Extreme Makeover: Green Home Edition

            There are many things that cause global warming, and one of the lesser known causes is electrical pollution. You’d be shocked to know that electricity causes pollution in many ways, some worse than others. In order to create electricity, fossil fuels need to be burned. Fossil fuels are made up of dead plants and animals. Two examples of fossil fuels are petroleum and oil. When these fossil fuels are burned, they release many pollutants into the air, water and land. Some of these chemicals are also called greenhouse gasses. The production of electricity is also responsible for:

•          63% of sulfur dioxide emissions that contribute to acid rain
•          22% of NOx emissions that contribute to urban smog
•          39% of carbon emissions that contribute to global climate change
•          33% of mercury emissions that pose significant health risks

 Petroleum, one of the sources of energy we use the most, is used for transportation and making electricity and many other things. Even it is know that this source of energy gives off a lot of pollution, it used for 38% of the United States’ energy.

           

           One of the greatest electrical users in the United States is an American home. In 2010, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 11,496 kWh, an average of 958 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month. Tennessee had the highest annual consumption at 16,716 kWh and Maine the lowest at 6,252 kWh (US Energy Information Administration). The reason for these high numbers of electricity usage comes from:

•         Turning on a light
•          Watching T.V.
•          Listening to a stereo
•          Washing or drying clothes
•          Riding in a car
•          Heating a meal in the microwave
•          Using an air conditioner

But don’t fret! There are many simple and easy ways to change our homes from energy guzzlers to the epitome of sustainable living.

            So during summer vacation or the next time your home, try some of these tips to reduce your carbon footprint and your utility bill (yet another perk of going green):

•          Hang your clothes up to dry, either indoors or out
•          Turn your refrigerator down (but not so far that you find food spoiling too quickly – that, of course, is also wasteful).
•          Invest in compact fluorescent light bulbs. If you are able, have skylights or sun pipes installed.
•          Cook outside whenever possible. Patio grills are relatively inexpensive. Or you can go to a local park or forest that has public grills or fire pits.
•          Use timers on your lamps.
•          Sweep whenever possible instead of running the vacuum cleaner.
•          Landscape with trees and shrubs that will shelter your home from the wind in the winter and provide shade in the summer.
•          Unplug electrical devices when they are not in use, especially those electronics that have a rechargeable battery (if it’s blinking, it’s using electricity).

The reality is, seven people restricting their electricity usage for the betterment of the environment can only have a limited positive effect, but a society-wide shift of less energy use can lead to significant reductions in pollution and another step forward for a sustainable planet.

For more tips on cutting down electricity in your home go to: http://www.ourgreenerlife.com/2010/10/how-to-cut-down-on-electricity-in-your-home/

T.Y.G.