Practical Ways to Go Green

You may have noticed on your calendar that Earth Day is coming up again this April 22, and we thought you might have some questions about what it is and how you can take part. Earth Day is an international day of observance that’s been held since 1970 to save and protect the planet. Here is a list from our team of five practical ways you and your family can go green for Earth Day.

1. Recycle and Reuse

Landfills may be convenient, but they aren’t the answer to a greener planet.

Instead of throwing out more garbage, you can do your part by reducing the amount of waste you create, reusing and repurposing everything you can, and recycling items instead of throwing them out.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to recycle:

• Paper
• Plastic
• Metal
• Glass containers
• Cardboard

2. Save Energy Around the House

Reducing your carbon footprint means reducing the amount of fossil fuels you use. If your home isn’t powered by renewable energies, then the simplest way you can reduce your carbon footprint is by conserving energy.

There are plenty of ways you can conserve energy, including:

• turning off lights
• buying energy-efficient appliances
• unplugging and turning off devices when you aren’t using them
• keeping your house cooler in winter and warmer in summer
• installing more insulation in the house so you can keep the house comfortable without using as much energy

3. Install Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Water waste is another problematic area when you’re talking about going green because there’s already a shortage of clean and potable water around the world. Luckily, there’s a simple way you can reduce water waste by thousands of gallons per year.

Installing modern plumbing fixtures like low-flow toilets (they use up to 5 gallons less per flush), water-saving faucets (they cut water use by 30 percent), and water-efficient shower heads (they save about 5 gallons per minute), reduces water waste by a drastically.

Other water saving tips around the house include:

• using a rain barrel
• using smaller water settings on the washing machine
• reusing graywater in the garden
• not washing the car in the driveway
• turning off the taps when you’re lathering up, brushing your teeth, or washing dishes

4. Get a Water Filter

A whole-home water filter can also reduce your carbon footprint because it can eliminate hundreds of bottles of water each year. Bottled water is a fossil-fuel intensive industry because the plastic used to create the bottles requires millions of barrels of oil each year.

Cutting out bottled water can also reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill,   because 80 percent of all bottles end up in the garbage.

5. Go Tankless to Go Green

Traditional storage-tank water heaters waste about 20 percent of the energy they use because of standby loss, they run out of hot water, and they only last about 10 years.

Tankless water heaters are superior because they use 30 percent less energy, don’t waste energy through standby loss, never run out of hot water, and last up to 20 years.

Adopting practical green habits into your everyday life won’t just help to save the planet—it will also save you money. Reducing waste, energy, and water-use translate to money saved, so celebrating Earth Day is both environmentally friendly and budget-friendly.

For more tips and information, call the experts at Genmor Plumbing, Inc. in the San Jose, CA area, today at 408-215-4612.