The numbers are mind-boggling: international shipping accounts for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with China-origin cargo making up around 30% of global container trade. But behind these numbers is a rapidly evolving story of technological innovation and environmental responsibility that’s reshaping the future of global logistics.

The Scale of the Environmental Problem

China’s position as the world’s manufacturing hub means that freight forwarding from Chinese ports affects every supply chain on Earth. The Port of Shanghai alone handles over 47 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) a year, while the combined throughput of China’s top ports is over 180 million TEU—billions of tons of cargo moving across oceans every year.

The environmental impact is huge. A single container ship from Shanghai to Los Angeles burns around 250 tons of fuel and produces 780 tons of CO2 emissions over 14 days. Multiply that by thousands of vessels making similar trips a year and the carbon footprint is impossible to ignore.

But the freight forwarding industry has realized that environmental sustainability isn’t just an ethical imperative—it’s becoming an economic necessity as regulations tighten and customers demand greener supply chains.

Carbon Footprint Reality: The Numbers That Matter

Understanding the environmental impact of different shipping methods explains why China freight forwarders are focusing on ocean transport optimization. Air freight from China to the US generates around 47 times more CO2 emissions per kilogram than ocean freight. While air is faster, moving a ton of goods by air produces 4.6 tons of CO2 compared to 0.1 tons for ocean freight.

This difference has led many freight forwarders to develop complex modal optimization strategies. By consolidating shipments, improving container utilization rates and providing clients with carbon footprint analysis, forward thinking companies are helping businesses make more environmentally friendly logistics decisions.

Container utilization is another big opportunity. The average container from China operates at only 85% utilization rate, that means 15% of every journey is wasted fuel and unnecessary emissions. Leading freight forwarders are now using AI powered systems to optimize cargo consolidation and achieving utilization rate above 95% and reduce per unit transportation emissions.

Green Innovations Changing the Game

The most exciting developments in China freight forwarding is around the technological innovations that reduce environmental impact. Chinese ports are leading the global adoption of shore power, allowing ships to plug into the grid instead of running diesel generators. Shenzhen port has installed shore power facilities that eliminate 12,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.

Alternative fuel is gaining traction fast. Several major shipping lines serving China routes have invested in methanol powered vessels which can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared to traditional marine fuel. Even more exciting are the hydrogen fuel cell vessels that are entering service on shorter Asia-Pacific routes, offering near zero emission shipping for regional trade.

Digital transformation is also bringing environmental benefits. Blockchain based documentation system is eliminating millions of paper documents annually and improving supply chain transparency. Smart contracts are automatically optimizing routing based on weather condition, port congestion and fuel efficiency, reducing unnecessary fuel consumption by up to 15%.

Chinese freight forwarders are also pioneering the use of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for real time cargo monitoring. These systems prevent spoilage related waste, optimize container temperature to reduce energy consumption and provide data for accurate carbon footprint reporting.

Sustainable Packaging Revolution

Perhaps nowhere is the green logistics revolution more visible than in packaging innovation. Chinese manufacturers and freight forwarders are working together on packaging solutions that reduce both material waste and transportation emissions.

Collapsible container system allows empty containers to be stacked more efficiently, reducing the number of repositioning moves needed to balance global container supply. Biodegradable packaging material is becoming standard for many consumer goods, while intelligent packaging design optimizes space utilization to fit more products per container.

One breakthrough gaining traction is the development of reusable packaging system for specific trade routes. Instead of single use packaging, durable containers are designed to make multiple round trips between Chinese suppliers and global customers, reducing waste by up to 90% for participating supply chains.

The Circular Economy in Practice

Forward thinking freight forwarders are applying circular economy principles across their business. Damaged containers are refurbished not scrapped, with special facilities in Chinese ports extending container lifetimes by 8-10 years. Container tracking systems ensure optimal use and prevent serviceable equipment from being retired early.

Even more innovative are the emerging container sharing platforms that allow multiple shippers to use the same container for compatible cargo, maximising load efficiency and minimising environmental impact. These systems use sophisticated algorithms to match compatible shipments, reducing empty container movements by up to 30%.

