Climate change has been in the news a lot lately, and with all the talk and information out there it is easy to be overwhelmed and not know where to start. The science behind the study of climate change is complex and can be difficult for a layman to understand. While it will take global action to effect any sort of real solution, making small changes to your life can help lessen your personal impact, or carbon footprint, on the planet.
The first thing we need to understand is, what exactly is a carbon footprint?
Simply put, this is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that come from the production and use of a product or service. These gasses trap heat in our atmosphere and cause global warming. An individual’s carbon footprint is calculated based on the following factors:
- How far you travel and the method of transport. Air travel has a very large carbon footprint and older vehicle models create more emissions than new ones.
- What you eat – meat has a higher carbon footprint than a vegetarian diet
- How much you purchase, what you purchase, and what you throw away. Vintage clothing and furniture have a lower carbon footprint than mass-produced, imported items, and we all know the impact of single-use plastics.
- The energy usage in your home.
When you think of the last two factors, it’s safe to say you probably didn’t think that your choice of kitchen sink mixer would have much to do with it, did you? Well, thanks to innovative technology from our partners, Grohe, you can do your bit for the planet by turning on the tap!
Grohe Water Systems promise to reinvent the way you think about tap water. The first in the range, Grohe Blue delivers perfect taste straight from the tap, both still and sparkling. The bottled water industry accounts for approximately 3.8% of all beverages sold in South Africa annually. This equates to around 502 million litres per year! Imagine how much plastic would be prevented from landing in the ocean or landfill sites if you never had to buy sparkling water again? This seemingly small change in your kitchen can make a massive change to your carbon footprint.
Now if sparkling water has such an impact on the climate, think about how much electricity you use boiling water for a pot of pasta, or how many times a day you boil the kettle to make coffee? The Grohe Red system eliminates the need to wait for a watched pot to boil ever again by delivering boiling water at a perfect 100°C straight from the tap, instantaneously. Even the fastest induction hob takes 4.2 minutes to boil water from cold. Now, having water constantly on the boil might not seem like it would save energy, but thanks to Grohe Red’s titanium boiler, it actually uses less energy than a kettle does. On top of this, getting boiling water from the tap means you only use exactly the amount you need every time, saving even more energy.
So there you have it. Cutting edge technology in your kitchen is an easy way to lessen your carbon footprint while adding style and convenience to your home. For more information about Grohe water systems and their other groundbreaking technologies, call us!
