Simply Green: Solutions for Greener Living

Everyone talks about going green, but how can you actually help the planet? Making small lifestyle changes reduces your carbon footprint, which contributes less to greenhouse gas emissions. When you make changes, such as switching to LED lighting and using reusable grocery bags, you go green without noticing a big change in your daily routine. We put together a list of tips for greener living to help you make changes to save the planet:

According to the EPA, electricity and heat production make up the single largest source of global greenhouse emissions. Switch to LED lighting to save energy without decreasing the quality of the lighting! LED lights use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs.

Saving energy with LED also saves money on your energy bill each month. In addition to using less electricity, LED lights give off less heat, saving money when cooling your home. After switching to LED lighting, you can save $1,000 over a 10-year period, or $8.33 a month. They also last 3-5 times longer than a CFL bulb and 30 times longer than an incandescent bulb. This means you can save on the cost of replacing your bulbs. While LED lights initially cost more than other types, the money savings make LED lighting well worth it. LED lighting proves you don’t need to spend a lot to go green!

Creating plastic uses petroleum and contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases. Plastic takes a long time to decompose, sometimes even up to 1,000 years. Plastics can also find their way out of landfills and pose a threat to wildlife.

Even when disposed of properly, plastic bags can flutter away from landfills. In the ocean, animals get entangled in plastic bags or eat them after confusing a plastic bag for food. Using a reusable shopping bag helps eliminate these problems.

Stronger and more durable than their single-use counterparts, reusable shopping bags work for many other purposes besides just groceries. For example, they can carry heavy books without tearing. They also give you a chance to get creative by decorating the bag or promoting your brand.

Transportation accounts for 14% of greenhouse gas emissions, 95% of which comes from petroleum-based fuels, largely gas and diesel. By driving your car less often, you can cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Take public transportation whenever possible and use delivery services for grocery shopping. Think about it: instead of multiple cars going to the store or other places, one vehicle transports all the people or groceries. While busses use a lot of gas, it’s still not as much gas as 30 separate cars.

Besides switching to LED and avoiding single use items, you can go green with the following actions to save energy:

• Switch your television to a “standard” display to reduce energy usage
• Dust your refrigerator coils to save on your power bill and preserve the longevity of the refrigerator
• Shut down your computer when not in use to lengthen its lifespan

Check out this infographic by Taylor Bickham to learn more about our earth and going green:

Ready to go green? HomElectrical has all the products you need to switch to LED and help you save both money and the planet!