Global warming rant

[ginmummy]

I watched an item on the news last night where a woman (possibly an mn-er?) was being asked what she and her family would be prepared or able to give up to 'do her bit' for global warming, and the interviewer presented her with a carbon 'cheque' that said basically if you give up your car you will be ?250 a year better off, so do you rip up the cheque and keep the car or do you keep the cheque and get rid of the car etc etc. This is something that I have strong views on because it's 'ordinary' conscientious people like you and me who will end up living close to the breadline because the people who make all the important decisions about the world have decided to make us pay more as a punishment for simply existing.

I live in a modest two bedroom mid-townhouse with ds. We don't have central heating, a tumble dryer or a car. Our house is heated by one storage heater in the living room that set on number 2 (out of 5) that's enough to heat the whole house and it's kept warm by double glazing and keeping the doors shut. I prefer to put on a jumper than turn the thermostat up. We don't eat excessively, preferring to eat 'in season' locally sourced fruit and veg, and we very rarely eat take-aways, including McDonalds etc. I use the washing machine economically, we have energy saving lightbulbs in all the lights and I don't leave lights on when it's not necessary nor do I leave the tv on standby overnight or the microwave or my mobile phone charger plugged in when it?s not being used. The electrical items in my house are minimal; tv, video, fridge freezer (A rated), washing machine (B rated), microwave (not sure) and radio alarm clock. DS has never been on a plane and I last went on one in June 2001. We haven't had a foreign holiday together and when we've been away for a week or so it's been in Britain we've doubled up with other people. We have a recycling bin that is used religiously and a non recyclable bin that is usually half full when the bin men come for it every two weeks. I recycle glass, clothes, shoes and garden rubbish in the relevant recycling banks.

The reason I'm twittering on like this is because I do not consider myself to have an excessive lifestyle and I'm conscious of the impact that my carbon footprint is having on the planet, yet I am facing the prospect of rising electricity bills that I will struggle to pay all because of factors that are way beyond my control. I completely agree that something needs to be done now if our children's children are to see the next century, but how is raising the cost of living by higher gas and electricity prices going to achieve it? We will end up with two classes in society; the people who can afford to live an opulent lifestyle and who will continue to waste resources without a care for anything or anyone, and people like you and me who will have to decide between eating and heating our houses.

Rant over.

[southeastastra]

i feel a bit like this. also feel it's out of my hands to do any more than i am doing already.

[CountessDracula]

I think it is so that they can produce the electricity in a more environmentally friendly way which will cost more. Therefore everyone has to pay for it.

[Wilbur]

It is tremendously difficult. We are currently extending our house and since we are lucky enough to have a new flat roof that is south facing, we are going to put solar panels there. However, even with the grant, it is costing a huge amount and will take years to pay for itself on electricity savings alone. We are going ahead with it because we can (just) afford it, and because we feel it's the right thing to do, esp as extending the house has involved large amount of concrete which is terrible for the environment. We are trying wherever possible to use eco-stuff, doing lots of freecycling of things we are getting rid of in the process (Victorian floorboards anyone?) but, like you, I still feel guilty and excessive about the whole thing. I was, however, encouraged by that amazing statistic in the Independent recently about if everyone in the world who had electric lights in their homes swapped one incandescent bulb for an energy saving one then it would have a profound effect on the progress of global warming. So it IS worth doing something, doing anything that you can. If you do nothing, then that's terrible and you should be ashamed, but if you do something then even tiny changes make a difference.

[Callisto]

I agree that the 'nothing I do will make a difference' brigade are irritating in the extreme. Another factoid you probably all know is that if everyone in GB switched their tv off at night we could get rid of one fossil fuel burning power station so even small things do amke a difference. But the big thing is aviation. Flying is horrendously wasteful and has an enormous impact on the environment but noone seems prepared to give up their twice a year holidays abroad. I think that we should all have an air mile allowance - if you need to go long haul you have to save up or buy someone elses allowance. It is fair because it effects everyone (apart from the super rich but nothing effects them anyway).

[Furball]

But they shouldn't be taxing us extra on all of this, they should be helping us and showing us the way forward, not just wacking up our bills.

You can get a wind turbine thingy now from B & Q to help 'make' some of your electricity - what is the point when the cost of it far outways what you will save, there is absolutely no incentive at all.

[CountessDracula]

Because it will help in the long run!

[ginmummy]

And what about the roof strengthening that will be needed to fit one? And how about people like me who live in conservation areas who aren't allowed to put things like wind turbines or solar panels on their roofs? (we're not even allowed to put a window in the attic or errect a conservatory)

There's only so much that we can practically do - there needs to be a conscious effort from the top down, starting in Whitehall.

[Boowila]

I think any measure need to be taken on a global scale. I mean really if everyone turns off their telly at night in the UK while China is building coal fired power plants, what's the point?

Everyone needs to get on board and live by the same regulations. Perhaps the time has come for us to think about ditching our cars for public transport. But, then how can we do that when public transport is so expensive that it's actually cheaper to keep up the car. Why oh why does Ken not take his congestion charge profits and put them into public transport. Does he or doesn't he want us to ride it????

