There are so many little habits that we commonly form at home which may seem harmless, but in actual fact, can adversely impact our environment in a big way. Conserving at home can save you money and help to reduce the demand for energy which lowers the use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are the leading source contributing to climate change, so lowering our demand and carbon footprint by curbing energy use is an important way to help the environment.
With the amount of energy-efficient alternatives available today, conserving at home has never been easier. Here are 5 ways that you can get started.
Conserve with Home Appliances
Swapping out old, energy hog appliances for newer energy-efficient models is a great place to start. You can find these alternatives for just about any and every type of home appliance you need. However, if you can’t afford to go that route, there are still ways to conserve with your current home appliances. Here are a few suggestions:
Wash clothing in cold water. Try to avoid using hot water when washing clothing. Using warm or cold water instead can help save approximately 500 pounds of CO2 per year for those with electric water heaters, or 150 pounds for a gas heater.
Lower the temperature of your water heater. Thermostats only need to be set at 120 degrees F. You can save 600 pounds of CO2 per year by lowering your water heater by 10 degrees.
Lower the temperature of your fridge. Refrigerators need to be set as close to 37 degrees to prevent food from spoiling. You can use a thermometer to adjust your fridge to be as close to that temperature as possible since they are often set too high. Refrigerators account for approximately 20% of household electricity use. So, it can make a big difference when you adjust the temperature.
Use the dishwasher or washing machine only when there’s a full load. Also, you can select to have dishes air dry instead of using heat. This can conserve both water and energy.
Conserve by Using Energy Efficient Bulbs
Compact fluorescent bulbs can illuminate a room just as well, if not better, than regular incandescent bulbs. However, fluorescent bulbs use only ¼ of the energy and last 8-12 times longer. It’s a simple switch that can help.
Conserve by Reducing Household Waste
One of the easiest ways to help the environment is curtailing waste production and pollution.
Whenever you grocery shop or grab take-out food, use reusable bags, containers and utensils rather than plastic disposables. And take note of what you can compost and recycle in your local district. Reducing your garbage output by half of one large trash bag per week saves at least 1100 pounds of CO2 per year.
Helping out the environment and minimizing your carbon footprint is easier than you might think. With a few new habits, you can drastically help to reduce the stress that’s being placed on our planet while also saving more each month on your energy bills.