Insulate your home

Mountain goat, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, United States
Photograph by Philippe Bourseiller

Even if you do not drive a car, you can take action to reduce climate change. Through its consumption of energy (for hot water, heating, electricity and lighting), an average dwelling produces 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year - more than a car does. In Europe about a quarter of all emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas responsible for change, comes from homes.

To reduce the need for heating, you can prevent heat from escaping: Insulate the roof, floors and walls with fiberglass wool, rock wool, mineral wool, cork, cellulose (from recycled newspapers) or hemp. This will save 20% on your heating bills and will pay for itself within 5 years at most.

- from the book '365 Ways to Save the Earth', by Philippe Bourseiller