5 ways to reduce your home’s carbon footprint and help achieve net zero

When we think about the climate crisis and achieving net zero, it’s understandable that some of us might feel overwhelmed or unsure of what we can do to help. But we’re here with a range of rewards, energy-saving tech, insights, and bright ideas to help you cut your carbon footprint – and energy bills.

We can do a lot at home to help with net zero. And progress isn’t all about big home improvements and major lifestyle changes. The small steps matter, too. 

So read on to discover 5 ways to cut your home’s carbon footprint, and move towards a net zero future that’s better for you, your wallet, and the planet.

So, what is a carbon footprint?

It’s the total amount of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), released into the air as a result of our actions. A carbon footprint is the best estimate we can make about how something will impact climate change. Your own personal carbon footprint is the sum of your everyday activities – like your energy use, the food you eat, the transport you use, the clothes you buy, what you throw away, and more. 

You can get an idea of your own carbon footprint using this carbon footprint calculator.

And what does net zero mean?

Net zero is often bandied around like it’s common knowledge, but many people are unsure of what it really means. Put simply, net zero is the balance between the amount of greenhouse gases produced and removed from the atmosphere. 

The UK has pledged to reach net zero by 2050 by both reducing and removing its greenhouse gas emissions. Reductions involve things like phasing out fossil fuels, moving towards renewable energy, and making greener lifestyle choices. While removal is largely about harnessing the power of nature to absorb the excess carbon in the atmosphere through planting new forests, restoring peatlands, and more.

What can I do to cut my home’s carbon footprint?

Here are 5 ways to cut carbon – and save money along the way.

1. Power your home with renewable electricity

One big step towards a net zero future is making sure that as much of our electricity as possible is generated by renewables. Because burning fossil fuels – like coal, oil, and natural gas – releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, and this is the leading cause of climate change. 

The need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is the biggest, most pressing challenge facing our planet. That’s why the UK government has set out to reach net zero by 2050.

And you can help by adding Greener Electricity to any OVO tariff. This upgrade gives you 100% renewable electricity from traceable sources¹, and helps to grow a greener grid for the UK, too. That’s because it gives money to new independent renewable power generators to help them get up and running.

The best thing about natural resources, like the wind, sun, and sea, is that they’re cleaner and healthier for all of us – including the planet. Plus, unlike fossil fuels, they’ll never run out.

2. Shift non-essential energy use to greener times

The National Grid, or just “the grid” as it’s more often called, is the system that delivers electricity to our homes. It contains electricity from different sources and is constantly balancing supply (the energy available) and demand (the energy being used). 

There are peak times in the day when demand is higher. This is usually between 4pm and 7pm when most people are at home cooking, watching TV, using lights, and pottering about after work and school.

The trouble with high demand is that there’s often not enough renewable electricity to go round. So carbon-heavy fossil fuel power stations fire up to fill the gap and maintain a stable supply of electricity for all of us.

We’re helping to solve this problem with Power Move. It rewards customers for using electricity at greener times by giving them credit on their energy bill. This helps to take pressure off the grid, and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. 

A Power Move challenge might see you ironing your clothes a little later in the evening, timing the washing machine to run earlier, and charging your phone (or even an electric vehicle) at off-peak times, like early in the morning or overnight. If you’re ready to reduce your carbon footprint and earn credit towards your bill, try Power Move – it’s completely free.

3. Reduce energy use and waste

We can all save money and cut carbon emissions by being a bit more mindful about how we use energy at home. Simple changes in habit, like turning off the lights when we leave the room and making sure the dishwasher is full before we switch it on, all add up.

Here are a few ideas:

• Upgrade to energy – efficient appliances – look for A rated
• Switch to LED lightbulbs – you could save up to £3 a year per bulb²
• Switch off standby – turn off appliances at the plug
• Draft-proof windows and doors – you could be eligible for free insulation
• Turn off lights – save energy when you’re not using them
• Wash clothes at 30°C – it should still be hot enough to clean them properly
• Avoid using a tumble dryer – use a line or rack whenever possible
• Run your dishwasher and washing machine when they’re full – this will help less energy go to waste 
• Swap baths for showers – they should use less hot water

Did you know that a smart meter can help you to use less electricity, too? Just having one installed doesn’t automatically save energy. But it can help you keep on top of your energy use by showing what you’re spending in pounds and pence – in real time. So you can make changes around the home to reduce waste, and your bills.

Smart meters also play a big part in the clean energy system of the future. They let energy suppliers and the grid know exactly when and where energy is being used, so they then know how much to buy and sell. This makes generating and distributing energy more efficient, and helps the UK use more green power.

Ready to get a smart meter? Book your installation today – it’s free.

4. Invest in an energy-efficient heat pump

Air source heat pumps are the hottest thing in home heating. Why? Because they’re more energy efficient, cheaper to run, and produce less carbon than a traditional gas boiler.

They work a bit like a fridge in reverse, sucking warmth from the air and using it to heat your home and give you hot water. The process only uses electricity, so you can wave goodbye to gas – along with paying your gas standing charge.

You can get a heat pump installed with us through our partnership with Heat Geek. They’re the go-to experts for heat pumps, with a nationwide network of award-winning installers. You might even be able to get a £7,500 government grant towards the cost of yours with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. That’ll make it cheaper than the average gas boiler. 

What’s more, if you get one installed through OVO, you'll unlock our free add-on: Heat Pump Plus. So you can power your heat pump with a cheaper rate of electricity, too.

Switch to an electric vehicle (EV)

Since electric vehicles only run on electricity, they don’t burn petrol or diesel, which releases greenhouse gases into the air. This makes them a much greener mode of transport, especially when powered by renewable electricity.

In many cases, they’re also cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars, and have lower maintenance and repair costs due to fewer moving parts. There’s no clutch to replace, no oil tank to refill, and no filters to change.

The upfront cost, however, is still high. But it’s predicted that by 2025, someone buying a new EV could make their money back within 5 years by saving on running costs.³

The government is supporting the switch to EVs with a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. You may also be wondering what we, as an energy supplier, are doing to drive this electric revolution.

Firstly, we launched Charge Anytime – the most competitive EV charging rate on the market. It lets you smart charge your car at a super-low rate any time you like, day or night. We’re also installing smart chargers in homes all over the country, so you can charge for less than in public. 

Plus, we’ve partnered with Volkswagen Group UK to give OVO customers thousands of free miles through Charge Anytime when they buy a new EV from any of the Group’s brands. That’s Audi, CUPRA, SEAT, Škoda, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

If you’re thinking about making the switch to an EV, but aren’t quite ready yet, you can start banking free miles with Beyond⁴ – the planet’s first Energy Savings Account. It’s our latest smart idea to help you save with offers and perks today, while earning rewards for a greener tomorrow.

Find out more about how we’re helping our customers reach net zero with our Path to Zero.