Download The Role of a Think Energy Ambassador

Energy Ambassador
Support Manual
[Think Energy email address]
[Photo]
[Name]
[Title]
[Organisation]
[Quote of Think Energy Team member]
[Quote of Think Energy Team member]
[Photo]
[Name]
[Title]
[Organisation]
Table of Content
1. Introduction
2. The Role of Think Energy Ambassador
3. How can one person make a difference
4. The Think Energy Campaign
5. How to conduct an Energy Walkabout
6. Think Energy Communications Material
7. Energy FAQs – how to respond to excuses and sceptics
8. Further Information
1. Introduction
The Think Energy awareness campaign aims to inform and inspire employees and residents to
become more energy efficient and help you make simply changes in your everyday life – both at
home and at work – to reduce your energy demand. By understanding more about the building that
you work/live in and learning how your own behaviour can play a significant role in reducing the
overall energy demand of the building, we hope to reduce the energy consumption by at least [insert
energy target].
As part of the Think Energy Ambassador network, you are taking the initiative to motivate fellow
staff/residents to become part of the bigger picture and contribute to the energy reduction targets of
the city. You will help put energy on the agenda and drive other energy efficiency measures in terms
of improved processes, lighting upgrades and building fabric advancements. You will act as a role
model for your colleagues/neighbours and do your bit in order to save our precious environment.
This Energy Ambassador Support Manual has been design to help you understand your role as Think
Energy Ambassador. It provides a brief summary of what has been done to date and offers a list of
resources which you can use to learn more about energy-efficiency.
…
2. The Role of a Think Energy Ambassador
Energy Ambassadors are volunteers who are absolutely vital to the success of
the Think Energy campaign. They promote the key messages of the
campaign in their geographical or departmental area, encouraging everyone to
share responsibility for the environmental impact we all have. They act as
‘eyes and ears’ of the campaign, in their local area, as well as acting as a
conduit for campaign materials and initiatives.
What exactly will I have to do?
As a good Think Energy Ambassador, you will:
 Be proactive in promoting sustainable practices in your area.
 Present ideas to the Think Energy team. These might be your own ideas or suggestions from
colleagues/neighbours.
 Conduct energy walkabouts to identify good practice and potential savings. These can be
accompanied by a member of the Think Energy team.
 Raise awareness to colleagues/neighbours in your area about sustainability matters and advice
on best practice
 Act as a local contact point for Think Energy communication material
How much time will it take?
The role of Think Energy Ambassador need not take up much of your time. Because the role is
primarily about talking to colleagues/neighbours and noticing what’s happening in your area, it is
something that most of us already do and a lot of it is common sense. From time to time you may
wish to conduct an energy walkabout or a discussion group for your colleagues/neighbours. Unless
you work in a very large department/live in a large building, walkabouts take no more than 30
minutes, and happen as and when you feel they are necessary (we suggest you have a look around
and use the opportunity to remind colleagues/neighbours of behavioural changes monthly). You will
also have the full support of the Think Energy Team.
What support will I get?
As Think Energy Ambassador you will receive training on how to save energy at home and at work.
The programme will help you identify where you can make changes in your personal life to reduce
your energy demand and lower your energy bills. This will make it easier for you to apply similar
habits at work and make suggestions to your colleagues or neighbours. As a Think Energy
Ambassadors, you will carry on the energy-saving message in your area and help train others with the
support of your Guide to Energy Efficiency.
The Think Energy Team will meet you on a regular basis. We will listen to any ideas and suggestions
you may have and offer support where you need it. Every person is different and if you have specific
training needs, we would be delighted to hear from you. We will bring in outside experts to help us all
learn and develop our skills.
…
3. How can one person make a difference?
The climate change debate is a very complicated one and can leave you pessimistic and
overwhelmed. Doomsday scenarios have been drawn up by the media in recent years with Hollywood
films such as The Inconvenient Truth (2006) and The 11th Hour (2007) showing the devastating
effects that climate change can have on the world’s population – fuelling our fears with images of
natural disasters and emphasising its catastrophic scale. It can leave wonder how a single person can
make a difference at all.
Think global, act local
This popular slogan among environmentalists highlights the need to act on a local, grassroots
level. Although there are millions of people who want to change the world or save the
rainforests, there are far too few that take individual responsibility and do what they can on a
local level. Personal change is the first and most important step to action!
It seems an obvious solution to invest in upgrades of lighting systems, energy efficient building fabrics
