Should we cut the 2020 carbon emission target?

Things were looking good when the Guardian reported recently that EU Environment Ministers were meeting in Brussels to discuss whether to increase its 2020 target of carbon emission outputs reductions from 20 to 30% (against 1990 levels) across the EU. In the run up to the meeting, numerous large international companies had even signed a joint declaration urging for an increase. By the following day though, BusinessGreen.com ran the disappointing news that it had all resulted in only a commitment to 'discuss' the issue further in spring next year.

Carbon emission reduction is vital to curb the ‘greenhouse effect’ - the cocktail of emissions we produce is believed to raise the temperature in the earth’s atmosphere around the globe, leading us into climate change. Ever the optimist, I still believe in the meantime we can all take positive action nonetheless to reduce our own household carbon footprint. One easy action for this time of year is to look at something as mundane as your everyday laundry. Happily there’s a seasonal bonus for you to help towards the cost of Christmas every year. Tumble dryers are one of the most ‘energy-hungry’ home appliances, of course meaning more carbon emissions are produced. Its tempting to use them as the weather turns colder and damper but doing so four times a week means an estimated £130 extra a year on electricity bills. Yet a simple clothes airer does the same job without using any expensive electricity.

The clothes horse is enjoying a renaissance for precisely these reasons. But don’t worry about an ugly ‘contraption’ lurking in your hallway. A modern clothes horse looks like a chic towel rail, with muted wood tones to offset your décor and doubling up as a towel rail means there’s no wrestling it in and out of your understairs cupboard. A wall mounted clothes dryer can be equally aesthetic, in period white or pale wood but my particular favourite has to be the Victorian style ceiling airer. Also known as a pulley airer, these reproduction designs look wonderful, with a cast iron and pale wood frame. The pulley means you can whoosh the washing high up out of the way when you need to and the whole thing has such a wonderful timeless aesthetic that works with any décor. All in all, drying then means zero bills and zero emissions, and more money towards a good Christmas...