The Future: Emerging Technologies

The future of green China freight forwarding lies in several emerging technologies. Electric vessels are coming on shorter routes, battery technology is improving fast for longer voyages. Wind assisted propulsion systems are being retrofitted to existing vessels, reducing fuel consumption by 10-15% on transpacific routes.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising route optimisation, weather routing and predictive maintenance – all contributing to better fuel efficiency. Machine learning algorithms analyse vast datasets of historical shipping performance to find the most efficient routing options while maintaining delivery reliability.

Perhaps most exciting is the development of green shipping corridors – dedicated trade routes where all participants commit to using the cleanest available technologies and fuels. Several China-Europe and China-Americas corridors are being established with a target of 50% emissions reduction within the next 10 years.

Conclusion: Responsibility and Opportunity

The environmental transformation of China freight forwarding is both a response to growing environmental concerns and a recognition of long term business opportunities. Companies that invest in green logistics today will be ahead of the game in a future where environmental performance will be the key to competitive advantage.

As global awareness of supply chain environmental impact grows, businesses are demanding transparency and accountability from their logistics partners. The freight forwarders leading the green revolution aren’t just reducing their environmental footprint – they’re creating new value propositions for environmentally conscious customers.

The hidden carbon footprint of global trade is becoming visible, measurable and manageable. Through technology, operational excellence and collaborative partnerships, China freight forwarding is proving that environmental responsibility and business success can go hand in hand to a more sustainable future for global trade.

However, not every wallpaper can last long. Some of them start falling or fading after 5-8 years. Therefore, many people are looking for ways to dispose of them or even recycle them. Therefore, a question may arise: Can you recycle the wallpaper? Let’s try to find the question in this article:

Can You Recycle the Wallpaper?

Quick answer: No, the wallpapers are not recyclable. The reason lies in their production process. During the making of these wallpapers, a wide range of dyes, colors, and chemicals, such as vinyl, adhesive, and polythene, are used for an enhanced appeal.

When the recycling period comes, the machines or the process can’t remove these chemicals. Therefore, experts have to ditch the recycling process. No doubt, paper or related material is used in the production process, but it is often located with non-biodegradable materials. The con is that it reduces the possibility of recycling.

But here is the catch. You can remove these chemicals. However, the process is so costly and complex that it is considered to dispose of these wallpapers without any recycling process.

Eco-Friendly Alternatives for Wallpapers

As peel & stick wallpapers are not sustainable, what can you use so that you can leave a positive impression on the environment and also save the planet Earth? You can go with some affordable yet eco-friendly options. Such sustainable and eco-friendly options include bamboo-based papers, cork, or recycled paper. Let’s have a bit of an explanation:

Bamboo is very durable and resistant to moisture as well as corrosion. Hence, it is a perfect option for the kitchen and bathroom. Similarly, cork wallpaper is another option for insulation and retention purposes as well as energy consumption.

Keep in mind that many eco-friendly options often come with many certifications, such as FSC or Forest Stewardship Council. The benefit is that they are assured by the authorities that these chemicals won’t harm the earth and also play a positive role by offering various chemicals.

At this point, you have one responsibility – to check the authority, validity, and eligibility of such credentials. You can contact the authorities via the official contact numbers of websites to find out more information on the process. Ensure that you follow rigorous standards so that you do not damage the atmosphere.

Reusing of Wallpaper

Although wallpapers are not recyclable, you can still use them as a sustainable practice. This can be done by reusing them. But how do we reuse them? One simple approach is to utilize them as gift wraps. When the wallpaper gets disturbed or damaged, use it to wrap gifts for friends or relatives. Further, you can also use bathroom wallpaper peel and stick as artwork. This is one of the most affordable ways to design the interior of your room.

Bottom Line

The TL;DR is that wallpaper is not recyclable. Due to the use of chemicals and additives, it is very hard to recycle them. However, the best way is to reuse them as gift wraps or artwork for better value for your money and cost-effectiveness. On the other hand, you can also go with alternatives such as bamboo or cork as sustainable options to play your role in protecting the earth as well as the environment.

