Reduce your CO2 footprint by changing when you use electricity
Shifting when you draw power matters almost as much as electrifying in the first place.
You already know about the carbon benefits of electrifying your home and transport. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already made changes like driving an EV or installing a heat pump. But there’s another easy change you can make: switching when you use electricity:
It turns out that electricity produced in the afternoon (noon-4pm) is about 4 percentage points greener than electricity produced 8pm-8am. And this difference will only increase over the next few years as more solar and wind projects connect to the grid.
How to make the change: use smart apps to schedule electrical usage
There’s a good chance your car, thermostat, and water heater have apps that allow you to set a schedule. For instance: you can use the Toyota or Tesla to set your car to avoid charging 8pm-midnight, or the EcoNet app to set your water heater to 130° during the day but only 120° at other times.
Sleep better and save money
Making the switch to greener electricity not only reduces your carbon footprint, but can also save you money. Many utilities now offer “time of day” pricing that encourages using electricity during off-peak times, which includes the noon-4pm sweet spot for greener energy. In my case, enrolling in that program scheduling car charging and water heating saved about 30% a month.