Zero Emissions Day 2024: What is it? And how to take part.
Zero Emissions Day is a globally recognised day to raise awareness for climate change and promote sustainability. It’s all about finding ways to reduce your carbon footprint, which we at The Electric Car Scheme are committed to doing by helping people transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
How to celebrate Zero Emissions Day
The best way to celebrate is by cutting your carbon footprint to ‘give the world a day off’. Our mission is to make green choices easier, and we believe taking part in Zero Emissions Day is a great place to start. We’ve compiled a list of habits that can reduce your environmental impact to help you get involved.
Eat less meat
Compared to ‘big meat eaters’, vegans produce 76% fewer kilos of greenhouse gasses. Even if you aren’t prepared to go fully vegan, a diet with less meat can reduce environmental impact by 30%.
Turn off your devices
By taking a few seconds to turn off your desk devices at the end of the day, you can save 69kg in carbon emissions a year. That’s enough to power a lightbulb for over 3 days.
Make your commute sustainable
Switching to an electric car can reduce carbon emissions by 50% or more, compared to traditionally fueled cars^. Companies that offer a cycle-to-work scheme or the Electric Car Scheme, make a sustainable commute even more affordable.
Remember, you can save 30-60% on any EV with salary sacrifice, get a quote and our EV Specialists can help you into a new car for less.
How do electric cars contribute towards Net Zero?
Electric cars use electricity instead of gasoline or diesel. So they emit zero tailpipe emissions, making them a much cleaner alternative to traditional vehicles. And with a wider range of sustainable ways to create energy, you can further reduce the environmental impact of an EV by using greener charging options.
These greener options can include using your own solar panels or opting for green energy tariffs which charge your car when there’s more renewable energy in the grid.
How is the UK working on reducing greenhouse emissions?
The UK government has committed to a 2035 Net Zero goal, likely to be brought forward to 2030 by the current Labour government. Here is a look at some of the agendas in place to support the transition to Net Zero:
Investments in clean energy: The government has announced significant investments in clean energy projects, including offshore wind farms and solar power, to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
Focusing on homegrown energy: The government has launched initiatives to boost homegrown energy production and reduce reliance on imports. This includes the creation of a new state-backed energy company, Great British Energy, to invest in renewable energy projects.
Incentivising greener choices: Grants, subsidies, and tax incentives are used across various sectors to encourage the transition to renewable energy. You can benefit from the following;
Energy Company Obligation (ECO): this is a government initiative to assist low-income households in making their homes more energy efficient. It requires energy suppliers to provide devices and services that improve energy efficiency for vulnerable groups.
Smart meter rollout: you can get a smart meter from your energy provider for free, giving you more control over your energy usage and access to lower-cost energy in off-peak times with Economy 7 tariffs
Company car tax benefits: this is where The Electric Car Scheme is there to help. By choosing an electric car and taking advantage of the salary sacrifice scheme, you can contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future. Click here to see how we help employees.
What can businesses do to work towards Net Zero?
Every company in the UK can help their employees on their personal journey to net zero by offering The Electric Car Scheme as an employee benefit. To get every business in the UK to offer electric car salary sacrifice, it needs to be a 'no-brainer'. That’s why The Electric Car Scheme is free for the employer to set up and run. Find out more by visiting our website!
^ According to research by Volkswagen