The Connection Between Technology and Sustainability

How Tech Impacts the Environment

Technology has a noticeable impact on our planet. Devices don’t just appear out of thin air—they rely on natural resources, energy, and complex manufacturing processes. Here’s how it adds up:

• E-Waste: Millions of tons of electronics, like phones and computers, end up in landfills every year. Many contain toxic substances like mercury and lead, which pollute soil and water.
• Energy Consumption: Manufacturing electronics requires massive amounts of energy. Even using devices contributes, with activities like streaming and cloud storage drawing power from energy-hungry data centers.
• Carbon Footprints: Every device leaves behind a carbon trail. For instance, making a single smartphone can produce roughly 70 kilograms of CO2.

When these impacts combine, they strain the environment—but solutions start with awareness.

Why Kids Need to Understand This Connection

Kids who understand tech’s environmental impact can make better choices. Early awareness helps them:

• Appreciate the importance of recycling old gadgets.
• Opt for eco-friendly habits, like unplugging unused devices.
• Develop lifelong respect for sustainable living.

Teaching them now means they’ll grow up mindful of their role in protecting the planet.

Setting Boundaries for Tech Use

Tips To Reduce Unnecessary Tech Usage

Finding ways to minimize screen time starts with small, manageable changes. Here are a few tips:

• Set Time Limits: Use parental controls on devices to enforce daily tech usage limits.
• Create Tech-Free Zones: Keep gadgets out of bedrooms or dining areas to encourage family interaction.
• Lead by Example: Show your kids that you can also put down your phone and enjoy device-free time.
• Schedule Breaks: For every hour of screen activity, encourage 15 minutes of offline activity. This promotes a healthier balance.

When you stick to these rules, kids learn that tech is a tool, not a habit.

Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Screen Time

Replacing devices with greener activities can be exciting and fulfilling. Consider these ideas:

• Outdoor Adventures: Encourage kids to play in the backyard or visit local parks. Nature inspires creativity and movement.
• Creative Projects: Provide materials for crafts, puzzles, or building something hands-on like a birdhouse.
• Family Challenges: Organize board game nights or reading circles to bond and have fun together.

Small steps toward reducing tech reliance are better for your family and the planet.

How to Choose Sustainable Tech Options

Making eco-friendly tech choices starts with selecting smarter tools. Look for energy-efficient devices, like smart thermostats or appliances certified by Energy Star. These use less power, saving both money and the environment. Apps like mSpy and eyeZy go a step further—they help you monitor screen time and device usage, encouraging mindful tech habits while conserving energy indirectly. Solar-powered chargers are another fantastic choice, letting you recharge devices while reducing your carbon footprint.

When you upgrade your gadgets, don’t just toss the old ones. Here’s how to dispose of them responsibly:

• Recycle: Use certified e-waste recycling programs to ensure harmful toxins like mercury and lead don’t end up in landfills.
• Donate: Give functional devices to schools or charities so others can benefit.
• Repair Over Replace: If a gadget is fixable, extend its life to reduce waste and resource use.

Small steps like these create a massive positive impact on sustainability.

Teaching Kids About Digital Minimalism

Digital minimalism means using technology with intention—focusing only on tools or apps that truly add value to your life. It’s not about rejecting technology but being mindful of how and why you use it. For kids, this practice encourages healthier habits while reducing tech’s environmental impact. By cutting down on unnecessary screen time, families lower their digital carbon footprints while creating space for stronger offline interactions. It’s a win for both sustainability and well-being.

Introduce digital minimalism with easy steps like these:

1. Set “No-Screen” Zones: Keep tech out of bedrooms and dining areas to encourage personal connections.
2. Plan Screen-Free Days: Dedicate one day a week to offline activities like hiking, crafting, or game nights.
3. Model Intentional Usage: Use devices for specific tasks and explain your reasons to the kids.
4. Fuel Creativity: Offer books, puzzles, or supplies for hands-on projects as alternatives.

