The beginning of the year is a chance to start new habits or restart some that may have waned during the year. Did you promise to use fewer plastic bags and now find yourself buried in them? How about starting that compost pile? No worries, it happens! But this year can be different if you start with small changes, because small impacts make big ripples.
We have heard repeatedly how carpooling, walking, and riding your bike can lower carbon emissions. Often though, because of convenience, driving a vehicle tends to be the default mode of transportation. However, making a small adjustment to when you drive your vehicle may be just what you need. Before your next trip, think about some of these questions.
-Will this be a quick trip?
-Is the destination nearby?
-Are the weather conditions favorable?
If the answer to each question is “yes,” you may want to consider riding your bike or walking to your destination. Securing a rack or basket on the bike will provide space for shopping bags or other items to be transported. Learn more about how you can replace car trips with bicycle trips in our blog covering Practical Bicycle Tips.
There are many items we use every day that have a reusable alternative. Switching to more environmentally friendly options is a small step that can have a ripple effect. Using tote bags instead of plastic ones or cloth towels instead of paper are a good start to making this a habit. Incorporating smaller steps, such as buying a wool dryer ball instead of dryer sheets or having reusable straws readily available, can also impact whether your new habits stick around for the long haul.
Once those kitchen towels need to be washed, make sure to load your washer with a full load of laundry. With washing and drying machines using approximately 10% of the home’s energy, each cycle should be worth the energy spent! No matter how big your load is, the same amount of energy will still be used. So, take advantage of that energy use with fewer cycles. Also consider using warm or cold water instead of hot water, since it will take less energy to heat the water to the appropriate temperature.
The average person spends between 8-10 minutes taking a shower and often uses hot water. Using warm water and shortening shower time by half can significantly reduce the amount of water going down the drain. A five-minute shower uses roughly 8-9 gallons of water, which is significantly less than the average use of 16-18 gallons of water per shower. One easy and creative habit to help shorten your shower is to create a music playlist with two to three songs and work to finish your shower before the last song finishes. Once you are done taking a shower and listening to your music, make sure to unplug that device. See why in our next resolution.
Phantom power, also known as “standby” power, is wasted energy that is the result of having electronics plugged in when they are not in use. Think about how many electronics you have plugged in and how many of those items you are using. Televisions, gaming consoles, computers, and phones are some of the most common items that we leave plugged in all the time. To help conserve energy, consider using an energy-saving surge protector for electronics with multiple plug-ins, such as computers or televisions. Also, consider wireless electrical outlet switches that can be controlled through your smartphone or device. This will give you the ability to turn off any electronics wherever you may be.
Another small step you may not be aware of is switching the direction of your ceiling fan blades. Ceiling fans have a switch that turns the blades either clockwise or counterclockwise, making this a particularly easy resolution that can make a significant difference in energy bills. Switch the ceiling fan direction to counterclockwise during the summer to help create a downdraft and bring a cool breeze into the room. During the winter, switch to clockwise to pull warm air from the ceiling, thus circulating warm air around the room and heating it up.
Installing a rain barrel around your home is an easy process that you won’t need to worry about much once it’s set up. In the US, a rain barrel can save about 1,300 gallons of water per year. Depending on the size of the container, rain barrels can hold anywhere from 30-100 gallons of water. This is water that can be used to water plants, wash cars, and can even be used during storms after boiling it to the right temperature. For more information on how to build your own rain barrel, check out the How to Build a Rain Barrel video.
The new year is a time to think forward and renew habits that can make a real impact in improving our environment. These seven resolutions are small steps that can help those habits be consistent and lasting. Cheers to a new year and new habits!
