Why is the Colorado River suffering from a water crisis? Is global warming impacting the Colorado river and other bodies of water in unexpected ways?

Why is the Colorado River Threatened by a Water Crisis?

In this article, we examine how the Nordic countries combine progressive social policies with strong environmental actions to address the challenges of climate change.

How Nordic countries are facing climate change together

What is cloud seeding? How does it work? Are there any potential risks involved? Can artificial rain be deployed as an effective tool in the fight against climate change?

What is cloud seeding (or artificial rain)?

In this article, we’ll discuss why a theme park may not be sustainable, their carbon footprint, how sustainability impacts tourism, and how a theme park could become sustainable.

Could Theme Parks Become Sustainable?

After seeking opportunities to put her various creative passions to good use, she joined Greenly in mid 2022 as SEO copywriter for the U.S. blog to provide her American perspective on the climate change issues we face today.

Stephanie Safdie - Greenly

Stephanie completed a bachelor's degree in English & Multimedia in 2020 at the University of Maryland College Park. She previously worked as a social media content video creator and freelance copywriter. After seeking opportunities to put her various creative passions to good use, she joined Greenly in mid 2022 as SEO copywriter for the U.S. blog to provide her American perspective on the climate change issues we face today. 

Ben Field, Climate Action Strategist at Patch

Quentin Bourhis, Climate Expert at Greenly

Ines Gendre

After graduating in 2016 with a master’s degree in marketing, Ines began her career in project management. However she soon decided to turn towards writing, to bring her core competencies to the service of societal changes. First working as a freelance copywriter, she joined Greenly in early 2022 to help fight global warming.

Matthieu Vegreville

Matthieu is a 28 year-old graduate engineer from Ecole Polytechnique and Télecom Paris, with a background in data science at Withings. While there, he worked on watch activity detection algorithms, and developed a health study activity so that connected objects could be used to better monitor certain pathologies. He has long been involved in data science projects with his brother, who has the same training. Faced with the urgency of the climate crisis, he decided to put his know-how at the service of the environment. 

Kara joined the team at Greenly in 2023 as SEO copywriter for the UK market.

Kara Anderson - Greenly

Kara studied her bachelors of law at the University of Glasgow and her masters in international law at the University of Aberdeen, before looking for a more creative career path. She found this in advertising, working as a content manager in London. After a move to Paris in 2019 she decided to switch to freelance copywriting in order to scratch her creative itch. Kara joined the team at Greenly in 2023 as SEO copywriter for the UK market.  

Arnaud Delubac

Arnaud, 26 years old, trained as a designer and in digital communication at INSEEC before joining the Master Entrepreunariat at ESSEC-CentraleSupélec. Passionate about social media since his teenage years, he has created some of the biggest Twitter communities in France before joining the digital communication team of the Prime Minister’s office in Matignon. It was at the Secretaries of State for Digital, Mounir Mahjoubi and Cédric O, where Arnaud directly managed the team, that he developed a strong conviction for the need to use technology to bring awareness to the greatest causes of our time.

Alexis Normand

Alexis is a 37 year-old graduate of HEC and Sciences-Po. After his studies, he spent 2 years working in public policy consulting. He then spent 6 years at Withings, a leading company in connected objects. While there, he continued the companies operations in Boston, USA, and created the company’s health department. After the company was bought by Nokia, he joined the startup Embleema by working through Techstars, one of the best startup incubators in the United States, where he developed a taste for entrepreneurship. His return to France was an opportunity to put all his experience at the service of the environment, during a crucial moment in the climate crisis.

Justine Dumont

Justine a toujours été passionnée de lecture et d’écriture. En 2019, elle parvient justement à faire de sa passion son métier, en devenant rédactrice web indépendante. Motivée par ses engagements écologiques, elle rejoint l’équipe de Greenly en 2022 afin de mettre ses compétences au service de la cause environnementale. 

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All you Need to Know on Energy Conservation

What is energy conservation? What are some energy conservation techniques and their impacts on the environment?