and renewable energies in order to lower your carbon emissions. However, did you know that
behavioural change has one of the highest returns on investment for emission reduction activities?
The benefits of behavioural change can be very fast, unlike major infrastructure changes that can take
years, or even decades – a 1% gain today is worth more than a 1% gain tomorrow.
The graph below was produced as part of the Carbon Disclosure Project (2012) which analysed 800
different carbon reduction activities of a sample of 256 companies. It shows that low hanging fruit
such as behavioural change have a very high internal rate of return (IRR) as well as generate
significant CO2 reductions.
Source: Carbon Disclosure Project (2012, p.6) Carbon reductions generate positive ROI - Carbon
Action report 2012
No one expects you to become a “green warrior” overnight and start taking on the climate change
sceptics in lengthy debates. It is important to realise that each person has a specific skillset which can
help make a difference! Whether you wish to spread the word among your colleagues/neighbours,
quietly get involved in an advisory role and help distribute or produce communications material or
wish to make some hands-on changes in your neighbourhood/workplace – each Think Energy
Ambassador is equally important.
Example of Kilbarrack Fire Station, Ireland
Neil McCabe, fire fighter at Kilbarrack Fire Station in
Dublin proves how one man’s action made a big
…
difference. He took initiative and together with his colleagues created the world's first zero-carbon fire
station. While working his normal shift hours as a firefighter, Neil drew up a Green Plan© for
Kilbarrack Fire Station and managed to reduce the station’s energy consumption by 80 percent, which
resulted in cost savings of €50,000 a year.
By installing a rainwater harvesting system, replacing the heating system and retrofitting the station
with sustainably sourced material, he has not only improved the working environment for his fellow
firefighters but also picked up numerous awards for his achievements, among them the National
Green Leader Award at The Green Awards Ireland 2011.
Kilbarrack Fire Station has removed the “we must do something” approach and replaced it with actual
actions and sustainable technologies. The station has received international recognition from the
European Commission with a visit from Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate
Action.
The Green Plan© is a means to secure a
better understanding of sustainability and the
production
of
greenhouse
gases. It is a
comprehens
ive
plan
outlining the
problems
identified,
the actions
taken and to be undertaken and the
achievements attained to date under the
following themes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Energy
Water
Waste
Biodiversity
Transport
Society
Procurement
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4. The Think Energy Campaign
The Think Energy campaign focuses on the need to reduce energy demand, recognising that
fossil fuels are used in every process of our life – including water consumption and waste
production.
[Include outcomes of the energy walkabout/ energy audit]
Think Energy Development Example: In Dublin City Council’s Civic Offices, a night-time energy
audit was conducted at the beginning of the campaign to identify areas where energy savings could
be made. 14 volunteers from both Codema and Dublin City Council surveyed every office in the
building noting if office equipment and lights were left on, off or on standby mode. This information
was recorded on individual survey sheets for each office where the block, floor and department of
each were recorded. Please use Think Energy Walkabout Checklist
[Insert survey results – ideally as graphs]
Think Energy Development Example:
While the majority of computer work stations were switched off at night, 33% of them were
either left on standby mode or on full power. 60% of PC monitors were also left on standby
or on full power during the night audit in Civic Offices.
Additionally, the Think Energy Awareness Survey was conducted to identify current awareness and
motivation of saving energy in the community/workplace.
[insert survey results]
Think Energy Development Example: In Dublin City Council’s Civic Offices, 85% of survey
respondents agreed that energy saving is very important to Dublin City Council. A further 94% felt
that everyone is responsible for energy management within the Council, with lights (69%),
computers (53%) and heating (33%) identified as the main problem areas for energy wastage.
Following the initial surveys, a campaign strategy was developed and the following activities were
implemented throughout the year:
Think Energy Activities to date
 [Explain what activities have taken place to date]
…
The Think Energy Team initiated the energy awareness campaign in [add company/community] and
is responsible for the planning and running of it. Its members are made up of [add
residents/employees names]. They are the key decision-makers of the campaign.
The key contact for the campaign is [add name, title and company or address], who coordinates the
communication of the campaign. Please contact the Think Energy Team via the campaign’s email
address:
[insert Think Energy email address]
Useful things to know about Think Energy:
 Think Energy Ambassadors are being appointed across the organisation/community so you
are part of a larger team. Energy Ambassadors will receive training for their role and will be
supported by the Think Energy Team to help train others

