Going green at home doesn’t always mean large scale renovations or expensive appliance replacements. Here are 21 small actions you can take every day to help reduce your carbon footprint and keep our planet happy. Your wallet will thank you, Mother Earth will thank you, and Oshawa Power will thank you for helping make our community a great place to live! Share these tips with a friend and challenge them to live a greener lifestyle.
Phantom Power (also known as Standby Power) occurs when appliances and electronics continue to use energy when they aren’t even on. With some electronics, this can account for up to 75 percent of their total energy use. Unplug electronics or use smart power bars to combat Phantom Power and reduce your home energy use by up to 10 percent.
A very simple step with a big impact. LED lighting is up to 80% more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, with a per bulb savings of up to $6 per year. Increases in efficiency and performance, plus a rated life of up to 30 years, make LED lighting a no brainer!
Installing a clothesline to hang dry your clothing in the warm weather can create significant energy savings. Clothing left outside to dry will last longer, look brighter, and smell fresher! By avoiding the dryer, one of your home’s biggest energy sinks, you can help reduce your carbon-footprint and put a few bucks back in your wallet.
You don’t have to ditch the meat completely to make a difference. Meat production is the largest cause of global deforestation (more than the second, third, and fourth leading causes combined!) and it takes nearly 1,800 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. Try out some new cuisine and ditch the meat once a week to make a big difference.
Check the sealing on your windows and doors before turning on the heat in the colder weather and the A/C in warmer weather. HVAC systems are generally the largest energy user in the home and sealing any pesky drafts can help take the strain of your system, leading to significant energy savings.
We’ve all heard it before, but the old slogan applies just as much (or more!) today as it ever has before. Avoid single-use plastics, reuse glass or plastic packaging, and/or recycle when possible to help lower your household waste. Plastic is the single biggest source of pollution in our oceans and waterways. Do your part to keep our water fresh!
If you have the space, planting a garden at your home can do wonders to help your local environment and reduce your carbon-footprint. Vegetable gardens can help provide fresh produce right at home and native flowers can create a healthy habitat for bees and other insects.
For all your recurring bills, e-Billing can offer a convenient way to access your statements, without the wasted paper. If you receive five bills per month, a switch to e-Billing could save more than 60 sheets of paper and envelopes per year. Over thousands of customers, that really starts to add up!
As we know, HVAC systems are a major energy user. Dirty, clogged furnace filters can cause your system to run with drastically lower efficiency. By changing your filter at least twice a year, you can keep your system running efficiently and keep your family breathing nice, clean air.
Whether it’s your washing machine or your dishwasher, most appliances use the same amount of energy and water regardless of load size. By waiting an extra day or two and always running a full load, you can help conserve both energy and water around your home.
While battery recycling has come a long way, it can still be difficult to ensure corrosive battery acid doesn’t end up in landfills or contaminating soil. Make the switch to reusable batteries in your household electronics to save yourself a few bucks in the long run and help reduce the environmental damage caused by discarded single use batteries.
Most recipes don’t require you to preheat the oven. Tacking a couple extra minutes on the timer to account for the heating time will usually leave you with the same delicious results while reducing your energy use. Checking on your food through the oven window can be another smart way to keep the heat inside and reduce the energy used by your oven.
Changing up your routine to include showers instead of baths can create significant water savings. A bath uses about twice as much water as a shower. Switching to lukewarm or cool water can heap on extra savings and lessen the load on your water heater.
Single use bottles and cups can be handy but they usually end up piled in the local landfill. Switch to a refillable water bottle or coffee cup when you’re on the go to help reduce your waste. Many coffee shops even offer small discounts for customers who bring their own cup!
Heating and cooling are major factors in your monthly energy bill and carbon-footprint. With falling costs and a variety of options, switching to a Smart Thermostat has never been easier. Programming your thermostat to cool down slightly overnight or when you leave the house can create significant savings for your family.
If your vehicle is equipped with cruise control, use it! Making for a more relaxing ride and up to 15% better mileage, turning on cruise control can be an effective way to get the most out of your vehicle. Better fuel efficiency can help you save at the pump and on vehicle maintenance.
Local goods are a great way to support a sustainable local economy while making an environmentally friendly choice. Goods from out of province, country, or even continent, are usually much less eco-friendly than local products due to extensive supply chains and emissions from shipping.
Second hand stores are full of unique, high-quality clothing. Enjoy the treasure hunt and help the environment by reducing the amount of new goods you buy. Bonus tip: don’t throw out your out of style or ill-fitting clothing. Opt to donate instead. Maybe your trash will be someone else’s treasure!
Take advantage of the natural light to help keep your home warm and well lit. Natural lighting has been proven to have a positive effect on your mental well-being and can offer a zero-cost way to keep your home warm and bright. On sunny days, open the curtains and soak up the Vitamin-D.
Did you know that most ceiling fans offer a way to change the direction from clockwise to counter-clockwise? In the winter, keep fans rotating clockwise to create an updraft to keep the warm air circulated evenly. In warmer months, switch to counter-clockwise and cause a downdraft and create a wind chill effect. We’re big fans of fans!
These simple actions can make a big difference in your home. Imagine what they could do if you told a friend who told a friend who… You get the point! Spread the word and help the people in your circle take small actions to create a big change for our planet.