<p id="">Finding ways to limit our greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to stopping human-induced climate &nbsp;change. Energy conservation is one of several means to that end – it is especially powerful if each of us &nbsp;can change our individual habits. Below, we will explore what energy conservation is and how to &nbsp;practice it. </p><p id="">‍</p><figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-center" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="center"><div id=""><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6232f79b68d15d3d9b69c096/6343f3f829ea69cb5581b18c_energy.jpg" loading="lazy" id="" width="auto" height="auto"></div></figure><p id="">‍</p><h2 id="">What is energy conservation? </h2><h3 id="">Energy conservation, definition </h3><p id=""><strong id="">The definition of energy conservation is reducing the amount of energy consumed by limiting the use &nbsp;of an energy source. &nbsp;</strong></p><p id="">Conservation of energy is a great way to lower energy costs and <a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/what-is-the-greenhouse-effect" id="">greenhouse gas emissions</a>. As our &nbsp;society slowly shifts towards using more green energy on the electrical grid, we can still help limit fossil &nbsp;fuel use by conserving energy. &nbsp;</p><p id="">‍</p><h3 id="">Energy conservation and energy efficiency: what’s the difference? </h3><p id="">Energy conservation and energy efficiency can be easily confused. Yet they are two different approaches &nbsp;to meet the same end goal: using less energy. </p><blockquote id="">👉 While energy conservation is about making decisions to use less energy by changing a habit to be less consumptive, energy efficiency is about investing in a technology or approach that uses less energy when using power. </blockquote><p id="">An example of this comparison is how we use lights in our homes: </p><p id="">- Energy conservation: turning out a light when you leave a room. </p><p id="">- Energy efficiency: changing the lightbulb to a low-energy one, like a LED bulb. </p><p id="">‍</p><p id="">It is most useful to practice energy conservation and energy efficiency whenever possible. It is doubly &nbsp;effective to use LED bulbs and turn them off when you don’t need them. &nbsp;</p><p id="">‍</p><h3 id="">What is the law of conservation of energy? </h3><blockquote id="">📖 The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only be &nbsp;transformed from one form to another. </blockquote><p id="">Also known as Newton’s first law of thermodynamics, the law of conservation of energy is helpful for &nbsp;remembering where our energy comes from in the first place. Our society, being powered in large part &nbsp;by fossil fuels, relies on ancient stores of organic material that once converted ultraviolet sunlight to &nbsp;chemical energy. &nbsp;</p><p id="">Recognizing where our energy comes from can help us practice energy conservation and limit &nbsp;wastefulness. For as long as we rely on fossil fuels, turning up the heat or blasting the AC, for example, &nbsp;will use energy created from elsewhere that cannot be regenerated. &nbsp;</p><p id="">‍</p><figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-video w-richtext-align-fullwidth" style="padding-bottom:75%" data-rt-type="video" data-rt-align="fullwidth" data-rt-max-width="" data-rt-max-height="75%" data-rt-dimensions="640:480" data-page-url="https://youtu.be/KlG0xk93J-E"><div id=""><iframe allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KlG0xk93J-E" title="Energy Conservation | National Geographic"></iframe></div></figure><p id="">‍</p><h2 id="">Why is energy conservation important?</h2><p id="">Energy conservation can have lasting positive impacts on your personal life and on the health of the &nbsp;environment. &nbsp;</p><p id=""><strong id="">By consuming energy sustainably, you will save money on your utility bill that you can put towards &nbsp;other uses. You will also necessitate fewer fossil fuels be burned on your behalf on the electrical grid. &nbsp;</strong></p><blockquote id="">👉 While transitioning to green energy sources is an important step in stopping human-induced global &nbsp;warming and climate change, so too is energy preservation. Our society has become accustomed to &nbsp;using (and wasting) large amounts of energy. <a href="https://news.utexas.edu/2017/12/19/the-solution-to-americas-energy-waste-problem/#:~:text=Incredible%20as%20it%20may%20sound,energy%20we%20consume%20each%20year." id="">As it turns out, about two-thirds of the annual energy we &nbsp;consume is wasted.