Thu 5 Jun 2008
Eco education essential for homeowners says green builder
British homeowners don’t understand the real impact their home has on the environment, according to new research by eco-developer Kingerlee Homes.Only 21% of respondents believe that property emits more than carbon dioxide than a 4x4 car or a plane trip to Europe, the research found, with nearly 80% believing the opposite. The average home emits six tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum, two-and-a-half times more than two plane trips for a family of four, according to data provided by the Energy Saving Trust.
Of the two sexes, men are less likely to care about moderating their lifestyles to reduce carbon emissions, while only 25% of the public think about saving energy when making changes to their homes. Almost 85% of women polled said they had reduced their plastic bag consumption, in comparison with 55% of men.
“Planes and cars get a lot of bad press when it comes to carbon emissions,” said Jonathan Kingerlee (pictured), chairman of Kingerlee Homes. “But people also need to look closer to home when it comes to producing less carbon dioxide. We must focus on educating the public to ensure that people know what the sources of these emissions are, and how they can make simple adjustments to their lifestyles and homes accordingly.”
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