Ecological Transition
Always see it in English
You may have heard of the carbon footprint. It refers to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2 so we understand each other) and other greenhouse gases that each person, company, product or service emits into the atmosphere. We all pollute.
In Spain, each household emits an average of 12.5 tons of greenhouse gases annually. An amount that continues to increase despite the economic crisis, with increases of almost 25% over the last two decades. Most of this pollution involves energy consumption.
But beyond the averages there are great differences between the footprint of one company and another, or between the footprint of one person and another. The level of the emission of pollutants varies in accordance with routines and lifestyles. All this can be measured and is logical. Think about it. How often do you use your car? Do you have any idea how many kWh of electricity you consume per month and whether the electricity you consume is from renewable sources? Do you recycle everything, just a little or nothing at all?
What is your carbon footprint?
Only by knowing what your carbon footprint is can you get some idea of the damage you are causing to the planet. It is the first step in raising awareness and trying to reduce it as much as possible (although your life this world will always leave a certain mark). It is the first step to modifying your lifestyle and becoming a better inhabitant of planet Earth.
There are many ways of measuring the carbon footprint and obviously it is not the same for a country as it is for a company or for an individual. Generally speaking, monthly or annual measurements are usually taken, highlighting variables including the following:
- How much energy you consume in your home (electricity, gas, butane, propane, coal, pellets, etc.).
- What your habits are with regard to transport, avoiding unnecessary travel. For example, by using video customer services instead of actually going to the office.
- Minimising the generation of waste, recycling and re-using any unavoidable waste. An easy and simple way to contribute is by digitalising your invoices.
- Other actions such contracting a tariff that promotes and certifies the use of renewable energies, as is the case with Endesa Única.
To find out the volume of greenhouse gases you emit you can use the different calculators available on the Internet and Google.
Reduce your carbon footprint
Once you have a diagnosis of your carbon footprint, you can start reducing it. At first it may seem like a huge task, but the important thing to remember is that a few small gestures are enough to considerably reduce your environmental impact:
1. Unplug all appliances that you are not using. Some of the domestic appliances you use consume more than you think and all of them do not always need to be plugged in all the time. We are not asking you to unplug the refrigerator (unless you take a long holiday), but what is the point of leaving the TV, coffee maker and laptop on stand-by? What is the point of having three or four chargers plugged in that are not connected to any mobile phone or tablet? And we had better not talk about leaving the lights on in rooms where there is no one. This is an essential battlefront and in addition to reducing your carbon footprint, it will also help you save on your electricity bill.
2. Use ecological transport. Whenever you can, park your car or motorcycle and walk or cycle to reach your destination. Or maybe you do not even need to go, you can avoid travelling and still be fully be aware of everything with regard to your energy by using our video customer service. All you need to do is ask for an appointment and have a computer and internet connection. With this service we will answer all your queries without you having to travel, thus reducing your carbon footprint.
With regard to longer distances, choose public transport (and demand that your city council renews its fleet of buses to make them more ecological). With your own vehicle you can also commit to sustainable mobility. Endesa promotes accessibility to electric mobility for everyone, by expanding the electric car charging infrastructure and looking for the most advanced solutions that best suit each user.
3. Recycle. You can have no excuse and you should not be cynical and hide behind the urban legend that says that they mix everything later. This is simply not true and there is a whole structured circuit for the collection and recycling of glass, cardboard/paper, plastics, batteries, medicines, etc. And while you are at it, when you go out shopping take a cloth bag or a cart with you so you do not have to use plastic bags unnecessarily. Everyone should avoid the generation of waste as far as possible. An easy and convenient way to do this is to activate digital invoicing, so simple that you can activate it right now from the comfort of your sofa. Apart from reducing CO2 emissions, you will have all the information about your bills immediately after they have been issued, and you can have greater control over your consumption.
4. Find out about all the benefits of installing solar panels for more renewable energy consumption. By producing your own energy, you will not only be helping the planet, but you will also save on your bill. Find out all about our solar self-consumption tariffs, both for homes with solar panels already installed and for those who have not yet taken this step.
Now you know what the carbon footprint is. And you know how to reduce it. Now all you need to do is to contribute your grain of sand. Together we can build a mountain and help our planet.
“If one person changes their routine, we won’t change the world. If we all do it, we will create a new world.”
