As many San Franciscans continue to shelter in place in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, it means some of us are spending more time working, parenting, cooking, and binge-watching TV at home. Keeping the lights on longer at home might not seem like a big deal, but greenhouse gas emissions from our electricity use do add up and have an environmental impact.
If you’ve thought about ways to make life at home more eco-friendly, CleanPowerSF is here to help. Here are some easy tips for fighting climate change without leaving the couch:
- Upgrade to SuperGreen. As a CleanPowerSF customer, you can choose to upgrade your home electricity service to receive 100% renewable energy. That means electricity derived entirely from wind and solar power. The best part is, it costs less than a cup of coffee to do it. On average, upgrading to SuperGreen costs our customers only $3/month per household. This is an especially great option for customers who may not be able to install solar on their home or otherwise make an upfront investment in clean energy upgrades. To start getting 100% renewable energy tomorrow, sign-up today at: cleanpowersf.org/supergreen. It’s that simple. Hint: Have your PG&E account number handy (it’s on your bill).
- Power up and charge up during the day. When it comes to renewable energy, timing is everything! During the day, solar energy is prevalent and more of the energy grid is powered by renewable energy (in California, peak solar production occurs around 12 noon and can serve as much as 50% of the grid!). At night when solar energy goes offline, we rely more on emission-producing energy (like natural gas) to meet electricity demand. To reduce your impact, charge phones and computers, and run appliances like washers during the day whenever possible!
- Pro Tip:
- ✅ Use electricity and charge up from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- 😐 Avoid using electricity from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. whenever possible
- Bonus Resource: You can view the California energy grid’s current resources mix, electricity demand, and emissions in real time! Check out California ISO’s current outlook.
- Pro Tip:
- If buying new, buy efficient and all-electric. When you buy a new appliance, you are making an investment that will impact your energy usage for years to come. By purchasing products with an Energy Star rating and transitioning away from natural gas appliances to all-electric stoves and water heaters, you are making an investment that will help the environment every time you turn on the switch.
- Looking for more: The Bay Area’s BayRen program has tips and programs for homeowners and renters.
This crisis is impacting all of us differently and not everyone has the opportunity to work remotely or stay home. The SFPUC’s COVID-19 response page has more information on how CleanPowerSF is responding to the health crisis and resources to lower your bill for ways to save money and reduce your energy use.
SFPUC 