Four in 10 Brits claim their 2022 New Year’s resolutions involve being greener, according to a new poll.
A survey of 2,000 adults found 27 percent of those with green resolutions plan on using colder washing cycles, while just under a third will try and cut down on their meat intake.
Other changes people are making for the year ahead include always carrying a reusable water bottle (33 percent), taking shorter showers (25 percent), and growing their own veg (24 percent).
And more than half of Brits (56 percent) said simply having a better understanding of how their central heating works would help them to live a greener lifestyle.
As many as 75 percent of those with green resolutions for 2022 admitted that while they ‘never’ normally stick to their resolutions, they want to this year, to help save the planet.
Combating climate change is the most popular reason (44 percent) for adults making plans to live more sustainably next year, with 41 percent hoping to have a positive impact on local wildlife.
While four in 10 are looking to reduce their energy costs by going greener, and 37 percent believe their green resolutions will be good for their health.
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Marc Robson, Smart Energy Expert at British Gas, which commissioned the survey, said, “It’s great to see how many people recognise the benefits of living more sustainably—not just for the planet, but in making our everyday lives healthier and more cost-effective.
“There are so many small steps we can take around the home to be greener and save on our energy costs—and being energy-efficient is also getting easier with the help of technology.
“Three in 10 respondents said their resolutions include turning the heating off or down when they go out, but a smart thermostat can take care of that.
“And having a smart meter means you can keep track of your energy usage in real-time, helping you identify opportunities to make savings.”
The poll also found that nine in 10 of those, with green resolutions, believe that although their commitments have been influenced by increasing energy prices, they’d be making an effort to live more sustainably anyway.
And the same number think the small steps they’re taking to live more sustainably in 2022 will lead to make bigger changes in years to come.
A quarter of those with green resolutions intend to do less driving, and 37 percent want to buy more food with less packaging—but these are both among the green resolutions considered hardest to keep.
Despite their best intentions, a quarter of those who have green ambitions reckon they will have fallen by the wayside by the second week in January.
Perhaps that’s because a quarter (24 percent) have made green resolutions in the past and failed to stick to them.
But 74 percent of adults polled, via OnePoll, believe they have a role to play in bettering the world.
And more than half (53 percent) went as far as to say they believe 2022 is the last chance the world has to start reversing the effects of climate change.
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Marc Robson, from British Gas, added, “We know that most people with green resolutions (70 percent) have been thinking about them for a while. And now is the perfect time to commit to them.
“It’s best to smart small with a resolution you can stick to—and then you can add to or extend it when you’re ready.
“Everyone needs to take responsibility for reaching net zero, and it’s our job to make sure that’s inspiring, not daunting.
“Working together is vital, so that we can all make a positive contribution that’s right for us.”
For energy efficiency and sustainability tips to implement around the home in the New Year, visit the British Gas website.
BRITS’ TOP GREEN RESOLUTIONS FOR 2022:
1. Recycle better
2. Buy food with less packaging
3. Turn off lights in rooms that aren’t being used
4. Take reusable bags shopping
5. Turn off electrical items when not in use e.g., laptops, TV
6. Turn the tap off whilst brushing your teeth
7. Refill water bottles
8. Put on extra layers instead of turning on the heating
9. Eat less meat
10. Turn off/lower the heating when leaving the house
11. Reuse leftover food
12. Use lamps with low energy use
13. Use colder washing cycles
14. Take shorter showers
15. Drive less
16. Shop second-hand e.g., clothes
17. Grow your own vegetables
18. Cycle more
19. Never use takeaway coffee cups
20. Avoid use of paper e.g., printing
21. Plant a tree
22. Upcycle furniture
23. Wash the car by hand instead of using a water hose
24. Fly less
25. Buy organic food
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I think I spotted the Greenest man on earth the other day. While he was waiting for a ride at the bus stop (public transportation), he dug through a nearby trash can, pulled out a half eaten sandwich and began dining (recycling). He looked like he hadn’t bathed or washed his clothes in a month (saving hundreds of gallons of water). The only thing he could do more for the planet and humanity is to plant a garden and some trees if he only had a home. As we celebrate a New Year, it’s time to count our blessings!
BTW, I gave the homeless person $5 to buy some real food.