5 Ways to Go Green to Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day has a special place in our hearts here at Sun Valley Solar Solutions. Every day we are fueled in our mission to create a cleaner and more sustainable future through clean and renewable solar energy, and Earth Day is a reminder of why we do what we do.. As climate change continues to drive up temperatures and energy costs, there has never been a more important time to take this day to reflect on ways - big and small - we can make a difference every day.

As Earth Day approaches, it's a great time to start thinking about ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Going green doesn't just benefit the environment, it can also save you money on your energy bills in the long run. From the classic reduce, reuse, recycle to composting and switching out inefficient lightbulbs, here are some tips to help you celebrate Earth Day and make a positive impact on the planet.

1. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

This is probably what comes to mind when thinking of ways to be more environmentally friendly—and for good reason, since this is something everyone can do with relative ease. Recycling is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint or even make a little money if you choose to sell your scrap metal to your local recycling center. Reducing your consumption, by doing things like turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or investing in reusable plastic bags instead of single use ones, can also add up day after day, not only in materials saved, but money saved as well. Finding ways to reuse items that you would normally just throw away will prevent tons of landfill waste. For example, you can reuse a glass candle container as a holder for pens, kitchenware, or jewelry.

2. Create a Compost Pile

Composting is a great way to utilize food waste to create nutrient-rich soil. To start your own compost pile, start by collecting all of your fruit and vegetable trimmings, along with any bush or yard clippings, and place them in a pile in a corner of your property. Turn them over every week or so, and in no time you'll have nutrient-rich compost to use in a garden or for potting plants. Plus, a whole lot less waste will have been sent to the landfill. We have a whole blog post about composting if you'd like to learn more about starting your own compost pile.

3. Start a Home Garden

Planting a produce garden is an excellent way to lower your grocery bills and a fun hobby to share as a family. Arizona soil is naturally rich in nutrients and great for growing food, or if you start a compost pile, you can use that soil instead. For five dollars you can buy enough seeds to keep your refrigerator stocked with fresh veggies all season long. Not to mention how much more delicious and healthy your meals will be with fresh produce that you’ve grown yourself. Check out some recipes we put together using ingredients from home gardens to help get you inspired.

4. Switch Your Lightbulbs to LEDs

Investing in LED lights is a financially savvy investment for any homeowner. They don't just reduce, or in the case of solar-powered LEDs, eliminate your lighting-related electricity costs; they also last much longer, so you don't have to keep replacing bulbs and add unnecessary waste to landfills. As we head into the hot summer months, switching your lightbulbs to LEDs can actually help keep your home a little bit cooler too, especially if you're replacing incandescent or CFL bulbs. Learn more about the benefits of LEDs in this blog post.

5. Go Solar

One way to make a significant impact on the environment is by reducing our use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, contribute to climate change and air pollution. By using renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and help protect the planet.

While a little more complicated than our other green recommendations, going solar is one of the best ways to cut down on your carbon footprint while saving some green on your monthly energy bills. With over 300 days of sunshine, Arizonans have a great opportunity to turn the state’s most abundant natural resource into big savings. A local solar installer will be able to give you a savings estimate based on your unique energy profile and make the switch to solar as easy as possible.