Regular communications will keep you up-to-date with energy events locally and globally, and
catch-up events and seminars will be arranged for Think Energy Ambassadors to get together
in support of their role.

Think Energy campaign updates will appear on the Think Energy Online Hub as well as
intranet, newsletter, direct emails and in team briefs. [insert appropriate communication
channels]

Energy walkabouts will take place in our buildings.
…
5. How to conduct an Energy Walkabout
Conducting energy walkabouts is an important part of being a Think Energy
Ambassador. Walkabouts are short visits around a building or department to
assess the potential for improving energy-saving practice. They are important
for three reasons. Walkabouts:



promote energy awareness
demonstrate the organisation’s commitment to the Think Energy campaign
raise your profile as a Think Energy Ambassador.
As part of the Energy Ambassador training, you will be trained to know what to look for on a
walkabout and what kind of questions to ask yourself.
The first walkabout may take slightly longer but once you know what you are looking for future
walkabouts may be conducted quickly.
You will be equipped with an energy checklist. In your office or department, you may find that some of
the questions on the checklist are not applicable. We therefore encourage you to customise the
walkabouts to your own needs or get a Think Energy team member involved in conducting the walk
with you.
Most of the measures are simple good housekeeping measures which can be implemented
immediately. Other measures are low cost (e.g. fitting timers, pipe insulation or draught proofing) and
will involve contacting facility management.
In relation to lighting it is important to ensure that health and safety is not compromised by switching
off lights in areas of potential risk (e.g. in stairwells). Similarly do not compromise hygiene or infection
control standards when attempting to reduce water consumption.
Please pass on your completed walkabout checklists to the Think Energy team and flag any ongoing
issues. This will ensure any technical issues are addressed, and will allow accurate monitoring of the
campaign.
…
6. Think Energy Communications Material
As explained earlier in this manual, throughout the Think Energy campaign, materials will be
produced to assist with spreading the energy-saving message to a broader scope of audience. We
believe that posters and booklets (such as this one), when used alongside the face-to-face contact of
a local Think Energy Ambassador, can be an effective method of communication. Of course, printing
materials does have an environmental impact, but here are a few reasons why we feel it important to
do so.

Not everyone in our organisation/community has access to a PC or the internet so it is
another way of helping people to make a difference.

The materials will be available on the internet but we want to avoid people printing them off in
bulk as this would be less environmentally friendly than rationalising production centrally.

Much of the information provided is about saving energy at home as well as at work. We want
you to take this information home and share the savings advice with the whole family. So it is
important that some documents are portable.

If you have finished with any of the materials, rather than binning them, you can return them
to the Think Energy Team who will recycle it to other staff/neighbours

A limited number of copies have been printed of each item and it is not mandatory to take a
copy. In fact, Think Energy Ambassadors are being recruited to help with the campaign and
one of their roles will be to distribute Think Energy campaign literature so that people have
access to the materials without too many having to be printed.

