Lifestyle Spring Clean week is happening between 12-21 March when people across Devon will be taking steps towards a higher quality of life that's good for the planet too. With the launch of a new quality of life calculator, you’ll be invited to reflect on what you most enjoy in life, then take one or two actions towards that. What’s amazing is that when your quality of life goes up, your carbon footprint usually goes down (and there’s an exciting prize draw too)!

It might sound a bit far fetched that raising quality of life saves CO2, so how does it work?

Here are a couple of examples: Buying a toaster that lasts 15 years instead of one that lasts 3 years saves money and shopping time, and is nicer to use. It also has 1/5th of the carbon footprint over it’s life.

Buying more seasonal, local, organic food makes your meals more delicious, nutritious and good for long term health. It also has a much smaller carbon footprint than industrially farmed food. When you apply this to other areas of life, the combined effect is big.

We think you’ll find that once you’re focused on the target it’s easier than you think. Take the first step in Lifestyle Spring Clean week 12-21 March and enter a prize draw to win an electric bicycle.

It works the other way round too - reducing your footprint improves your quality of life. So if you’ve used our footprint calculator in the last six months, then you’re already riding the wave! Measure it again between12-21 March to see how you’ve done. I

If so, you have just 4 weeks to take one more action to reduce it. It can be done!  Here are some top tips...

Five Fantastically Fast ways to cut your carbon footprint 

• Switch to a renewable energy company!  This is the single easiest thing you can do and could save up to a tonne of CO2 per year
• Turn down your thermostat by 1 degree (save 10% on your heating bills)
• Add one plant-based meal to your week 
• Buy some of your food from local, organic farms
• Pledge to buy long-lasting or second hand products for a year

Carbon Footprint Calculator

A warm welcome to people in South Hams and West Devon districts who are just joining the project, along with Torridge and North Devon districts.

We will all be working together with Carbon Savvy to raise quality of life for ourselves, our communities and the environment. 

Lifestyle Spring Clean week 12th - 21st March

We look forward to sharing an exciting week with you.