{The ‘Training Toolkit on Low Carbon Lifestyles’ has been developed and published by UNDP-GEF Small Grants Program (SGP), India, along with Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) and Centre for Environment Education (CEE).}
Global warming can lead to irreversible changes in the delicate balance that exists in earth’s climate and life-systems. It is a growing crisis with large scale implications on mortality, health, economics and security. All of us will be affected, irrespective of economic status or nationality.
Hence, the importance of action at all levels to tackle global warming cannot be over-emphasized, and it is up to each one of us to apply our creative knowledge to move towards the common goal and also save money. We have still not reached a point of no return and the most dangerous climate changes can still be avoided. It is action on the ground, which makes all the difference!
This recently published ‘Training Toolkit on Low Carbon Lifestyles’ is a set of materials in an easy to understand language, based on up-to-date science and policy inputs. It aims to arm people with facts and figures on how small changes in everyday actions can help reduce an individual’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere and also save money. It focuses on climate-friendly choices we all can make in the use of electrical appliances, transport, paper, water, etc. All data is relevant to the Indian context and the choices presented are practical and easy to adopt. The Toolkit consists of:
- A Trainer’s Guide with practical climate-friendly actions that can be adopted in our daily life and a quantitative estimation of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by individual actions.
- An Excel Sheet with necessary calculations, which can be used by trainers to quantify energy and cost savings, and carbon dioxide emissions reduction.
- A PowerPoint Presentation on climate change basics, how we are responsible, and the impacts on India.
The purpose of Toolkit is to spread awareness and sensitivity among people regarding adopting low carbon practices for a sustainable lifestyle. The aim is to create a prosperous, but not a wasteful society, and an economy that is self sustaining. Individual efforts may seem like drops in the ocean. However, the impacts from the positive changes from these efforts in lifestyles and consumption patterns by millions of people will make significant contributions towards a more climate-friendly planet.
Here we are featuring some easy-to-use climate-friendly actions for low-carbon lifestyles from the ‘Trainer’s Guide’:
A.Electricity
1. Switch to CFLs
Replace just one 100W ICL bulb with a 20W Compact Fluoroscent Lamp (CFL.
Advantages:
Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 84 kg on every replacement
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs. 409
2. Use a Table Lamp While Studying
Table lamps provide more effective lighting.
Advantages:
Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 57 kg on every change
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs. 277
3. Come Out and Play
Go out for a couple of hours everyday instead of watching TV/computer and be healthy.
Advantages:
Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 62 to 93 kg per person
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs. 301 to 453
4. Switch from a Desktop to a Laptop
Advantages:
Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 205 to 279 kg per person
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs. 1000 to 1360
5. Turn Off Lights and Fans When Not in Use
Advantages:
Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 28 kg per household
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs. 134
6. Buy BEE 5 Star Rated Appliances
This will help each one of us to reduce our energy consumption, energy bills and carbon footprint.
(a) Use a BEE 5 star rated fan (1200mm sweep)
Advantages:
Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 36 kg on every fan
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs. 176
(b) Use a BEE 5 star rated frost free refrigerator
Advantages:
Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 269 kg on every refrigerator
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs. 1312
(c) Use a BEE 5 star rated split air conditioner (1.5 tons)
Advantages:
Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 283 kg on every air conditioner
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs. 1382
7. Install a Solar Water Heater
Use of renewable energy in your daily life.
Advantages:
Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 687 kg on every installation
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs. 3352
