Your country has most likely real green electricity providers, as they purchase or implement the appropriate capacities of green electricity for each customer. The other electricity providers only offer an electricity mix. The share of green electricity is sold more expensively as an eco-tariff to some customers, while the other customers theoretically only receive the shares of gas, coal, etc. http://www.imodeler.info/ro?key=CF8Gsu47BnYHLi5NHUWXKVA

LED 'light bulbs' are now available for really all lamps, even with pleasantly warm light colors. Also, think about the lights outside - are they LED as well?

First of all: private use of hydropower is possible, but absolutely the exception and must be well considered legally and in its effects on ecosystems. We can also only operate wind power plants with consideration for our neighbors (noise development). Some properties are actually sufficiently exposed to the wind. But many are later disappointed with how little yield they have then. Citizen energy really makes sense - if, for example, residents or also local compenies join together in a cooperative and usually operate larger wind turbines nearby. This promotes the acceptance of wind power in the area and the return does not end up with the large investor, but with the local people.

An electricity storage system primarily helps to maximize the yield of the PV system if the electricity is not fed into the grid for little money, but comes out of the battery in the evening and then allows the full electricity price to be saved. Another advantage may be that some batteries work as an island system in the event of a power outage. The already mentioned virtual power plants then access your battery from the outside and make the electricity available virtually in the neighborhood and compensate you for it. In addition, power grids are stabilized and even with little wind and no sun, we can consume renewable energies. Note on lithium: Like many other raw materials, lithium is often problematic during mining. However, the life cycle assessment must take into account that we can recycle lithium for hundreds of years. In the basement, older lithium batteries from the automotive industry could also come to a second life later or, alternatively, sodium batteries that require more space.

Motion detectors make sense in all rooms including outdoor areas, where we potentially let the light burn for too long, for example in the hallway, basement, garage, etc. Of course, it is important that the light does not stay on for too long.

Standby power consumption is often reminded and extrapolated. For example, if a screen consumes 5 watts in standby, that is 120 watt hours (Wh) per day, i.e. about one eighth of a kilowatt hour (35 cents/kWh). Companies can quite easily calculate for themselves what savings potential all their computers, screens, beamers and even routers have if they do not use StandBy.

Modern lamps require little electricity, and yet it is worthwhile not to let them burn unnecessarily, for example when we are not in the room for a long time. Corridors, toilet rooms, cellars often have the light burning unnecessarily. In some indoor and outdoor areas, companies also sometimes have the light on too long or too early.

Thermal insulation is extremely important. Investing here means saving energy and costs. The argument that building will then become too expensive must be clearly put into perspective. One way, of course, is to have to insulate smaller living spaces. The other to become generally more efficient when building. Then ecological building materials will also become affordable. Old houses that can no longer be sensibly insulated are perhaps worth so much more as a new building that financing is not a problem. (Note: the figures are for Germany)

Building materials such as concrete, plaster, steel or even aluminum have a high ecological footprint and mean many greenhouse gases. The foamed insulation materials are also in the criticism. In addition, the negative consequences of conventional paints and adhesives are often unknown, which then lead to toxic exhaust gases in waste incineration plants due to ultimately ineffective filters. Natural building materials and colors are significantly more expensive, although the non-natural materials are often extremely expensive when it comes to disposal. So it is the good feeling, the better smell and the healthier building biology that make us do the right thing here.

Solar thermal energy makes it possible to heat water over part of the roof area most of the year and then use it for hot water or even to support heating. It is quite inexpensive in the actual purchase - only pipes have to be laid and the heat for the hot water or heating must be transferred via a heat exchanger. Since solar thermal energy works mainly in sunshine, it is often suggested to install PV modules on the same surface and to electrically heat water over them. The yield in kW is higher with solar thermal energy, but the installation of PV is easier.

With old heaters with small radiators, the heating regularly generates over 60 degrees, so that the hot water with over 60 degrees can also be free of legionella. Modern heat pumps, many district heating networks and also the use of solar thermal energy on less sunny days can lead to temperatures of less than 50 degrees for heating. For the hot water, it must then always be reheated elaborately. On the other hand, if the temperature of the hot water can also be lowered, a lot of energy can be saved. However, this is only possible in compliance with the generally accepted rules of technology, otherwise legionella can occur. A help can be modern methods of ultrafiltration.

Air conditioning systems are also gaining in importance in temperate latitudes. Intelligent construction and ventilation and the use of thermal protection roller blinds can avoid these power guzzlers. In warm regions, a corresponding education of the guests can take place. Often a fan is also useful.

Food from the region, from the weekly market and from the farm shop have not been transported far (there are of course also exceptions there) and strengthen the local economy. However, there are also inefficient short transport routes when vehicles with little load drive to the points of sale. E-mobility and cargo bikes can help here. Unfortunately, the regional is often also played out against the organic offer: regional, sprayed with pesticides food is not as good as regional organic food, and regional meat is not as good for the environment as the renunciation of meat.

Food is wasted from the field to the factories and transport routes to the throw away by us, the restaurants and the supermarkets. This ultimately means that more areas are needed for cultivation and thus forests are cut down and biodiversity is endangered with sprays and fertilizers. We can shop more specifically, throw away goods not only because of the best before date, save food in the household (e.g. freeze bananas or make durable spreads and soups from leftover vegetables yourself), save specifically rescued food (e.g. too small or wrinkled goods) and also donate leftover food in many places, e.g. to the food banks. Canteens and kiosks and also events can query the demand in advance and thus prevent food from being thrown away. A dish can also be deliberately offered the next day, which advertises the utilization of the leftovers from the previous day.

Despite the claim to do without your own company car or to share cars in the pool with others, allows you to save a lot of money and is good for a better world.

