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Reduce your impact - fifth steps
The following steps involve generating your own energy, rather than improving efficiency. These are for the ultra-committed environmentalist!
1. Install Solar Heating
Solar heating is free once it's up and running. There are grants available for the installation of solar panels and it could pay for itself within 4-8 years. Once it has paid for itself, you're in profit thereafter and protected from rises in gas prices. Why pay for gas when you can just use free sunlight?
2. Install a Ground Source Heat Pump
A ground source heat pump uses heat within the earth in your garden to heat water. This can then be used in your house. It requires a bit of electricity to run the system, but for every unit of energy it uses, you get 3 to 4 units of energy back from the ground. They are not expensive, but you will have to re-turf your lawn afterwards as it requires a large trench to be dug in your garden (if you have one).
3. Install Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Solar Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity. These are quite expensive at the moment, but the costs are coming down all the time.
4. Install a small Wind Turbine
Wind power is quite cheap and reliable. Every time the wind blows, you are generating clean electricity for your home. They can be mounted on a mast or a rooftop.
5. Install a Wood-Chip Burner
Woodchip burners burn waste wood and paper products. They are carbon-neutral and sustainable, as long as the material comes from a sustainable source, such as recycled paper or a sustainable forest. You will need to have enough space to store the fuel, but they can generate hot water and electricity as well as cooking your food (if you're that way inclined).
Conclusion
If you've managed to do all the steps listed in the first 3 pages and just some of the steps listed in this page and the previous one, you will have probably reduced your greenhouse gas emissions by 40%-70%. Not bad eh? And to think that many countries are struggling to reduce their emissions by even 1%! Forget about governments - you can do this by yourself.
