Today is Earth Day. Established in 1970, Earth Day continues to be a popular observance across the world. Many popular tech companies celebrate the day in a variety of different ways. This year, Google is offering up tips on how to use Google Assistant to go green.
No matter your political leanings on the subject, I think we can all agree that there is a benefit in conserving the resources we have. Whether that means taking shorter showers, driving a more fuel efficient vehicle, or recycling your waste. Being responsible with our resources does not have to come with a political connotation.
Many of you own a device or perhaps a few devices that use the Google Assistant. Here are just a few ideas and tips that Google wants you to be aware of this Earth Day.
Switch to LEDs: Swapping out just five incandescent bulbs with LED lights can save you up to $75 per year—plus, LEDs also last up to 50 times longer than incandescents, with a total life of at least 35,000 hours. Even better, ENERGY STAR-certified smart bulbs like Philips Hue paired with the Assistant can help you control the lights with just your voice, or set lighting schedules to use electricity only when you need it.
Outsmart “Vampire Voltage:” Home appliances consume up to 75% of their energy when turned off. There are easy ways to minimize this: use power strips when possible so you can turn multiple devices off at once, and unplug your phone charger when you’re done using it. You can also better manage multiple connected devices throughout your home with a Google Home Hub, or remotely with Google Assistant.
Upgrade your thermostat: Many utilities offer rebates on smart thermostats because they make saving energy easy. Smart thermostats like the Nest Learning Thermostat can save an average savings of $131 to $145 a year (of course, individual savings are not guaranteed), according to two independent studies. That’s because Nest thermostats make smart, automatic temperature adjustments to save energy based on your habits. And you can even say “Hey Google, set the thermostat to eco mode” to further optimize your home’s energy efficiency.
Choose ENERGY STAR certified appliances: Did you know that appliances contribute to a quarter of your home’s energy use? To optimize how that energy is used, choose an ENERGY STAR-certified brand like LG, GE Appliances, Samsung, and Whirlpool, and connect it with Google Assistant to easily control your household appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens and air purifiers. Certain window air conditioning units and ceiling fans also work with the Google Assistant: Just say, “Hey Google, turn off the fan” to a Haiku fan as you leave a room or schedule for your LG, Midea or Toshiba AC to turn off at the same time each day.
Monitor and protect from leaks: According to the EPA, the average family can lose 9,400 gallons of water annually from household leaks alone. To curb this waste, you can use leak detectors like LeakSmart, or installFlo by Moen to immediately get notifications in case of leaking pipes and use the Assistant to shut off the water.
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These are just a few tips and suggestions from the Google team. There are plenty of other ways to go green that do not involve using the Google Assistant. Just do some web searching and you’ll find lists like the one on the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s website here.
What do you think of these Google Assistant tips from Google for Earth Day? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter, or Facebook. You can also comment on our MeWe page by joining the MeWe social network.
Last Updated on February 3, 2021.
