Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Changes You Can Make For A Greener Lifestyle

By Cath Buhr


These days many people are searching for ways either to live off or partially off the grid and looking for ways to reduce their overall carbon footprint. Fortunately, there are some green energy options and tips that can lead you to a more sustainable lifestyle.

Electricity comes to our homes from several different sources, one of which is coal, and this is particularly bad for the environment. Nearly half of all Americans receive their electricity from coal, and about 20% rely on nuclear energy. While nuclear power might not spew carbon into the atmosphere, the nuclear waste poses many risks to the environment, and it is difficult to transport and store. Natural gas is yet another energy source and while it is cleaner than coal, it is considered a greenhouse gas that can harm the environment.

If you are searching for an easy, greener choice, you might consider propane. While it is a by-product of petroleum and natural gas processing, it is not a greenhouse gas and burns much more cleanly than other energy sources. Thrifty Propane installs above-ground or underground tanks and then can deliver propane whenever you need. You will get the best deal, however, if you purchase your propane when prices are the lowest, typically in the warmer, summer months. Tanks can be purchased or leased, and Thrifty Propane also will provide you with a free tank when you pre-buy a large amount of propane.

The sun sends plenty of energy down to us here on earth and you can harness this energy using solar panels. There is no waste from solar energy and it does nothing to harm the environment, and not only will you not need to take power from the grid, many electricity companies will buy your excess energy. Obviously, it can be quite expensive to install the panels and there is undoubtedly some maintenance that will occur over the years. However, in the long run, the savings can be huge, especially if you have a larger home. With either solar power or propane you also enjoy the advantage of continuing to have power when there are outages in your area.

Beyond power, other utilities such as sewer services and water can be taken off the grid as well. It might surprise you to know that you can hire a well driller to create a system that will extract ground water from your property. This isn't cheap, but can be a great option if you really want off the grid or if you live in a rural area without easy access to water lines. You also can create a system to harness rainwater. A septic tank can be installed to deal with sewage, and while this requires maintenance and there are upfront costs, you can disconnect from local sewer lines.

If you are a city dweller or cannot afford the upfront costs of solar power, wind power or a groundwater system, you can still reduce a bit off your overall footprint. Consider creating a carpool with your co-workers or, if possible, walk or ride your bike to work or see if public transportation can work for you. Energy-efficient appliances reduce the strain on the grid, and even unplugging appliances and turning off lights around the house helps. You can drastically reduce your water usage by watering less and at more efficient times of day and opting for plants and grass that require less water in general.




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