With another new year on the horizon, so begins the annual conversation around what resolutions you plan to make. Typically, resolutions revolve around doing things to better oneself, and often include establishing new habits that support health and wellbeing.
This year, in addition to being proactive about your personal wellness, consider thinking about how you can also resolve to help support the health and wellbeing of our planet. This is more critical than ever as, according to the United Nations, we’ve now moved beyond global warming into the era of global boiling.
While that’s certainly daunting to think about, there is some good news: Making an eco-focused resolution is easier to incorporate into your daily life than you may think. It doesn’t have to involve an up-front investment or a major overhaul of your lifestyle, and even small, simple changes can add up.
Believe it or not, one of the easiest ways to make a significant difference in your eco-footprint is by switching to clean energy for your home. In fact, home electricity accounts for 20% of all greenhouse gas pollution, and, according to the Energy Information Administration, about 86% of the power we use is generated by fossil fuels. Simply switching your home to clean energy could help you avoid two tons of carbon emissions in the coming year. Imagine the impact if everyone took that leap!
In addition to helping to fight climate change, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind and other emissions-free sources of energy are also beneficial in reducing harmful air pollutants. These air pollutants can cause adverse health effects, such as asthma, bronchitis, lower and upper respiratory infections and even heart attacks.
By powering your home with renewable energy, you are contributing to the continued investment in clean energy sources, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels and helping to fight harmful air pollution — all without doing anything differently in your daily life.
Companies like CleanChoice Energy make it simple to switch to clean energy, and it only takes two minutes to sign up. Furthermore, it’s an option for both homeowners and renters alike because it doesn’t involve installing anything into, on or around the home — the cost of the renewable energy is bundled with your existing utility bill. This makes it not only an easy resolution to get started, but an easy one to stick to! Since 2012, CleanChoice Energy customers have, together, prevented a total of more than 13.1 billion pounds of carbon pollution.
If you’re looking for other easy ways to take your impact further, you could also switch to energy-efficient lighting with LED bulbs, decrease energy usage by skipping the heated dry setting on your dishwasher, switch to plastic-free shampoo bars, eat vegetarian for lunch, or save paper by signing up for paperless billing and trying reusable alternatives to paper towels and napkins.
We all have a part to play in the wellbeing of our planet. With a simple switch to clean energy, you can save two tons of carbon emissions each year. Who knew it could be so easy to do so much? Cheers to a healthier, greener 2024.
