1. Installing three energy saving light bulbs could save up to £300.
Electricity accounts for around 10-15% of an electricity bill. Replacing a single bulb with an energy saving one could reduce your lighting costs by up to £100 over its lifetime.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
The Oracle is currently changing 4,500 fluorescent lamps for energy saving light bulbs. This will reduce our power usage by 35%.
2. Recycling just two glass bottles saves enough energy to make five cups of tea.
Every tonne of broken glass put into an incinerator typically saves the energy equivalent to 135 litres (30 gallons) of oil. Recycled glass needs around 22% less energy to make than 'new' glass. Only 34% of glass in the UK is recycled, compared to 92% in Switzerland.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
Around 102 tonnes of waste glass is recycled from The Oracle's cafes and restaurants every year.
3. Switching to renewable energy significantly reduces the amount of CO2 emissions we produce.
The majority of the UK's electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, which is a major contributor to climate change. Carbon-free renewable sources including wind, solar, hydro-power and biomass create little or no CO2 emissions. Renewable sources currently provide nearly 5% of our electricity, with targets of 10% by 2010 and 20% by 2020. Switching encourages the energy companies to generate more power from renewable sources.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
All of the electricity used by The Oracle is generated from a renewable source, the Pitlochry Hydro-electric dam in Scotland.
In the last 12 months The Oracle has reduced its CO2 emissions equivalent to the weight of 250 double-decker buses.
4. Turning your thermostat down by just one degree could cut your heating bills by up to 10%.
Each degree you turn down will save 114 - 228kg of CO2 emissions and could save you up to £40 a year.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
The Oracle is controlled by a building management system to ensure maximum energy efficiency.
5. Recycling food and paper could stop 50% of your household rubbish ending up in landfill.
British homes produce 25 million tonnes of rubbish each year; this figure is rising 2% annually. Only a quarter of this is recycled. Starting a compost pile at home is a great way to dispose of biodegradable waste and helps reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
The Oracle operates a scheme to recycle mixed paper, cardboard and polythene.
Any waste not recycled is sent to a facility for secondary processing to maximise the recyclability of the materials.
6. Re-using plastic bags cuts back on the number that end up as landfill.
5.75 billion plastic bags are thrown away each year. They take 500 years to degrade, during which time they will give off methane and pollute soil and water with toxins. Producing plastic bags uses up non-renewable resources like oil.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
Where possible, why not try re-using plastic bags? You can also exchange two or more plastic bags for a free Oracle Bag for Life at the Customer Information Desk during our Green Event (subject to availability).
7. Recycling just 25 plastic bottles can make one adult size fleece jacket.
Nearly three million tonnes of waste plastic is produced in the UK each year, only 7% of which is recycled. Many household items can be made from recycled plastic including bin liners, garden furniture and even fleece jackets. Manufacturing recycled plastic uses 66% less energy, 90% less water and produces 50% less sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and CO2 emissions.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
All retailers at The Oracle can recycle their plastic packaging, hangers and carrier bags by using our collection points on site.
8. Unplugging devices when they are charged and switching off appliances at the wall can save 95% of their total energy consumption.
Portable devices like mobiles and MP3 players need little electricity to work. 95% of their energy is used when chargers keep working after they've been fully recharged. Turning off devices at the wall or power strip not only reduces CO2 emissions but it could also reduce your electricity bill by 8%.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
The Oracle actively encourages all staff to unplug their chargers as soon as their mobile device is fully charged.
9. Installing a water saving device in your cistern can save three litres of water each time you flush.
If you're installing a new toilet, it's worth considering an eco-flush toilet, which is fitted with full or half-flush settings. To reduce the amount of water used in your existing toilet, you can place a water filled plastic bottle or a toilet 'hippo' in the cistern.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
All WCs in The Oracle are fitted with water saving dual flush devices and urinals with infra-red sensors to save water.
We are currently installing more water saving technologies in our public washrooms, such as infra-red taps and infra-red soap dispensers.
10. Washing clothes at 30 degrees uses 40% less energy.
Around 90% of a washing machine's energy usage is in heating the water. Drying clothes on a line or rack rather than using a tumble dryer will help to reduce CO2 emissions.
What The Oracle Is Doing:
At The Oracle we are continuously reviewing and improving the centre to maximise our energy efficiency.