</a> </blockquote><p id="">At our society’s current rate of energy use, it will be very difficult to reach carbon zero in time to limit &nbsp;global warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees celcius (2.7 or 3.6 degrees fahrenheit). However, if individuals and &nbsp;businesses collectively practice energy conservation, limiting our planet’s warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees &nbsp;will be much more achievable. &nbsp;</p><p id="">‍</p><figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-center" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="center" data-rt-max-width=""><div id=""><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6232f79b68d15d3d9b69c096/634407d70a636a4b66518de4_energy-conservation.jpg" loading="lazy" id="" width="auto" height="auto"></div></figure><p id="">‍</p><h2 id="">5 techniques to conserve energy at home </h2><p id="">You might be asking yourself, “What can I do at home to conserve energy?” You’re in luck! We have a &nbsp;great list of techniques to limit your energy use. Here are some examples that will improve the &nbsp;sustainability of your lifestyle. </p><p>‍</p><h3 id="">Being smart with light</h3><p id="">A simple way to conserve energy is to be smart with how you use both natural and man-made light &nbsp;sources. Especially when it’s sunny out or during summertime, simply opening the blinds and using &nbsp;natural light will make your space just as bright as would turning on the lights. </p><p id="">Turning off the lights whenever you leave a room is another good solution to excessive power use. &nbsp;Leaving notes around your house could be a helpful way to remind yourself of this habit. &nbsp;</p><p id="">Adjusting your sleep pattern can be impactful, too. If your schedule can accommodate it, waking up at &nbsp;sunrise and going to bed not long after sunset will save you a lot of energy you would otherwise spend &nbsp;on lighting your space after dark. It will also synch up your circadian rhythm with what feels best to our &nbsp;</p><p id="">species. You will feel more awake when you wake up and sleepier when it’s time for bed if you synch up &nbsp;with the sun. If you have ever been on a backpacking trip, you’ve maybe experienced this sleep pattern. </p><p id="">‍</p><h3 id="">Thermostat awareness </h3><p id=""><a href="https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/programmable-thermostats" id="">These days, heating and cooling account for 48% of the energy consumption of American households.</a> &nbsp;An easy way to practice energy conservation is to let our homes be warmer in the summer and cooler in &nbsp;the winter. This requires that the climate control settings in our homes do less work to bring the indoor &nbsp;conditions to a desired temperature. </p><p id="">Of course, this can be a challenging behavior change. To be comfortable grabbing a sweater or blanket &nbsp;when you get cold, rather than hiking up the thermostat, may take time. However, it will save you a lot &nbsp;of money and greenhouse gas emissions. &nbsp;</p><p id="">You can also let your home tech do some of the work for you by installing a programmable thermostat. &nbsp;It’s possible to set these gadgets to a different temperature while you sleep – to a lower temperature in &nbsp;cooler months and higher temperature in warmer months. And by the time you wake up, the &nbsp;thermostat will bring the air temperature back to a more comfortable level. &nbsp;</p><p id=""><strong id="">If you adjust your thermostat to 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit closer to outdoor temperatures for 8 hours a &nbsp;day, you can get 10% of savings a year on your heating and cooling bills. </strong></p><p id="">‍</p><h3 id="">Geothermal heat pumps </h3><p id="">Another way to have an impact on the heating and cooling of your home is investing in a geothermal &nbsp;heat pump (GHP). </p><p id="">Instead of a typical air-to-air heat pump that uses outside air for an energy exchange, a GHP utilizes the &nbsp;temperature underground for the same purpose. The ground beneath us has a more stable temperature &nbsp;the deeper you go. In fact, most of the earth’s deeper soil sits at 50 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. &nbsp;</p><p id="">GHPs involve placing a system of water