Scientific research has shown the world needs to halve emissions of harmful gases over the next decade and secure global net zero emissions by the middle of the century in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. If we don’t take any action, global temperatures will continue to rise and as a result we are likely to see more extreme weather events, further melting of the ice caps and the continued destruction of delicate ecosystems.

Countries are being asked to phase out the use of coal and fossil fuels, invest more in renewables, switch to electric vehicles and implement sustainable deforestation at reduced levels. They also need to support communities and natural habitats and work with indigenous people living in some of the most threatened areas.

Figures from the COP26 conference show that developed countries must make good on their promise to mobilise at least $100bn in climate finance. International financial institutions need to play their part by unleashing the trillions in private and public sector finance required to secure global net zero.

With such big commitments required it has never been so important for us all to work together to achieve these ambitious aims, not just for our own benefit but for that of all of the species living on the planet.

It is easy to think that climate change is primarily the responsibility of our governments and leaders but businesses, households and individuals can make a difference too. Even if we all make small changes to the way we do things at home and work, collectively this will have a positive impact on climate change goals.

Improving insulation, fitting a more efficient boilers or heat pumps, utilising solar options all help but these can be expensive. It’s worth checking out grants that may be available in your local area and also government incentives which can help with the cost.

With energy costs on the increase, those of you who want to make a difference to your carbon footprint should consider one cost effective option which would be to swap your traditional halogen and compact fluorescent lighting to LED.

Businesses and households can save over 50% on their electricity costs for lighting just by converting to LED lights. Paybacks vary but are generally well within 5 years and with lifespans of 10-20 years, not only are you going to save money, your carbon emissions will greatly reduce. As an example, a 35w Halogen lamp can be replaced by a 7W LED version. If you have lots of these you can see what a reduction in wattage you can achieve. Lower wattage = less carbon / Co2 and less energy usage.

If you own a warehouse or office, the carbon and cost savings can be even more pronounced. Here is a good example: If you have a shop floor with 30, 500w high bay lights running 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, working on a 13p kWh unit tariff (which is quite generous as most rates are higher) you can replace these with LED equivalents which use just 150W. The old lights would have produced over 20,000 KG of Co2 each year whereas the LED replacements would only use 7,000 KG of Co2. The added benefits are they that they give you better light, reduce your electricity bill and they are maintenance free.

At Digiland we have a wide range of lights suitable for home and business use. These include common types like E27, E14, MR16, strip and industrial lighting. Whilst to most people a bulb is just a bulb (unless you intend to plant it in your garden), we take lighting very seriously. There are a lot of cheaply made LED products on the market but you can be assured we only supply the best quality lights available. This means not only can you fit and forget, you can do your bit to reduce emissions and help to secure a better future for us all.

For information on any of our energy & cost saving lighting and for free advice, please get in touch with David Baxter: david.baxter@digigroup.co.uk / 01952 238 736