Yet again, another year has passed us by. 2018 was filled
with fun, adventure, and new experiences. No doubt, it will be hard to beat,
but we’re up for the challenge. The New Year brings with it a clean slate, a
time to set new goals and make new plans. Perhaps one of your plans is to
reduce waste or use less grid power. Some of us would like to improve, expand,
or create a new solar power system. Others just want to use less water or
recycle more. Whatever your goals are, we hear you! Below are some tips to make
2019 cleaner, quieter, and more adventurous.
Recycling Tips
If you haven’t already switched over to cloth shopping bags,
now is the perfect time! Spend $1 or so per cloth bag, and you’ll end up with a
great grocery tote that will last for years. If you’re still using plastic
bags, don’t fret. Those plastic bags can be saved in an old tissue box and
reused as waste basket bags. To save more waste at the grocery store, you can
purchase more bulk/dispenser products that don’t come in individual boxes or
bags. Along the same lines, some vegetables, such as leeks, can be cut and
regrown. Food scraps that cannot otherwise be repurposed can be composted in
the yard and recycled as fertilizer for the garden. You can also consume some
dry good items after their expiration date rather than throwing them away.
Water Consumption
H2O is a necessity to all living things. With a constantly
growing population, clean drinking water is becoming a bit scarce. Use less
water by doing the obvious- turn off the tap when scrubbing your hands,
brushing your teeth, and fix any pluming leaks. There are also new, more
creative ways to save water, such as installing a rain barrel. The barrel fills
after a good storm and can then be used to water the garden. If you live in an arid
region, opt for little to no grass and desert plants. You can also conserve
water by changing your diet. Since livestock require water, by consuming less
meat every week, you can also reduce water usage.
One thing that many consumers do not realize is that water
usage and electricity are closely tied together. It takes energy to heat water
for showers, pump it to your home, and clean it. By reducing overall water
usage, you are also directly reducing your reliance on traditional power
sources such as electricity and gas. Some homeowners are even relying on solar
water heaters to heat water for personal use. How innovative!
Reduce Grid Reliance
Since Renogy is in the business of manufacturing solar
panels and accessories, its only natural to include a section about grid power.
However, solar is really making a difference around the world! Not only will your electric expenses
drop, you’ll also be relying less on traditional power sources. In the first
quarter of 2018, the US installed over 2.5GW of solar, a 13% increase over the
previous year. Solar capacity is also expected to double over the next five
years. As usual, California ranks first in solar installation, but what if the
other states followed suit? A single solar power system can offset over 100
tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, which in itself is a great reason to
jump on the solar trend. Renogy has many on-grid solar power kits to suit
residential needs.
At the end of the day, even small changes can add up over
time. Make 2019 your greenest and cleanest year yet!
