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Small actions can lead to big results – that is what we tell ourselves for everything we do to reverse climate change and save the planet. For example, if you save one disposable coffee cup a day, you’re effectively reducing 365 cups a year, which is a massive contribution to sustainability and the environment.
However, this saying can also go the other way round: small, subconscious actions can lead to the big results of climate change getting more serious. In the same example, if — instead of using less — you’re taking 1 more disposal coffee cup per day, you’re adding 365 plastic pieces more into the landfills a year.
That is the reality – though we don’t mean it, some of our daily activities can end up harming the planet without us being conscious of the consequences. In this blog, Meltek will walk you through the common daily activities we do that can negatively affect the planet AND an A-rated tip to start dropping those habits.
Driving is one of the most common things we choose to do that can harm the planet. Our vehicles burn gasoline to function, and in doing so, they create such greenhouse gases as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, benzene, and of course, the notorious carbon dioxide. According to EPA (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), an average passenger vehicle release 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Now, let’s multiply that number with the amount of passenger vehicles in the States – approximately 276 million in 2020.
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Acknowledging that driving is quite an essential part of our lives, Meltek believes that it’s barely possible to advise everyone against using their personal means of transportation at all. However, cutting down the frequency and choosing public transportation whenever we see fit is an actionable choice! For instance, if using the subway takes 30 minutes and driving takes 20, go for the subway if you’re not in a rush! Every small amount of CO2 reduced is appreciated.
Aside from gas, another thing we tend to use a lot – sometimes even more than we need – is electricity. Electricity is a necessity for a lot of us, being utilized for lighting, entertainment, hygiene (e.g., dishwashers), and many other purposes. According to United Nations Statistics Division, in 2018, the U.S. consumed over 1.4 trillion kWh of electricity solely for household use. Within this number includes not just regular consumptions but also excessive, unnecessary ones. Let’s go through a few of them!
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Let’s be honest. Have you ever got home finding your house is fully lit and realizing that, that morning, you left for work without turning the lights off? Though at that moment, we might not think twice about it, the impact of our action on the climate is there: greenhouse gases are emitted from the energy used to keep the lights on all day.
A tip for you in case you constantly forget to turn off the lights before heading out is to place your keys right next to the light switches. That way, you can save electricity, save your spending on utility bills, and save the planet!
The similar goes for A/C. Some of us forget about it, others choose to keep it on so they could come home to a cool home. Despite how tempting that may sound, keeping the A/C on all day while you’re out is not the most energy- and cost-effective way to get by.
This is also quite a common thing we do – never unplug our devices. Some of us keep our laptops/tablets/phones plugged all the time even though it’s fully charged, others plug in their TVs/fans/etc. even when they’re not using these appliances.
For excessively charged devices, this action can not only harm their battery life but also waste a significant amount of energy. Please note that even when your phone or tablet is fully charged, if you’re plugging them in, they’re still consuming energy.
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Changing a course of action is hard, especially if you do it daily. We all need a source of motivation for that; sometimes, that motivation can be the incentive you get for the changes! Let Meltek be that good motivation of yours to start saving energy!
Meltek, partnering with Con Edison, offers to pay you every time you reduce your electricity use, especially during peak hours. By spending 2 minutes signing up with us here, you will be set up for rewards whenever you save electricity! We’ll send you notifications about the coming heatwaves along with detailed instructions on what you should do to save energy.
Once the hours are over, we will calculate the amount of kWh you’ve saved and reward you accordingly. Quickly, easily, and immediately promised.
