What can you do as an individual?

Nine practical tips for private citizens

1. Use a GreenCard whenever you refuel or book a flight. The card supplier will then plant trees to compensate for your CO2 emission.
2. Replace light bulbs with energy-saving or LED lamps, thus saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions.
3. Leave your car at home more often, choose instead to travel by train, bus or bicycle. And examine the advantages of a hybrid the next time you consider buying a new car. If you have to travel by car, ensure that the tyre pressures are correct, as this saves on fuel consumption.
4. Segregate your household waste carefully, setting aside everything that can be recycled, such as empty bottles, waste paper and cardboard, batteries, printer cartridges, clothing and shoes.
5. Fit a water-saving shower head, so that you use less hot water.
6. Take a more critical view of all the packaging materials you receive from day to day. For instance, have your supplier of household appliances take away the boxes in which such items are delivered.
7. Ensure that your home is suitably insulated, so that no heat energy is wasted.
8. Switch your TV set, computer, stereo and DVD player off when not in use. Do not leave such equipment on stand-by, as they continue to consume energy in this manner.
9. Be more aware of the things you buy. For instance, consult the World Wildlife Fund’s Fish ‘Yes’ List to help prevent overfishing. Check whether clothing bears an Eco label and purchase domestic seasonal produce more often. This saves on both transport costs and fuel consumption.