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Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Article by Beverly Saltonstall

The term carbon footprint is showing up in the media more and more these days, but few people know its significance.

Everyone, from individuals, factories and even countries leave a carbon footprint. This is austerely the amount of carbon dioxide that each person emits going about their day after day activities. When thinking of pollution, many people bring to mind the huge gas belching industries that spew toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. In reality, each and every one of us is contributing to the buildup of carbon dioxide which is a major factor in the problem of global warming.

It doesn’t matter what you believe is the cause of global warming, there is indisputable evidence that the carbon dioxide we are emitting from our everyday activities is contributing to global warming. We must look seriously at our own personal carbon footprint and make changes that can reduce our impact on global warming.

Carbon Footprints

Austerely place, your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gasses that you are adding to the planet, and these greenhouse gasses are made up of two parts.

Our primary footprint is the carbon dioxide that is emitted by burning fossil fuels. These are emissions from things that we have direct control over, such as our cars and electricity usage.

Our secondary footprint is the emissions from the whole life cycle of products we consume. These are emission generated by the manufacturing administer and eventual breakdown of that product. Austerely place, the more manufactured products we use, the more emissions are produced in our behalf.

How Do You Measure Your Carbon Footprint?

A Google search of the term “carbon footprint calculator” will generate many websites that will help you calculate your carbon footprint. Unadorned calculators question things like what type car you drive, how many miles you drive and what type home you occupy. Others are more sophisticated and go into more depth as to your real energy consumption. These calculators will give you an estimate of how may tons of carbon dioxide you are putting into the atmosphere.

Lowering Your Personal Carbon Footprint

As we are apt more environmentally conscious, we are looking for ways to reduce our levels for ways to reduce our levels of greenhouse gasses. There are thousands of ways to do this, some very unadorned and others that would demand a significant effort on our part. The fact of the matter is that we all need to be aware of the critical need to reduce these greenhouse gasses today.

Automobiles and Your Carbon Footprint

Automobile usage is a huge producer of greenhouse gasses. It is a major contributor to global warming and one over which an party has the most control. Plotting your errands, carpooling, using mass moving, bicycles and your own two feet are the simplest changes to consider. Keeping your automobile in peak running condition, keeping tires properly inflated, learning to drive economically and using biofuels when applicable also reduce carbon emissions. If a new car is in your future, a hybrid car or at leas a more fuel efficient car must be painstaking.

Household Utilities

For years we have heard how a few degrees change in the thermostat setting of our heating and air conditioning units can affect our electric bill. Now that concept becomes critical, since the more electric you use, the higher your carbon footprint. Use of new Star Energy compliant appliances must be painstaking when purchasing new appliances.

Another energy investor is to turn off appliances when not in use. Many appliances and chargers have “standby modes” which consume huge amounts of energy even when turned off.

Switching to Compact Fluorescent Lamps(CFL) bulbs can result in significant savings in money and energy. These bulbs have a higher initial cost, but they last longer and use significantly less energy.

Dishwashers, washing machines and dryers need to be used at peak efficiency. Always use them with a full load, and when possible, hang clothes out to dry. The wind is a renewable energy source.

Shopping to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint.

Drinking bottled water has become fashionable in recent years and has also become a significant source of pollution. The manufacturing, packaging, moving and disposal of empty bottles is an ecological nightmare. A unadorned household filter and reusable containers are fantastic ways to offset your carbon footprint when it comes to plastic bottles.

Shop local. Buying foods and vegetables at local markets offset the huge moving costs, and fossil fuel consumption related to food production. Buying broccoli from a local farmer is environmentally more forthcoming than purchasing it from a farmer thousands of miles away, and it is fresher. Even as you are at the store, you are using reusable grocery bags instead of plastic-aren’t you?

Carbon Offsets

Another emerging way to help reduce your carbon footprint is carbon offsets or carbon credits. Unless you live a Spartan life in the north woods, you will always have a carbon footprint. With calculating your carbon footprint, you can find companies in the fields of renewable energy, reforestation and wind energy that, for a donation, will provide you with an opportunity to offset your carbon load. These companies are developing technologies that lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce pollution impacts.

The fact remains that we must take steps to reduce the amount of pollution we are dumping on our planet. As individuals, we have the power to make a difference. We only need to reevaluate our own lives and make changes that will benefit our planet.

About the Author

Beverly Saltonstall writes environmental articles and has websites related to environmental issues. Http://sustainable-development-forecast deals with various energy sources and how to use them wisely, and http://pollutionwebsite.com deals with how to make changes in our lives that will make a significant impact in the fight to reverse global warming. This article may be used with proper credit the author.