5 Easy Climate Actions You Can Take At Home
At SunCommon, we believe in protecting our planet. We drive electric vehicles, generate power with renewable resources, and strive towards reducing our carbon footprint—at work and at home. It’s part of who we are.
Still, we know we can do more. We want to slow down climate change. And we invite you to join us.
Compost all your food waste
220 lbs per person per year. Imagine that. A lot of people probably couldn’t even lift all the compost they produced in a year. If just 100 people read this blog and started composting, more than 11 tons of organic waste could be diverted from landfills.
How does composting work? Microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, in the presence of oxygen and water, use carbon for energy and decompose the organic wastes. Check out the EPA’s Guide to Composting.
Significantly decreasing waste disposed in landfills and incinerators will reduce greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent to closing 21% of U.S. coal-fired power plants. Check out our quick Composting 101 video, or read the Gardening Mentor’s Ultimate Guide to Composting here!
Watch your air and water temperatures
If your water gets hot enough to burn you in the shower, you could benefit in more ways than one from turning down your water boiler temperature a few degrees (Hint: fewer burns, lower bills). And for monitoring air temperature? We suggest you take a look at a smart thermostat—it learns your preferences and will adjust the temperature based on when you are home or when you are in bed.
Slay the Vampire Load
You may be surprised at how much energy some of your appliances are using even when you think they’re “off.” “Phantom energy” used by electronics that stay plugged into an outlet around the clock can account for 10 percent of your electric bill (that’s more than a free month of electricity each year). If you can’t stand plugging and unplugging every gadget around your home all day, try using a power strip or leaving appliances you don’t use on a daily basis, like toasters, desk lamps, etc., unplugged and only power them up when you need them.
Curtains for Temperature Management
Windows are an underrated way of managing indoor temperatures. If you have good sun exposure, not only might you have a free power source (shoutout to solar), but you also have a free heat source! Make sure you’re letting in all the low-angled winter sunlight you can during the day. But as soon as it gets dark, cover your windows with thick shades and curtains. Windows are often the leakiest parts of your home, prone to letting in lots of cold air. Insulating your house overnight will make a bigger difference in your energy bills than you may expect!
Plant One Tree
One of the easiest ways to take care of the planet is also the most fun. Set aside an afternoon to plant a tree in your backyard and the benefits will last its whole life. A young tree absorbs roughly 13 pounds of CO2 per year and a mature tree can absorb 48 pounds. After 40 years, a tree will have sequestered 1 ton of carbon that would have otherwise contributed to global warming. (We even planted 1,200 trees in a single day to help give back to nature and our community!)Our actions really do add up. Positive climate action starts individually and builds collectively. Get started. Share your progress. Be empowered to make a difference.