PPT Slide
Notes:
(g) Young Adult (Aged 21-30)
Having finished their studies our two subjects have now taken on the responsibility of their first jobs and homes. Together with transport, holidays, and food they are now directly responsible for the majority of their 'personal' GHG emissions. Consequently, it is during these years that a very large divergence between their respective GHG emissions becomes evident. As 'medium' household energy users in London they both would normally produce about 9200kg of GHG at a cost of £519 each year. Mr Bellamy though, cuts his household emissions by around 4.6 tonnes and his energy bill by £154 each year by making use of a range of energy saving strategies around the house. These include using an energy efficient washing machine, dishwasher, lighting, shower and water heater. Improved house insulation and home design complete the savings. Mr Bellamy is able to save a further 125kg of GHG each year at no cost to himself, by simply leaving his old newspapers out for recycling instead of putting them straight in the bin.
Our subjects' increasing affluence also enables them to be more selective about their diet. Mr Prescott does his food shopping at a large out of town supermarket, the food he buys is fairly varied with quite a lot of organic fruit and vegetables. However, he is unaware of the 'food miles' many of the items he buys have clocked up. His shopping basket of around 16kg of goods is responsible for about 2184kg of GHG over the year. Taking advantage of the local Farmer's market Mr Bellamy is able to buy most of his family's food from local sources, though there is little saving as far as cost goes, Mr Bellamy's shopping basket of 16kg is responsible for only 74kg of GHG per year.
For their holidays during these years Mr Prescott travels by plane to Madrid each summer at a cost of £134 and produces 361kg of GHG. Mr Bellamy opts to spend his annual holiday in Manchester, travelling by rail at a cost of £66.20 and producing 19kg of GHG.
For transport as young adults, Mr Bellamy again combines use of his bicycle with London's public transport system. His all year tickets costing £380 and his transport emissions totalling 528kg. Mr Prescott trades in his old Ford Escort for a new Volkswagen Golf GTI. As a result his petrol costs alone rise to £580 with related GHG emissions of 4773kg each year.