How to Significantly Reduce your Carbon Footprint

We are in an era where we are bombarded constantly with information about the environment. It seems like every day, there’s another report about the state of the planet. These days, the news is full of narratives about climate change, pollution, deforestation, and other environmental issues.

What does all this mean to you? Should you even care?

If you desire to save the world, you should start thinking about your impact on the environment.

This article hopes to guide you in making significant changes in how you live and work, reducing your carbon emissions. It’s not going to be simple, but it should help get you started.

What are Carbon Emissions?

Carbon emissions are what make up our atmosphere. They come from many sources: cars, factories, power plants, etc. When these things emit carbon dioxide, they contribute to global warming. The more CO2 that gets into the air, the warmer Earth becomes. This phenomenon can have severe consequences for life as we know it because some species will no longer survive if temperatures continue rising at current rates.

The good news is that we admit that humans have already done much damage to the environment through their activities. We’ve released so much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere that we’re now experiencing catastrophic effects such as extreme weather events, droughts, floods, sea-level rise, melting ice caps, ocean acidification, extinction, and mass migrations. If we don’t do something soon, we’ll experience irreversible harm to ecosystems and human civilization.

The bad news is that most people aren’t doing anything about it. In fact, according to one study by Yale University researchers, only 1% of Americans take any action to address climate change. That means 99% of us are contributing to its destruction!

But how do you measure your carbon footprint?

How can you measure your carbon footprint?

To calculate your carbon footprint, multiply quantities of each variety of emissions by its relative contribution to global warming potential. For example, Methane has over 70 times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide, so 1 tonne of Methane would produce approximately 70 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. In addition to calculating total amounts, some companies calculate per capita footprints. These show us how much damage one person causes when compared to others. 

Regardless, once you have calculated your carbon footprint, what can you do? 

So how can you decrease your carbon footprint?

There are three main sectors to cut down on your carbon emissions: transportation, electricity use, and food consumption. Let’s take a look at each sector individually.

Transportation

The first step towards cutting back on your carbon footprint is switching from cars to public transport. If you drive everywhere, try changing to walking, cycling, taking buses, trains, or taxis instead. You’ll find out pretty fast that you won’t miss driving! Public transport doesn’t just benefit the environment either; it helps keep cities clean and reduces traffic congestion.

When choosing between different modes of travel, consider whether you need to go somewhere frequently or only occasionally. Also, think about how far away places are from home. A short commute may cost less money overall. Still, if you’re spending hours commuting every day, it might end up costing you more. 

Electricity Use

You probably already know that turning off lights saves power. But did you know that you can turn off appliances such as computers, TVs, stereos, and other gadgets? Most modern electronics run on AC rather than DC. When we plug something into an outlet, the device draws all the necessary electrical currents needed to operate itself. However, there isn’t always enough voltage available to supply this demand. The result is energy wasted. By unplugging devices before bedtime, you can avoid wasting electricity.

You might also consider renewable sources of electricity like solar panels. Solar panels work best with direct sunlight, which makes them ideal for sunny climates. But even cloudy days can provide plenty of light for solar panels. 

Food Consumption

Eating meat takes many resources. It requires land, feed, fertilizer, fuel, machinery, packaging, refrigeration, labor, and other inputs. According to the UN Food & Agriculture Organization, livestock production accounts for 18% of human-induced GHG emissions worldwide. So reducing meat intake will help lower your impact on climate change. Try eating vegetarian meals now and then. Or even better, eat vegan once in a while. Not only does going vegan save animals’ lives, but it also cuts down on our environmental impact. 

Other things to consider

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reducing waste is another way to make sure you don’t contribute too much to greenhouse gas emissions. Think about what goes into making products like clothing, furniture, toys, and household items. Do they have any recyclable materials inside them? Can these be reused? How long do they last after being used? What happens to their components afterward? All of these questions should influence your purchasing decisions. 

Reduce the Amount of Paper You Use

If you use paper at school, at work, or anywhere else, you could reduce your consumption by printing fewer pages per document. It means saving trees, water, ink, and toner. Printouts aren’t completely eco-friendly, in any case. They still require tons of energy to produce, so cutting down on paper usage would surely help. 

Reduce the Amount and Type of Plastic You Use

Plastic bags take a significant toll on the environment. If you want to keep plastic out of the ocean, try using reusable grocery bags instead. These bags usually come in various sizes and shapes, allowing you to carry everything without buying multiple types of bags. Some people prefer cloth shopping bags because they feel more natural when carrying groceries around. Another option is to bring your containers whenever possible. For example, you could pack lunch in glass jars instead of buying disposable ones. 

Reduce the Amount And Types of Fuel You Burn

Burning fossil fuels releases harmful gases that are bad for the planet’s atmosphere. Burning coal produces CO2 while burning oil creates Methane. Both of these gases trap heat from the sun and cause global warming. To combat this problem, we need to find ways to stop producing as many fossil fuels. As stated earlier, one solution is switching over to clean forms of power generation such as wind turbines and solar panels. The best part is that both of these options generate electricity with no pollution whatsoever!

The most important thing you can do to protect the Earth is to educate yourself about climate change and its causes. Once you understand why it’s happening, you will realize that taking action now is essential to protecting future generations. It may seem staggering at first, but once you start thinking about all the changes you can make, you’ll see just how easy it is. So get started today!