December 5, 2022

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Sustainable Energy Living: Saving The Planet One Switch At A Time

It is not easy for citizens to live environmentally friendly and socially responsible because unsustainability is the norm in urban areas. Inefficient transport systems, massive amounts of waste, irresponsible use of energy and poor land and building management are only a few obstacles that put a heavy burden on the environment and societies. There are many ways to live more environmentally friendly. This article is devoted to your energy habits and consumption. Saving the planet one switch at a time is not complicated, but a must. Let me guide you through the possibilities to become an eco-conscious citizen.
Written by Veronika Tietz

Sustainable living refers to adapting our lifestyles to live within the Earth’s means. You might have come across the term ‘net zero living’  or  ‘zero energy balance’. Unfortunately, those terms do not serve well as a compass on HOW to live sustainably. Therefore, I created a series of sustainable URBAN living strategies to give the right advice on making your lifestyle more sustainable. In this article, we focus on energy in the form of electricity and heat: sustainable energy living. 

In general, sustainable energy living follows the principle of less is more. When you implement those strategies, you will not only be more environmentally friendly, but you will also decrease the pressure on your wallet and save money.

The idea that we are more sustainable by replacing everything unsustainable is counterproductive. Sustainable energy living supports the positive impact of reducing the pressure on the environment by using less energy. We need to use a lot less. 

Besides giving you simple instructions to live more energy efficiently, I also collected the benefits you gain from implementing those sustainable energy living strategies. As a matter of fact, sustainable living does not only benefit the environment, it benefits you too.

 

To plant a seed for sustainable energy living

Before we continue with the juicy information, there are some general thoughts I want to share with you regarding your mindset or as I like to call it: nurturing ground. Our mindset is a powerful tool to achieve whatever we want. Therefore, I want to bring you into the right swing before you dive into the sustainable energy living strategies:

  • Consume mindfully.
  • Break it down into small steps. 
  • Do not get distracted by people who are not on the same journey (yet).
  • We spent most of our time at home.
  • When there is a suggestion to switch products, do so when the old one is not working or burnt out; use what you have.
  • Create systems (like habits) that support your sustainable lifestyle.

Strategies for sustainable energy living

Switch your light bulbs. Energy-saving light bulbs like LED (light-emitting diodes) are up to 90% more efficient than incandescent light bulbs or halogen light bulbs. At first glance, LED light bulbs are more expensive, but they are cheaper in the long run. LEDs use about 75% less energy than the two counterpart bulbs and last 5 to 10 times longer!

According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 10 halogen light bulbs replaced with LEDs can save you 650 $AUD/420 €/440 US$ over a period of 10 years. 

Take preference in sunlight. Use natural light when possible. It will help you reduce your electricity bills immensely. Living in the city, you might not be in favour of the sun’s trajectory, depending on the location of your apartment and the orientation of your windows. 

Luckily, there are ways to maximise the light you have. Here are some suggestions to make your dark apartment look lighter:

  • Place mirrors strategically to make your room look bigger and lighter.
  • Shiny objects like bowls or flower pots can reflect the little light you have.
  • Choose bright furniture and decoration. Avoid clunky and heavy-looking furniture. The same goes for the choice of fabrics: lighter colours.
  • Paint your walls white.
  • Place lighting according to your needs, and brighten up the places which your use often (Do not forget to instal the LEDs).

 

Make switching electronics off your new flirt strategy. 10-15% of consumed electricity comes from appliances in standby mode. Leaving your appliances on standby can add 150 AUD/96 €/101 US$ to your electricity bill – per year. This suggestion needs a Sherlock Holmes hat. Go through all your rooms and identify every electronic that unnecessarily consumes energy when not in use. 

Save Energy

Found in a hostel in Thailand

 

Here is a list of the highest energy-sucking appliances (yeah it sucks):

  • Wireless router
  • Multi-function printer
  • Digital video recorder
  • Soundbar
  • Smart speaker
  • Washing machine
  • Clothes dryer
  • Microwave
  • Powered wireless speaker
  • Laptop
  • Television
  • Games console
  • Air conditioner

 

What to do? When not in use, flick the switch. Get into the habit of turning off your appliances after use. Make power appliances like multiplugs more accessible and do not hide them behind furniture, make them visible to you. There are also smart home devices on the market which include timers to switch your energy-using devices off at certain times of the day. Sensors can also help to reduce your energy consumption. 