As staff/residents take action on the advice in the booklet significant savings in energy, water,
cost and CO2 will be achieved at home and work. These savings will greatly outweigh the
environmental cost of their production.
Posters
As part of your role we may ask you to distribute certain materials, specifically posters. This is
because we want to ensure there is not an excessive amount produced, and that those printed are
used to their maximum effect. When putting up posters, please remember these points:
 Display posters at eye-level in areas where people stay still for more than a couple of seconds.
Examples include kitchen areas, lift lobbies, reception areas, the back of toilet doors or next to
the photocopier. People often ignore posters on corridor walls because they are walking.
 Don’t display too many posters at once. Posters can be a powerful source of communication if
they are regularly rotated. When new posters are supplied to you, please change the existing
posters swiftly. Don’t throw old posters away – keep them safe as they will be rotated further
as the campaign progresses.
 Please use noticeboards where possible or use a small amount of blue tack to keep the walls in
good shape.
…
7. Energy FAQs – how to respond to excuses and sceptics
This section will help you answer some questions, and rectify some misconceptions, that many
people have about energy issues. It is to help raise peoples’ awareness regarding energy, so that
they become more motivated to save it! If during the course of the Think Energy campaign, you find
people are asking different questions, please let the Think Energy team know so that they can support
you in providing accurate answers.
1. Is it better to leave fluorescent lights on rather than switching them off
when not needed?
It is not better to leave them on. Unfortunately, this is a common
misunderstanding. People who promote leaving lights on are probably well
meaning, but wrong. Usually people believe it takes a lot of energy to start up
a fluorescent and secondly, that switching on/off lights reduces the lamp life
and there is the expense of replacing the lamp.
The energy consumed to start a typical lamp is the equivalent of 2 seconds
running time. So it is wrong to say it takes a lot of power to start them. (It is
true there is a current surge but this takes place in less than one-eighth of a
second and because it happens so quickly it takes very little energy).
It is also true that switching on/off fluorescents reduces lamp life but lamps
are designed to be switched on/off up to seven times a day without any effect on their life. Think about
how many times a day your colleagues switch on/off to save energy.
The advice therefore is simple; if the light is going to be on for more than two seconds in an
unoccupied area, turn it off!
2. My radiator doesn’t work – it’s cold even though it’s set to full
Many radiators have Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) similar to the one in
the diagram. This is an automatic device to provide local heating control. A
temperature sensor is in the head of the TRV and the valve has a range of
settings. If a setting is selected and the room temperature falls below the setting
the valve opens to allow more hot water into the radiator to heat the room.
Conversely if the room overheats the valve restricts the water flow automatically
so less heat is given off by the radiator. So once a sensible setting is selected it
is best to leave the TRV to do its job.
Turning off the TRV (to frost setting) will save energy but the following day the
room will be cold. So it is best to let the TRV do its job. The time the heating is on is set by the
controls for the heating system. So if the heating is on when the space is unoccupied, the controls
need adjusting not the TRV.
Also, many heating systems are fitted with weather compensation control. This monitors the outside
temperature and controls the temperature of the water to radiators to avoid overheating. On a very
cold day when the outside temperature is -3ºC, the hot water temperature might be at 80ºC. On a mild
day (say 12ºC) the hot water temperature might be at 40ºC. So if the radiators are warm rather than
hot it may well be that the compensator is working correctly! This means your building will not get
overheated.
3. Should I fit solar panels or a wind turbine at home to make me more energy
efficient?
Fitting solar panels or a wind turbine will generate some
power, but before considering self-generation of electricity it
…
is sensible to become as energy efficient as possible by implementing simple no cost and low cost
measures first. These might include switching off lights and items on standby, using low energy lights
and energy efficient appliances, fitting a timer to an immersion heater or installing automatic lighting
controls. By reducing demand you will reduce the electricity you use. The cost of these measures
will be cheaper than investing in a turbine which has a payback of 15 years for average urban wind
speeds. So, make your home as energy efficient as possible by low cost measures before investing
in relatively high cost renewable technology. Once you are more energy efficient, your investment in
renewable technology may pay off!
4. What’s wrong with climate change? We could do with a bit more sun.
This is wrong for a number of reasons:

First of all, it’s necessary to explain that the ‘climate’ is not the same as the ‘weather’. Climate
cycles take place over decades, centuries, even millions of years. As we know from leaving
the house on a sunny morning without an umbrella only to get caught in a downpour a few
hours later, the weather can change its pattern in a day and is therefore on a much shorter
timescale. Weather is also something we experience locally whereas the climate is
widespread across the world and the impacts of change will be unevenly felt.

More often we are experiencing very cold winters and it’s easy to think that the planet isn’t
warming. This is in part due to the melting of ice caps which affect the Gulf Stream, the
Atlantic current which gives Ireland a temperate climate. So ironically Ireland may get
considerably colder during the winter and therefore we may need far more insulation.

