It's easy to be overwhelmed by the threat that climate change presents. Whilst it is certainly down to large firms and governments to make the lion's share of the effort, there are still plenty of things you can do at home to help, such as these handy tips.

1. Eat less meat.
   The meat industry alone is responsible for 14.5% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, as such reducing your meat intake even by even two or three meals a week could have a big impact.
   
   
2. Grow your own produce
   The average distance traveled by shop-bought fruits and vegetables is 1500 miles, so growing them at home – whether in a garden or window box – will reduce that right down to zero.
   
   
3. Use renewable energy
   It may seem a no-brainer, but switching your energy supplier to one that exclusively buys renewable energy can begin to speed up the switch in our energy mixture.
   
   
4. Buy energy-efficient domestic appliances
   Kitchen appliances are undeniable energy guzzlers that become even worse culprits if not used in the right way – buying energy-efficient versions and ensuring to turn them off will help.
   
   
5. Defrost fridges at least every six months
   This will ensure that your fridge is always running efficiently. This means that you will use less electricity, saving both the environment and your bank balance.
   
   
6. If you can’t grow yourself, buy seasonal
   Vegetable-box schemes enable householders to buy seasonal and keep food miles to a minimum. According to the Soil Association, online organic sales rose by 14% last year, much of the hike being attributable to increasingly popular box schemes.
   
   
7. Think about retaining heat
   Fit thermally lined curtains, thermal wallpaper, swapping old-style lightbulbs for LEDs, fitting smart thermostats, donning extra layers of clothing and turning down the thermostat to 19˚C, says the Committee on Climate Change in its recent report.
   
   
8. Car-sharing trips to the office
   Reducing the number of cars on the road, and even if you don’t live near any colleagues there are numerous websites, such as liftshare.com, www.blablacar.co.uk and gocarshare.com, that exist to pair up commuters heading in a similar direction each day.

9. Install a high-efficiency dual-flush model
   High-efficiency dual-flush toilets, such as those installed by Peabody, offer large water savings of up to 4,000 gallons a year.
   
   
10. Shorter showers
    The Energy Saving Trust estimates that cutting showering time by just one minute will shave £15 off energy bills and £15 off water bills per person per year.