Car sharing can be organized with your own fleet - also across areas and, if necessary, also for private use after working hours or on weekends.

There are almost hostile prejudices against electric cars: child labor, coal power, risk of explosion, farmers are expropriated, fear of range, loss of value, etc. It is true: Like every car, electric cars are also a waste of raw materials and energy. But if car, then the electric car is the best solution, because gasoline and diesel perform even worse in all areas. Many studies or Statements by laymen make a mistake: The controversial lithium must not only be counted with its footprint from mining, but this must be reduced by the many times that lithium is recycled again and again in the decades. In addition, what few know: Gasoline contains almost as much electrical energy on 100km for production and transport as it is needed in an electric car for the journey. E-cars would not have to be so expensive and batteries not so big - charging options are more important. Electricity at public charging stations is currently surprisingly expensive, although it would clearly be more important to add the costs of the climate disaster and air pollution to the price of gasoline and diesel. http://www.imodeler.info/ro? key=Col-EWhyCbIR_KGGP7mXbLw Hydrogen and synthetic fuels in cars are nonsense. There are so-called memes fuelled by individual interests (keyword "Lex Porsche" https://www.cleanthinking.de/lex-porsche-lindner-wissing-e-fuels/), 'ego trolls', which are picked up by 'Troll-Lemmingen', who simply like to be against something and do not want to change. With both fuels, green electricity is first generated and then with loss of efficiency to hydrogen or e-fuel. For e-fuels, carbon is also missing - already today, few airlines that have started with it have a problem buying carbon on the market. Consideo has also gained important insights about hydrogen: https://www.imodeler.de/a/ConsideoPaper-BEM-Dt.pdf In companies, of course, electric cars are also associated with additional expenses. However, if the electricity itself is produced, the self-consumption of electricity can be maximized and the costs are even lower in the end.

Basically, there are three types of banks - the inexpensive online banks with great conditions, the local savings banks and cooperative banks or branches of the major banks, and a very few real eco-banks (GLS Bank, Triodos, ....). The savings interest rates of eco-banks are quite decent, while the short-term interest rates and fees are less attractive. But all sorts of things are not financed without regard to ethical and ecological standards. Even the local banks focus on the maximum return here. Globally, Green Finance already plays a huge role. Investors pay attention to ethical standards and thus put pressure on the industry to adhere to standards or even become a pioneer.

Actually, it is logical that green investments have to yield the most return - but to be fair, it must be said that at least in the short term, bad fluctuations also happen here. With the Ukraine attack by Russia, money was withdrawn from renewable energies and relocated to the old oil industry and weapons production. Due to homemade problems, e-mobility does not get going and suddenly the prices of lithium suppliers are swaying. (not every lithium supplier is sustainable) On the other hand, investments in wind and solar parks or crowd financing of other sustainable projects, such as energy renovation, are solid. Companies can also take sustainable criteria into account when investing as far as permissible or also accompany citizen energy projects.

Sustainable insurance is still a young development and yet there are now some.

This is about living and working in the region, about strengthening the community. The birdhouse from a social workshop or the PV system from the electrician on site (if he has further training). The award criteria of the municipalities must of course be legally secure. If the work is good, a discreet advertising sign can also draw attention to the craft business in return.

At Fair-Trade, we usually think of the label of the same name - which is no longer in disrepute. But there are also other labels - some rather greenwashing, some quite trying to do better. Fair is not always the same as organic and organic is not always fair (but some labels combine both). The importance is immense: fair working conditions in the world ensure less migration, more climate protection and a more peaceful world. Extremely remarkable is the background of chocolate and the connection between child slavery (!) And the common products from Nutella to children's chocolate to the Mars bar: https://edition.cnn.com/world/freedom-project Companies and events can therefore be pioneers for a better world themselves here in the food or in the work clothes or the hand-sewn football.

Volunteering, whether at the fire brigade, in the sports club or the help in the neighborhood, is enormously important for togetherness and society. Companies can help here to honor volunteering and accompany it through donations.

Globally, conventional cotton is an environmental problem due to the use of sprays and the high water consumption. In addition, the textile factories poison entire rivers and exploit people during conventional dyeing. In addition to ecological cotton, there are other natural fibers with sometimes much less damage to the environment. In the case of virgin wool, attention must be paid to the certification, which excludes animal suffering. By the way, there is now also outdoor clothing made of densely woven organic cotton as an alternative to the plastic fibers. Plastic fibers always allow microplastics to enter the wastewater during washing and microplastics in the environment may lead to multi-resistant super germs - a long history. With the points for clothing, if you do not buy conventional cotton, but sometimes choose recycled and sometimes organic cotton, you can give a full 3 points for both. By the way, organic is also possible with curtains, tablecloths and bed linen!!!

Organic cleaning agents can be found in all supermarkets and drugstores. An essential feature is biodegradability and, of course, the vegetable raw materials as an alternative to petroleum-based raw materials. Even if conventional cleaning agents are classified as safe, organic cleaning agents are certainly safer and are less harmful to health and also burden the sewage treatment plants less.

This does not refer to the skater track or the artificial turf sports field, but motorsport, skiing on artificially snowy slopes, kiting in bird protection areas, sailboats with biocides on the underwater ship, golfing with high use of water and pesticides, quad rides into nature, skydiving, etc. Of course, these hobbies are fun, which is why it is rewarded if we actively choose the more environmentally friendly alternatives here and thus achieve a rethink with others.

The area we need for rooms and outdoor places means the area that is sealed, the building material that is needed, and most often the room that needs to be heated. If we use the rooms here, possibly sublet them or share them with others (e.g. co-working spaces), we take big steps towards sustainability. Especially in the course of home office, the shrinking of company space is not a step backwards, but a progress.