How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint With Eco

Jan 26, 2024

This post is sponsored by TCL.

The fight against global warming is a battle that affects us all. In its most recent report, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stressed that “Human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gasses, have unequivocally caused global warming.” The upside is that everyone can be an environmental steward for our planet, whether it be through extraordinary gestures or via everyday decisions that amount to significant contributions over our lifetime. “Many options are available for reducing emission-intensive consumption, including through behavioral and lifestyle changes,” the IPCC report advises.

When looking at the large-scale global picture, reversing climate change can seem like an insurmountable task, especially when we view that challenge from the perspective of an individual contributor. But there is considerable power in the small actions of everyday people. Anne-Marie Bonneau, known as the Zero-Waste Chef, said it best: “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”

Using eco-friendly technology is a great long-term, sustainable method of contributing to the battle against climate change and investing in a greener future. By supporting companies that manufacture eco-friendly technology and have also committed to carbon neutrality, you’re bolstering broader efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions at the global level.

TCL, a leading consumer electronics brand, is an example of a company that has made a dedication to sustainability in both the products that it manufactures and its corporate action plan. TCL was founded in 1981 and now operates in 160 global markets, specializing in the research, development, and manufacturing of consumer electronics. Because TCL is a fully vertically integrated manufacturer, it does not need to outsource the manufacturing of its products or core components, giving the company more control over its entire process, including building factories that use energy-saving technologies, developing eco-friendly technology, and minimizing waste in everyday operations. The products that TCL produces are considered to meet or exceed national energy-efficiency standards.

Consumers have the power to vote with their dollars, choosing to support companies that align with their values and have made public their dedication to building a greener, more sustainable planet. By making purchases from companies such as these, your money is going toward a greater cause and contributing to the bottom line of a corporation that isn’t eroding the earth. Asking ourselves one simple question, Is this company committed to fighting climate change? before making a purchase can have an impact on how we’re either contributing to global warming or helping combat it.

In June 2023, TCL hosted the Global Ecological Partner Conference, gathering more than 500 executives and business partners from different industries to establish and uphold a new green standard for the manufacturing industry. To build a sustainable ecosystem within the industry, TCL wants to focus on sustainable technological innovation and reaching carbon neutrality, setting the industry’s benchmark for green development.

The UN’s IPCC report states that “finance, technology, and international cooperation are critical enablers for accelerated climate action.” When global corporations lead by example, others follow suit. TCL’s commitment to carbon neutrality includes advances in sustainable product innovation, overarching eco-friendly designs, dual carbon-target pledges, and more all fully detailed in the company’s White Paper on Carbon Neutrality.

As a major shipper of smart TVs, 23.7 million in 2022, to be exact, TCL recognizes that making its shipments and packaging sustainable is critical to the company’s environmental mission. This means embracing eco-conscious materials across its product designs and up to the final delivery: using soybean ink, FSC-certified recyclable paper and packaging materials, and ABS recyclable plastics.

At the heart of TCL’s sustainability efforts is the technology that goes into its cutting-edge product designs. Household appliances are notorious for their energy usage, whether it’s sucking up electricity, using gas, or going through large volumes of water. According to research from the Birmingham Energy Institute, the cooling industry alone accounts for approximately 10% of global CO2 emissions.

TCL’s focus on eco-friendly technology extends across its entire range of household appliances, from refrigerators and washing machines to air conditioners, in its bid to create a greener future.

The USDA states that food loss and waste make up a staggering one-third of the food intended for human consumption in the US, and all that waste goes on to produce significant greenhouse gasses. In the US Environmental Protection Agency’s 2021 report on the environmental effects of food waste, it found that annual food loss and waste in the US have CO2 emissions equal to that of 42 coal-fired power plants. Technology that helps keep food fresher longer and prevents spoilage can help reduce the amount that ends up in landfills producing greenhouse gasses.

Select TCL refrigerators use Automatic Anion-Releasing Technology (AAT) to keep the interior clean and help maintain the freshness of your food, in turn reducing unnecessary food waste. The special mineral-material coating, a rare natural tourmaline ore, in the fridge cabinet’s inner lining efficiently releases negative oxygen ions that help with bacteria prevention, odor removal, dust removal, and antioxidation.

The multi-air-flow design in TCL refrigerators encircles food with cool air, keeping items appropriately chilled and preserving freshness. The air-flow design employs TCL’s Swing Flow air outlet, which maintains the rate of cooling while circulating uniform internal airflow. The T-Temp. feature allows you to create three separate temperature-specific environments depending on the type of food that you’re storing.

There are two natural consequences of using energy-efficient technology in your home: saving money and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a win-win. The expertly designed Twin Eco Inverter in TCL’s refrigerators not only enables long-lasting food freshness but also saves energy and lowers your electricity bill. It uses the Total No Frost process to provide a steady interior temperature, inhibiting the growth of ice, which can make your appliance consume more energy.

TCL refrigerators use bilateral soft LED lighting that saves on energy consumption and won’t cause the interior temperature to fluctuate like with warm bulbs. And if you ever leave the fridge door open for too long, an alarm will sound as a reminder to close the door.

Select TCL washing machines are rated Class A in energy efficiency and noise level, the highest efficiency rating on the scale. This means that while you’re saving money on electricity and water usage, you’re also making contributions toward the climate change battle every time you do the laundry.

Using energy-efficient, eco-friendly appliances and technology is a meaningful step toward reducing your carbon footprint. Creating an efficient home that uses less energy and helps reduce food waste will save you money while helping the environment. Learn more about TCL and how its products and sustainability action plan are helping move toward a greener future for us all.

This is a sponsored post. The product choices and opinions expressed in this article are from the sponsor and do not reflect the editorial direction of MakeUseOf or its staff.

Kristen is a freelance writer and former magazine editor with a master’s degree in publishing. She is a mother of three, music lover, outdoor enthusiast, and legitimate word nerd.