More than half way through the experimental One Tonne Life project and the Lindell family has already reduced their emissions by a staggering 64 per cent.
Back in January the ordinary Swedish family were selected to moved into the specially designed energy-efficient house built by construction firm A-Hus. The house features state-of-the-art insulation and ventilation systems to reduce wasted heat, plus solar power for hot water, heating and electric appliances to reduce energy-related emissions. Project partners Volvo and energy supplier Vattenfall are helping the family cut their carbon footprint by, in Volvo’s case, supplying an electric car and for Vattenfall, by providing the latest technology to measure the family’s electricity consumption in real time, making it easier for them to manage.
In just over three months since the project got under way, emissions from accommodation have been cut by almost half through the use of hydro-electricity and electricity produced from the house itself. Meanwhile food related emissions from lunch meals have been cut by half by switching to vegetarian food.
But it is the areas of energy usage and transport which have shown the biggest improvements. Transport-related emissions have been cut by a massive 93 per cent, mostly thanks to the use of a Volvo C30 electric car, charged with electricity produced by hydro power.
Ultimately the aim is to see if the latest technology will enable the family to cut their carbon emissions from the average of seven tonne per person per year to just one tonne.
Amazingly, mum Alicia says that the process thus far has been relatively straightforward: "So far we haven’t had to make any major compromises in our everyday lifestyle. The advanced technology has made the hunt for a carbon dioxide -leaner lifestyle easy and enjoyable. The difficult sacrifices are probably still to come. The last stretch down to one tonne will be far more difficult".
The family has so far reduced their emission level to 2.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person since the project started in January.
