Energy-saving tips at home whilst you jet off on holiday

Practical information

Concerned about the environment? Well there are lots of completely free things that you can do to help save energy at home, even when you're off on holiday.

ABTA, The Travel Association and the AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) have created together the Reduce My Footsteps initiative to help offset our carbon emissions. The website for the initiative also gives provides great energy-saving tips that won't cost you a penny before you jet off.

Before You Travel

If you are leaving home or your office:

Switch off all unnecessary electrical equipment including any immersion heaters. Turn down your central heating to the lowest reasonable level- turning down your central heating by 1°C can save 0.5 to 1.0 tonnes of CO2 per year.

For short journeys of a few hundred kilometres, use rail, or coach, where possible. For such travel, driving is also reasonable if you are carrying a full passenger load and your car is relatively fuel-efficient.

-Replace traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient ones: for a whole household, this can save around 0.2 tonnes of CO2 per year.

- Try and use public transport to reach the rail station or airport.

- Recycle your holiday brochures when you've finished with them.

- Don't take litter with you. Remove packaging from clothing, toiletries, etc and recycle if possible. The more weight you take, the more fuel is consumed on flights.

Also remember:

A twindow left open overnight will waste energy equivalent to driving a small car over 35 miles.

A PC monitor left on for one night wastes enough energy to laser print 800 copies or to microwave six dinners.

A typical photocopier left on for one night wastes enough energy to produce 15000 copies.

Lighting a typical office overnight wastes energy equivalent to heating water for 1000 cups of tea.

For futher details, see the Reduce My Footprint website

  All practical advice