categories

Each eco action card has its carbon, resource and money saving credentials shown in six categories. Not all actions have a value in every category, eg where there are no upfront costs or money savings. Details regarding the categories follow:

CO₂ / CO₂eq savings (kg/year): figures are calculated using UK government figures, or are estimated using publically available data. Expressed either as CO₂ (carbon dioxide) for energy and fuel savings, or in terms of CO₂eq, i.e. carbon dioxide equivalent, which includes other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide, for the reductions made through water and waste savings. All values shown in this category are averages and not intended to be exact, and depend on the assumptions made for each eco action.

Cost: this category reflects an illustrative cost for the purchase of efficient appliances and products, where applicable. The costing is quoted as a guideline, as prices vary considerably depending on size/type of product and installation costs. A number of  the eco-actions are behavioural activities that often have no costs associated with them.

Savings: expressed as cost savings/year, where applicable. For some eco-actions, where there is a substantial cost, there is often a sizable saving to compensate, for e.g. with solar photovoltaic cells. In other cases, for e.g.in the cold water saving eco-actions, only households on water meters will save money. In the UK, only 30% have water meters, hence as the majority of households will not save money undertaking this action, so the saving here is depicted as zero. In other cases, such as in waste reduction and recycling, there is no financial saving, but this does not reduce their importance in terms of the resources they save.

Payback: indicates how long it will take to recoup the initial financial outlay through on-going cost savings. For some eco-actions, where there is no upfront cost but are financial savings, the payback is denoted as ‘Instant’.

Resources saved: typically, an eco-action saves 1 or 2 resources. However, some actions, especially those involved with transport options and recycling materials, can save 4 resources:

energy: this is the resource saved by reducing the amount of electricity & heating fuels, such as gas or coal, in the home.                  

raw materials: reduction in waste and recycling of materials are covered. Sharing, rather than owning goods, such as in car share clubs, also score.

land/space: reduction in landfill space through recycling; less parking spaces through car-sharing & the reduction in congestion through less cars on the road.

transport: reductions in the need to transport goods, waste and people by cars, trucks and vans are covered.

time: where eco-actions save time. For eg, cycling to work rather than driving in rush-hour; taking the train intercity rather than taking the car.

fossil fuels: represents renewable energy generation that can displace fossil fuels for electricity & heat.  Also demonstrates petrol/diesel savings.

water: represents the water savings made in the home; water efficient products and the water saved by using water butts in the garden

Eco points: this is an illustrative score, from 1 (low) to 5 (high) that combines the CO₂ or CO₂eq saving; with the initial cost and/or the effort involved and the number of resources saved. A top score of 5 requires a high carbon/carbon equivalent saving; a high initial cost (where there is one) and/or a considerable effort on behalf of the person carrying out the action plus multiple resource savings.

All the category values featured are averages and are to be regarded as illustrative only & were correct at the time of printing (May 2011). All are subject to change.