Sustainable Energy Solutions – 15 Ways to Save Both Money and the Planet

Electricity pulsates through the veins of our city, entombed below our streets and electrifying our planet’s health.

Electricity made from fossil fuels like coal is among the most harmful means of pollution and one of the leading causes of climate change. To shift this harrowing direction, we need to be more mindful of how we use electricity – or, more importantly, how we can use less.

Electricity pillars line the landscape as they pump power into homes from miles away.
Matthew Henry, Unsplash

What is electricity? 

The most common source of electricity is made using coal. Coal is mined, a destructive activity to both the earth and animals, and then ground down into a fine powder. It is then boiled down and burned at a high temperature, producing tons of air pollution. The heat and gasses derived from this process are further turned into steam that passes through a turbine with thousands of blades. A generator connected to one of these turbines contains a coil that manifests a strong magnetic field when rotated, giving us electricity.

​A power station pollutes the air and natural surroundings while producing electricity.
Roya Ann Miller, Unsplash

The final product is sent on a long journey through electrical circuits, ending up in our homes.However, the burning of these fossil fuels released an incomprehensible amount of carbon dioxide into an already fragile atmosphere. Every. Single. Day. In fact, in 2019, the human world used over 13.9 billion tons of oil to generate electricity. And it’s only getting worse as the population continues to increase.

Watching the world light up from space – the amount of electricity we use is incomprehensible.
NASA, Unsplash

Other forms of electricity production – The sustainable solutions

Solar is the most commonly understood and used form of sustainable energy. Through photovoltaic solar panels, the sun rays are converted into energy and emit readily usable electricity. The power supply comes from an inexhaustible energy source – the sun. While this is far better than the notorious fossil fuel coal, crafting and installing solar panels is still harmful to the environment.

​Solar panels soak up the sun’s rays and convert them into usable energy.
Thomas Coker, Unsplash

Harnessing wind for power is a centuries-old technique. However, with the rise of technology and science, we’re now able to better collect and utilise the wind for electricity. Mammoth, triple-bladed turbines face the wind, capture it, and turn the kinetic energy into electrical power. Today, wind power is the fastest-growing source of energy in the world. But in the same breath, the turbines are still turbulent to the planet while also hampering many birds’ migratory paths. Sometimes, it’s simply a choice between the lesser evil if we want to produce a more sustainable future.

​Wind turbines pepper the planet to produce wind-powered electricity.
Jason Blackeye, Unsplash

Finally, there is hydroelectric power which relies on water. When flowing and cascading water moves through turbines connected to an electric generator, the turbines’ acceleration produces energy. Water used for this form of energy can be found either from artificial dams or natural rivers and ocean waves. But everything has its setbacks, and for hydropower, the use of dam infrastructure can cause harm to the surrounding fauna and flora.

One of the most sustainable forms of energy is hydropower – the use of free-flowing water.
Edward Koorey, Unsplash

15 ways to save electricity and money at home
​
As we’ve read, electricity has become essential to our daily lives but detrimental to the environment. While changing the source of energy is the main way we can mitigate the negative effects, there are some small changes we can all make that will help us save electricity – and money.

Anthony Indrus, Unsplash

1) Set your electric geyser to 55 ° C to 60 ° C.
2) Switch off all lights when not needed. Assess what lighting you need for the action you are performing.
3) Switch out your high-voltage light bulbs for eco-friendly and energy-efficient bulbs. For example, one 100 watt bulb produces the same light as two 60 watt bulbs, so it’s more sustainable to go for the 100 watts light bulb.
4) If you have an oil heater, why not change it for an infrared heater? It saves more energy, time, and money. Or, better yet, bring out a warm and comfy blanket and opt away from using a heater altogether.
5) Dishwashers save more water than hand washing but use electricity. When using your dishwasher, only turn it on when it’s jam-packed with dishes. Try turning the dishwasher off before it attempts to dry the dishes – you can leave them to drip dry or dry them manually.
6) When using an electric stove, match your pots to the stove plates. For example, a small pot only needs a small plate to heat up.
7) Switch off your stove and oven before you’re finished cooking. The remaining heat should continue cooking your food while saving electricity.
8) If you need to defrost food, leave it in the fridge overnight rather than defrosting it in the microwave.
9) Always opt for a hand-operated appliance rather than an electrical-operated one.
10) Do not fill your kettle to the brim when only requiring a cup or two of hot water.
11) Take shorter showers and fewer baths.
12) Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or washing your face and hands.
13) Unplug all unused electronics. It’s not enough to simply turn off the switch. Having your appliances still physically plugged in means there is still electricity pulsating through.
14) Hang your dry laundry instead of using a tumble dryer.
15) Open your window instead of using a fan. While the wind may not be blowing in your favour, you won’t suffer due to not having your fan on.

References:

• Just Energy, Electricity 101, 2021
• Energy Fundamentals, Daily Energy Needs, 2021
• Reset, Renewable Energy – Environmentally Friendly and Low-Cost Energy from Inexhaustible Sources, 2015
• BC Hydro, 21 tips: no-cost ways to save electricity, 2021

By Georgia Carter