Overall, I suggest you make it a sustainable habit to manually switch off all your devices. It increases your awareness to live energy efficiently, plus it makes you feel better when you remember to live more sustainably

Consume heat mindfully. In the colder months, heating can become essential to keep your apartment warm. Find out what the energy (star) rating of your heating system is. Additionally, learning how to use a thermostat efficiently will save you some cash. Between 18°C to 20°C is the most efficient temperature. Every extra 1°C adds 10% to your heating bill.

Tips to reduce your heating bill:

  • Do not heat at night, instead use thick curtains or blinds to reduce heat loss by 20%
  • Heat consciously means to heat less and only when you really need it. Avoid heating rooms that are not in use.
  • When it is too cold in bed, consider using a hot-water bottle.
  • On wooden floors or tiles, place carpets for warmer feet.
  • Do not leave stuff on your radiator or do not put furniture on top or in front to make it easier for the warm air to circulate in the room and heat it consistently.

 

Sustainability Victoria explains the pros and cons of different heating options. If you rent, have a talk with your landlord and find a solution to install a more sustainable heating option in the apartment. Moreover, insulation might be another option to make your apartment more efficient to keep it cool or warm.

For the hard-hearted among us who want to save a big chunk of money: ditch your heater and put on more clothes. Extra layers of clothing or blankets make coldness bearable. It might be a good time to learn how to knit thick socks and beanies.

Put your signature on the contract of a renewable energy provider. Switching electricity providers (if possible) is one of the most effective solutions for sustainable energy living. Not only are you consuming electricity made by nature, but you also support an industry that aims at providing clean energy to households. Ditch coal and gas and say hello to sun, wind or hydro.

Every country has different providers, so I suggest you find your opportunities to show highly polluting electricity providers the stinky finger and embrace mother nature’s gifts. The persistent rumour persists that renewable energy is more expensive, but luckily as with most technologies, the cost sinks due to technological advancements and investments. For example, solar is already cheaper than dirty energy.

Price of renewable vs fossil fuel energy

Development of prices from different energy sources (from Our World In Data)

 

Sustainable energy living: Switch your lights off and save the planet

Remember, unsustainability is the current norm. That needs to change and every single one of us has the opportunity to become the change. After all, sustainable energy living is simply about readjusting our understanding of how we want to live. Do you want to live on the cost of the planet and consume as if there is no tomorrow?

The answer is no. Of course, we can do better. We can make a difference and find solutions. Even in the most hostile areas for sustainability: Cities.

Sustainability is about continuous improvement. Those sustainable energy living strategies are no exemption. Equally, I want to keep those strategies up to date.

If you have any sustainable energy strategies or suggestions to share, I am looking forward to hearing or reading from you. Simply reply via comments or send me a direct message via this contact form.

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Make A Meaningful Impact: Alyona From Dobrosphera

Make A Meaningful Impact is an interview series about people – like you and me – who make a difference in our world. All of us are deeply concerned with the state of the world, but we cannot solve the world’s challenges ourselves. Therefore, I created the series Make A Meaningful Impact, where I invite different people to an interview to show us what they do to make our extraordinary world a livable and enjoyable home. They found their journey and role in contributing to a better future – a future to look forward to.

Why I Started My Reimagine Sustainability Blog?

Sustainability is what I dedicate to my life. For too long, I felt helpless and increasingly annoyed by news about climate change, biodiversity loss, food crises, rising mental health issues etc. It’s a lot to deal with for a normal human being. But I always believed in Sustainability, it simply makes sense to me to adapt to the Earth’s systems. Our societies developed on ideals of exploitation and destruction, but good and kind people have a voice now. Thank you, internet! It doesn’t take much anymore to become the change you want to see in this world.

Right Here Right Now: Add This Inspiring Book To Your Sustainability Book List

In this day and age, we need influential and meaningful calls to action. With her second book ‘Right Here Right Now’, Natalie Isaacs shares her and the wisdom of other women in fighting the climate crisis. She is the founder of the global climate action movement 1 Million Women. By introducing you to her book, I hope that it will be as inspiring to you as it was to me. Even better, I attended her book launch event in Brisbane. Hence, I want to share my impressions with you. So, let’s find your potential to lead the way to solve our societal challenges.

