Susan Sheehan

Susan Sheehan is an Industry writer, and lives in a terraced house in London. She has dedicated many areas of her life to the environment:

"I started writing about environment-related issues, I mostly write about the automotive industry, looking at how vehicle manufacturers and industry are addressing climate change. For example, this can be responding to legislation by introducing low emissions technologies in vehicles, or investing in wind turbines to power plants, or influencing the supply chain to reduce its impact on the environment.

I am volunteering on a Climate Challenge project called Tomorrow's England. This has involved talking to big businesses and getting them to support the project.

I also started a community network to learn together about reducing our CO₂ emissions - mostly from our houses but also transport and food. This has taken off much more quickly than expected.

In my home I have started monitoring energy use and stopped going to supermarkets; instead I am growing my own vegetables and I buy my clothes second-hand where possible. I use my car as little as possible and I have even considered giving up my car. I am working on improving insulation and draft proofing."

What motivates you to take action on climate change?

"We have to limit our CO₂ emissions or the consequences will be dire. We have to take responsibility for climate change ourselves. A 20% reduction in CO₂ is not enough but it is a start. If we can do 20%, we can do more. We can also show government that we want it - and that it doesn't necessarily equate to a lower quality of life. It is a pleasure to grow vegetables, buy cheap clothes, make things, eat healthily - but a lot of these pleasures have been lost as we have become wrapped up in being consumers. We need to show that being environmentally aware can bring pleasure and that it is not a hardship."

Do you have any more energy saving measures planned?

"I need to do more to insulate my home and then I am considering investing in solar thermal technology. I am trying to travel less for work and this means trying to limit flights to one trip a year for my holidays."

Watch a short video of Sue