The UK is the 15th most eco-conscious country, falling behind on its air pollution and garbage disposal, according to new research conducted by comparethemarket.com.
The researchers looked at the volume of Google searches for terms related to green energy and renewable power, and then compared this to how eco-friendly a country is based on factors such as the quality of green space and satisfaction of air quality.
Taking all of these factors into consideration, the researchers ranked 75 countries to find out which is the most eco-conscious.
Australia came first place, followed by Finland and then New Zealand.
The UK came 15th place overall. Despite being the country with the second-highest volume of eco-friendly searchers, it scored poorly on metrics such as cleanliness, garbage disposal and air pollution.
Peter Earl, head of energy at comparethemarket.com, said: ‘As climate change is a global concern, it is harder to ignore the effect that we have on the environment, especially when it comes to our energy usage.
‘29% of all EU greenhouse gases are from energy industries, which is actually the biggest contributor of all, and whilst the numbers are decreasing we still have a long way to go.
‘As an individual looking to make small changes and get started on your eco-journey, looking into your own energy usage can be a great place to start.
‘Question whether you could have a more environmentally-friendly energy supplier, perhaps swap to energy-saving bulbs or invest in a smart meter.
‘By switching from incandescent light bulbs to energy-efficient light bulbs you can use almost 75% less energy; switching off power outlets when the appliance isn’t in use can also save up to 75% electricity!
‘If you keep your car mileage down by avoiding short journeys and walking or cycling instead, not only will you help cut air pollution, but it will potentially help cut your insurance costs too. Whilst these may seem like small factors, they can save you money and pave the way for a greener future.’
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