In recent years, the plight of our planet is becoming an increasingly popular topic. This is because more and more people are becoming aware of the damage being done to the planet. Of course, the global pandemic has also raised awareness of the issue and is potentially forcing economic recovery plans to focus on the environment.
However, as with most things in life, it is often the small things that make a big difference. Every person on the planet can help save the planet by saving energy. This is easier to do than you think:
It starts with having your local Sydney electrician check your electrical systems and make sure they are safe and you have no electrical leaks. This is when your electricity literally goes straight into the ground, costing you money for no benefit.
You should also look to improve your insulation, this will reduce the amount of energy you need to use to heat or cool your home. In addition to this, the amount of energy you use can probably be reduced by doing simple things, such as turning off lights, not leaving products on standby and thinking before you use the washing machine or dishwasher.
How saving energy helps the environment
Approximately 75% of Australia’s electricity is generated by coal-fired power stations. Another 16% is generated by natural gas. In short, more than 90% of the electricity generated in the country relies on fossil fuels.
When you realize this, it suddenly becomes obvious why reducing energy use saves the environment. If everyone uses a little less energy, it will make a big difference in the amount of fossil fuels burned.
That means fossil fuels that will be eliminated. In addition, burning fewer fossil fuels means fewer emissions into the environment. Since the side effects of burning fossil fuels contribute to global warming, reducing the amount burned will help the planet.
Even if the energy you use is generated by ‘clean’ energy sources such as solar, wind or even hydroelectric power, there is a cost to creating these systems. All manufacturing processes produce emissions that pollute the air you breathe and contribute to global warming.
How to save energy
The biggest and easiest thing you can do is to turn things off when you are not using them. This doesn’t mean putting them on standby. Turn them off completely or unplug them, this will reduce the energy your home uses.
In addition, you should consider what electricity you use regularly and how it can be reduced, such as turning the heating down a degree or cooling it down. You can also switch to energy efficient light bulbs and you should make sure your home has as much insulation as possible, as this makes the biggest difference in your energy consumption.
Adding timers to devices that must be on for extended periods of time, such as water heaters, can help reduce the amount of energy they use while still providing you with hot water. Simply walking around your home every day to see what energy is being used will help you see where you can save money.