7 Powerful Ways To Focus On What Is In Your Control

We feel good when we can freely spend our time on what matters most. Understandably, we get frustrated if we are not in control of our precious time. Control is a relevant topic and refers to control over others and control of yourself. The latter is a competency that contributes to your mental and physical health. Unfortunately, we don’t have much control over our lives as we have to stick to working schedules, household chores and other obligations. Acknowledging what is outside of our control and not letting it consume us is an essential step to gaining sovereignty.

The 10 Most Pressing Sustainability Challenges Of The 21st Century

Environmental, social and economic sustainability challenges are more diverse than we are aware of. We can not simply focus on one challenge (climate crisis). Instead, we need to address all the various challenges of the 21st century if humanity wants to experience the 22nd century. Our future depends on the actions we take today. Long-term sustainability goals will help us to create a livable future. Nonetheless, it is not wrong to be aware of what the hurdles actually are. Therefore, I collected the 10 most pressing challenges of the 21st century to give an overview of where urgent action is needed.

From A Carbon Tunnel Vision To A Holistic Collaboration Approach

Sustainable development has a very carbon-heavy taste to it. It has already been recognised that we need to move beyond the carbon-only approaches; to achieve effective, sustainable outcomes. What we experience globally is a Carbon Tunnel Vision. It’s a clever play on words to highlight our selective attention on mostly Net-Zero Goals. The Carbon Tunnel Vision framework aims to open our eyes to other human and natural crises. Global warming is only one part of the interconnected crises. Let’s not get trapped and miss our chances to fight our challenges effectively. I want to show you how easy this can be by taking a more holistic and collaborative approach.

Sustainability Mindset For Leaders: Inspiration For Implementing Sustainable Business Practices

Forward-thinking leaders need a vision for a sustainable future to implement into their business structures. Innovative ideas and strategies for implementing sustainable business practices are a great foundation, but they can become easily unfruitful if the team is not aligned. With a sustainability mindset, leaders can drive meaningful change and contribute to a prosperous future. They recognise that sustainable practices are not only beneficial for the planet but also for their team. Focussing on solely reducing one’s carbon footprint and minimising waste scratches the surface of the pool of opportunities. Embedding sustainability thinking into a business structure sets the tone for a new era.

How An Improved Definition Of Sustainability Will Actually Save The World

Sustainability is minimised to dealing responsibly with our resources for our and our future generations (plants, animals and resources included). It is more than simply ticking the boxes. It’s about finding the right balance between social, environmental and economic Sustainability. The latter is not even crucial for our existence, but we give most of our attention to economic development. More importantly, we need to switch the focus on ecological and human health and vitality. Profit can only exist with people and the planet. So let’s change our understanding of Sustainability to create a world that suits us all and not an economic model.

Can The Tragedy Of The Commons Be Solved With Economic Degrowth?

Change is inevitable. What should we do when a number of people cling to a system that is harmful but the norm? Economic degrowth is mocked by the corporate world and governments. Although it seems irrational to continue an economic system that is based on exploitation and destruction, there is little openness to rethink our global economies. Does a remedy exist? Imagine what a future that favours prosperity and sustainable development could look like. I have difficulty imagining a sustainable global economy. Let me introduce you to degrowth and the tragedy of the commons. Two concepts not paired before!

ABC Of Sustainability: The Vital Role Of Words To Change The World

The alphabet is the foundation of many spoken languages. Communication is a necessary factor to understand our world better. Our choice of words determines our success or failure. The words we use reflect our knowledge, beliefs and values, thus underestimating the power of words can get us into trouble. However, trouble is what we are in considering the many challenges humankind is facing. Sustainability is associated with different terms and it is our choice if the words we use bring positive or negative results. Which words does it take to make our world a better place? Let us find out!

2 Comments

  1. Älga

    There is a group of plants called thermogenic plants that are able to produce their own heat. I think non of them is suitable as a house plant and it they were probably they would not produce enough heat, but how cool would that be 👀

    Reply
    • Veronika Tietz

      Love your idea! This will be added to the list as a future opportunity 🙂 Thank you for sharing this cool energy-saving idea!

      Reply

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