We explore 21 practical ways to reduce
your carbon footprint today, from air-drying your clothing to supporting non-profits.
Humanity's carbon footprint has grown elevenfold since 1961.
There are numerous ways in which we all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions
in our daily lives, including driving automobiles, using air conditioning, and
consuming red meat. Living in the 2025s means that you contribute 11 times as
much carbon to the atmosphere as someone who would have lived in the 1960s.
What concrete, real-world steps can you take to help lower this amount?
Here are a few strategies for lowering your carbon footprint in both your
personal and professional life right now.
The Best 21 Methods for Lowering Your Carbon Footprint
1. Cut back on energy use or improve the energy efficiency of your house and place of work
Energy use should be the primary focus. Everyone uses energy in their homes and offices, from lightbulbs to washing machines. However, numerous strategies exist to reduce overall energy consumption.
To save energy, try using an air-drying rack instead of a clothes dryer, which
is the appliance that uses the most energy in homes.
Replace outdated appliances with more energy-efficient models, such as air
conditioners and refrigerators, which are often energy-intensive. Investing in energy-saving light bulbs is also valuable. Making
these small adjustments can help lower your electricity consumption and reduce the cost of your energy bills—a benefit
for all involved.
2.
Switch to Renewable Energy
Currently, fossil fuels provide 81% of the energy used in the US.
One of the major causes of our growing carbon footprints and a significant
contributor to climate change is the burning of these fossil fuels. As a
result, you may want to consider switching to renewable energy sources, such as
wind.
Although personal wind power is still in its early stages, you may want to consider
installing solar panels in your home to produce your own solar energy.
3. Make a green technology investment for your house or business
The term "green technology" describes innovations that aim to reduce
the energy consumption of your house or business in order to slow down climate
change.
With advances such as programmable thermostats and "smart lights"
that are controlled by motion sensors and apps, many people are transforming
their houses into "smart homes."
Over time, LEDs will save you a lot of money because they consume less
electricity. They last longer, so you won't have to continually purchase
replacements, and the price difference isn't that great.
— Brian Horne, Senior Insights & Analytics
Consultant at Energy Saving Trust
One more simple method to reduce your carbon footprint? LED lights can be used
to replace the lights in your home or business.
4. Drive less and switch to environmentally friendly forms of transport
In the United States, the average automobile emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon
dioxide annually. 4.6 tons, indeed.
Therefore, avoiding driving wherever possible is one of the good ways to combat
climate change. But driving might be unavoidable in a country the size of the
United States. To get to your destination, you should, whenever possible, consider
walking, bicycling, taking public transportation, and carpooling.
5. Take fewer flights
The aviation industry is responsible for about 12% of all CO2 emissions in the
transportation sector. Even though modern aircraft use less fuel, many old aircraft
are still in use today.
If you can reduce your flying, take other forms of transportation, such as trains, as they are more environmentally friendly.
It's an option to use Zoom or Skype for your overseas business meeting. In this manner, you can further reduce your fuel emissions.
If you are a C-Suite executive who normally travels in a private aircraft and
flying is your only option for getting to your destination, you might want to
consider taking a business or economy class commuter plane instead.
Visit this Mossy Earth carbon footprint calculator if you want to figure out
how much you emit when you fly.
6.
Use less water
Using too much water can strain your water heater as well as the environment. Saving water in your daily life can also help you reduce your carbon footprint and expenditures.
Here are some additional pointers:
· Consider turning the tap off while shaving or brushing your teeth.
· Reduce the length of your showers or use part-filled bathtubs instead.
· Look for water leaks in your pipes.
· The washing machine should only be used for full loads.
· Don't use your sprinklers on a regular basis; only when the lawn needs watering.
7.
Reduce the amount of food waste
Food waste is typically dumped in landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane gas, which fuels greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Try cutting less on food waste to lessen your carbon footprint and avoid this.
To avoid overbuying, try going grocery shopping in small quantities multiple
times a week rather than in bulk once. Also, properly store fresh food to
prevent it from spoiling too soon. Additionally, consume the leftovers the next
day if you are unable to finish a meal.
8.
Reduce your meat intake
In the US, livestock can account for up to 14% of total greenhouse gas
emissions. Larger animals such as lambs and cows are particularly affected by
this.
Project Drawdown estimates that cattle would be the world's third-largest
source of greenhouse gas emissions if they were a separate country.
Why not try being flexitarian if you're apprehensive about becoming a vegetarian or vegan? The concept is that you eat mostly vegetarian food, but you can treat yourself to meat or fish once in a while. It's not as difficult as you might think.
9.
Adopt a simple way of living
There is no denying that consumerism contributes to global carbon emissions. In
short, the more things you own, the more you affect the environment.
All of your purchases, from FedEx truck fuel to plastic packaging, consume
essential resources and thereby increase CO2 emissions.
Why not attempt to live a more minimalist lifestyle? Rent the movies digitally
rather than purchasing physical DVDs. Invest in a Kindle instead of paper
books. Steers clear of purchasing junk, furniture, and clothing that you don't
actually need or use. You'll help reduce your carbon footprint, save money, and
have less to clean.
10.
Properly recycle any outdated or unwanted items
We have experience with recycling and greenhouse gases because we are a
recycling center in San Francisco. Landfills release methane into the
atmosphere over time, and US landfills contributed 129.7 million metric tons in
2010, the most of any dump in the world.
Recycling properly can help prevent items from ending up in landfills and minimize the amount of waste we produce. Observe your community's recycling guidelines for everything from electronics to mattresses to plastic bottles.
For more difficult-to-recycle items such as VHS tapes and Styrofoam, you can
also go to recycling facilities like Green Citizen.
