8 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

You’ve probably heard the term ‘carbon footprint’ or that we all need to reduce our carbon footprints – but what does that really mean?

According to Wikipedia:

‘A carbon footprint is the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event or product” ^[1]. For simplicity of reporting, it is often expressed in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted. An individual, nation, or organization’s carbon footprint can be measured by undertaking a GHG emissions assessment. Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can be devised to reduce it, e.g. by technological developments, better process and

product management… The mitigation of carbon footprints through the development of alternative projects, such as solar or wind energy or reforestation, represents one way of reducing a carbon footprint and is often known as Carbon offsetting.’

So let’s break this down. All of us use energy to live, in the home, at work and when we travel by car or plane, etc. The amount we use can be measured as an expression of the carbon dioxide released by the sources of energy we choose to use.

Are you concerned about the environment and want to reduce your carbon footprint? It’s really quite easy and you will make a contribution to the future well being of the planet and your wallet as well!

 

There are many free carbon footprint calculators online that will help you determine how much of an impact you are making. However, in most cases the information is merely interesting and informative, rather than necessary. You can reduce your carbon footprint without this information.

Here are 8 simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint that you can start immediately.

1] Look at the demands of your home for electricity and consider how this can be reduced.

Lighting, especially old style incandescent bulbs can be replaced with longer lasting CFL’s that use up to 75% less electricity. CFL’s unfortunately do contain Mercury and must be disposed of with other toxic household waste. LED lights are the best if you are truly serious about reducing your electrical carbon footprint.

Get the whole family into the habit of turning off lights when they leave a room, or for some little used areas add time switches or dimmers to reduce demand.

2] Start recycling paper and cardboard, organic waste and glass and plastic in the home.

Food waste in particular can be composted and used to grow herbs and vegetables for your personal consumption. There is nothing better than the joy of eating fresh produce that hasn’t had to be transported miles to your table and wrapped and sprayed to make sure it looks good in the supermarket. And unless you are eating organic vegetables, you are also consuming a myriad number of toxins in the form of pesticides.

Eating organic vegetables, supporting organic farmer, and growing your own organic crop can also help to reduce GHGs. Almost every pesticide used in agriculture are toxic to mammals and insects. These toxins get absorbed into the plants by both root and leaf, as well as the soil. When it rains, the toxins are not washed away, but spread out further and end up in sewers, streams, rivers, and ponds, and lakes. Through natural ecological processes, these toxins are transported into the air through condensation, accumulated in clouds and then released back to earth in the rain – polluting areas far from the original pollution.

Most towns have drop off points for sorted plastics, metals and paper products where they can be sent for recycling. Find out where yours are and take the few seconds a day to separate each category.

3] Check your home’s insulation.

Heating is the major cost in a household and to be efficient you need to make sure that it doesn’t leak out through the roof, walls and floors.

Consider double glazing for windows or replacing old windows with newer energy efficient ones, wall cavity filling, and ceiling and under floor insulation as part of the solution for this.

4] On a similar theme consider the choice of home appliances that are eco friendly.

From washing machines, to televisions, to refrigerators there are approved energy efficient models that use less electricity and will save you money in the long term as well.

Washing machines and dishwashers that use less water and systems that allow you to recycle the rinse water for lawn and garden (grey water applications) offer an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint.

Using less water, and reusing the water that you have already used, lessens the burden of supplying water to households which uses large amounts of electricity for pumping. Waste is also a continuing problem for older city systems.

5] Outside the home the greatest contributor to your carbon footprint is the method of travel you use to commute .

Vehicles that use non renewable and polluting fuels occupied by single passengers are hugely inefficient. Consider carpooling amongst neighbors or work colleagues or even using public transport.

When traveling by plane many airlines have options that invite you to offset the energy used by buying forestry to give you a carbon credit!

6] If petrol driven vehicles are your only option then make sure they are well tuned and maintained.

Poorly tuned engines add greater amounts of co2 into the atmosphere and you should also select your next vehicle with an eye to efficient consumption. Also the pressure in your tires plays a huge role in determining efficient gas mileage and overall oerformance.

While hybrid and electric vehicles are  the best options (not to mention the tax benefits and carpool lane privileges in many states), even selecting a smaller car to commute in can make a significant contribution to a smaller carbon footprint and your wallet by decreasing what you spend at the pump.

7] Plant a few trees!

The contribution to the environment by replanting cleared areas cannot be underestimated. As well as adding to the earth’s ability to deal with carbon dioxide levels and the mitigation of erosion forces, there are visual benefits to be had as well!

Click Here To Find Out How You Can Make Your Own Electricity At Home, Go ‘Off-Grid’, and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint For Good!

8] Look at your work environment and encourage the efficient use of energy there as well.

Only a handful of companies and businesses provide a green, clean environment for their employees. Lighting, heating and air conditioning are tremendous sources of expense and waste – all contributing to a larger carbon footprint.

Encourage your employer, or adopt eco friendly guidelines at your own business. Recycling, using less electricity – especially after hours when less lighting, air conditioning, and heat are needed. Use recycled paper products, provide clean drinking water so employees don’t have to bring their own plastic bottles, give carpool credits, etc.

Get creative and find new and interesting ways that employees can not only learn how to be more environmentally friendly, but encourage to use these practices in their own homes.

There are more ways to reduce your carbon footprint, to be sure, but even just doing one or two of the items above will make a difference.