Home Energy
Home energy use is one of the top three sectors contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The US and Canada use a whopping 4,500 Kwh a year per person. The world average is a mere 731 kwh - six times less! The average citizen of the US uses two times more energy than the average citizen of the UK and four times more than an Italian citizen. Most of this energy is being used to condition our air (hotter/colder) and to heat water. Lighting, refrigeration,TV/Computers and clothes drying are the other major contributors. Of course any gas appliance is a C02 problem, but so is all electricity use. Well, it is a problem if you are using the default energy mix from PG&E because more than fifty percent of the electricity generated from the default mix is from fossil fuels. The world needs to cut its carbon footprint in half by 2030 to mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change. The problem is that the world's current fossil fuel production plans are on track to increase our C02 footprint by double digits. This will leave the world with 120% more carbon production than what the Paris agreement called for by mid-century. This would be a tragic path that we must not travel!
What can be done in the home to help walk a more sustainable path?
Use cleaner energy; use less energy.
If you live in the East Bay you can significantly shrink your carbon footprint with just a bit of effort!
In 2018 the non-profit East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) was formed by eleven cities in Alameda county to provide clean energy to homes and businesses. Ninety five percent of EBCE’s budget goes to developing and procuring clean energy. They also provide local clean energy jobs.
EBCE is now the default electricity provider for these eleven cities. The electricity is delivered through PGE. If you didn’t notice this change of provider a couple of years ago you have the Bright Choice energy mix which is only 40% renewable. EBCE also offers an energy mix called Renewable 100 (50% solar/ 50% wind) for an extra cost of 1 penny a Kwh. An average household would pay about an extra 10 cents a day for this option. However, this slight extra cost will make any electricity used in your house: lights, refrigerator, TV/Computers… all have a zero carbon footprint!
If you sign up for Renewable 100 you will reduce your C02 footprint by about 4 tons; If your next car is electric you will reduce your footprint by an additional 4.6 tons. These two steps could more than cut your carbon footprint in half! Add in the gas saving ideas above and you are well on your way to the first sustainability goal.
Things you can do:
(Residents of the Bay Area of California) Grab your PG&E bill, and call EBCE to switch to Renewable 100!
Convert your car into a carbon free appliance - take the Last Gas Car pledge.
Turn down your thermostat; wear a sweater.
Use an electric space heater to heat the room you are using - avoid the whole house gas heater whenever possible.
Turn down your water heater to 120 degrees. Here is how to do that.
Wash clothes in cold water - most machines have a setting for this.
Use laundry soap like earth breeze to cut carbon footprint of liquid detergents.
Air dry clothes. Here are some tips.
Purchase only energy star appliances… refrigerators, lights, TVs, dishwashers, etc.
Purchase a portable induction cooktop and toaster/oven/airfryer to cut back on gas use.
Things you can do with others:
Help the global south to skip fossil fuels to power their homes by donating to Clean Air Task Force.
Help with small scale solar for healthcare in the global south: We Care Solar.