Here are some suggestions

These are some the ways in which PCAN members have been cutting their carbon footprints

Signed up to Ecotricity for both electricity and gas supply.
Fitted energy saving lamps in all but one light fitting - it is fitted with a dimmer control.
Bought mineral wool insulation when it was 'three rolls for the price of one' and supplemented the existing insulation.
Fitted thermostatic valves to radiators. (Actually, they are new ones to replace the hotch-potch, plus two faulty ones, that were, already, in place.)
Always ensure dishwasher is crammed full before starting it.
Avoid using tumble drier unless conditions for drying outdoors are hopeless, and forecast for next couple of days is for more rain.
Tony

Like many people I`ve had my house fully insulated and turned my thermostat down.
I also keep my central heating on constant and regulate the temperature via the thermostat. This way, the house doesn`t cool down so much that it needs vast amounts of fuel to get the temperature up to a comfortable level. I`ve noticed that my energy bills are significantly lower than when I had the central heating on `timed`. I`ve checked with several `experts` who confirm that this is a fuel saver. Other ways of cutting down on carbon use are putting on a thicker jumper/sweater instead of putting up the heat, hanging washing out or putting it on a clothes horse instead of using a tumble drier and doing all my laundry on 30 degrees instead of higher. But I have to confess that I`m still using my car! I`ve bought a bike but I`ve damaged my knee so haven`t been able to use it much and I`d never manage to cycle from Copnor to Civic Offices and back and I`m always in too much of a rush and time-constrained to wait for a bus!

Lynne


Cut out meat.
Reduce dairy products.
Increase local vegetables including peas and beans.
Buy green electricity.
If you can't install a shower, use less water in bath.
In winter, leave water in bath until cold, so that warmth goes into house (do not do this if you have damp problems).
In summer turn thermostat of water heating down, if possible.
Use extra clothing indoors in winter.
Use more covers on bed in winter.
Keep kitchen cool, so as to reduce energy consumed by refrigerator and freezer.
Ventilate rooms only as necessary to freshen air.
Small families and singles can wash up less frequently, thus saving hot water. Rinsing utensils under cold water after using makes washing up easy.
Encourage heat through windows from sun by opening doors into remainder of house.
Mike

I use eco elec and gas from ecotricity,only using gas for cooking and hot water.
Use waste wood for heating.
I keep an old car on the rd instead of buying new as there is so much embeeded Co2 in a new car and my car runs on waste veg oil which is CO2 negative and more eco friendly than buying and using any new car.
I try not to buy plastic products so oil is kept in the ground.
I only buy organic european produce except bananas and dried nuts etc.to avoid using petrochemical pesticides herbicides fertilizers etc
Low energy bulbs.
Dont buy new products unless entirely necessary
Recycle bottles cardbord etc.try not to use cans of any description
Mend repair before throwing away.
Borrow before buying
Grow own fruit and veg
Dont drive unless necessary
Dont decorate unless necessary
Most things I own are 2nd hand
Dopnt buy dvds newspapers or magazines
If I do buy new clothes/materials they are  made from hemp/organic cotton to avoid petrochemical  use.
Only use eco cleaning products and toiletries when necessary.
Dont shower  everyday
Have rainwater butts to cut down on water
Recycle paper
Think of environmental connsequences before I do anything
Dont fly
Eco activities only such as walking cycling sailing .
Dont use carrier bags

Chris

Asked for (and bought) second-hand birthday presents
Brought eco-products from the online Natural Collection
Brought groceries via local organic producer Abel & Cole

Owen

We wear jumpers and have blankets on the sofa to keep the heating off for as long as possible, I now make hardly any journeys by car as a passenger and none as a driver. Last year I probably drove about once a month and about once a week for work.
I have gone without a foreign holiday so far and my only abroad holiday this year is to Amsterdam and Germany via ferry and a very full car share.
I have also had a go at growing my own veg even though I have a tiny plot.
I've had some successes and some failures but this isn't included in most carbon calculators anyway. We also get nearly all our food from Riverford which don't airfreight.

Nicola


-  I bought an  energy meter .  It helped me see where I could save energy  (and money)  by turning off unnecessary gadgets.
- Generally , I've more thoughtful about  where I spend my money and try to purchase products which are 'greener' or come from sustainable sources.
- For Christmas presents.  I ask for gifts the support environmental orgsniations ( like  a donation to the Woodland Trust, ...)

Driving carefully at steadier, slower speeds.
Using public transport.

Drying washing outside

Turning off appliances when not in use

Holidaying in the UK


Wearing layers of clothing so we don't need so much heat.

Come along to our meetings and join our mailing list

Measure your own carbon footprint

Take actions to reduce your footprint Consider signing up to the 10:10 campaign and cut your emissions by 10% in 2010

Tell your friends. There are roughly 180,000 people in Portsmouth but when it comes to gossip it’s a very small place…so spread the word about our website.

Write to your MP. The MP’s for Portsmouth are Mike Hancock and Penny Mordaunt There are also various MEP’s who represent the South East in the European Parliament. You can identify your MP and MEP and email them at www.writetothem.com . You also contact Mike Hancock through his website at http://www.mikehancock.co.uk/ and Penny Mordaunt This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Write to your local councillor about your concerns for Portsmouth. Your local councillor plays an important role in ensuring that Portsmouth City Council act in the best interests of it’s community. Don't forget that the City is owned by the people and the Council manage it on their behalf. You can identify your local councillors at www.writetothem.com using your postcode and then see pretty pictures of them at http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/yourcouncil/1121.html

Write letters about anything climate related to the News, ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and other publications and people

Take part in the new debates on the News website http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/yoursay.aspx

Send in ideas and information for our website or comment on the articles already there.

We do stalls from time to time – could you help to run them?

We could do with more handouts for our stalls. Energy saving, Calculating your carbon footprint, Zero Carbon Portsmouth, Flooding have all been suggested. We could send examples of what we've already done.

A good PowerPoint presentation covering the basics of Climate Change and what people can do would be useful.

Posters illustrating climate issues would be good. We haven’t got a publicity poster which we could take round to places we’ve identified.

We’re planning a Summer Fair next year on May 19th so help with that would be great.

Collecting information about insulation and the grants available is on our list of things to do.

We’re often invited to speak to local groups, including schools

We need supporters to take opportunities to talk to key people and let us know

We’d like members attending relevant local meetings including council meetings

Join on-line campaigning groups like Avaaz and 38 Degrees which send you quick email actions to take

Have a look at the campaign actions and petitions we have on this site

Can I really make a difference? What about America, China and developing nations?

Of course all of us in PCAN constantly ask ourselves the same questions, but we do believe that if people begin to change their attitude and behaviour at a local level then the knock-on effects can make a difference nationally and internationally through consumer patterns and pressure on local and national government.

How can we influence international agreements without taking action at home first?

Emissions are terrifyingly high in places like the US and Middle East and growing rapidly in China and India but you might also be surprised at how much action is being taken to cut emissions in other countries. Even Texas.

are much higher than most other countries See http://www.wdm.org.uk/sites/default/files/climatecalandarreport08012007.pdf

more of the CO2 already in the atmosphere is down to us.

’ report http://www.wdm.org.uk/blame-it-china-international-politics-climate-change

we can’t stop poorer countries developing and probably using more energy but we can make that energy cleaner.