How to Lower Your Electric Bill This Summer
(and take climate action at the same time)
Summer is here and for most of the country that means higher electric bills. Why? It’s simple. The days are longer, and the weather is hotter. Hotter weather means air conditioning for many people. When everyone cranks-up the air conditioning, overall energy usage rises; driving up the price of electricity. As you run your AC, you use more electricity than you would in milder months. And, as you probably have noticed, higher prices and greater use have a predictable result: steep summer utility bills.
With summer in full swing, now is the time to look for ways to save on your energy bills. If you haven’t yet heard about community solar, it’s time to check it out. Community solar offers a great, new way to save on your annual electricity bill while supporting local solar. …
Why do I love April? Because each April more than 1 billion people in 192 countries take part in what is now the largest civic-focused day of action in the world: Earth Day.
This last year has made more clear than ever that climate change is undoubtedly our planet’s greatest challenge. In the previous year, we’ve seen again and again the dangers of extreme weather, forest fires, and massive flooding. Just in the previous month, the recent deluge of rain and snow dumped on the Midwest from a “bomb cyclone” is the latest reminder of the all too present dangers we face as a nation if we ignore climate change. …
We’re Not Going to Solve the Climate Challenge With a ‘Business As Usual’ Approach
Certified B Corporations have been in the media spotlight lately. That’s mainly because earlier this month Patagonia, the outdoor gear and clothing company, announced it has decided to focus its new partnerships with other B Corps. Patagonia’s clothes, and particularly its fleece and down vests, had reportedly become something of a uniform on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley — but Patagonia made the bold decision to live the company’s values.
Based on the decision, my company’s CEO, Tom Matzzie, tweeted that CleanChoice Energy has chosen Patagonia for employee gear purchases. Why? Because Patagonia’s action is yet another proof-point that doing the right thing for the world is not just critical for solving the biggest problems facing the planet, it also can build a successful and sustainable business. …
Our climate-fueled weird and increasing dangerous weather continues. Forest fires, flooding, severe storms, our communities are facing a seemingly endless string of menacing weather. In the midst of this anxiety, we can all take concrete steps to reduce our own climate pollution contributions and climate fueled anxiety.
Most people looking to reduce their carbon footprint begin by focusing on transportation, their electric usage, and their diet as the major drivers of carbon pollution — but home furnaces are a surprisingly major contributor. In fact, heating and cooling contribute 52% of a home’s carbon footprint on average. …
The last few months have brought horrible stories of burning forests, ravaged communities and encroaching climate change to the forefront of the public’s mind.
The tragic fires that destroyed communities in both northern and southern California are a horrible reminder of the importance of doing everything we can to stop climate change. Appropriately, one of the most effective actions we can take on climate is to protect and preserve forests.
In fact, research shows that forests are the best technology we have to combat the rising levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Simply put, trees absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen; they are often referred to as the “lungs” of our planet. The carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and safely sequestered in their trunks, leaves, branches, roots and even in the forest soil for decades. The well-established value of forests has been documented and researched by scientists for decades. Conversely, burning forests release huge amounts of carbon. The recent tragic fires released as much carbon as a year’s worth of fossil-fuel electricity production in California — 68 million tons. …
Climate Concerns Have More Consumers Choosing Wind or Solar
The recent California fires are the latest reminder of the all-too-present dangers of climate change. With the death toll rising and thousands of homes and businesses burnt to the ground, we don’t have time to debate anymore. We need real leaders who will put our lives and our planet first.
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that we only have 12 years to correct course and phase out fossil fuels before we cause irreparable damage.
But fossil fuels are traditional sources of electricity and release billions of tons of carbon pollution into the air we breathe and toxic waste into the water we drink. To meet the goal of climate survival, we need to move our electricity sector to renewable sources such as wind and solar. …
