Saving Our Oceans: How Can You Help?
Welcome to Blue Planet Aquarium’s guide to conservation guide. The purpose of the guide is to suggest to you everyday actions you can take to protect our wonderful planet for future generations.
Share the guide with your friends, neighbours, employers and schools so that they too can make everyday choices that will protect and sustain our environment.
- Buy eco-friendly fish – Consumers can make a real difference to the way our fish stocks are managed. By only choosing fish from healthy, responsibly managed sources caught using methods which minimise damage to the marine environment and other species, you can help drive the market for sustainable seafood.
- Don’t let water run – Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Fix leaky toilets and taps. Take shorter showers. Encourage your employer and schools to do the same.
- Only wash full loads and wash clothes and dishes at lower temperatures – Dishwashers and washing machines are amongst the most energy consuming items in your home. Most of the energy used goes to heat the water. So cooler water reduces energy use and saves money.
- Unplug the energy vampires – Many small appliances such as phones, DVD players, and computers have transformer type power supplies that consume between 2 and 10 watts of electricity even when the appliance is not in use. Turn off your TV, DVD player and computers. Also turn off your mobile phone, and other personal electronics as soon as they have finished charging.
- Fit low energy light bulbs – Low energy light bulbs use less than 20% of the energy of a conventional light bulb, and can last up to 15 times longer. Although low energy light bulbs may be more expensive to buy, the amount of electricity they save can pay for this additional cost within the first year. After which not only will you be contributing less to global warming but you will be saving yourself money.
- Reduce, re-use and recycle – Throwing things away is a waste of the energy and resources taken to make the product. Reducing the number of things that need to be thrown away reduces the amount of materials that have to be quarried and mined. Buy food and other products with less packaging instead of those in non-recyclable packaging. When doing your shopping choose a reusable bag to carry your goods home. Recycle your paper, cardboard, drinks containers, glass and metal.
- Turn it down – turn it off – By turning down the heating by just 1 degree a saving of 8-10% can be made on annual heating bills and reduce heating in areas needing less warmth. Turn off unneeded lights and make use of daylight where possible. It costs nothing and can reduce lighting bills by up to 19%. Encourage your employer to do the same.
- Travel less and travel efficiently – Transport accounts for approximately one third of the Northwest’s region energy demand. Use the bus, train, bike, car share or walk to work or work from home. Encourage greater use of video and teleconferencing or webcams. Too reduce car fuel consumption keep tyres properly inflated, remove unnecessary items from your boot and remove your roof rack when it is not in use.