Globally the long term trend is that we are getting warmer and the last decade has been the
warmest ever recorded and temperatures are still set to rise. Even if global warming could
benefit Ireland, it is irresponsible to encourage it or say it does not matter with 150,000 people
dying each year as a result of climate change. The first major impacts of climate change are
already being felt in developing countries where populations are already vulnerable to
flooding, starvation and disease.
5. What’s the point of saving energy when China is using so much?
Though China’s total emissions are high (they are the world’s biggest polluter), they’re spread
between 1.3 billion people – almost one-fifth of the world’s population. In terms of emissions per
person, China isn’t too bad at all – lower than, say, Algeria, Jamaica and Uzbekistan.
The average Chinese person is responsible for less than half the CO 2 of the average Briton and five
times less than the average American. In truth, China’s reputation as a climate criminal is the result
of it being so huge and populous. If the same area consisted of ten separate countries, its emissions
would probably rarely get a mention in the world press.
Also, it’s important to remember that current emissions are
only a small part of the picture. Harmful gases such as CO 2
typically remain in the atmosphere for around 100 years
after release. That means that the majority of the carbon
currently warming the atmosphere was emitted before
China’s economic rise. Taking CO2 emissions since the
1800s, the US is responsible for 28% of the total, with
Europe and Russia accounting for another 25%. China
contributes just 8%, despite its far bigger population.
And yet another reason why we shouldn’t blame China is because a large slice of their emissions is
caused by demand for manufactured goods by the West. Is it fair that China is held accountable for
the CO2 released from a factory producing clothes, toys, tables, TVs, gaming consoles or washing
…
machines for Europe or America? Something to think about when you next see a Made in China
label.
6. Low energy lights are low quality and expensive
There are many myths surrounding low energy lights. Let’s have a look
at some of them:
They’re too dim
Historically, many low energy bulbs did produce rather weak, cold and
unnatural-looking light. But times have changed and modern eco lamps
produce bright, yellow light that is just as pleasant as incandescent
lighting. Most modern low energy lamps now turn on within a second,
without flickering. But it’s true that they can take a few seconds to
reach their maximum light levels, especially in a cold room. In fact, you
can select any colour you want – warm, medium or cool looking lamps.
They’re too expensive
Prices have plummeted in recent years and, thanks to subsidy schemes, high quality lamps are
available at much more affordable prices. The more obscure eco lamps are a little more expensive,
but still excellent value if taken into consideration how long they last and the comparative cost of
using regular bulbs.
They use more energy in production than regular bulbs and contain polluting mercury
Energy saving lamps take around four times more energy to make than regular incandescent bulbs
do. But they last 10 to 15 times longer, so they can actually help reduce the total energy used in light
bulb manufacture and distribution, as well as reducing waste when it comes to disposal. It’s true that
low energy bulbs contain tiny quantities of mercury (around 100–300 times less than you’d get in a
thermometer). However, this can be safely disposed of by taking old bulbs to your local recycling
centre. The largest source of mercury in the air is the burning of fossil fuels for energy. Provided
they’re properly disposed of, low energy bulbs can help reduce the amount of mercury energy
entering the atmosphere by cutting the demand for electricity.
They’re ugly and you can’t dim them
The range on the market has dramatically increased and there are now plenty of regular-looking eco
bulbs, available in globe, candle and other shapes. Recent technology also means you can now
buy fully dimmable low energy bulbs. They’re more expensive than regular eco bulbs but they can still
save you plenty of money in the long run.
…
7. Does a shower always save more energy/water than a bath?
Not always. It depends on your shower type, water pressure and
how long you take. A full bath can hold up to 150 litres of water and
spending just 5 minutes in the shower can use ⅓ of this. Shower
throughput can range from 3 litres to 30 litres per minute, with power
showers the most energy intensive. The most common shower type
produces 9 litres a minute. With the average person taking 10
minutes in the shower, this should be less than a bath, as long as it’s
not a power shower. Replacing a showerhead that projects more
than 16 litres per minute and taking showers lasting less than 10
minutes will result in greater CO2 savings. And, to dispel another
myth, women only shower for 39 seconds longer than men!
8. I haven’t any time to be environmentally friendly
Becoming ‘green’ does not take much time at all. Cycling to work
