Since we began Going Green, we have spoken with hundreds of experts, scientists, and CEOs in the cleantech and sustainable space. All of these people are experts in their field when it comes to building businesses that are environmentally friendly, and creating products that lead to more sustainable technology. We were wondering what the average person could do to really make a difference, and we put together what we call The Trifecta – how to live more sustainably.
Solar Panels
In this article, we discuss how as a society we are still relying on fossil fuels for our energy. In 2019, renewable energy sources accounted for about 11% of total U.S. energy consumption and about 17% of electricity generation.
One thing you can do to rely less on fossil fuels is to invest in solar power for your home. Right now, technology for solar power is becoming more and more efficient, while simultaneously becoming more affordable to the average person.
According to The Solar Nerd, “The price of solar has dropped by an incredible amount. Back in 1977, the price of solar photovoltaic cells was $77 for just one watt of power. Today, it’s around $0.13 per watt, or about 600 times less. The cost has generally been following Swanson’s Law, which states that the price of solar drops by 20% for every doubling of shipped product.”
If you are interested in getting solar for your home or building, set up a call with Going Green today.
Energy Storage
Once you have the ability to generate power, it is important to be able to store it for future use. Battery technology is continuing to improve, and Tesla, the company behind the Tesla Power Wall, is having a big event September 22nd to share information about their new battery technology.
According to Elon Musk himself, the event will be inane.
It will be very insane
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2020
Electric Vehicle
Now that you have solar panels to capture energy, and a battery to store the energy, the final tool in the trifecta is the Electric Vehicle. You can now use that energy to power your car, allowing you to go anywhere you want without having to rely on energy from fossil fuels.
Right now, only 2.2% of our cars are electric, meaning 97.8% are gas consuming vehicles around the world. With the amount of driving we do as a planet, a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, and there are approximately 1.2 billion cars on the road today.
It is easy to see how much carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere every single day when you look at these numbers.
While not everyone can afford to buy an electric vehicle at the flip of a switch, there are solutions out there. The next time you are looking to replace your car, think about going electric, or at least hybrid. Electric vehicle companies are offering more products and cost-effective solutions.
How To Live More Sustainably
By following the above steps, and investing in a more sustainable lifestyle, you will be helping the environment as well as save money, and ultimately learning how to live more sustainably. Be sure to listen to The Going Green podcast to hear interviews with leading clean tech and sustainable experts.