These habits teach kids that life grows richer without constant digital noise.

Final Words

Teaching kids sustainable tech habits means giving them tools for a greener future. From choosing smarter devices to limiting unnecessary screen time, small changes make a big difference. Encouraging digital minimalism and replacing screen time with creative or outdoor activities fosters both eco-consciousness and family bonds.

Now it’s your turn. Pick one tip and try it out this week—maybe a no-phone dinner or starting a recycling project for old gadgets. Every step counts. Together, we can empower the next generation to use technology in a way that helps, not harms, the planet.

Healthier, cleaner and cheaper—eco-friendly homes offer lots of benefits. As more people become environmentally conscious, many are looking for new ways to live sustainability.

And this starts with the home.

Research shows house-buyers prefer environmentally sustainable properties. Most popular features include energy-efficient heating, double glazing and hot water systems.

So, if you’re thinking of selling your home any time in the future, it’s worthwhile investing time to make it greener and more energy-efficient now.

But, don’t worry, creating a sustainable life doesn’t mean you have to choose alternative living like building a treehouse or moving into a canal boat. You can make your own home energy efficient and eco-friendlier by just following these seven practical tips.

#1 Install low energy appliances

By reducing our energy usage we’re consuming less of the earth’s (limited) resources. And, we’re saving money.

Here some things to look out for when purchasing low-energy appliances.

• Check the energy rating. For instance, an A+++ is the most efficient while a G rating is the least efficient.

• Get the right size for your needs. For instance, there’s no point buying an enormous washing machine if you live alone and don’t have much laundry.

#2 Put in motion detectors for lighting

It’s too easy to forget to turn lights off when you leave a room. You can prevent unnecessary wastage by putting in motion sensors. They also increase safety if installed outside and ensure you don’t leave the lights on accidentally in garages or sheds.

#3 Switch to LED lights

Yes, they’re more expensive but their unsurpassed long life makes them worth it. LED lights last 25 times longer than normal incandescent bulbs. They’re more energy-efficient and as they need to less changing, they require far less maintenance.

#4 Upgrade to a smart thermostat

A smart thermostat offers a heap of benefits. Namely, it’s the best way to control your central heating remotely so stops you from wasting energy when you’re not home or not using it. They also tell you how much energy you’ve used in real-time so you can track and manage your usage more easily.

#5 Invest in water-saving fixtures

Water wastage is not only costly but can also cause a lot of damage to your home. To help you conserve water replace your plumbing fixtures with for water-saving showerheads and faucets, Also, fix any drippy taps.

#6 Insulate

Not only does insulation reduce energy consumption, noise pollution but it also helps keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.

#7 Reuse old materials

Rather than using plastic, go for products like recycled wood or glass or biodegradable materials. These have a lower carbon footprint and are far less damaging to the planet.

It’s usually not a task to deal with on your own. Instead, hire professionals to guide you and advise you through the process even though it seems like an additional expense.

A budget

The first thing to decide on is the budget you’re ready to work with. This is done by checking your finances and figuring out what you’re able to borrow and reasonably repay. Once you’ve set up the number, you’ll need to be disciplined and never go over it.

Have in mind that a budget needs to cover more than just the price of the property. There are also taxes, fees for the professionals you’ve hired and the cost of the initial repairs.

Real-estate agent

It’s important to hire a real estate agent to handle a part of this process with you. That’s something many home buyers don’t particularly enjoy as an option because it means they will have to pay a fee. However, once they get familiar with the complexity of this issue, they usually leave it to the agent.

The agent can focus on the administrative and technical parts of the purchase while the owner can deal with choosing the style and picking the home that they would live in and enjoy for years to come.

