Frequently Asked Questions
What’s ZapCarbon ?
It’s an online system that helps you save energy and cut your Carbon emissions at home.
How much does it cost to use ?
Nothing – it’s totally free for individuals to use. We want as many people as possible to use it, as the more people that use it, the more Carbon we all save.
What sort of saving can I expect ?
Depends on how hard you try. Generally most people can save 20% of their home’s Carbon footprint without trying too hard. Some have saved as much as 60%. The harder you try, the more opportunities you’ll find.
Is it hard to do ?
It’s not rocket science at all. Just a matter of focussing on saving energy and taking a fresh look at things you do in the home.
Often the most difficult things are changing habits. For example, switching off lights might be second-nature for some, while for others it’s actually nigh on impossible! The more people that share the mission in the household the better.
Will I save money ?
Extremely likely. If you’re using less, you’ll be spending less. How much will depend on what your bills are at the moment. But imagine if they were say 20 or even 40% lower than they would be otherwise….
To us though, the main reward is that you will be cutting you home’s Carbon emissions at a time when we all need to.
Is it a business or a hobby ?
It’s a hobby that’s rather taken over! Through wanting to spread the Carbon-saving message as widely as possible, the web system has been developed entirely through our own blood, sweat and tears (well, ok, maybe not blood). We make money from it through selling versions to companies, larger groups or anyone who wants to encourage Carbon saving. We also have a number of affiliate schemes that can generate revenue.
It’s totally free to use though for individuals and smaller organisations.
We also aim to give a proportion of all our profits to Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes.
How does the Competing bit work ?
While we can all save energy quietly on our own, it's much more fun if you're doing it with others. It might be a club, church or circle of friends who all decide that they think they should "do something" about climate change. Our site lets you all unite and save Carbon together.
We make it very easy for people to set up their own Carbon-saving contests - after all nothing like a bit of healthy rivalry ! Because everyone can measure their progress you end up with a clear indication of who's saving the most.
And there can be no cheating as the electricity meter never lies !
The end result is that every home involved will be making cuts in the Carbon emissions. What's more, the competitive pressure might just make these cuts deeper than would otherwise be the case. And even if there's no rivalry, people can share and discuss energy-saving measures that worked for them.
How Do I Change Supplier... ?