is often quicker than sitting in a traffic jam. Choosing the correct
bin for waste takes a split-second decision. Turning things off,
again, does not take time. We’re not asking people to make
radical changes to their lifestyles, merely to think about
environmental impact when making decisions so that we
incorporate good practice. This can be as simple as boiling only
the water needed in the kettle, which will actually save time, or
bringing lunch to work in a plastic box rather than aluminium foil,
cling film or purchasing it in plastic packets. Every little action
can create or save waste.
Even being a Think Energy Ambassador does not require large amounts of time. Simply keep your
eyes and ears open, report any ideas or suggestions you have and raise the profile of the campaign
in your area through talking to colleagues.
If we all do something, much can be achieved. So no
matter how little time you have, just changing one action
for the better will add to our collective success.
…
8. Further Information
If, at any point during the Think Energy campaign, you would like to know more about environmental
issues either globally or locally, there are many resources available to you. Here are a few
suggestions.
Websites
There are a multitude of various websites to give you information, whether you want to know more
about the broad environmental issues that underpin this campaign, or how to lessen your own
personal impact. The following page shows a few of the best:www.skepticalscience.com
A brilliant website which deals with all the arguments a climate change sceptic can ever throw at you.
It really is worth a look!
www.stopfoodwaste.ie
Around one third of all food produced is thrown away unused. With so much
widespread hunger in the world this is a shocking statistic. Packed full of recipes
and top tips to use all the food we buy, this site is a must-read to prevent waste
and save money.
www.ipcc.ch
For those wanting to back up your arguments against climate sceptics, this is
THE resource for climate change science. Established by the UN and the World Meteorological
Organisation, the IPCC is a body of independent scientists that advises governments on what the
future might hold. Whilst the reports are lengthy, the summaries provide excellent facts with useful
graphs/diagrams to clearly convey the message. And with only 1% of scientists polled as nonbelievers in climate change being partly due to human activity, this website is great stuff from
scientists at the cutting edge of climate change theories.
www.greenhome.ie
The Green Home website aims to provide householders with the most current and up to date tips and
advice and relevant links on ways to reduce waste, conserve water and energy around the house and
to use more sustainable travel options.
www.seai.ie/Power_of_One
A Home Energy Survey can be found on the website of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
You can also find the available grants for retrofitting your home (e.g. Better Energy Homes scheme)
and other useful energy saving tips.
www.epa.ie/irelandsenvironment/climatechange
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a range of climate change resources on their
website including current state and impact, divers and pressures as well as outlook.
http://purchase.ie
A fantastic website to equip yourself with products which can make your
home more energy efficient including eco-kettle, chimney balloons, watersaving shower-heads and eco-gadgets for your kids.
…
Intranet
[www.codema.ie/thinkenergy]
You can access the Think Energy Online Hub where you will find useful energy-saving tips from
your fellow Energy Ambassadors, information on upcoming events as well as other useful resources
on climate change and energy-savings.
Books
Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air (2009) by David MacKay
David MacKay FRS is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the
University of Cambridge who studied Natural Sciences. Whilst this
book can be purchased in paperback or hardback, Prof MacKay insisted
that it be made available for free on the internet because “sustainable
energy is important”. A fabulous read, this book delivers a no-nonsense
approach to a sustainable present and future which is both entertaining
and refreshing. The text is crystal clear, the graphs understandable and
the author proves the science behind the research and myths that are
behind climate change and energy consumption. Free download at
www.withouthotair.com
A Good Life (2005) by Leo Hickman
The ideal book for anyone who wants guidance on making choices that
will benefit them, their family and the planet. Printed on recycled paper
using vegetable inks and researched to the n-th degree this is the result of
Hickman's work as a columnist for The Guardian newspaper. Browsing
through this book you will be fascinated and entertained by such erudite
snippets of information as - driving an SUV instead of a 'normal' car
wastes more energy than leaving your fridge door open for 6 years, or a
television switched on for 28 years (surely that would be enough
Coronation Street for anybody?). The book is undoubtedly a superb