Location

When you purchase a home, you’re actually paying for its location more than for the property itself. This is something to keep in mind when making a purchase. Investigate the area you’re moving into as much as the home itself. For instance, checking out houses for sale in Hamburg Germany Why is a great option for those looking for peaceful outings with their families rather than a busy lifestyle. Furnished apartments in Hamburg Germany, are a great choice for people who need a place to stay without the hassle of buying furniture. These apartments come with everything you need, like beds, sofas, tables, and sometimes even kitchen items, making moving in super easy. Whether you’re in Hamburg for work, school, or a long vacation, furnished apartments save you time and effort. You get to enjoy living in a comfortable, ready-to-go space in one of Germany’s most vibrant cities!

The key features to look for are transportation and connectivity since you can’t enjoy the neighborhood regardless of how beautiful it is if it’s far away from everything you need or use.

Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency is one of the biggest concerns a small homeowner has. By having an energy-efficient home, you can lower the impact you have on the environment and reduce your heating and cooling bills. Start by examining the home in terms of energy efficiency before you purchase it or offer a price. It will take an hour with the help of a professional.

Have them outline what changes you’ll need to make – most often in terms of insulation and changing doors and windows. Try to reduce the price of the property based on the figure you come up with.

Yard and curb

Features that are rather important in a home but often get overlooked when making a purchase are the size and the state of the yard. Even families that don’t plan to make that much use of the yard end up depending on its size since it could be used for useful auxiliary objects such as sheds and garages.

The key to managing this issue is to try to imagine how your home and property might be used in the future and thus to anticipate your needs even decades on. It’s a decision to be made by a whole family.

Conclusion

Purchasing a new home is no small task. It’s both expensive and complicated to manage and organize. It’s best to hire professionals to help you out with both the technical details and the financial part of the proposition. Start with knowing how much you can and plan to spend. You should also take the time to inspect the property and make sure that there are no large repairs you’ll have to undertake. If there are, try to lower the price of the property based on that assessment. It’s also useful to plan for the future and the ways your home will be used years later.

Wastewater has a big role in city planning, ensuring that there’s a healthy water environment throughout the cityscape. Water that’s been previously used in homes, businesses and indeed anywhere else is reused, all to the betterment of everyone. But why is this being done, and how?

Well, first there’s the consideration that cities themselves are becoming more crowded places. There’re things like immigration that’s surged significantly in recent times, and people are also having more children. Resources absolutely need to be pulled to accommodate such a heavy influx of people, and to ensure that everyone is living a good quality of life across the board. While space isn’t running out yet, water is something that has become a concern in some areas. This is because water is used for a variety of things and it’s constantly being used up. Remember, water isn’t just for drinking! In one way or another, it’s used in production, manufacturing, energy efficiency, climate adaptation and more. There’re valid industrial, environmental and ecological concerns at the heart of it all.

Water also isn’t a commodity, it’s a human right. There will never come a time where water is not needed, not only for people but for animals and the environment too. It’s a resource for all, and in modern times, it’s being wasted, contaminated and endlessly polluted. However, efforts are now being taken to counter all these harmful occurrences. Through flow control engineering, used and wastewater can be recycled once again into drinking water, or even be fed back into the environment. This means that there’ll never be a shortage of the most basic and important resource we have, and that a universal standard for water can be more easily maintained.

Oil companies and fracking have all put their own dents in the quality of the world’s water, but wastewater treatment in cities at least provides a countermeasure. Cities are taking the reins and leading the charge, providing an example of how things can be reused so effortlessly. It encourages others to follow suit and sets a worthwhile precedent around waste, pollution and access to fundamental resources. After all, places like London have hosted numerous environmental protests recently, so it’s only fitting that the cityscapes provide much of the groundwork around wastewater management. It’s where all the biggest changes and innovations are conceived, made and implemented!

Opt for natural materials

Consider getting rid of your plastic containers and switch to the ones made from glass.  Besides being more durable, glass is a safer and healthier option, too, since plastic is full of harmful chemicals. Also, plastic bags are out of the question – go and buy several sturdy, cotton tote bags that are both stylish and eco-friendly. Hang them on your kitchen doors and keep a few of them in your car as well. Another thing you can change in order to save the environment is reduce the amount of single-use items you have in your kitchen. Paper towels are useful, but they don’t really help the environment. It’s better to opt for cotton cloths – they absorb water efficiently and they can be washed and reused again and again.

