The Impact of Energy & Water Conservation
With Earth's condition constantly declining, energy and water conservation is becoming more crucial. You can join in on the effort!
How bad is climate change?
Climate change is a dire problem that has only gotten worse in recent years. With the year 2023 hitting record-setting temperatures, everyone must contribute to fighting this problem in any way they can or else it might get too drastic to handle.
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Source: NASA.gov
Numbers aren't the only thing proving how drastic climate change really is. Large lakes around the world have noticably shrunk in size in the past five years alone. Take the Great Salt Lake for example. What was a green lively land surrounding a deep, extensive lake in 2019 is now a dry environment with a much more shallow lake in 2023.
The Great Salt Lake in May 2019 (right) and May 2023 (left)
Simple Energy Conservation Habits
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Unplug electronics when not in use
Even if not on, an electronic might still be using up electricity. This is known as the “phantom load.” According to the Organization of Economic Cooperation, phantom loads account for 3-10% of electricity bills!
In order to reduce the waste of phantom loads, unplugging idle electronics or getting a smart power strip is recommended!
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Turn Off Lights
Turn off the lights when not in use! This isn’t a phantom load, but rather just an unnecessary use of electricity!
Natural Light
Make use of sunlight and limit use of artificial light. Simply taking advantage of natural light can save a lot on electrical bills.
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Simple Water Conservation Habits
Full Loads Only
To make most use of water already being used, only use dishwashers and washing machines when fully loaded.
Greywater
Use greywater (used, leftover water) to water plants to cut down on water typically used to water lawns.
Limited Hot Water
Waiting to heat up water can be wasteful in water and electricity. Use it only when necessary!
Investing into Saving Water and Energy
Implementing sustainable habits is already a great first step into making a change against climate change! However, you can definitely take sustainability to another level by investing a bit of time and money. It might sound tedious at first, but the payoff is extremely evident in your bills and in the environment!
Repair Leaks
Leaks account for 10% of water usage. Identify leaks by observing your water meter when all water is turned off.
Efficient Appliances
Look for appliances with ENERGY STAR. Especially useful, if you use decade-old appliances.
Solar Panels
Install solar panels as an affordable source of sustainable energy! Start by contact a local solar panel company to determine if your house is appropriate for solar panels.
Weatherization
Block any gaps between doors and windows to maintain temperature without AC. This can become more affordable thanks to the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program.
Investing into Conservation is Worth it!
Average Savings from Buying Energy-Efficient Appliances:
Source: A1Electrical.net
Average Savings from Using Solar Panels:
People who live in with higher electricity prices can expect to save even more with solar panels! They don’t cost much compared to the typical electricity bill.
Source: UnderstandSolar.com
Types of Solar Power Installations in California
Doing something can seem tedious when no else is doing it, but with conservation, that is not the issue! California has an abundance of opportunities to conserve energy and water, and with advancements in technology, those opportunities become more inexpensive as well!
For instance, the graph on the left shows just how prominant solar power is becoming in California, with hundreds of acres in every county being dedicated to solar power. There are numerous ways to integrate solar power into a building, from the rooftop to parking to the ground.
Conserving is Simple!
There are many quick ways to save energy and water, and many don’t require that much effort! Leading a sustainable lifestyle can be for anyone, since there are numerous affordable ways to conserve energy as well
Once you begin doing the simple, effortless acts of sustainability, you will likely discover the impact of those acts and further invest into conserving energy and water. It can all start today!