resource for journalists, writers, environmental campaigners, or for anyone
curious to know more about the issues that are becoming increasingly
prevalent in the news these days - everything from battery chicken
farming to the Peak Oil crisis. Literally thousands of facts and figures are
clearly presented and thoroughly indexed with their sources. www.edenstore.co.uk
The Rough Guide to Ethical Living (2006) by Duncan Clark
Climate change, sweatshops, fair-trade, ethical investment, organic food... life
can sometimes seem like a moral minefield. Which products and companies
should we support or avoid? And which "ethical" claims can we trust? The
Rough Guide to Ethical Living cuts through the ‘greenwash’ to answer these
and many other questions. From tea to trainers and pensions to plane-tickets,
the guide looks at all the problems and ethical options. With recommended
websites, books and magazines plus tips on reducing your carbon footprint at
home and on the road, this book is the essential handbook for responsible
consumers. www.roughguides.com
Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet (2007) by Mark Lynas
It's hard to understand how there could be any climate change "sceptics"
remaining. Perhaps they have failed to comprehend the long view of what the
…
circumstances are. What does an increase in global temperatures really
mean? Mark Lynas has culled the massive number of reports on the topic and
here woven them into a comprehensive picture of likely futures for this planet.
In this effective work, he lines out what the changes in our biosphere are likely
to be over the next decade. It's a chilling account and one that should be in
the hands of every industrialist, policy-maker and tax-paying consumer. The
premise for the book is immediately appealing- the amount of current research
out there to grasp can be daunting (in number and complexity) but Lynas has
done all the hard work and compiled a sort of global overview of what we can
expect in the near future- degree by frightening degree. Every statement is
backed up with a source and he writes with
neither dreamy optimism nor tiresome
depression - just inspiring urgency.
It’s Not Easy Being Green (2006) by Dick Strawbridge
The Strawbridge family moved from Worcestershire to eke out a
sustainable life in Cornwall. This book gives good links and advice
on how to minimise your waste, reduce your water consumption,
rescue battery hens, grow your own food, keep bees, harness
renewable energy and even stop junk mail! Even better than the TV
series, this book will encourage you to alter your life without losing
21st century comforts.
The Energy Efficient
Waterfield
Reducing
energy
increasing importance,
aimed
at
reducing
energy standards for
renovated.
Energybecome ever more
comprehensive outline
Home – A complete guide (2011) by Patrick
consumption and costs is an issue of everand European as well as international legislation
carbon emissions is tightening up minimum
new buildings and those being extended or
saving measures in the home will, therefore,
cost-effective throughout our lifetimes. Find a
of them in this book.
Yes! 50 Secrets from the Science of Persuasion (2007) by Robert Cialdini
Every day we face the challenge of persuading others to do what we want. But what makes people
say “yes” to our requests? Examples involving the 6 key principles of persuasion: Reciprocity,
commitment and consistency, social proof, authority, liking, and scarcity.
Many of the examples have an environmental flavour – e.g. the hotel towels
re-use experiment, the phenomenon of the “magnetic middle” for the
householders’ energy consumption. Each chapter title is a question e.g.
“When can asking for a little can go a long way?” and demonstrates this
with the results of experiments.
Thinking Fast and Slow (2011) by Daniel Kahneman
Due to our evolutionary instincts for survival we are not as rational in our
decision making as we like to think. Kahneman describes the two different
ways the brain forms thoughts:
System 1: Fast, automatic, frequent, emotional, stereotypic, subconscious
System 2: Slow, effortful, infrequent, logical, calculating, conscious
…
Experiments highlight the differences between these two thought processes, and how they arrive at
different results even given the same inputs. Concepts include attention, laziness, association,
priming, jumping to conclusions and how one forms judgements.
The Burning Question (2013) by Mike Berners-Lee & Duncan Clark
This book reveals climate change to be the most fascinating, scientific, political and social puzzle in
history. The solutions we assume will help aren’t working, reductions in one place lead to increases
elsewhere. To avoid catastrophic climate change the world will have to leave about half the remaining
fossil fuel reserves in the ground. How can this be done? What mix of politics, psychology, economics
and technology might be required? How will carbon cuts affect the global economy? Will we wake up
to the threat in time? And who can do what to make it all happen? This book makes sense of the
biggest challenge of the century.
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