2020 Australian Summer Brings Devastating Fires.

2020 Climate Change Update

Climate change is affecting our planet more than anyone imagined it would. It is critical that people commit to protect our planet otherwise the world will continue to experience devastating events such as large wildfires and hurricanes. Yes, the world has dealt with fires and hurricanes before, so it is not something that has not been seen before. However, natural disasters are becoming more and more difficult to manage as global conditions change and seems that the intensity worsens.

If you are still skeptical about climate change, take a look at the news and read the updates on Australian fires during the first few days of 2020. According to CNN, millions of acres in the New South Wales region have been burnt (lost) due to raging fires causing immediate death to almost half a billion animals. Unfortunately, the summer has just started in the Southern Hemisphere so, it is likely these fires will continue unless the area gets more rain.

There are several organizations putting efforts together to help the firefighters and New South Wales population deal with this horrific natural disaster. If you are interested in learning more about these fires and how to help their community click right here.

Are people in the Northern Hemisphere ready for Summer and Hurricanes?

As these horrific events take place in the Southern Hemisphere, people in South Florida should consider this a friendly reminder for Hurricane Season which starts in early June and ends in November. As South Florida residents we CANNOT be indifferent to climate change. Natural disasters have already intensified and there is only so much people can do once a major hurricane hits their neighborhood. It is time to act.

What changes can you make at home?

Ideally, the world population needs to adopt clean energy sources such as wind and solar power and/or find ways to reduce fossil fuels in the atmosphere. Using adequate energy sources and saving energy is what will ultimately help our planet in the long run. Now, you may be wondering how can I help conserve energy to help the environment apart from recycling or buying an electric car? Glad you ask, according to Energy Sage, there are a few options for people to help the environment from their own homes. Here they are:

Energy Efficiency at Home

• Reduce Energy Consumption by either using energy-saving appliances or by e.g. hang-drying your clothes instead of using your dryer.
• Change your light bulbs to light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs); these bad boys can use 25-80% less electricity
• Use smart Power strips which help save energy by shutting off the power in electronics when they are not in use.
• Invest in Energy efficient Appliances: just like electric cars, these can be a bit pricier at first, but they will pay themselves out through time in reduced operating costs.
• Reduce water heating expenses: for those living in cold areas this can be much more difficult to achieve. However, if you can afford an energy efficient water heater, go for it.

• Install Energy Efficient Windows: windows are one of the biggest sources of energy waste and they also account for a bulk of your total energy bill. Both cold and warm weather locations are affected by keeping the inside of your home warm or cool. Storm Tight Impact Windows and impact doors are Energy Star Rated and can reduce your energy consumption by up to 40%, which pays for your investment in a short period of time. Storm Tight energy efficient impact windows and doors are made with Pure Virgin Vinyl frames and double-glazing panes which keep both cold and hot air from entering the home. Impact windows provide excellent insulation, helping to isolate home interiors from weather changes and contributing to significant savings on monthly utility bills.
• Storm Tight Windows are rated Florida Miami-Dade County Cat 5 approved. This is the highest rating an Impact Window can receive. Only Impact Windows with these ratings will provide the highest impact protection, they will be better suited to protect your home and family from storms and home intrusions.