June 2019 was one for the record books in many ways, however none may be more significant than the impact on the climate record book. According to four different analyses from various organizations which include the NOAA and NASA, this past June was the warmest June in recorded historyandmdash;a span of more than 140 years. Despite the fact that much of the United States actually saw below-average temperatures, the northern regions of Europe, Siberia, Alaska, and Arctic Canada saw dramatic increases in temperature over the 20th century averages. This continues the trend which sees 2019 on pace to become one of the warmest years on record since 1880.
Whatandrsquo;s the most worrisome about this sudden worldwide increase in temperature is that this is yet another step in the trend which has seen global temperatures increasing every year since the late 1970s. It was the 414th straight month in which temperatures across the globe were above average according to the NOAAandrsquo;s database. It was the 43rd straight year that the month of June was above average. The NOAA also noted that nine of the past ten warmest Junes in history have occurred this decade, and the Japan Meteorological Society noted that each of the five warmest Junes in history have been in the last five years.
All of this points to one unsettling fact: the planet is only continuing to get warmer and warmer, and that could have devastating consequences in the future. In fact, the polar areas of the world are already feeling the heat in a quite literal sense. Europeandrsquo;s Copernicus Earth Observation Programme noted what they described as “unprecedentedandrdquo; wildfire numbers during June and into early July, including 400 wildfires in this normally cool region.
While there is unquestionably a resounding message regarding our global climate and the work that needs to be done to contain it, there are also some things we can and should take away on a personal level for our daily lives. While much of Northern California is environmentally-conscious and takes pride in eco-friendly living, there has never been a better time to renew our efforts to shrink our collective carbon footprint. Here are a few ways you could do that in your own home:
- Switch to Solar: Solar energy is a great way of reducing your carbon footprint in your own home. Much of our energy comes from burning of fossil fuels, which means the more energy you use the more youandrsquo;re contributing to the air pollution which has been arguably the biggest factor in the increase in global temperatures. Solar is clean, renewable, and gives off no air pollution or harmful byproducts, making it one of the cleanest and most dependable sources of electricity you could rely on for your home.
- Install energy-efficient heating and cooling: Heating and cooling are two of the biggest energy consumers in your home, and the older your system is the more energy it needs to keep running. Replacing your old, outdated system with a new, energy-efficient model helps you save energy (and the environment) as well as save money on your monthly utility costs!
- Install energy-efficient lighting: Switching to energy-efficient lighting options will not only help the environment, but save you money as well. LED bulbs use only a tiny fraction of the energy that traditional incandescent bulbs do, and they last significantly longer as well. That means fewer annoying burned-out bulbs and reduced impact on the environment. Win-win.
If youandrsquo;re ready to do your part in the ongoing battle against climate change, Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical and Solar can help! Give us a call at (408) 868-5500 and let us know how we can improve your home!