Create a kitchen that fits your style

When creating a kitchen that is both stylish and eco-friendly, you need to decide whether you are going to design everything on your own or if you need a little extra help executing those ideas. That’s when a trusted renovation partner can make all the difference. Whether you’re reimagining layouts or choosing sustainable finishes, working with professionals—like Amplified Renovations—lets you bring your vision to life with eco-friendly craftsmanship and peace of mind.

Maybe you know what you want, but do you really know how to translate your ideas into your kitchen space? If you’re not sure whether it’ll look as good as you think, hiring experts can help avoid missteps—and give you more time to enjoy the process.

Choose energy-efficient models of appliances

There are many benefits of going energy efficient. Even though your old kitchen appliances are still working properly, you might want to consider replacing your old stove, refrigerator and a dishwasher with newer, energy-efficient models. Old appliances tend to spend more energy, resulting in higher electricity bills. Using energy-efficient appliances will help you cut down on your energy consumption significantly and save you money in the long run. Another way to go green with your appliances would be to switch your light bulbs for energy-saving ones. By implementing these appliances into your kitchen, you will enhance the quality of your life and reduce your carbon footprint.

Add some greenery to liven it up

Nothing will make your kitchen look more green and eco-friendly than introducing some plants. They act as a quick decorating tool and help create a calming, balanced vibe for your kitchen space. Consider implementing a couple of low maintenance plants to spruce up your kitchen area. Opt for a Snake plant, Aloe Vera, or Christmas Cactus – they don’t require special attention and will thrive if they get a fair amount of sunlight and you water them from time to time. Plants are very useful since they act as a natural filter, by absorbing toxic chemicals and carbon dioxide from the air and releasing oxygen in return. Another way of introducing greenery into your kitchen is by placing microgreens on your countertops – that way, you’ll always have some fresh herbs when preparing meals. A great green addition to your green kitchen!

Dedicate an area of your kitchen for recycling and composting

A good and effective recycling system will keep you motivated – that is why it is important to set up a recycling center. It is done by simply placing bins in your spare cabinet or underneath your counter. Another way to make your kitchen more green and eco-conscious is by placing one bin for the organic waste under your sink, and a DIY compost bin in your yard. Composting is a great way to preserve the environment because you are actually putting your food scraps to good use (mulch or potting soil, or a lawn conditioner) rather than just throwing them in the garbage.

Designing an eco-friendly kitchen may sound like a challenging job, but all it really takes is some creative thinking, paying attention to details, and making eco-conscious decisions in order to preserve our environment.

Say you want to curb your energy use, both to trim your monthly bills and to reduce your impact on the environment. Your kitchen, packed with appliances, is a good place to start making those savings. According to data from the Energy Savings Trust, cold appliances (that’s refrigerators and freezers) account for 16.2% of household’s electricity consumption. Wet appliances (dishwashers and washing machines) consume 13.6% of your total electricity budget, on average, and cooking has a 13.8% share of the pie (although this will be lower if you cook with gas, and your gas consumption will be higher).

Maybe you have a new smart meter that allows you track your energy use in real time, possibly from your smartphone. You’ve been consulting the data to see where you can notch energy savings, either by running certain appliances less often or by upgrading to more efficient models. And while you can use smart meters to roughly determine how much energy your appliances are sucking—does your use shoot up when you run your dishwasher and is laundry day particularly energy intensive?—it may be hard to determine which is the greediest machine in your kitchen.

Helpfully, every electrical device will have a power rating, represented in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW), that tells you how much electricity it needs to run. But the power rating, or wattage, of an appliance doesn’t tell the whole story. Energy consumption is also measured in time and represented as kilowatt hours (kWh)—that’s the unit you’re charged for by your supplier. In the UK, each kWh of electricity costs approximately 12.5p.

Factor in time and a low wattage appliance like a fridge can end up being the hungriest of your white goods simply because it has to stay on all the time to keep food fresh. If you like a bit of back of the napkin maths, you can calculate yourself how much energy your appliances are using, in kWh and pounds and pence.

