BY THE time you read this column we'll be at least four days into 2008.
So, did you make any New Year's resolutions? Have you stuck to them? And how fed up are you with people asking that second question?!
New Year's resolutions are a particularly personal thing – have you pledged to lose a pound or two, give up sm
oking or to make more time for yourself this year?
There are also things that each and every one of us can resolve to do, and one of them is to make our lifestyles more environmentally friendly.
All the main political parties agree that tackling climate change is one of the most crucial issues facing us in 2008. The fact that we have heard so many times before remains – if we don't act now we, and future generations, will pay the price.
That's why, just before Christmas, Conservatives announced a package of measures that aim to promote the use of local, green energy.
Making it easier for families, schools, hospitals and companies to generate their own energy would help us tackle climate change, secure our energy supplies and also save money on our fuel bills.
The proposals include promoting small-scale solar and photovoltaic systems, small wind turbines, biomass generators, micro-hydro and combined heat and power (CHP).
Jargon aside, these proposals would basically make it easier for people to generate their own energy and for energy companies to pay a tariff for each unit produced.
This should appeal to the more environmentally-conscious among us and those who have felt gas and electricity price hikes in recent months.
These plans would be central to a future Conservative government but until they can be introduced, the start of a new year may be the ideal opportunity to make some smaller changes to make our daily lives just that little bit greener.
So, maybe you could use your car a bit less, do a little more recycling, take your TV off standby or resolve to carbon-offset your summer holiday flights?
Dare I say it, these resolutions may be a tad bit easier than making the most of that new gym membership, giving up the cigarettes, going for an early morning run, foregoing that glass of wine…
The full article contains 379 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
