See which areas of your lifestyle have the biggest impact on your footprint and what you can do to make a difference.
See our methodology in the 'about' section to see how we have calculated your footprint.
The UK has a net zero carbon by 2050 target. The target shown below is what each person needs to be achieving now for this to stay on track.
Click / tap on a segment to get top tips!
If everyone had the same footprint as you currently do, we would need:
0 Earths to support those lifestyles, we estimate that one year of your activity caused 0 Metric Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide to be released into the atmosphere, equivalent to running a laptop computer continuously for 0 years
Did you know that switching to a green tariff is one of the simplest ways to cut your carbon footprint - and could save you money, too? That’s why Barratt has teamed up with experts Big Clean Switch to help colleagues switch easily to low cost green tariffs.
Find out more on OurPlace!
By making your home more efficient (i.e. finding ways to waste less energy) you can also reduce your carbon footprint.
Here are some tips to reduce your footprint in your home:
Barratt is taking a leadership position and aiming to remove diesel cars as a company car choice by 2023 and petrol cars by 2026. Now could be the right time to go electric.
Can you cut down on how far you drive? As part of My Barratt Benefits we offer a cycle to work scheme that can help you save at least 32% on the cost of a new bike and you can spread the cost of the bike over 12 months.
If you are going away and can’t avoid flying, you can offset the carbon emissions from your flight– and the great news is it’s much easier and cheaper than you think. Using a transparent and recognised certified carbon offset tool, it would cost around £30 to offset a family return flight to Turkey, saving 3.81 tonnes of carbon. That’s equivalent to the CO2 emissions from powering an average home over a whole year, for about the price of a family lunch out. There are many providers out there, just search ‘carbon offset’ on the internet to find one that’s right for you.
Going veggie or vegan is a big step, but many people have found that by reducing meat– red meat in particular – they can reduce their environmental impact and feel better and healthier for it!
Ideas such as ‘Meat Free Monday’ and ‘Veganuary’ are growing in popularity and can be a good way to try some exciting new vegetable-based recipes.
You could choose to buy locally grown food, and at the same time support your local businesses and greengrocers, farmers’ markets or community-supported farming programmes. Buying locally reduces food miles and associated transport emissions and, can often be healthier too!
Every item we buy has its own footprint for carbon, energy and water so our consumption choices make a huge impact on the environment. Therefore, buying recycled is not just about reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfill, but also reducing the amount of extracted materials and energy use.
Set the trend with shopping second hand, upcycle or swap with friends! Check out the online Oxfam shop for some great second hand deals. You could also head down to your local charity or antique shop or take a browse on online marketplaces.
Try reusing old household goods (so long as they are reasonably efficient) or try a repair café to get something fixed- you could even learn new skills while you are at it!
You may have seen lots of friends and family developing new hobbies during the lockdown period- why not pick up a new hobby which is fun and helps the environment!
Though our calculator gives you an individual footprint score, your overall footprint also depends on the country we live in and the policies of the local and national government.
In the UK, the government’s spend on roads and construction, education, defence, health, and other expenses involved in running the country all impact your own footprint and our joint impact on the planet.
While your individual consumption habits can’t directly change the government footprint, this is where using your voice can make all the difference! There are many ways you can get involved to shape decision making, at the local or national level, to reduce environmental impacts for future generations. For example, lobby for policies to increase renewable electricity purchase for the grid or lobby your local council to improve their waste collection and recycling rates. Enter your postcode to contact your local MP here.