Say you have a 150 watt fridge (100-200 watts is standard for domestic fridges) and, as fridges should, it runs 24 hours a day. It’s using 3.6 kWh of energy a day and costing you 43.2p. Check the maths below:

150W = 0.15kW

0.15 kW x 24 hours = 3.6 kWh

3.6 kWh * 12.5 p/kHW = 43.2p

Multiply the kWh and pence by a year, and you can see your fridge is gobbling up 1,314 kWH of electricity a year and costing you £157.68. That’s not quite eating you out of house and home, but it’s close.

It’s easy to calculate the consumption of your fridge—that thing cannot and should not be turned off—but do you really know how long your dishwasher is running every day? What about all the times it’s on but in standby because you failed to power it down? The following baselines can show you the typical energy consumption of standard household appliances. Of course, efficiency varies dramatically between models and has been improving in the last few years. Older model appliances may be significantly more energy-hungry, and some appliances are specifically designed and marketed as low-energy.

• Electric cooker: Electric cookers use about 15 kWh of electricity to cook meals for a family of four over a week. That’s about £1.88 per week.
• Washing machine: Washing machines use around 2.5 kWh of electricity to run an hour-long wash, costing you about 30p. So make sure you’re running full loads, not just a few stray whites and brights.
• Tumble drier: A run with a standard-sized load will use 2.5 kWH, costing you about 30p. Run it three times a week and you’ll be using 390 kWH per year and spending £48.75. Time to invest in a drying rack?
• Dishwasher: A dishwasher run at 65C will use 1.44 kWh per cycle, costing you 18p. Run it three times a week and you’re facing an annual cost of nearly £28. But if you turn down the temperature to 55C, it consumes just 1.07 kWH per run, costing you 13.4p and just £21 a year.
• Microwave oven: Microwave ovens use about 1 kWh per use, so you should be mentally adding 12.5p to the cost of every ready meal.
• Kettle: Electric kettles use 0.11 kWH to heat 1 litre of water, costing you 1.4p. A small price to pay for tea and comfort, so you won’t have to start charging your guests for their cuppa.

Appliances on standby: Even if an appliances is using just 5 watts to be on standby—turned on but not in use—if you leave it on for the whole day, it burns through 0.12 kWH. Reliably forget to turn it off—say it’s on and idling half the time—and you’d burn 21.9 kWH a year and spend £2.75. And that’s just one appliance. Forget to turn off several of them and the costs, in energy and in pounds, can start adding up.

With the excessive consumption of fossil fuels and United States’ “not-so-warm” relationship with Arab nations, we will see the energy crisis of our time soon. Switching to renewable resources like solar energy can minimize the risk of power crises.

Wikipedia defines energy crises as “any significant bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy.”

Simply put, energy crises is a constricted supply of energy resources to an economy, leading to fuel shortages and increased price to consumers.

USA has gone through two major energy crises in its history. One of them was infamous 70s energy crises due to an oil embargo imposed by the member Arab nations of the OAPEC. Consequently, oil prices rose from $3 per barrel to $12 in the three months after the “ban” was announced.

Americans faced prices hike and unavailability of fuel like never before, causing long queues and fights at gasoline stations around the nation. It also led the country to deep economic recession.

The second one took place in 2000-01 as California electricity crises. Also known as the Western U.S. Energy crises, it was marked by the shortage of electricity supply triggered by illegal closing of pipelines by Texas energy consortium Enron, increasing population, market manipulation and higher retail electricity prices.

Is America On the Way to the Next Energy Crisis?

Today, the nation has abundance of coal, natural gas, oil reserves that could last thousands of years. So, it may seem impossible to face energy crises like we had in 70s. Plus, there are no energy-driven security threats so far. The country hasn’t been facing embargoes.

However, it can’t be denied that excessive energy consumption will lead to the nation to another energy crisis.