tubes below a building to tap into the consistent temperature of &nbsp;the ground to better regulate the building’s climate and conserve energy. While first laying down a GHP &nbsp;can be expensive, it can pay itself back with energy saved within 5 to 10 years. &nbsp;</p><p id="">‍</p><h3 id="">Rethinking roofs </h3><p id="">Placing solar panels on roofs is a popular practice to lower utility bills and limit greenhouse gas &nbsp;emissions. They allow buildings to rely partly or wholly on energy from the sun instead of paying for all &nbsp;of their electricity from the grid that often is mostly powered by fossil fuels. </p><p id="">When installing solar panels isn’t feasible for financial or other reasons, property owners can prioritize a &nbsp;cool roof to help conserve energy. A cool roof can reflect up to 90% of sunlight, depending on the color &nbsp;and material the roof. <a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/what-is-the-albedo-effect-and-how-does-it-impact-global-warming" id="">This keeps the building at a much lower temperature, decreasing the need for air &nbsp;conditioning.</a> </p><p id="">Cool roofs are recommended for buildings located in warmer climates since they reduce heat &nbsp;conduction from the sun during the winter, too. Still, government programs offer rebates for homes &nbsp;with cool roofs installed, making them tax refundable.</p><p id="">‍</p><h3 id="">Standby power </h3><p id="">Does your phone charger use electricity while it’s plugged into the wall even if it’s not attached to your &nbsp;phone? Unfortunately, yes. </p><p id=""><strong id="">Standby power is the electricity consumed by plugged in devices when they are not in use. </strong>Some &nbsp;electronics use more power than others depending on design quality. Even though leaving a device &nbsp;plugged in might use only a marginal amount of power (about 0.5 watts per device), it is more than not &nbsp;having it plugged in at all. &nbsp;</p><p id=""><a href="https://standby.lbl.gov" id="">Standby power in a typical American household accounts for 5-10% of a home’s electricity use.</a> On a &nbsp;global scale, products on standby amount to 1% of earth’s carbon emissions. </p><p id="">Simply unplugging your devices when you aren’t using them could save you hundreds in yearly &nbsp;electricity expenses. </p><p id="">‍</p><p id="">‍</p><h2 id="">Greenly can help you conserve energy</h2><p id="">We hope that this article has inspired you to try to conserve energy wherever possible in order to limit &nbsp;climate change. Other ways to have an impact on energy conservation include helping your friends &nbsp;change their habits and implementing strategies at your business. </p><p id=""><a href="https://www.greenly.earth/en-us" id="">Contact Greenly</a> to assist your business in conserving energy. We will measure your greenhouse gas &nbsp;emissions and look for ways you can cut back on fossil fuel use. And where you can’t, we can set you up &nbsp;with certified carbon offset projects that can work with you to neutralize your business’s impact on the &nbsp;environment. </p><p id="">‍</p><p id="">‍</p><p id=""><strong id="">🚀 If you enjoyed reading this article, here are a few more :</strong></p><ul id=""><li id=""><a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/why-is-the-colorado-river-threatened-by-a-water-crisis" id="">Why is the Colorado River Threatened by a Water Crisis?</a></li><li id=""><a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/us-wildfires-destroy-carbon-offsets" id="">US Wildfires Destroy Carbon Offsets</a></li><li id=""><a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/company-guide/reforestation-our-guide-to-sustainable-companies" id="">Reforestation: Our Guide to Sustainable Companies</a></li><li id=""><a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/company-guide/how-to-implement-a-csr-approach-in-your-company" id="">How to implement a CSR approach in your company</a></li><li id=""><a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/all-you-need-to-know-about-fast-fashion" id="">All You Need to Know About Fast Fashion</a></li></ul><p id="">‍</p>

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All you Need to Know on Energy Conservation

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More articles

Why is the Colorado River Threatened by a Water Crisis?

How Nordic countries are facing climate change together

What is cloud seeding (or artificial rain)?