[joelallie]

But people like you ginmummy that use energy wisely and moderately won't be affected as much as those who leave lights on all night, use a tumble drier, keep central heating all the time with the windows open and drive 100yrds to go to the supermarket. We all have to pay more - electricity and the some of the things it powers are going to have to be viewed as luxuries I guess. I will fully admit that we aren't as careful as we should be sometimes but when our energy bills more than doubled a few months ago I looked very very carefully on what I could cut back on. Hitting people in their wallets is STILL the best way to make them change their ways.

[expatinscotland]

And what abuot all us renters, who are honestly unable to afford property at all?

Believe it or not, these numbers will rise.

I cannot control how my home is heated. The city council banned putting gas in new build, socialised housing years ago, so we have expensive electric storage heaters and everything electric.

And we're lucky! I know loads of other renters who, due to budget restrictions and a mostly Victorian housing stock, usually get the choice of either double-glazing or central heat and have to rely on oil filled radiators or electric plug-in heaters.

And let's look at all those in rural areas w/shit for public transport. They have to drive to work.

So let's just penalise the working poor even more for wanting a little warmth and to go to work.

Public transport leaves a LOT to be desired in many areas and b/c of housing costs, it can be hard if not impossible for many families to live near their place of work.

[caroline3]

What really annoyes me is hearing about celebs going on about global warming yet flying all the time.

Everyone is going to have to change their ways, money should not come into it. Just because someone has £50 million in the bank why should that give them the right to pollute the planet hundreds of times more than the average person? I think the government needs to start an advertising campaign explaining to people just what flying and driving is doing to the planet. People should be encouraged to stick to two flights a year max. That way people with £ can be made to feel guilty about their actions. We all need to cut back on the energy we use but some will find it harder than others. As an earlier poster said, it always seems to be those struggling that are hit by extra taxes etc. Someone driving a 4X is hardly going to stop doing it just because they have to pay £500 extra in tax. They might well stop doing it if it became socially unacceptable however. Rant over for now!!!

[Boowila]

My (sinical) view is that high prices are here to stay for a while, and that they will trigger a recession. The cost of living in this country is simply not sustainable for the vast majority.

Something should be done about our energy consumption. With that point I agree. But, it must be global.

[Boowila]

Roll on housing housing crash so I can buy one....

[joelallie]

But if we can't get an agreement about global change does that mean that we shouldn't do anything ourselves?

[Boowila]

If you want to, fine. The is that we should all be doing something. None of this oh you rich country over there you should fork out more. I'm not rich. Living in a rich country make me poor, not rich. It must make some people rich. But, sadly I'm not among them.

Now, if CD wants to donate her millions, that would be nice.

[ginmummy]

We should still do our bit but it just seems so futile in the grand scheme of things. Me switching off a light isn't going to save the planet. In fact, as reported on last night's news, if all the lights in Britain were switched off, the carbon emissions saved would be negated by China's industrial growth within 2 years anyway.

The planet is in meltdown and I honestly think it something dramatic will happen within my son's lifetime. All I can do is my own tiny little bit to slow it down and ease my conscience when the time comes.

[Iklboo]

Someone was wittering on on Teletext the other day that it should be compulsory for everyone living in a house to have a wind turbine and they should be made to put all their food waste onto a compost heap for their garden.

Good idea maybe...except where exactly should I put a wind turbine and compost heap in my rented, mid-terrace, garden-less house??

[ginmummy]

Ditto Iklboo. And compost heaps have to be a certain distance away from the house and things made of wood due to the fire hazard so if you do have a tiny garden you'd need to put it in the middle of the grass.

[joelallie]

I have a tiny garden and a compost bin. It's green plastic and about the same size and shape as a small dalek . It's about 3 foot from the side of the house.

Would struggle with the wind turbine but might manage it......

[Iklboo]

I'm sure my landlord would really appreciate me sticking a dity great windmill on the roof too
We do as much as we can. We recycle as much as possible, but organic, seasonal vegetables, try to keep heating off as much as we can with 1yr old DS etc
Can't really give up car as DH is a driving instructor - but it's a small car.
I don't agree that "Hitting people in their wallets is STILL the best way to make them change their ways". It just means that people on lower incomes won't be able to afford it and we'll develop an underclass (again)

[ginmummy]

joelallie - that would safely fit in my garden! Where did you get it from?

[joelallie]

Our local council sell them.

[expatinscotland]

70%+ of this city's housing stock is flats. That means no compost heaps, no wind turbines and the bloody council only empties the bins once a week at best. They only recycle packaging and cans.

You have to take everything else to a recycling centre.

Hardly green, but when the average price of a 2-bed home of any sort is £200,000 and the 'average' wage here is about £18,000, there's not a lot of room for that for a hella lot of people here.

Yet somehow or another people like this are to penalised w/higher taxes.

Go Labour! Keep on spinning!

[ginmummy]

When I started this thread I expected to be flamed down by people lecturing me about my individual responsibility to save the planet but reading all these threads it seems it's a valid concern shared by a lot of people that needs to be considered by government before things go too far down one road.

[Iklboo]

No flaming ginmummy - I'm concerned about the future for DS.
Celebs going on about poverty & global warming p!ss me off too. I don't see them living in a 2 bed semi, getting public transport etc