6/10
Energy Star Products Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
The EPA’s Energy Star program has been around since 1992. It provides a government-backed symbol for energy efficiency that qualifying companies use to label their efficient products.
With more than 90% of American households recognizing the Energy Star label, the program has become standard for energy efficiency around the world. According to the EPA, since the program began it helped reduce five trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity in the U.S., and prevented four billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from entering our atmosphere.
By choosing Energy Star products for your home, you can save energy and money.
7/10
Trash Is Still a Major Problem
The average American generates about four-and-a-half pounds of trash each day, compared to a little more than two pounds in 1960, according to the EPA. Americans discard 35 billion used water bottles each year, with only 12% recycled.
There is still much more we can do to implement the six Rs of Sustainability: rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repair and recycle. Some ideas include avoiding single-use plastics, buying in bulk, reusing old clothes, printing out less, taking your own reusable bags when shopping, buying secondhand items and donating household goods you’re no longer using.
8/10
Smart Technology Is Revolutionizing Energy Savings at Home
A smart home features appliances, lighting and other technologies, all connected so you can control energy use via an app even when you’re away. There are now smart plugs, thermostats, light switches, water leak detectors, blinds and more.
Smart electrical outlet receptacles are one of the easiest ways to save time, energy and money in your home. When electronic devices are plugged in on “standby” mode, they can account for five to 10% of a household’s energy use. By switching to smart plugs, you can save between one and about four-and-a-half percent of energy usage in your home, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
