An electricity storage system primarily helps to maximize the yield of the PV system if the electricity is not fed into the grid for little money, but comes out of the battery in the evening and then allows the full electricity price to be saved. Another advantage may be that some batteries work as an island system in the event of a power outage. The already mentioned virtual power plants then access your battery from the outside and make the electricity available virtually in the neighborhood and compensate you for it. In addition, power grids are stabilized and even with little wind and no sun, we can consume renewable energies. Note on lithium: Like many other raw materials, lithium is often problematic during mining. However, the life cycle assessment must take into account that we can recycle lithium for hundreds of years. In the basement, older lithium batteries from the automotive industry could also come to a second life later or, alternatively, sodium batteries that require more space.

Motion detectors make sense in all rooms including outdoor areas, where we potentially let the light burn for too long, for example in the hallway, basement, garage, etc. Of course, it is important that the light does not stay on for too long.

Standby power consumption is often reminded and extrapolated. For example, if a screen consumes 5 watts in standby, that is 120 watt hours (Wh) per day, i.e. about one eighth of a kilowatt hour (35 cents/kWh). Companies can quite easily calculate for themselves what savings potential all their computers, screens, beamers and even routers have if they do not use StandBy.

Modern lamps require little electricity, and yet it is worthwhile not to let them burn unnecessarily, for example when we are not in the room for a long time. Corridors, toilet rooms, cellars often have the light burning unnecessarily. In some indoor and outdoor areas, companies also sometimes have the light on too long or too early.

Apart from the fact that every device can have a high power consumption, a refrigerator is not regularly defrosted, the door seal is leaking, the washing machine is driven with too high temperatures and spin numbers, etc., there are still some unnecessary things that consume a lot of electricity: In the company, these can be exaggerated light installations, electric bollards, and much more.

We are used to the fact that everything is packed and we don't care much about the packaging. For some foods, the packaging is more expensive in the production than the content. Paying attention to the packaging sends a signal to manufacturers and retailers. Refills are an option as well. For food, there are so-called unpackaged shops or at least the possibility of using deposit containers (own step) or cotton bags brought along for loose vegetables and fruit. To fill up the pantry or to cater for events, attention should therefore be paid to the packaging. Office supplies can be delivered unpacked in deposit boxes (e.g. from Memo).

Consistently separating waste, including green waste, glass and paper, is not as self-evident as can be assumed. Many make little effort here and don't really know what belongs in which bin. The residual waste bin also costs the public sector a lot of money, while the recyclable and green waste bin are free of charge. But also special waste, such as batteries, incandescent lamps, electrical appliances, etc. must be disposed of properly.

Non-recycled paper is often cheaper, but means cutting of forests, contamination of water during production and a high energy requirement. Recycled paper for toilet paper, writing paper, packaging, envelopes, wrapping paper, etc. should be a matter of course today. But we have to pay attention to it and choose it. Recycled paper is also snow-white, but it should then not be bleached with chlorine but oxygen.

Saving paper helps to protect forests - recycling paper also ultimately means more demand for fresh pulp from trees. We don't even need to print many things in the first place, but can save them on devices that we already have. For internal processes but also for dialogue with customers, digital forms should continue to prevail.

Compost toilets are quite controversial - not only because of the proximity to their own faeces, but also because of hygiene, germs, or drug residues. On the other hand, we can no longer give finite artificial fertilizer to the fields and at best collect a little of the nutrients through the sewage treatment plant in order to lead the rest into the seas at the end or to burn the sewage sludge. Compost toilets with microorganisms can ferment faeces and return the nutrients and organic material in cycles of agriculture and the garden. Public compost toilets and also sustainable festivals follow this approach. In terms of approval in the gray area, really comfortable compost toilets are also possible in houses. Odor formation occurs only through the urine. Therefore, compost toilets separate it from the faeces (hence the name separating toilet). Urine is a great fertilizer - we only have to dilute it and of course only apply it to the plants when they also grow. Otherwise, the nitrates will end up in the groundwater with the rain.

Garbage collection as an event also for the clubs with subsequent meeting, possibly sponsored by the local economy, helps to get nature clean and to raise awareness. Companies can sponsor or participate as a team.

Surface sealing is a problem not only in growing civilizations, but also in Germany. We live on too much living space, are still building new streets and courtyard driveways and our terraces are also getting bigger and bigger. To specifically dispense with area, to build in height, water-permeable paving, green roofs (own point) and, weighing up all the advantages and disadvantages, to expand one's own house to the height in order to enable more people to live on the same sealed area, are valuable steps. By the way, an English lawn is ecologically not very valuable, for example, compared to a flower or clover meadow or a vegetable garden. Companies can systematically look at which areas do not have to be sealed and perhaps can be provided with flower meadows.

In many places, moors, streams, etc. have been lost with the settlement and intensification of agriculture. Renaturalizing this often means an enormous gain for biodiversity, climate and also flood protection.

Insect hotels or just old, higher tree stumps and dead wood on the ground, nesting boxes and, if useful, bat boxes are great ways to maximize biodiversity in your own environment. School classes can also participate here.

In the past, it was considered controversial whether birds should be fed, or whether they forget to find food themselves and instead promote the concentration of many birds in one place diseases. Today it is clear that with our well-kept gardens, leaf vacuum cleaners and perfect combine harvesters, we leave too little for the birds and they have to be fed. Many argue that we should even feed them in the summer.

It is hard to believe that the future of our diet depends on the use of pesticides and their influence on insects that have to pollinate our plants. Many pollinators are threatened with extinction and in addition to the purchase of organic, we can offer these insects flowers on our areas. In fact, some plants are neither bee-nor bird-friendly. On the other hand, fruit trees and most vegetables are already great opportunities to promote bees, bumblebees, etc. At the flower meadows there are one- and multi-year-olds.

Many people who earn above average can only do this because others earn below average. The gap between rich and poor is getting bigger and bigger. Consumers complain about cheap wages, but the price increase by 50 cents is rarely accepted. What we deserve is not, as liberals or neoliberals like to think, just a question of diligence. It is the product (!) Out of diligence, skill and the right framework conditions. Anyone who knows many talented and hard-working people who are simply not lucky develops empathy and is willing to pay more, even if it is through tips. Companies can set an example in the case of remuneration, in particular for less well-paid activities within the scope of their possibilities.

Societies must take in refugees - no matter how many there are. To be distinguished from this is the number of those who we can also permanently integrate into our society and also have to with regard to our economy and retirement provision or demographic change. A company should actively anticipate and help to accept people with a migration background within the scope of the legal possibilities. Linguistically, English is sometimes the lowest common denominator that can also be chosen in companies. As far as it is legal, we should help these people.

Cultural promotion can take place in all facets - from young people who make music to exhibitions to the care of traditional festivals.

Educational trails, information boards, exhibitions, excursions, etc., if necessary also together with schools and nature conservation organizations.

Many furniture cannot stand being moved or even disassembled and reassembled. They are primarily cheap and the business model is that after a few years we want to buy new furniture. Looking at how valuable the furniture is and then being able to repair it takes us a whole lot further on the way to a better world. It is also amazing what good pieces there are on the used market.

Leaf vacuums and blowsers are even worse than the idea of mowing small lawns with a large lawn mowing tractor at all and then for hours. Boys with toys. The leaf vacuums and blowers emit noise and ultrafine particles and harm the soil organisms more than rakes or brooms.

Many devices from vacuum cleaners to cordless screwdrivers to TVs are amazingly inexpensive today. Relying on valuable devices that last a long time, or even buying used devices, helps to save raw materials and energy.