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| 8am: Shower. Save the water. Save the planet | 8am: Shower. Save the water. Save the planet |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Robert Greenall BBC News Magazine | By Robert Greenall BBC News Magazine |
| Craggers use natural light | Craggers use natural light |
| Would you switch everything off and rely on natural light to save the planet? It's the only answer for the families going to extreme measures to cut emissions. | Would you switch everything off and rely on natural light to save the planet? It's the only answer for the families going to extreme measures to cut emissions. |
| Most families get up in the morning, switch on the lights and start their ablutions. The Robinsons do not. | Most families get up in the morning, switch on the lights and start their ablutions. The Robinsons do not. |
| The Robinsons get up, leave the lights off and open the curtains a crack so some light gets in but little heat escapes. | The Robinsons get up, leave the lights off and open the curtains a crack so some light gets in but little heat escapes. |
| This is the world of "carbon rationing". | This is the world of "carbon rationing". |
| The term may fill some people with horror - conjuring up images of wartime austerity measures and queues for bread and sugar. | The term may fill some people with horror - conjuring up images of wartime austerity measures and queues for bread and sugar. |
| Using the streetlamps and other tips | Using the streetlamps and other tips |
| For others it may suggest green fundamentalists forcing us to swap our central heating for woolly jumpers and run our cars on chicken dung. | For others it may suggest green fundamentalists forcing us to swap our central heating for woolly jumpers and run our cars on chicken dung. |
ENERGY-SAVING | />ROBINSONS'ENERGY TIPS |
| Don't turn on lights in morning - open curtain slightly to allow light in but stop heat escaping. | Don't turn on lights in morning - open curtain slightly to allow light in but stop heat escaping. |
| Cycle or walk to work or school. An electric bike has low emissions - and makes the journey easier. | |
| Keep thermostat for heating and water on low. When showering, collect water for shaving in a jug. | Keep thermostat for heating and water on low. When showering, collect water for shaving in a jug. |
| Cut out or cut down watching television during week. Never leave it on standby. | Cut out or cut down watching television during week. Never leave it on standby. |
| Evenings, stay in kitchen to avoid switching on other lights. Use energy-saving bulbs. | Evenings, stay in kitchen to avoid switching on other lights. Use energy-saving bulbs. |
| BACKNEXT1 of 5 Read more tips | BACKNEXT1 of 5 Read more tips |
| A recent poll suggested only 28% of Britons thought the idea of setting mandatory limits on individuals' carbon emissions - raised by Environment Secretary David Milliband - was socially acceptable, even though most feel lifestyle changes are needed to reduce the impact of climate change. | A recent poll suggested only 28% of Britons thought the idea of setting mandatory limits on individuals' carbon emissions - raised by Environment Secretary David Milliband - was socially acceptable, even though most feel lifestyle changes are needed to reduce the impact of climate change. |
| But the term does not trouble Peter Robinson, and dozens like him around the country who have signed up to voluntary groups whose aim is to substantially reduce the CO2 their members are releasing into the atmosphere. | But the term does not trouble Peter Robinson, and dozens like him around the country who have signed up to voluntary groups whose aim is to substantially reduce the CO2 their members are releasing into the atmosphere. |
| These Carbon Rationing Action Groups advise their members, known as Craggers, on how to minimise energy use. | These Carbon Rationing Action Groups advise their members, known as Craggers, on how to minimise energy use. |
| The Robinsons have eagerly set about finding ways to cut their personal energy use, many of which have also proved financially beneficial. | The Robinsons have eagerly set about finding ways to cut their personal energy use, many of which have also proved financially beneficial. |
| It's not draconian, you're not leading the life of a monk Peter Robinson | It's not draconian, you're not leading the life of a monk Peter Robinson |
| "It's only when you stop and start looking that you realise that you do waste a lot of energy, not out of spite or just being lazy or anything, it's just your normal lifestyle," Peter says. | "It's only when you stop and start looking that you realise that you do waste a lot of energy, not out of spite or just being lazy or anything, it's just your normal lifestyle," Peter says. |
| "Our lifestyles were very energy-rich whereas now... there are things you can do in your life that don't stop you having a really nice time... but you can still make really substantial savings. | "Our lifestyles were very energy-rich whereas now... there are things you can do in your life that don't stop you having a really nice time... but you can still make really substantial savings. |
| "It's not draconian, you're not leading the life of a monk, it's just stuff that's really easy to do." | "It's not draconian, you're not leading the life of a monk, it's just stuff that's really easy to do." |
| The 36-year-old school administrator may not think it is draconian but there are some who would raise an eyebrow at the prospect of using only the upstairs bathroom during the hours of darkness and relying on ambient light from streetlamps. | The 36-year-old school administrator may not think it is draconian but there are some who would raise an eyebrow at the prospect of using only the upstairs bathroom during the hours of darkness and relying on ambient light from streetlamps. |
| PETER'S ENERGY SAVINGS Use jug to collect hot water in shower for shavingOpen curtains a fraction instead of switching on lightWalk or cycle to school/work | PETER'S ENERGY SAVINGS Use jug to collect hot water in shower for shavingOpen curtains a fraction instead of switching on lightWalk or cycle to school/work |
| But Peter has been an enthusiastic "cragger" since joining his local Crag, in Worcester last year. | But Peter has been an enthusiastic "cragger" since joining his local Crag, in Worcester last year. |
| Though he, his wife Sarah, and children Jacob and Molly, have been actively trying to reduce their carbon footprint for some time, he believes being members has helped to focus their minds on the task in hand. | Though he, his wife Sarah, and children Jacob and Molly, have been actively trying to reduce their carbon footprint for some time, he believes being members has helped to focus their minds on the task in hand. |
