How to Make Your House and Life More Sustainable

By: Andrew Parker, Cole Imbs, and Corbin Wright

What does Being Unsustainable Do?

Carbon Dioxide being admitted into the air

Can waste electricity, water, money, and send out a harmful greenhouse gas called Carbon Dioxide.

Global Warming

20th Century’s last 20 years have been the hottest in 400 years

1880, the average temperature around the world has raised 1.4⁰F

InsulationA typical American wastes about 40,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, the main contributor of global warming, annually.

Insulating can save around 20-30% of your heating bill and can reduce carbon dioxide waste from 140-2,100 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Water

Americans now use 127% more water than we used to in 1950.

95% of the water that enters our homes goes down the drain.

Did you know that just turning down your water heater 20 degrees (from 140⁰F to 120⁰F) could save 1,200 pounds of CO2

Recycling

Since 1980 solid waste has grown by 60%- surpassing 254 million tons per year in 2007, according to the EPA.

Electricity

Home appliances are responsible for 20% of your energy bills

Fluorescent light bulbs are effective because they only use 25%-35% of the energy that an incandescent light bulb uses. Also, they last about 10 years longer