How can you fight climate change from home?
September 28, 2023
Climate change is a phenomenon that is increasingly present and, given its increasingly significant impact and consequences, action is needed to mitigate its effects. So to help you combat climate change from home, here are some tips
What steps can you take to combat climate change from home?
Improve your energy consumption habits
The main consumption habit that can be improved is to avoid the “standby” mode of electronic equipment, such as televisions and computers, and appliances. When these are in “standby” mode, also known as rest mode, they involve a daily consumption of 70%. Therefore, we recommend that instead of leaving the devices in “standby”, turn them off directly so that they do not consume as much energy.
The same goes for chargers because we tend to leave them plugged in even if we’re not using them. In fact, as long as they are plugged in, they will continue to consume energy and that is why they should be unplugged while they are not being used.
It is also recommended to control the temperature of your home to avoid excessive consumption of heating in winter or air conditioning in summer. The recommended temperature is 18 º in winter with heating and 23 º in summer with air conditioning.
Use LED lights and equipment with high energy efficiency
It is recommended to use those equipment or appliances that have an energy rating A. However, these are usually the most expensive on the market. Although this happens because long-term investment is not taken into account, since these are profitable in the long term in all matters related to energy consumption that is made with them.
This is a profitable investment because in the case of appliances and appliances rated D or lower, they normally consume up to 80 % more electricity than one rated A.
The situation is similar with LED bulbs. If we compare LED bulbs with traditional incandescent bulbs, they have a lifespan of 50,000 hours and generate 2% heat. Therefore, it is recommended that you change your installation of lights for LED type to obtain greater energy efficiency and savings in your electric bill.
You can hire sustainable light rates
In the Spanish electricity market, there are certain companies that only market energy of green and sustainable origin. Please note that these rates can only be contracted through the free electricity market. If you are interested in hiring green energy, you can do so through these means:
- Marketing company: there are certain companies that offer green energy, you just have to look at their tariff catalogs.
- Commercialization companies specialized in renewable energies: they only commercialize energy of green and renewable origin.
- Renewable energy cooperatives: if you opt for this option, you will probably have to become a cooperative member to then be able to contract the rates.
Make sure the energy you receive is green
The electricity of the Spanish Electricity Network is transported through the same distribution lines, that is, green and non-green energy, go on the same distribution line. That is why nuclear and fossil energy are mixed with renewable and green energy.
In case you want to make sure that the energy you receive in your home is 100% renewable and natural, you can do so by checking the Certificate of Origin Guarantee. This certificate specifies the specific amount of kWh of electricity coming from renewable energy.
Where can you find your Certificate of Origin Guarantee?
This is issued by the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC), through the System of Guarantee of Origin and Labelling of Electricity. This certificate is provided by your trading company on each electricity bill.
Recycle and support local trade
If you recycle, you will have a direct positive impact on the environment. The organic waste you generate can be transformed into fertilizer for use in the soil where fruits and vegetables grow.
As well as plastic, which can be reused, for example, by carrying your own reusable bags to make the purchase, or clothing that is given a second life. In this way, the consumption chain and in turn, CO emissions are limited
On the other hand, by supporting local trade, you avoid the distribution chain that includes the displacement of goods that generate the carbon footprint.