11.
Try to reuse and upcycle as much as you can
Try to reuse or upcycle your items wherever you can because landfills emit a
lot of greenhouse gases, especially when non-recyclable items are disposed of
there. An old bedsheet can be upcycled in a variety of ways, such as creating a
blanket fort for kids or using it as a screen for a projector.
Creativity is the key to reusing items. We've seen individuals use marbles to
fill up fence holes, repurpose books as shelves, upcycle alcohol bottles into
lights, and convert bags into medical cabinets. There are no limits!
The carbon footprint of the food you buy at the grocery store is significantly
increased because it is typically shipped in from another part of the country or
potentially abroad.
Purchasing your food locally is preferable. Purchasing locally means that the
food travels a shorter distance to get to the store and then to your plate. You
should ideally purchase organic food that hasn't had to travel far by air or
road to be sold. Better yet, if there is a green restaurant or farmers market
in your area, go there.
13. Invest in used clothing rather than rapid fashion
In the past, fashion brands would create four collections a year, one for each
season. To meet consumer demand, many high-street and designer businesses now
create "fast fashion," with several collections released each season.
As customers, it is crucial that we acknowledge that if the environmental
effects are truly addressed, these inexpensive clothes are not feasible. There
will be less waste in the future if we buy and produce less.
— Kirsi Niinimäki, an associate
professor at Aalto University in Finland who studies fashion research
Avoid stores that manufacture clothing in this manner and try to purchase secondhand clothes instead, as this practice places a significant strain on the environment and our resources.
14.
Purchase eco-friendly, green products
Cleaning products are among the greatest areas to start when buying eco-friendly
and green products for your house.
To assist you in making the switch, we've put together a list of the top green
cleaning products, including degreasers and dish washes.
These goods come from companies such as Mrs. Meyer's, Molly's Suds, ECOS, and
Seventh Generation, which are renowned for being environmentally friendly.
Additional items similar to these are available at our Green Store.
15. Encourage companies that use sustainable practices and
encourage green living
Fortunately, there are a lot of brands that are attempting to reduce their
carbon emissions, combating climate change, or adopting carbon offsets.
IKEA, Toms, LUSH, Ben & Jerry's, Beyond Meat, Seventh Generation, and many
more are well-known green companies.
Businesses can be "green" in a variety of ways, from lowering their
reliance on natural gas to utilizing delivery trucks with cruise control and
excellent fuel economy.
To balance their own CO2 emissions, many companies also promote carbon offsets,
which involve investing in greenhouse gas reduction techniques such as tree
planting.
16.
Learn about environmental issues and climate change
The typical American makes a significant contribution to climate change; in terms of environmentally friendly legislation, we still lag far behind countries like Sweden and Denmark. The first step to taking charge and encouraging others to follow suit is educating yourself about carbon emissions.
There is a lot to learn, whether you search for "what are carbon
footprints?" or look at the most recent information on the Green Citizen
website, the Green Directory recycling facility database, or just articles
about how your lifestyle might affect the environment.
As green citizens, our knowledge will help us better inform our fellow citizens
about climate change, energy efficiency, and reducing our collective carbon
footprint.
17.
Learn about environmental regulations and guidelines
You should be aware of (and abide by) a number of US environmental legislation and laws. The SB20 / Electronic Waste Recycling Act is one of the most significant laws pertaining to the removal of hazardous compounds present in a large number of consumer electronics.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act, and the Clean Air Act are some well-known climate change
laws in the United States.
You may hold yourself and others accountable if they don't comply by using the
wealth of helpful information and summaries of these regulations available on
the EPA website.
In the US, there are numerous non-profit organizations founded by people just like you who wish to reduce their carbon footprint and improve the world.
Conservation International, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and One
Percent For the Planet are a few of the most well-known non-profits.
The World Wildlife Fund, the
Rainforest Alliance, the World Resources Institute, the Rocky Mountain
Institute, the Sierra Club, and others are also contributing to the struggle
for a more environmentally friendly world.
19.
Promote and participate in environmentally responsible activities in your community
Europe is usually the greatest place to look for eco-friendly communities,
especially in Scandinavian countries where towns like Copenhagen are setting
the standard and are expected to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.
In Copenhagen, all public buses are powered by electric engines, and more people ride bikes than drive cars. By 2025, the government intends to plant 100,000 new trees, and many of the new buildings have green roofs.
20. Vote for candidates who have policies that are environmentally
favorable
No matter how big or small your next election is, make sure to back the
politicians who are dedicated to combating climate change and have the greatest
environmental policies.
Their positions on the matter ought to be available on their
websites.
However, backing your preferred candidates is insufficient.
Since you care about this issue, you should also speak out in favor of these
policies personally to convince your leaders to take action.
21. Invest in carbon offsets
By purchasing carbon offsets, companies like TerraPass assist people and
corporations in lowering their carbon impact. Basically, you are funding projects
aimed at reducing carbon emissions and advancing renewable energy and energy
efficiency.
Planting new trees, trapping methane gas in a landfill, and using farm animal
waste into sustainable energy are examples of carbon offset projects undertaken
by organizations.
Another effective strategy to reduce your carbon footprint, whether you own a business
or a firm, is to invest in companies that place a high priority on
sustainability.
Conclusion
We sincerely hope you found this list of practical strategies to reduce your carbon footprint useful. Hopefully, this guide has provided you with a wealth of resources to help you be mindful of your environmental impact, whether it's cutting down on air travel, purchasing a car with good fuel economy, or repurposing trash into treasure.
Finally, the condition of our planet affects the health of humans. Therefore,
keep in mind that when you put something in the recycling bin, you are
benefiting not just the environment but also humanity as a whole.
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