environmental and economic success from the Energy Saving Trust . . .
- Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent. You could save around £40 per year.
- Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat shouldn't need to be set higher than 60°C/140°F.
- Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.
- Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
- Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.
- If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.
- Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).
- A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!
- Use energy saving light bulbs. Just one can save you £60 over the lifetime of the bulb - as they last up to 10 times longer than ordinary lightbulbs.
- Do a home energy check. Just answer some simple questions about your home and we'll give you a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £250 a year on your house hold energy bills.
The Eco Feature also played host to our Green Clinic, hosted by environmental broadcaster, author and consultant Joanna Yarrow, featuring celebrity and industry expert led talks and advise sessions on a raft of topics including how to go green in your garden, saving water, the great outdoors and your Eco Home.
