It was June this year when Duncan logged onto his computer, searched up an online carbon footprint calculator and began frantically filling in all of the required sections about his lifestyle. Curious to know where he now stood with regards to his carbon footprint, he awaited the final result. And then came the epiphany. In just a second, Duncan grasped that a long-standing life ambition had been fulfilled. In that moment, he realised he now had an annual carbon footprint under two tons and in doing so, completed a 10-year personal mission. He was elated. And rightly so. All the changes to his lifestyle in pursuit of greater sustainability had paid off. It was quite an understated way to mark such a monumental moment.
The motivation for reaching such a milestone had in fact emanated years ago for Duncan Friend, the 52-year-old part-time carer and volunteer at the Sheffield branch of the Friends of the Earth environmental group. He did an Earth Sciences degree during his studies at university and that really opened his eyes to the science behind climate change and the most pressing environmental issues confronting humanity.
Duncan seen here speaking to members of the public as part of his Friends of the Earth campaigning work. Image taken by Lindy Stone.
There has been much noise surrounding the reasonable amount of carbon each individual should be allowed to produce as part of their lifestyles in order to be sustainable. Duncan says: “if every person on the planet was to produce under two tons of carbon a year in their lifestyles, we would stave off climate change.” However, he adds that the average person in the UK produces 13 tons a year, and across the Atlantic, the average American citizen produces 17. This figure subsequently became an aspiration for Duncan to reach and the motivation was born. He has spent the last ten years working towards this but the reality is he has been inspired to conserve and protect the natural world for far longer.
Born in a rural area of Wiltshire, as a young boy he was allowed to run out of the cul-de-sac where his family lived and play with his friends in a nearby field. He was seven when his family moved to Surrey for his Dad’s new job and he used to love spending time in nature – it is after all, he tells me, the English county with most trees. Growing up, his Grandma Caroline would buy him books about birds and Duncan and his sister Fiona would spend a lot of time enjoying the wildlife and natural spaces in Devon where his Mum’s side of the family was from when they visited. Money was tight and the family thus maintained a make-do and mend attitude. His clothes as a child were often knitted by his Grandma and holes in clothes were quickly sewn up when they surfaced. He often went camping as a child and he believes his upbringing brought him resilience and instilled in him a strong appreciation for the natural world.
Duncan often spends time visiting family in Devon and his grandfather helped dig this Neolithic circle out of the moor in Sheepstor on Dartmoor, where it had lain hidden for centuries. Image taken by Duncan Friend.
This all contributed to his motivation, and his mission got out of the starting blocks in 2011 when he bought a house in the Gleadless area of Sheffield. The property already had double-glazing and was well-insulated, but he set about applying foam to all of the windows and doors to prevent draughts and improve heat retention in the home. He was opportunistic when he needed to be too. Flyers through the door advertising improved loft insulation and cavity wall insulation were key in creating a home which maximises energy efficiency. He added aluminium foil to the back of radiators to radiate heat back into the home rather than it be absorbed by the walls. All of this was done relatively cheaply and provided the base he needed to expand his mission.
Duncan purchased a Nissan Leaf electric car in 2019 which can be seen here being charged from a household socket. Image taken by Duncan Friend.
To reach his goal, significant changes still needed to be made. His next step was to save up enough money to buy solar panels and by 2014 he had sixteen of these generating substantial electricity on his roof. His approach was less about haste and more about doing things practically as and when he had the money and capability to do so. He said: “It was a gradual process, slow really. I had a wish-list but not a 10-year plan.” He made the switch to an electric car in 2019 when he purchased a Nissan Leaf and this year, he has been able to overhaul his heating system. He replaced his old gas boiler with an air-source heat pump stationed outside his home which generates 100% renewable energy thanks to the Renewable Heat Incentive government scheme. He has transformed his lifestyle and in January made the decision to adopt an exclusively plant-based diet. As a result of making this change, he feels healthier, happier and has lost around a stone in weight. He said: “I feel more alert. It is also a lot cheaper eating a plant-based diet; not eating meat and fish means I am saving lots of money.” The changes have come in progressive stages and he is convinced that everyone can do the same by taking the same incremental approach.
With the help of two fitters, Duncan got an air-source heat pump installed outside his house this year which generates 100% renewable energy. Image taken by Duncan Friend.
He expands: “I talk about the changes I have made quite a lot. I would say do it in whichever order that fits your own life. Do not be overwhelmed by it and do not do it all at once. Changes need to be made over the next ten years. It is vital to keep global temperature rise to 1.5C.”
His mission has brought fulfilment and great pride. One particularly heart-warming moment came when he stopped at a charging point in Birmingham on a journey from Sheffield to Cheltenham recently to visit his parents. He noticed a message had been left on his windscreen from a 13-year-old girl called Charlotte with asthma who thanked him for driving an electric car and not exacerbating her condition. It reinforced to him he was on the right track and that there is still so much for him to do. Duncan said: “It was a proud moment. It made it personal and made me realise I am doing the right thing.” He now has grand ambitions to get a battery to store additional electricity generated from his solar panels and upgrade to triple-glazed windows.
Duncan and the Sheffield Friends of the Earth group at the Sheffield Climate Justice Protest on the ‘Global Day of Action’ on Saturday 6 November. Image taken by Lindy Stone.
He is optimistic about the future and can see motivation and urgency among people now which was not present in his early environmental campaigning days. Duncan also has a final message for people today about bolstering environmental protection and sustainability. He said: “There are reasons for hope but we need to work far, far harder. Without action, it will keep to nothing. We need to keep the pressure on and not take our eye off the ball, and keep going. Look at where you use fossil fuels in your life and cut them out completely. If we can cut fossil fuel use out of our lives, we are on to a winner.”
Cover image taken by Lindy Stone.
