1. 30 May 2015
I
t’s the challenge of all our
lives. The chance to make a
real difference to the world.
Or risk that by not doing
enough, we leave behind a
legacy of waste, climate change and
a ruined environment.
Scotland has set ambitious targets
aimed at reducing greenhouse gases
emissions by 42 per cent by 2020,
and 80 per cent by 2050.
According to the Scottish
Government, 77 per cent of
Scotland’s consumption emissions
are accounted for by individuals
and households. While government,
local authorities, businesses and
community groups are doing their
bit to make Scotland greener, it
warns that we all must join in to
make Scotland much greener.
To get there, a major nationwide
campaign is underway aimed at
encouraging Scots to do a little bit
more across five key areas – home
energy, food waste, travel, reducing
what we consume and reusing and
recycling what we have.
It points out that tiny changes in
our behaviour – from leaving the car
behind on the school run to cutting
down the waste in our food bins
not only benefits the planet, but
can boost the money in our pocket,
improve health and help Scotland
reach its full economic potential. B
arbara and Nick Armstrong,
both 54, live in Inverleith,
Edinburgh. They have 2
sons, Elliott, 19, who is at Glasgow
University and Ivan, 15.
On the surface, Barbara and Nick,
a teacher at Edinburgh Academy,
appear to be hitting all the right
‘green’ targets.
Hardly any food waste, they take
care to recycle and energy conscious
Nick pays particular attention to
making sure little things – like only
boiling the amount of water he
needs for his mug of tea – are second
nature.
“We try to do what we can to
be environmentally aware but
sometimes it is a balance between
what we can do and what becomes
too inconvenient or expensive,” says
Changefor
thebetter
According to Minister for the
Environment, Climate Change and
Land Reform, Aileen McLeod, every
one has a part to play in ensuring
Scotland’s future is green and clean.
“I want future generations to be
able to enjoy the same quality of life
as we do,” she says. “The Scottish
Government is committed to
creating a cleaner, greener Scotland
and we take the issue of climate
change very seriously.”
The campaign focuses on the
small behaviour changes we can all
achieve. If, for example, everyone
drove just five miles a week less
than they do now together we’d
save around £89 million a year,
our communities would be cleaner
and less polluted and we’d remove
190,000 tonnes of CO2 annually
from the air we breathe.
It also points out that those tweaks
to our lifestyle add up to massive
benefits.
“Green living doesn’t have to
mean massive changes – little
actions each day can make a huge
difference to the environment
around you,” adds Ms McLeod.
“Indeed, many Scots are already
taking action – as a country we are
recycling more, driving less and
using energy efficient light bulbs.
“Together by making small
changes to the way we lead our
everyday lives we can become more
environmentally friendly and do our
bit – locally and globally – for the
planet.”
But what can we do? And anyway,
aren’t we all doing enough already?
Starting today and over the next
five weeks, we’ll take a look at what
can help Scotland become greener.
We’ll bring you tips and ideas to
make the move to becoming even
more environmentally aware.
And we’ll look at what ordinary
families are doing now to help the
environment and look at how the
tiniest of changes can all add up to
make the greatest – and greenest
impact.
Small adjustments to our lives can have
a huge impact on the environment,
discovers Sandra Dick in the first of
a six part series showing how we can
all help the planet and our pockets
PHotograph:GregMacvean
Barbara, who runs personal property
search firm Edinburgh Property
Finders.
“We have zero food waste, thanks
to two typical teenage boys and us
being hungry parents.
“Any small amounts of leftovers
or peelings are put on the compost
heap in the garden. The food waste
box never gets used.
“I think that’s a habit that’s
handed down from our parents.
They were the war generation and
very conscious about making sure
they used what they had.”
Nick’s vegetable patch in the
garden provides a regular source of
vegetables, while the couple tend
to shop savvy, buying seasonal fruit
and vegetables most – but not all of
the time.
“I admit it’s not a priority of mine
to check something’s air miles
when I’m shopping,” adds Barbara.
In association with
Make
Scotland
Greener
Make Scotland
Greener
Tip of the week
REDUCEandREUSE
Usingwhatwehave–
mendingclothesorrepairing
brokenitems–addsup.
Keepreceiptsandregister
forguaranteesforelectrical
goods,furnitureorbicycles
soiftheybreakdownthey
canberepairedforfree.
Scotland’s
population is
expected to rise
by 8.5 per cent
to 5.78 million
in 2037 – which
means more
people generat-
ing even more
waste
5.78m
Case study Weekone
2. 30 May 2015
Recycling
packaging is
second nature to
Barbara and Nick
Armstrong with
their son Ivan
THEY recycle and have hardly any food waste, but
could the Armstrong family do more? Each week
our Greener Scotland experts will cast an eye over
one ordinary household’s lifestyle to see if there
are any little changes which could add up to a big
impact.
Laura McGadie (inset) is Head of
Home Energy Scotland at Energy
Saving Trust.
