From being a newspaper headline a few decades ago, Climate Change has grown into a stark reality that affects people across the globe. And the call for mitigating its effects is getting louder every day. While it requires significant policy-making at the global level by governments and multilateral institutions, we as common folk can supplement the efforts with choices we make in our daily lives. On that note, here are 5 ways to incorporate renewable energy into your daily life for a sustainable future.
Reduce Energy Consumption:
Although indirect, this is perhaps the easiest and affordable strategy to support the cause of renewable energy. As the saying goes, ‘Energy saved, is energy generated.’ By reducing your overall energy consumption, you can limit the consumption of energy from conventional non-renewable sources. Switching off lights and electronics when not in use, unplugging chargers and appliances when they’re not needed and using optimal daylight in the mornings or energy-efficient lighting such as LED bulbs and strips are some of the measures you can take to reduce your overall consumption of electricity.
Choosing Electric appliances over Gas appliances:
The number of electrical home appliance options that are available in the market today as compared to 10 or 15 years ago is massive. Induction stoves, Microwave and griller ovens are fast replacing conventional gas stoves across the world. Substitute a gas stove kettle with an electric kettle for boiling water efficiently. The main advantage these devices offer as renewable choices is that they offer precise temperature control along with timer devices, which contributes to effective use of energy. And their automatic shut-off features add in the extra benefit of safety and convenience.
Invest in Energy-Efficient Appliances:
The next step after choosing electric over gas appliances is to progress towards making them energy efficient. Be it air-conditioners, water heaters or cook tops, these days government bureaus and agencies provide an ENERGY STAR label – a 5-star rating that denotes the energy efficiency standard of the appliance. Look for products with these ratings, which indicates that they meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the government. Higher the star rating, better the energy efficiency. These appliances are designed to consume less electricity, reducing your overall consumption, thereby lowering your carbon footprint. And over time, the savings achieved by using these energy-efficient appliances can offset the initial cost of purchasing them. That is another way to be smart, besides as it is good for both your wallet and the planet.
Solar Power for your home:
Solar power is one of the most efficient forms of renewable energy. It can be harnessed by installing solar panels, which convert sunlight into electricity, thereby reducing your dependence on power generated via non-renewable sources such as coal and natural gas. Although Solar panels seem like a hefty investment to begin with, several of incentives and rebates are provided by governments for installing solar panels, making them much more accessible and affordable for homeowners. In addition, constant advancements in solar technology have made solar panels more efficient and affordable than ever before. This is one of the best ways to harness renewable energy significantly reduce your carbon footprint and lower your cost of electricity bills.
Opt for Green Transportation:
Reduce your reliance on fossil fuel consumption by going for greener transport options. It could be as simple as walking, biking, carpooling or even public transportation whenever possible. If you prefer driving your own vehicle, opt for an electric or hybrid vehicle, which produces fewer emissions than traditional petrol or diesel powered cars. All it takes would be a charging session overnight, to significantly reduce the environmental impact of your travel preferences. With conscious choices such as these on your mode of transportation, you can help minimize greenhouse gas emissions and promote a cleaner and sustainable future.
At first, the thought of bringing in renewable energy may seem too technical and cost-intensive for a start. In truth, bringing it into your daily life needn’t have to be daunting. And you can begin with baby steps such as reducing overall consumption and slowly work your way towards bigger steps such as going for solar powered devices, transportation etc. While these would benefit you economically with your energy expenses, they will go a long way to bring about a meaningful difference for the planet and future generations. Stay connected with us for more such insights on energy efficiency.
