7 tips to combat climate change

Have you ever stopped to think about how much carbon dioxide we emit over the course of a year? According to the Unión de Cooperativas de Consumidores y Usuarios de Madrid, in Spain, one person generates 7.6 tonnes of CO2 per year, exceeding the annual average of 4.5 tonnes per individual by several points.

The carbon footprint is a reality; by August 2020 we will have exhausted the resources that the planet is capable of regenerating in one year, that is, we will have reached the Earth’s natural overcapacity. But there is still time to take measures to slow down climate change. In this article, we give you the keys to combat it with small changes in our routine.

In this sense, in order to help and collaborate, it is important to inform ourselves about what is happening around us, as during 2021, the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere will exceed 50% of pre-industrial levels, according to forecasts from the Mauna Loa Observatory (Hawaii).

To help the planet we do not need to make big changes, as by modifying a series of small habits our CO2 emissions will decrease. We have to be aware that this responsible consumption will lead us to a better quality of life in the future, as well as improving our domestic economy.

At Arteconfort we are aware of the need to take care of the planet and we want to be part of the change, contributing to respect what surrounds us, while raising awareness among other people. For this reason, we have developed an eco-friendly quality seal for solar lamps and ceiling fans, a pioneering measure in the sector. Thanks to this, we have put an end to the production of 53,750kg of plastic, avoiding the generation of 188,125kg of CO2.

Household appliances are the electrical appliances that consume the most electricity, such as the fridge, washing machine, oven, air conditioning and iron, so we should use them as little as possible. According to data from Red Eléctrica de España, the electricity consumption generated by these products in an average household is around 66% of the annual electricity bill.

For example, the use of ceiling fans has a much lower consumption than air conditioning. If we calculate and compare the energy consumption of these products with the current electricity bill, the monthly consumption of a ceiling fan during peak hours amounts to 0.22 cents. While the same applies to an air conditioner, the figure amounts to 55.20 euros.

Furthermore, ceiling fans are not just a household appliance for the hot season, they are also suitable for the cold. Thanks to the winter mode of these items, heating savings are approximately 15-30%. Not to mention that the carbon footprint of this appliance is lower.

As we have been saying, it is important to be aware of the importance of responsible energy consumption and how it can benefit us in positive ways. With the advent of home automation and, with it, the Internet of Things (IoT), we live in a society where most of the time we are making use of electrical appliances. Just as the use of these devices makes our lives easier in many ways, it should not be a problem to be aware of small guidelines that we can carry out on a daily basis in order to continue using them without their use affecting, to a greater extent, the state and future of the Earth.

Some of these recommendations that will help us are:

This happens when we leave electronic devices connected to the mains without using them, as they continue to use electricity. Did you know that the television consumes more energy than a computer when we leave it connected? To solve this problem, we can use timers to switch off those appliances that we are not going to use. This simple step can save up to 10% on your electricity bill.

Currently, electrical products come with a label indicating their energy rating and whether they are environmentally friendly. What is the aim of this action? To encourage people to buy more energy-efficient products.

This type of luminaire allows us to have a lower consumption compared to classic bulbs, offering a higher light output. It is also known as environmentally friendly lighting, as it doesn’t use mercury or greenhouse gases. In addition, the lifespan of LED bulbs is between 20,000 – 50,000 hours (approximately 6 years). In contrast, a halogen bulb has a life of about 2,000 hours.

Our CIES PLUS ceiling fan has a built-in sensor, uSense, which detects the ambient temperature and adjusts the movement of the blades accordingly. In this way, we will be achieving greater energy savings because it is not up to the user to choose the temperature, but the ceiling fan advises us from what temperature it is advisable to acclimatise the room.

In addition, in the cold season it is advisable to avoid covering radiators when they are working. In this way, we will be avoiding the inappropriate use of electrical appliances, making the most of their performance.

Find out which electricity tariff you have contracted to ensure that it is the most suitable for your needs. In this way, you will be making sure that you are using the one you need, as if you have a tariff with more kW than you need to satisfy your daily needs, you will be spending more money for no reason and emitting more gases into the atmosphere.

Do you have an app that helps you recycle? Have you just bought a solar product? In most households, we have internalised a couple of habits that make us be responsible with the planet and with our domestic economy, therefore, if we share with the rest of the people we will be doing our bit to reduce our carbon footprint.

Upload your ideas for saving money and combating climate change to Instagram and tag us with the hashtag #TruquitosArteconfort Let’s see how many tips we get!