What can I do at home?

Plan meals ahead with your family

The average household in Leeds wastes 200kg of food every year. That’s the same weight as two and a half adults!

You can cut food waste and save carbon by planning meals ahead with your family. Have a go using a simple meal planning template.

Go meat-free once a week

Some foods are greener than others. Meat has a larger carbon footprint than other foods because of the extra land, water and energy it takes to feed and rear animals.

For example, eating one burger every week has the same amount of carbon as driving from Leeds to France! Here’s a great video explaining food’s impact on climate change. 

You don’t have to cut meat out completely to make a difference. Start by swapping meat for other protein-rich foods once a week. This is a great challenge to do with your family. To get started, why not look at these tasty, easy, meat-free recipes for inspiration.

Reduce your energy usage

A quarter of the average household’s carbon footprint comes from the energy we use in our homes. By remembering to switch off appliances, using less hot water or switching to LED bulbs, you can make difference.

To monitor your energy use at home you might be able to use a smart meter. A smart meter tells you the amount of gas and electricity you’re using at home and how much money it’s costing. It’ll help you keep an eye on your usage and identify where you could save.

Ask your parents to contact their energy provider about getting one—they’re free! Find out more about smart meters.