| "Being involved in the Crag... has really made a difference - monitoring how you produce your carbon... is what really has driven me and enabled us to look at what we do, how we live our lives, make those savings," he says. | "Being involved in the Crag... has really made a difference - monitoring how you produce your carbon... is what really has driven me and enabled us to look at what we do, how we live our lives, make those savings," he says. |
| It is easy to see the Robinsons as driven. They do not watch television, but for reasons that have nothing to do with the environment. Their children are allowed to watch DVDs at the weekend but the brightness control has to come down. | It is easy to see the Robinsons as driven. They do not watch television, but for reasons that have nothing to do with the environment. Their children are allowed to watch DVDs at the weekend but the brightness control has to come down. |
| Developing habits is the key, Peter says. He described how he once visited a prison with a group of psychology students. | Developing habits is the key, Peter says. He described how he once visited a prison with a group of psychology students. |
| RISE OF THE CRAG Currently at least 23 groups throughout the UKEach group sets individual targets, but most going for 4.5 metric tons per person for 2006/7In some Crags, a financial penalty for those who exceed limitAim is to reduce personal footprints by about 10% a year, to achieve a 90% cut by 2030 | RISE OF THE CRAG Currently at least 23 groups throughout the UKEach group sets individual targets, but most going for 4.5 metric tons per person for 2006/7In some Crags, a financial penalty for those who exceed limitAim is to reduce personal footprints by about 10% a year, to achieve a 90% cut by 2030 |
| "One thing you notice there is that each time any of the prison staff went through a door they would close it and lock it, it becomes second nature. And when I started going round at home turning lights out it reminded me of that routine." | "One thing you notice there is that each time any of the prison staff went through a door they would close it and lock it, it becomes second nature. And when I started going round at home turning lights out it reminded me of that routine." |
| Most of the family's savings have come from using less heat (turning it off altogether from April to October and restricting its use at other times), less light and turning off electronic equipment at the wall. Peter has also pledged not to fly this year. | Most of the family's savings have come from using less heat (turning it off altogether from April to October and restricting its use at other times), less light and turning off electronic equipment at the wall. Peter has also pledged not to fly this year. |
| He says they reduced their personal carbon emissions from 12.7 metric tons in 2005 to 10.9 in 2006, well below the national average. He is hoping savings this year will have knocked another 10% off their emissions by December. | He says they reduced their personal carbon emissions from 12.7 metric tons in 2005 to 10.9 in 2006, well below the national average. He is hoping savings this year will have knocked another 10% off their emissions by December. |
| Financial penalties | Financial penalties |
| Frustratingly for him, his local Crag has not offered any guidance or reduction targets. But in nearby Hereford one of the first groups to be set up recently finished its carbon "accounting" for the year April 2006 to April 2007. | Frustratingly for him, his local Crag has not offered any guidance or reduction targets. But in nearby Hereford one of the first groups to be set up recently finished its carbon "accounting" for the year April 2006 to April 2007. |
| It set a limit of 4.5 tons per person. Some Crags have elected to impose financial penalties for those who exceed the limit, but Hereford decided not to. | It set a limit of 4.5 tons per person. Some Crags have elected to impose financial penalties for those who exceed the limit, but Hereford decided not to. |
| Carpenter Steve Ball, 36, who joined Hereford Crag last year, found a combination of his car use and a flight to Slovenia had pushed him well over the limit to more than seven tons. | Carpenter Steve Ball, 36, who joined Hereford Crag last year, found a combination of his car use and a flight to Slovenia had pushed him well over the limit to more than seven tons. |
| Craggers do not like energy-hungry tungsten bulbs | Craggers do not like energy-hungry tungsten bulbs |
| But although he had never previously calculated his footprint, he believes changes he has made have already cut deeply into his emissions - for instance, converting his car to run on a biodiesel mix and resisting regular calls by friends to fly off to Tallinn or Prague. | But although he had never previously calculated his footprint, he believes changes he has made have already cut deeply into his emissions - for instance, converting his car to run on a biodiesel mix and resisting regular calls by friends to fly off to Tallinn or Prague. |
| Like Peter, Steve has taken small steps across the board - like using a small motorbike for some journeys or insulating his converted loft. | Like Peter, Steve has taken small steps across the board - like using a small motorbike for some journeys or insulating his converted loft. |
| He plans to insulate his floor as well, but his dream is to build afresh. | He plans to insulate his floor as well, but his dream is to build afresh. |
| "Renovation is quite a hard thing to do, to make an old house efficient energy-wise, but I'm looking into building a new house," he says. | "Renovation is quite a hard thing to do, to make an old house efficient energy-wise, but I'm looking into building a new house," he says. |
| Both Peter and Steve have made massive changes and are prepared to go further. But they both seem wary of the Crags' ultimate aim - to reduce personal carbon emissions by 90% by 2030, which the movement says is necessary to avoid dangerous and potentially runaway climate change. | Both Peter and Steve have made massive changes and are prepared to go further. But they both seem wary of the Crags' ultimate aim - to reduce personal carbon emissions by 90% by 2030, which the movement says is necessary to avoid dangerous and potentially runaway climate change. |
| "We would struggle as a family to get 90% cuts," Peter says. | "We would struggle as a family to get 90% cuts," Peter says. |
| "If it's do-able, then great idea," says Steve. "We can strive for it, but whether or not it's realistically possible I don't know." | "If it's do-able, then great idea," says Steve. "We can strive for it, but whether or not it's realistically possible I don't know." |
| One thing is sure. If anyone can do it, it's the Craggers. | One thing is sure. If anyone can do it, it's the Craggers. |
Send us your comments using the form below. | Send us your comments using the form below. |