A Deeper Look into Reducing Gas Emissions
If a polar ice cap breaks into the frigid ocean and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Yes, of course it does. The Arctic’s looming climate is increasing on our carefully balanced planet—and we are seeing the economic effects of it every day.
Climate change is happening and not only in the news or in a remote corner of the world, where perennial ice caps are crumbling into the ocean. Change occurs in our too-hot winters, during rough hurricane seasons, nationwide floods and out-of-season hail.
As sea levels rise, we will start losing precious acres to the sea, and cities like London and Shanghai will have to become quite resourceful, if they want to avoid constant flooding. While these well-off cities will certainly make do, Tuvalu and other small islands won’t be able to; because a couple of miles gone to the sea means losing their livelihoods completely.
The people from Tuvalu are the least to blame for their ecological woes. With their 50 tons of emissions per year, they have made their small economy nearly 100% carbon neutral, by installing a full network of photovoltaic systems. The world’s leading CO2 polluters – ahem – China and the United States, are combating emission challenges as well. Especially, since every person in China emits a whopping 6.2 metric tons per year and the USA emits 17.6 per capita.
As you can see, our personal carbon footprints are not negligible. And taking steps to a greener lifestyle, is the best way to mitigate our impact on Earth.
To help in your transition to a better, cleaner, eco-friendly lifestyle, we have put together a greener living guide. You won’t need to go far to make changes to your life; since all around you, there are plenty of opportunities to engage in new habits that lower your carbon footprint.
If you’re new to a green lifestyle, check out our first five steps: Greener Living. If you’ve mastered the beginning steps, then you might want to finish the guide by reading advanced steps 6 -8. Also, be sure to take a tour of your kitchen and discover new opportunities to save energy.
Speaking of tours, your kitchen has a myriad of appliances that need energy to operate: blender, toaster, and microwave. But the big players are your fridge and dishwashing machine. If you have an old-fashioned refrigerator, you’re consuming approximately 1,400 kWh a year. Now that’s a lot of energy! It takes roughly 46 kWh to power an entire secondary school in Tuvalu.
Alternatively, you may have a newer mode, such as the GE Monogram line, which can reduce energy usage by up to 75%. GE Monogram fridges come with the certified blue ENERGY-STAR stamp of approval. Also, GE has been awarded the ENERGY-STAR Award for Sustained Excellence, for six consecutive years; so using their appliances provides a sound piece of mind.
What makes their refrigerators the best? One reason is their use of the R600a refrigerant. Isobutane (or methylpropane – R600a) is a gas that has much lower impact than harmful Freon gases that have traditionally been used. Paired with high-quality insulation, GE’s Monogram refrigerators are affordable and a prime quality choice for your kitchen. And as an extra perk, you’ll notice the benefits in your electric bill — guaranteed.
Dishwashers are another big energy suck. Honestly, most of us don’t want to give up the luxury, and that’s ok. Why forfeit your personal dishwashing assistant? There’s no need. However, with GE Monogram dishwashers, you can still wash on the go and only spend about 275 kWh, the equivalent of $24 a year.
If you want to invest in a green-friendly luxury brand, Sub-Zero & Wolf is the product to choose. Ranked as one of the Top 10 Green Brands, they’ll make the spinach in your fridge look pale! About 75% of the materials used for their sleek appliances are recycled, their manufacturing process produces no wastewater and all their products are low on emissions. Sub-Zero & Wolf are dedicated to recycling and water conservation. Talk about capitalizing on green living!
Sub-Zero & Wolf has an eye appealing range of refrigerators, freezers, electric ovens and cooktops that are certified by ENERGY STAR. These electric cooktops keep energy usage down, while still maintaining a high quality cooking performance. Although the U.S. has no energy efficient standards for cooking appliances, Sub-Zero & Wolf meet the Canadian efficiency standard, C385-03.
Even Sub-Zero & Wolf design their fridges with eye appeal and efficiency in mind. These fridges are built to last 20+ years and protect your food investments, by preserving food longer than non-energy efficient fridges. Even the largest Sub-Zero fridges consume less electricity than a 100-watt light bulb. Typically, certified energy-star models use 15% less energy than standard non-certified models.
Did you know that most of the vehicles the company uses are electric? Sub-Zero & Wolf are continuously looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Speaking of which, don’t miss our next blog on smart vehicles for a greener living.
Want to leave your imprint on the world, but don’t know where to start? The 8 Steps to Greener Living guide is a great way to kick start your journey! You’ll develop a greener lifestyle that is easy and contagious. For those of you who already live and breathe green living, do check out our guide for advanced steps. Soon you’ll be passing it forward to the people around you and making a difference.