At Danby, we believe it’s important to Do the Right Thing. So, in advance of this year’s Earth Day, we want to highlight aspects of our business that focus on sustainability and how we strive to do everything we can to act like it’s “Earth day every day”.

Reduce 

We are constantly innovating and working towards reducing our environmental impact. One way we are doing this is by reducing the use of hazardous chemicals in our products. In fact, Danby was one of the first manufacturers in North America to be 100% hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) free. 

We also aim to reduce the amount of energy that our appliances consume. By following energy-efficient practices, our Energy Star compliant appliances help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants entering the atmosphere and our landfills.  

Reuse 

To reduce the amount of waste entering our landfills, Danby has an extensive reverse logistics process that remanufactures previously owned units and sells these refurbished products at a reduced cost. Our reverse logistics program produces approximately 46,000 units per year that would otherwise go to landfills.

Recycle 

For the units that fail to meet factory specifications, all gases are removed and collected safely. Then, all the components are broken down and sent to be recycled. Our warehouse and office recycling programs are constantly evolving and working to become more efficient every year.

With more time spent at home over the last year because of the pandemic, the world has been driving and travelling a lot less, which is proving to have a positive impact on the environment. This goes to show how our human actions can impact the environment, and that reducing our carbon emissions (at least on a personal level), might not be that difficult.

Keep reading to learn about some ways you can act like its Earth Day, every day, from the comfort of your own home.

Going green in the kitchen 

There are lots of little things we could do around the kitchen that can help reduce your carbon footprint.  

Starting with your refrigerator. If it’s near a window or in direct sunlight, its working extra hard to keep your food cold, making it much less energy-efficient. If you have an older fridge, you may want to consider upgrading to a new Energy Star model – but be sure to recycle the old one properly!  

For the items inside the fridge, buying more organic foods and reducing your meat and dairy intake are a step in the right direction. Other eco-friendly practices include eliminating single-use plastics, switching to a natural dish soap or detergent, and only running the dishwasher when it is full. 

Also, lots of people don’t know that using a dishwasher is MUCH more efficient than handwashing. On average, a full dishwasher uses about 13 litres of water to clean 144 items. Washing the same load by hand uses about 100 litres of water on average, according to a study by the University of Bonn in Germany.

Going green in the bathroom 

The bathroom is another great place to start if you’re trying to reduce your water consumption. Practice turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face. Try to limit your shower time as well (yes, cutting down on the long, hot showers might be tough).

Be sure to check your taps as a leaky tap can waste nearly 50 gallons of water a week! While a leaky toilet can cost you upwards of 200 gallons a day!

Going green in the laundry room 

Washing and drying your clothes accounts for a significant part of your home’s energy usage. Consider an energy-efficient washing machine, as they can use less than half the amount of water than a conventional top loader.

Other ways to make your laundry process greener is to use cold water, use environmentally-friendly detergent, and try to only wash full loads! Also, try hang drying when possible! Hang drying your clothes can also save you from unfortunate clothing shrinkage.

Going green in the bedroom 

Green in the bedroom sounds more like a colour palette than a lifestyle choice, but here are some options to make your space a little eco-friendlier. Invest in black-out blinds. These will not only help you sleep but they will help to keep your room cooler during the day, so your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard.

Additionally, if you’re not using one of your appliances, unplug it, this keeps them from sucking up any power when they’re not in use.

Going green in the living room 

In the living room, start by replacing your old-school incandescent lightbulbs with CFL or LED bulbs. You can save up to 66 percent on your home’s electricity bills by replacing your lightbulbs — plus, CFL bulbs produce dramatically fewer greenhouse gases.

If it’s time to replace your furniture, consider switching to bamboo furniture. It’s as strong as oak, but grows infinitely faster, so it’s a much more sustainable option when it comes to furniture.

Together, we can make a more sustainable future! 

Blog content inspired by GreenTumble.

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