Going green on St. Patrick’s Day


March 17, 2021 | 3min read

St. Patrick’s Day is a traditional holiday that has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture. The holiday has adopted new traditions as it becomes more mainstream. Freedom Forever wants to make “going green” a new tradition for this holiday. Going green is about making minor adjustments throughout the day. So take a sip of your Shamrock Shake as you learn about a few ways to go green and celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day!

Practice greener driving 

Sure, the best thing to do is invest in an electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid, but learning how to drive greener is a small thing you can do today. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, there are a few things you can do today to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions from your current gas vehicle. First of all, check that your car is up to date with maintenance. Replacing filters, changing your oil, and keeping your tires inflated and rotated can help your car be more efficient. Check if you have any excess load in your car. Traveling with a heavy load reduces your fuel economy and increases your carbon footprint. If you have to drive to work, make sure you are practicing safe driving habits. Adhering to speed limits and practicing safe brake habits can help improve fuel economy up to 14%. Until you decide on the perfect EV for you, these small tips can help you reduce your carbon footprint in the meantime. 

Find Greener Lights

You may have fun plans to celebrate today, so we encourage you to have the right lighting. By replacing your traditional incandescent bulbs with energy efficient alternatives, such as halogen incandescents or LEDs, you will use 25% – 80% less energy and save up to $75 per bulb per year (energy.gov). There are many lighting options available; You can even shop for some fun green, colorful bulbs today! Not only is this switch good for the environment, but it is good for your wallet. 

Try green grilling

We just turned our clocks an hour ahead (not applicable for Arizona), meaning longer days! St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect holiday for an outdoor barbecue, weather permitting. Instead of cooking indoors today and trapping heat inside, you may want to bring out the outdoor grill. An outdoor grill will help you save on any cooling costs. We recommend using a natural gas grill, a greener alternative to wood or coal. Avoid petroleum-based lighter fluids; they release petrochemicals into the atmosphere and increase your carbon footprint. As you prep your meal, try to cut down on preheat times. A gas grill should only take 5-10 minutes to preheat. Leaving your grill on any longer than necessary releases additional pollutants. Once you are done, make sure you clean your grill properly so you don’t release unnecessary smoke. 

Use natural light

As mentioned before, we are now on Daylight Savings time, giving us more sunlight. Take advantage of the additional light today by lighting your holiday with sunlight. Adopt a new habit to open your curtains and let the light shine through. We encourage you to do some fun shopping today! Order some mirrors to hang around your home; they help reflect natural light. By using more natural sunlight, you may see some savings on your monthly energy bill. 

Go solar

Of course, if you want to make the biggest difference this St. Patrick’s Day, we recommend going solar. Spring is right around the corner and it is a great time to begin your solar journey. Beginning now likely means you will have your system going by the highest sunlight peak times in summer. Freedom Forever is here to help answer your questions and provide a quote. Make this holiday about more than delicious St. Patrick’s Day treats and opt for greener ways to celebrate. 

Ready to go solar? Call us at 800-685-1850 or click below to get started