Energy
Brrrr! Making the most of our energy and keeping our bills down can be a tricky subject to master, but there are lots of practical things we can do to keep our homes warm and save money throughout the winter.
Brrrr! Making the most of our energy and keeping our bills down can be a tricky subject to master, but we’re here to share lots of practical things we can do to keep our homes warm and save money throughout the winter.
Every time we turn on the light, switch on a plug, or use hot water, the energy that we use comes directly from the National Grid. Whilst the UK is generating more energy from clean and renewable sources every year, lots of this energy still comes from burning fossil fuels; one of the main causes of climate change.
Here’s some advice to get you started:
Switching your lights to low energy bulbs - LED lights are a bright idea that use 85% less energy than traditional bulbs and last much longer.
Saving hot water - opt for shorter showers (aim for 4 minutes!) instead of baths, pop a pan lid on when cooking, use a washing-up bowl when doing dishes by hand and only boil enough water in the kettle for the cups of tea you’re making.
Swapping your energy supplier - power your home with wind, solar, or hydro power to make a really big difference. It can often be cheaper too, if you find a good supplier.
Ready to tap in? Make your energy go further than ever with our energy saving resources:
Check out our energy related projects:
Check out our low energy cooking leaflet!
Take a look at our energy saving poster with Withington Assist
Good to know! Here’s some other energy resources:
Take a look at the Energy Saving Trust’s solar panel calculator to get an idea of how much you could save by installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at home: Use the calculator
Thinking of going solar? Bee Net Zero has plenty of advice on the topic: Bee Net Zero's Rooftop Revolution
Green Economy’s marketplace is an online directory of installers, suppliers and solution providers to help you make informed decisions when sourcing local suppliers for net zero projects or businesses: Green Economy | Marketplace: Find green products & services
A useful guide to reducing the carbon footprint of places of worship, developed by The Tyndall Centre for Climate Research, one of In Our Nature’s partners: Environmental Stewardship in Places of Worship: A Guide to Reducing our Carbon Footprint. For additional guidance see @climateandworship | Linktree
Food
Did you know that between 2021 and 2022, wasted food cost families around £80 per month? That’s £960 a year!
Did you know, in the UK, 58% of food waste comes from our households according to this report published by WRAP.
It’s a hard fact to swallow, but don’t worry – a few simple switches to our daily habits can help keep more of our meals out of our bins and in our bellies (where they should be!)
Making your food go further is often simpler than it sounds. Here’s our menu to help change your day-to-day habits:
Starters:
Shopping and cooking smarter (planning ahead and batch-cooking)
Storing food correctly (did you know frozen foods tend to be picked and frozen at peak ripeness, when they’re most nutritious?)
Growing your own food at home
Mains:
Adding more plants to your plate (to reduce the carbon footprint of meals and make them healthier)
Eating seasonal, local foods (fruit and veg are at their tastiest when they’re in season)
Desserts:
Donating surplus food to a Community Fridge (find one near you)
Each of these habits come with a side of savings on money, time and effort in the kitchen, as well as the sweet satisfaction of making a lasting impact for the environment.
Ready to tuck in? Check out these tips to get started:
Explore our food related projects and campaigns:
Food stories we love:
Getting around
Beep beep! Did you know that Manchester has fewer cars per person than any other UK city outside London?
There's no need to feel exhausted or stuck in a jam. By walking and cycling more, flying less, sharing your journeys and using public transport you could save money, help reduce your own carbon footprint, improve your wellbeing, and help protect the health of everyone in Manchester at the same time! Win, win, win!
Check out these tips and resources to help you keep Manchester’s air clean and green!
Discover our projects related to getting around Manchester:
Get inspired:
Explore some other resources to help you travel cleaner and greener:
Leave the car at home with Bee Network’s journey planner: Plan a journey | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
Access cycling and maintenance courses with Transport for Greater Manchester: Cycling skills and bike maintenance courses | TfGM Bee Active
Download Manchester’s cycle map: Cycling district maps | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
Prepare to lead your own cycling sessions by taking a ride leader training course with Transport for Greater Manchester: Upcoming Courses
The things we buy and throw away
You may have heard of the 3 R's, and no we're not speaking pirate; we're talking reduce, reuse, recycle.
You may have heard of the 3 R's, and no we're not speaking pirate; we're talking reduce, reuse, recycle!
Besides separating out the rubbish that can be recycled or composted instead of going to landfill, there’s a lot of potential to avoid unnecessary waste altogether when we take great care of the things we own.
Switching to a reusable coffee cup (to stack up discounts at local cafés instead of single-use disposables), tapping into slow fashion to repair or restyle the clothes in our wardrobes before buying new (the guaranteed best deal you’ll find), fixing old furniture and donating our old devices to fight e-waste and inequality in access – are all ways to help us to get the most out of the things we buy and do our bit for the planet.
A big bonus? When it comes to reducing waste, most of the actions we take will actually put money back in our pockets.
Check out these simple tips for making your stuff go further
Explore our projects linked to clothes and other things we buy:
Get inspired with some Stories We Love:
Discover our in depth toolkits and guides:
Clothes Swap Toolkit
Explore our toolkit, created with Future Fashion Fair, to learn how to run your own clothes swaps!
Our school uniform guide
Find out how you can make your children’s school uniform last longer.
Explore some other resources to help you make the most of your stuff:
Nature and growing
And, breathe! Did you know that spending just a small amount of time in nature is linked to lots of benefits for our physical and mental health?
And breathe! Did you know that spending just a small amount of time in nature is linked to lots of benefits for our physical and mental health?
As well as making us feel good, protecting our green spaces can help reduce the effects of climate change by keeping our cities cooler, improving air quality and reducing the risk of flash flooding.
Ready to turn over a new leaf and make a lasting impact? Check out these resources to learn how:
Discover our projects linked to nature and growing:
Get inspired:
Want to grow to the next level? Dive in to our nature toolkit:
Want to get a community nature project up and running? Learn from the best about how to get started.
Check out our wildlife pond guide!
Interested to learn more? Check out these other resources:
Home Grown Guide: how to grow 6 easy vegetables (Sow the City)
Fruit and vegetable planting calendar (Sow the City)
Growing Manchester Webinars (Sow the City)
We’re here to myth-bust best before and use-by dates.