Falling in love with the environment
07 February 2023
With such a huge emphasis on the UK reaching carbon neutrality, there’s a lot of focus on looking after the environment. From reusable straws to electric cars, we are all on a mission to protect the environment and reduce our CO2 emissions.
One of the main reasons for this is the effects of climate change. Climate change is defined as changes in the earth’s climate due to the emission of greenhouse gases that heat up the Earth.
This increase in the Earth’s climate equates to issues, including an increase in natural disasters, such as tsunamis and earthquakes, deforestation and wildlife extinction.
The IPCC state that predicted global temperatures will rise by at least 1.5 °C* by 2030, which will worsen the environmental effects we’re already experiencing.
So, why should we care for the environment? Here, we list 4 reasons why falling in love with the environment is just as important as ever.
Stronger biodiversity. Stronger survival.
Biodiversity refers to the varieties of plants, animals and bacteria that are present in the world. These are all of the things that we, as humans, need to survive.
We need a rich biodiversity for the planet to continue. For example, in order for humans to survive, we need food that needs to come from a healthy food source, including plants. If plant biodiversity dies, then this can have a knock-on effect on our diets and, therefore, our health.
What’s more, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) state that if the planet’s temperature increases by more than 2°C, the majority of ecosystems will struggle to survive**.
In an ecosystem, everything is linked, so it’s important to care for the Earth’s biodiversity for the sake of everyone’s survival.
Protecting the environment will protect us from climate change
It’s clear that we need to put things into place to protect us from climate change. From rising sea levels to stronger hurricanes, the Earth’s increase in temperature is already causing detrimental effects.
For example, global sea levels have already risen by 8 inches***. This, combined with a temperature increase of around 5°C**, means that habitats in the Arctic are in serious risk of becoming extinct.
Putting small measures into place to reduce your use of fossil fuels will help to halt climate change. For example, at Swale Heating’s head office, there are 190 solar panels installed. This generates 100% of electricity usage, decreasing our overall CO2 emission levels.
By Recycling or using renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or heat pumps, this will help towards reducing the increase of greenhouse gases that are causing these damaging issues.
Having a clean environment means living a healthier life
It’s not just climate change that we need to tackle, but the air we breathe. Because of the increase of CO2 emissions that are emitted into the atmosphere, this affects the air we intake.
You can read more about statistics related to air pollution in our blog Why we love clean energy.
One way to create cleaner, safe air is to use electric vehicles. This is something that we have implemented in our business as Swale’s engineers drive hybrid vans that use electricity. We also have four EV charging points at our head office, for both staff and visitors to use.
By incorporating these changes, air pollution will dramatically decrease, creating safer levels of air quality. Essentially, the more we care for our environment, the cleaner and habitable the Earth is.
Caring for the environment equals more jobs
With such an emphasis of looking after the environment, this causes more job opportunities that will improve both the global economy and people’s quality of life.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) have released a report stating that ‘a shift to a greener economy could create 24 million new jobs globally by 2030****.’
The report goes on to state that 1.2 billion jobs are already dependent on a healthy environment****, so a move towards a green economy will help to stabilise these jobs even more.
This is certainly the case at Swale Heating as we are currently advertising for Renewable Technician roles. We have also employed a Sustainability Manager, who is responsible for prioritising energy management systems as we continue to improve our energy efficiency.
So, not only will caring for the environment allow us to live a healthier life, but it will create a more sustainable economy. This will decrease the possibility of falling into poverty and will create more opportunities for generations to come.
What does this mean for you?
We can all play our part in helping the environment. By taking on simple habits that benefit saving the planet, doing your bit can be easy.
A simple habit could be using reusable water bottles, rather than using plastic throwaway cups. Here at Swale Heating, all staff have a reusable bottle, which reduces the amount of plastic we use as a business.
A simple yet effective solution, by reducing plastic pollution, this will help the Earth’s biodiversity.
You could recycle, cycle to work or simply turn your home’s thermostat down by just 1°C to save energy.
How Swale Heating can help
Another option is updating your home’s central heating system. Whether this is updating your boiler to a hydrogen-ready model, or committing to a renewable energy system, such as solar PV or air source heat pumps, Swale Heating can help you decide which system is best for both you and the environment.
Our renewable solutions help protect the environment as they emit less CO2 emissions. With this, the level of greenhouse gases decreases, stopping the Earth’s climate from heating up.
There are a few renewable options to choose from, so, depending on your household, we can help you choose the best renewable heating system for your needs. You can read more about our renewable solutions here.
Call Swale Heating today on 0800 731 3344 to find out about what we offer and to get you started on your renewable journey. Rely on us to keep you warm.
Information sources:
***NASA