Bright ideas for a more sustainable future
"The question I've been asking is - why didn't we save ourselves...when we had the chance?" - The Age of Stupid
You can help save the planet from runaway climate change. Here's how.- Join the movement. Take part in WWF's Earth Hour. Join millions and show you are willing to make small changes in your every day life. Speak out about what needs to be done: email or write to your MP.
Ever wondered how much difference your small actions really make? Based on our research, if every New Zealand household took these three simple actions, it could have a big impact on energy saving, and on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions;
- Turn un-needed appliances off at the wall: when not in use things like heated towls rails and appliances on standby account for almost 1 billion kWh of electricity per year or 165,700 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. If every houshold simply turned these off, we could make a big saving
- Go car-free one day a week: Transport is a major contributor to New Zealand's emissions (20%). If everyone in New Zealand who currently drives to work were to walk, cycle or take public transport on just one day per week, it would save up to 114,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
- Switch your bulbs: If every household swapped their remaining old-style light bulbs for new energy efficient ones, this could save up to 0.6 billion kWh of electricity or 106,800 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year
The combined impact of these actions would be an emissions reduction of 386,500 tonnes CO2 equivalent per year. This is equivalent to over 839,000 car journeys from Kaitaia to Invercargill. It would take 128,400 hectares of regenerating native forest one year to absorb this much carbon dioxide. This is an area twice the size of Auckland.
Figures are based on work by Landcare Research’s carboNZero Programme in December 2008 commissioned by WWF-New Zealand.
You can also:
- Calculate your footprint and get advice on how to reduce it
- Get free impartial advice on your home energy use, insulation and more
- Check out Energy Spot where you'll find bright ways to make the most of the energy you use every day
- Make a donation and support our work
