Record-breaking February heat has Brits re-thinking their carbon footprint
A third of people surveyed say the mild weather this winter has encouraged them to reconsider their environmental impact, with almost two-thirds now actively thinking about the planet and what they can do to help it
RECORD-breaking temperatures in February have prompted millions of Brits to think more about their carbon footprint, research has revealed.
A third of people surveyed say the mild weather this winter has encouraged them to reconsider their environmental impact, with almost two-thirds now actively thinking about the planet and what they can do to help it.
Over half of Brits are currently eating less meat or considering cutting down, with a similar number cutting down the amount they drive.
And 60 per cent have already made their home energy efficient, with 17 per cent considering it.
The research by marks the return of the , which urges consumers to make the most of their downtime on a Sunday by finding out whether they are on the best energy tariff and whether they could make valuable savings as a result.
Peter Earl, Head of Energy at , said: “It’s great to see Brits looking at more and more ways of going green with tracking showing that a number of themes are continuing to grow year on year.
"This is encouraging, but as the warmer temperatures in February might have prompted some to think, we can all to do more to do our bit.
“That’s why, for today’s Sunday Switch, we’re launching a new tariff with Pure Planet dedicated to renewable energy – providing Brits with an easy way to further reduce their carbon footprint – and are calling on all energy companies to provide green tariffs to support the UK’s commitment to the environment.
“Getting a quote and checking whether the green tariff is the right one for you could take just minutes, could give you valuable savings and could enable you to do even more for the environment too.”
The research found that 37 per cent - equating to over 10 million households – are considering switching to a green energy tariff in order to reduce their carbon footprint.
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Looking at why we don’t want to switch to a green tariff, price is the key concern, with over a third stating they wouldn’t want to pay more for a tariff from renewable sources.
Broader movements in going green include boycotting plastic carrier bags, switching lights to LED and recycling regularly, all of which have seen growth based on last year’s figures.
For full information about the Sunday Switch, see:
The top 10 things Brits are doing to save the planet
Recycling regularly (77%)
More conscious of waste (64%)
Make home energy efficient (59%)
Use less energy in the home (58%)
Boycotting plastic carrier bags (51%)
Using a reusable coffee cup and/or reusable water bottle (47%)
Switch lights to LED (46%)
Using a compost bin (42%)
Eating less meat (42%)
Cutting down on driving (35%)
Top five things Brits are considering doing to save the planet
Boycotting single use plastic (39%)
Switching to a green energy tariff (37%)
Only eating locally sourced foods (32%)
Stop using plastic bags (25%)
Switching car to an electric vehicle (24%)