According to one study, an average American consumes as much energy as 370 Ethiopians, 128 Bangladeshis and 13 Chinese. The same study finds that the USA consumes 24% of the world’s energy. Needless to say such rate of energy consumption may shrink our natural resources.

But excessive energy consumption is just the one concern. The maintenance and security of the energy infrastructure is the next challenge.

Charles McConnell, executive director of Rice University’s Energy and Environment Initiative, says,” The U.S. is making itself less resilient against catastrophic failure from a major weather event or terror attack every day. Our infrastructure increasingly depends on much less secure, resilient and reliable sources of energy, like wind, solar or even natural gas. These sources do not provide the dependable availability of nuclear or coal.”

He also states that many of “coal and nuclear plants are no longer operating” and many of them will be phased out soon.

It is also worth to mention the U.S. imports of crude oil supplied by OPEC nations are 34%. The security or risk of oil imports from these nations is determined by the logistics reliability and the supplying nation’s relationship with the U.S. So, the supply of oil to the US is likely to be affected if export government turns unstable or hostile towards us.

On the top of that, the recent Hurricane Harvey has led to the shutdown of the major oil refineries in Texas, including the largest one in the USA. Many experts opine that it will negatively affect oil supply throughout the USA.

Solar Energy Can Mitigate the Risk of Energy Crisis:

Renewable energy resources like wind, sunlight and geothermal heat can reduce our dependency on the vanishing fossil fuels, mitigating the risk of power crisis.

Solar technology can be ultimate and feasible solution to the looming energy crises. This is because it is more affordable, prevalent and accessible energy source across the USA. For example, a solar panel is more common in US households and helps people save significantly on both electricity usage and bills as well. Solar energy is also a clean energy resource and doesn’t pollute environment or causes health hazards like coal and oil.

And the statistics of solar power usage in the USA are encouraging.

One million solar panels have been installed on the America’s rooftops by 2016, accounting for 27.2 GW of solar energy. It is enough to power 6 million homes.

USA is the second largest solar energy consumer after China.

In 2016, a solar panel was installed every 36 minutes.  

By 2022, more than 18 GW of solar PV capacity will be installed annually.

Despite these startling facts, solar energy accounts nearly 2-3% of the total energy consumption in the USA. It means that we have to wait for more years to see the real solar revolution.

To make that possible, solar energy should be used and installed on the wider scale. Is that possible?

Here Eon Musk presents his solution ,”If you wanted to power the entire U.S. with solar panels, it would take a fairly small corner of Nevada or Texas or Utah; you only need about 100 miles by 100 miles of solar panels to power the entire United States.,”

“The batteries you need to store the energy, to make sure you have 24/7 power, is 1 mile by 1 mile. One square-mile. That’s it.” added he.

How to Incorporate Solar Energy in Daily Life?

We can lend our contribution to save infinite energy resources by switching to solar energy. It will not only conserve the energy for longer, but also keep environment clean and green. Let’s have a look on some ways to use solar energy in daily life.

Solar Panels

Solar panels are one of the affordable and simple ways to harness solar power. They are rectangular metal boards comprised with multiple solar cells over their surface. These photovoltaic cells are made up of two slices of semi-conducting material like silicon. These cells convert sunlight into electricity when exposed to the direct sun.

Solar Vehicles

Though solar vehicles are not common like their gasoline counterparts, they’ll likely to showing up in near future. Such vehicles will get energy to be operated from the solar panels installed on the roof and side.

Solar Chargers:

Solar chargers use solar energy to charge your devices like mobile phone. These chargers are generally placed by a sunny window to make them store the energy.

Water heaters:

The power of the sun also heats up our water! Solar water heater is the best way to save money on electricity or gas bills. There are several types of solar water heater developed for different climates.

Bottom Line:

Solar energy is more than an alternative energy when the nation is stood on the verge of another energy crisis in near future, if it is not happening now. Apart from minimizing energy crisis risk, solar energy won’t harm environment when compared to conventional resources like oil and coal. In this way, we can hope that the next generation will fuel up their vehicle without having to queue up for hours.