First day of low-electricity challenge.

No more coffee?

After realizing how much energy I consume without even knowing, today I embarked on a personal challenge to minimize my energy consumption. To begin, I replaced my usual coffee with a refreshing cold herbal tea I prepared the night before.

Unexpectedly, the taste was pretty good, allowing me to cope with the day’s heat and reserve hot drinks for colder times. I accompanied it with fresh bread and a fruit from my grandma’s garden, opting for these over my usual energy-intensive packaged cookies. It was strange not to wake up to the typical phrases on the Mulino Bianco’s packaging, but trying something new was pleasantly surprising. 😊

Adapting to new habits, I resisted reheating my lunch at university. Eating cold pasta with sauce was a bit of a challenge, but I plan to let it warm up naturally in the sun next time. I’m sure it’s as good as freshly microwaved. I resisted taking my usual coffee at the vending machines and opted for another herbal tea I brought from home. Double win; I saved money and energy!✌🏼

Also, I attempted not to use electricity to charge my phone, experimenting with my portable charger that works with solar panels. I usually avoid solar charging because it takes longer than plugging it in, but this time, I made the effort, and the result was very satisfying. I took advantage of the sunlight yesterday since I was at home the whole day, and today I used it as my sole energy source for charging my phone during classes.

Lastly, I explored an alternative energy-saving technique, but I think that this is a topic worthy of its own dedicated post.🙈

So I want to conclude by saying that I’ve come to realize that small changes can collectively make a significant impact. What might seem like a significant effort, such as giving up a cup of coffee or avoiding a reheated lunch, which may seem minor, are steps toward reducing my daily electricity consumption that can actually become a substantial gesture when approached the right way. It also leads to discovering excellent alternatives, like cold herbal teas or fresh bread for breakfast. I am very pleased to have taken this direction, and I am curious to try more energy-free practices.❤️‍🔥