Series: six months in

We've spent the last few weeks badgering 10:10 businesses and organisations for info on how they've been cutting their carbon, so it's only fair that we spill the beans on our own 10:10 progress. Here goes...

Thanks to @carboncoach for giving us the idea on Twitter.

Cian

20% year-on-year heating reductions and zero flights compared with about 20 this time last year.

JB

My onions are sprouting, my pumpkin's taking over the veggie patch and my rhubarb's running rampant!

Rich

Moved onto and started working freelance from a narrow boat, installing a composting toilet, fitting solar panels, starting a fruit and veg garden on the rooftop and putting in worm farms to deal with my kitchen waste.

 

Daniel

My low-flow showerhead's working wonders – Eaga's version is free and so well designed that you don't even notice the difference.

My garden's coming on a treat too. I spent last weekend attacking the elderflower tree with a carving knife on a pole (video here), and ended up with two massive cooking pots full of cordial!

I was quite good with the heating last winter, so cutting it by 10% this winter is going to be tricky. Time to invest in a slanket?

Maddy

I have swapped my car for a folding bike, so no more traffic jams and sweltering on the tube – zipping around London makes me fitter and happier. I won't be getting on a plane this year either – I'm planning a train journey across Europe with the Brompton in tow. I've also become a 'negan', which means no meat (well, the occasional sunday roast), and as little dairy as I can manage. I'm down to a white coffee once in a while!

Annabel

I'm only eating meat once a week (really tough because I love meat) and have put draft proofing around the windows in the winter which was super useful. I was working abroad last year and took 3 flights, so I'm aiming for none this year.

Mal

I haven't set foot on a plane so far this year, and I've been a stranger to the steering wheel for months now. I'm burning through a new set of bike brake pads every few weeks at the moment though.

At home, my laptop uses much less energy than the desktop it replaced, but that's probably offset by all those late nights working on 10:10 stuff! Insulating my leaky old sash window helped me keep the radiator down or off for most of last winter. I've been pretty good at sticking to my no red meat rule, and have been shocked to discover that soya milk on cereal is actually nicer than cow's milk.

Josy

I'm going to cut my flights by taking the train to Germany when I see my family. In this hot weather I've chosen to eat sorbet rather than dairy ice cream or frozen yoghurt. Not only does it have a smaller carbon footprint, it's also more refreshing and has less calories ;) I'm really enjoying all the fruits that are in season right now and I'm making sure I only buy locally produced ones. I'm also still eating very little meat and I'm only using public transport, my bicycle and my feet to get around.

Ayesha

I'm trying to avoid cheese, have bought an energy monitor, and am using the bike rather than the car to get to and from the station.

Tim

Installed cavity wall insulation, cutting down on car usage, and just bought my first LED lightbulb – very impressed. I'm taking weekly electricity and gas readings and keeping track of my car mileage. So far my emissions are down 19% on this time last year, mostly through remembering to leave the car at home.

Lizzie

Taking the train instead of the plane, turning off my laptop and going to bed earlier! Read my blog: 10:10 for workaholics