How to Reduce Your Home’s Carbon Footprint
At Delano Municipal Utilities, we’re committed to helping the people of Delano live sustainably. And that includes providing tips for reducing your home’s carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by something—in this case, your home. Not only does a large carbon footprint accelerate climate change, it usually costs more money, too. Continue reading to learn how to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
Reduce Waste
Consumer culture is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Product manufacturing takes a lot of energy, and when we buy more products than we need or rely on single-use products, we’re feeding the production machine. So, the best way to reduce your home’s carbon footprint in this area is to buy fewer new products for it, especially if they are single-use items like plastic plates and cutlery. Instead, try to reuse and repurpose items or buy items secondhand.
When you can’t reuse something, see if you can recycle or even compost it. Food and organic waste in landfills produce methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas. Composting organic waste reduces its emissions and helps out your garden!
Switch to LED Lighting
Another easy way to reduce your home’s carbon footprint is to swap out all of your incandescent and fluorescent lights for LEDs. LEDs are more energy efficient than these older technologies. Incandescent lights release most of the energy they consume as heat! LEDs also use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Because they are so much more efficient, they also save you money. The average household saves about $225 per year by using LEDs.
Moderate Thermostat Usage
Your HVAC system is another major source of energy consumption in your home. By turning your thermostat up by just a couple of degrees during the summer and down by a couple of degrees during the winter, you can save significant amounts of energy, reduce your home’s carbon footprint, and reduce your energy bills.
Changing your air filter regularly and keeping your HVAC equipment in good condition also keeps the system more efficient. Smart thermostats and other ENERGY STAR certified equipment can also help you cut down on energy costs.
Reduce Hot Water Use
Heating water in your home takes energy, and most households use more than they need to. Taking shorter, cooler showers and using a low-flow shower head can reduce energy consumption and costs. Also consider doing your laundry in cold or warm water instead of hot water whenever you can. Wrapping an insulation blanket around your water heater can also improve its efficiency.
Live Sustainably with DMU
There are many ways to reduce your home’s carbon footprint, and trying just a few can have a positive impact on the environment. However you choose to cut back on energy usage, Delano Municipal Utilities is here to support you! If you have any questions about energy usage, please contact us. We would be happy to help.