Spring is here, summer is just around the corner, and that means Earth Day is almost here. Earth Day, which happens every April 22, is an international day of observance that was first held back in 1970 in an effort to help save the planet from pollution, deforestation, and other environmental problems. This year, you can participate in the long history of this event by going green, and here are some ways you can start going green.
Effect Change with a Lower Carbon Footprint
Use less gas: Leave the car in the driveway and bike, walk, or take public transit to work.
Use less energy: Turn off the lights, turn off electronics, and turn off gadgets when they’re not in use, air dry instead of tumble drying, open windows and turn off the air conditioner, turn down the heat and put on a warm sweater, upgrade appliances and light bulbs to energy-efficient models, and seal up your house better with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping.
Use less plastic: Take reusable fabric bags to the grocery store, use reusable containers and buy in bulk, and most importantly, stop buying bottled water. Water bottles require millions of barrels of oil to make, and the fuel consumed transporting bottles from A to B is incredible.
Moreover, four out of five water bottles end up in the landfill, where they’ll take about 1,000 years to break down. What’s the alternative? If you’re worried about the cleanliness of your water, install a whole-home filtration system.
Make a Difference by Saving Water
Most people in America take for granted that they can turn on the taps and have instant access to clean and potable water. But that’s not the case everywhere in the world, and even some Americans don’t have this luxury.
Clean water is essential to life on this planet, which is why it’s so important that we all do our part this Earth Day, and every day, to save water. Here are a few simple devices that can help you save thousands of gallons of water every year in your home:
- Water-saving faucets in the bathroom and kitchen
- Motion-activated faucets that turn off automatically
- Low-flow toilets
- Dual flush toilets that use less than a gallon of water per liquid flush
- Water-saving showerheads that reduce water use by about 5 gallons per minute
Try Your Hand at Tankless to Save Energy
Want a quick and easy way to save energy, reduce your energy bills, and save money? Here’s a quick solution: tankless water heaters. Unlike conventional water heaters, these units don’t have a tank to hold water, so they don’t waste energy keeping water hot when you don’t need it.
Not only do you save about 20 percent of the energy that’s wasted from standby loss, but tankless heaters also use 30 percent less energy than conventional ones. And as if that weren’t enough, you’ll also get an additional 10 years from your tankless heater (they have a lifespan of about 20 years), plus you’ll have hot water all the time when you need it, without fear of it running out.
Earth Day is an important observance every year, because this planet is currently our only home, and we all have a responsibility to protect it.
Go green today, and call Fitzgerald Plumbing, serving the Lakewood, CA area, at 562-328-7369 if you need more tips, more information, or decide it’s time to upgrade your appliances and fixtures to energy- and water-efficient models.