“Heating water accounts for
about 21 per cent of the energy
bill, so monitoring hot water use
could help the Armstrongs save on
energy and costs. Reducing shower time
by just one minute would save up to £10 per year per
person for electric showers.
“Mrs Armstrong washes clothes on a low
temperature. One wash per week at 40C costs around
£7.50 per year, one wash per week at 30C is around
£2.50 per year. Washing with a full machine will save
energy.
“It’s great the family switches off lights when they’re
not needed – lighting accounts for 18 per cent of a
typical household’s electricity budget.
“Switching to LED lighting could reduce energy use
further. By replacing all halogen down-lighters with LED
alternatives, a household could save about £30 a year.
“Draught-roofing around windows and doors could
save a household £25 to £50 per year – filling gaps
at the skirting and between floorboards and draught
proofing external doors, keyholes and letter boxes.
“Mrs Armstrong may want to consider cycling – it’s
often quicker once you get into a routine and has the
added benefit of helping you keep fit.”
Home Energy Scotland has advisors and specialists who
offer free, expert and impartial advice about energy
savings and the support and funding available. Call
0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org
Ylva Haglund (inset) is an expert in consumer
behaviour, marketing and environmental policy
with Zero Waste Scotland.
“The Armstrong family is really
aware of the environmental
impact of what they do and it
shows in their daily lives, especially
on preventing food waste.
“Composting is great. But don’t
forget you can put everything from bones
to eggshells in your food waste caddy. It’s important
to recycle food, as it has a really high environmental
impact.
“Rather than buy new clothes, the family could think
about repairing dearer items like trousers or jumpers.
“They shouldn’t write off second-hand for clothes
and gifts. There’s a huge choice of clothing (including
designer labels), accessories and electrical goods that
are in great condition.
“The family could re-use packaging like bottles and
boxes more for meals on-the-go. A sandwich will be
less squished in a plastic box than if wrapped in cling
film.
“And some charities raise money recycling ink
cartridges, that might help motivate families to save ink
cartridges for them.”
Zero Waste Scotland’s work includes promoting
recycling, reuse and repair, and helping people cut their
food waste. Visit www.zerowastescotland.org.uk
week taking Ivan to school and
athletics training at Meadowbank.
“Convenience and time are the
issue,” says Barbara.
“If I’m working near to home, I
will walk. Otherwise I’d use the car
because buses don’t necessarily run
to where I want to go.
“I’ve never been on a tram – they
don’t go where I need to go. Even
if we are travelling to the airport to
go on holiday, we wouldn’t take the
tram, it would be easier to just get
a taxi.
Flying to Spain once a year is a
treat they wouldn’t want to lose.
And while Barbara knows using the
tumble drier to fluff up her towels is
probably not the ‘greenest’ choice,
she’s unwilling to give it up.
“I could do less washing, the
machine is on quite a lot but on a
low temperature. It annoys me that
the fastest cycle takes 50 minutes
and I can’t imagine why clothes
need a two hour wash cycle. But
that’s not something I can control.
“I think if I’m managing not to
have any food waste, I’m entitled to
soft towels.”
There are certain things, adds
Barbara, that the family can’t do
anything about. Such as the thick
stone walls of their four bedroom
ground floor conversion, which
aren’t suitable for cavity wall
insulation or their windows which
conservation rules don’t allow to be
double glazed.
“As a family we’re quite good at
switching things off like lights. My
husband is the worst and the best –
he’s good at turning things off but
he’ll switch off lights in the room
where I am sitting. He’s extreme.
“Working in property, a lot of
clients look carefully at a home
report and are quite specific about
wanting a home that’s at level C or
better. I think we’re probably D or E.
It costs us about £160 a month
for gas and electricity for four
bedrooms and three reception
rooms.
“We try to do what we can to
be environmentally aware but
sometimes it is a balance between
what we can do and what becomes
too inconvenient or expensive.”
Make
Scotland
Greener
Make Scotland
Greener
Experts’ view Week one
“Hopefully what Nick grows
balances that up a bit.”
It’s packaging that comes with
food and products that she finds
most challenging. “Producers need
to be forced by the government to
avoid so much packaging.
“Anything from Amazon arrives
with boxes inside boxes. I don’t
think there’s much we can do to
stop that.
“I recycle the boys’ clothes, we
give things to charity shops and take
books to the recycling points. But
clothes are so cheap to buy new that
I wouldn’t buy second hand or sit
down and darn a pair of socks.
“I’m not good on ink cartridges,
it’s one of those things that I put to
one side and then don’t get done.
They go in the bin.”
While Nick walks to work, the
family Mercedes C Class estate
diesel clocks up a few miles every
Producers
need to
be forced
to avoid
so much
packaging
We throw
away
630,000
tonnes of
food and drink
away from
our homes
every year in
Scotland
630,000
Scotland has
reduced its
climate
changing
greenhouse gas
emissions by
26.4 per cent
since 1990. The
hope is to hit
a 42 per cent
reduction by
2020
42%
In association with
