Global warming is a concept that many of us are now familiar with, whether it’s from surfing online, TV or Radio news reports, or from conversations with family & friends. Over the past few years, there’s been a massive amount of press surrounding the issue and a lot debate still surrounds the subject. So should you be concerned? Is your future and that of your family in really in big trouble if the predictions are true?

There is a major school of thought that argues that global warming is a self fulfilling prophecy. They say that if we pay attention to it now we may just save ourselves and the planet from the worst effects but if we don’t address the issues now then we are only lining up more problems for ourselves in the future. Although the big international businesses often work with energy consultants specially set up to advise companies on cutting carbon emissions, doing your bit as an individual doesn’t have to take a great deal of effort or money. It just needs a slightly different mindset. There is a great deal – perhaps a little too much – emphasis placed on the importance of energy efficient systems and vehicles but there are lots of little and more everyday ways to help.

In order to do your bit to prevent global warming, start by having a look how your home is run. For example, many households leave their TV and Sky boxes on standby when they could easily be turned off. PCs, mobile phone chargers and radios could also be turned off at the wall when not in use. This is also an excellent way to save more on your energy bills. Lowering the amount of electricity being used is also very simple, as it involves just turning off lights or any other electrical appliance in the home when you don’t need them to be on or you have left the room. Another way you can help is by making sure your heating thermostat is not turned up too high so enjoy the comfort of wearing a jumper and woolly socks instead. This little step – just turning down the heating by a degree or two – will have a positive impact on the dangerous emissions coming from your home.

Changing from old standard light bulbs to new energy efficient ones can also help especially if you can use the more energy efficient ones all over the house. Many traditional light bulbs need to be replaced frequently, but energy efficient ones last for at least a year or two without needing to be replaced. Energy efficient lightbulbs are a bit pricier but savings will soon be made as they do not need to be replaced so often. If you rent your home, ask your landlord or landlady to fix any drafty windows or doors and discuss the possibility of upgrading any old heating or electrical appliances.

As for transport, investing in a new hybrid or energy efficient car isn’t necessary in order to change the way you get from A to B (and they aren’t that cheap either). You could try walking for short journeys, sharing a car for longer journeys and of course there is always public transport. Did you know that just be cutting out three car journeys a week you could be helping in the fight against global warming? So, become your own energy consultant and do your bit for the planet, however small.