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Carbon Footprint Reduction 101

By on April 3, 2013
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With all the discussion around global warming and the impact humans are having on the climate, there is a growing movement by many to reduce the carbon footprint we make in everyday activities.

Your carbon footprint is basically the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted directly because of your decisions. While most people think of a carbon footprint as being only the carbon dioxide emitted from your car, the calculation goes much deeper than that. Carbon footprints are increased when you eat meat, build a less energy-efficient home, or take a longer shower than you need to. Still, there are ways to painlessly reduce your carbon footprint while maintaining your quality of life and saving money.

  1. One of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to combine several trips into one. Instead of running to WalMart, Target, the dry cleaners, and the eye doctor on different trips, try to put them all together. The advantages to doing this are easy to see. First and foremost, you will save money on gas by eliminating the trip home between each stop. You will also save yourself valuable time that can be spent doing something else. Even if you can’t get everything in one trip, planning your week around appointments and trips can provide instant cash-saving results while reducing your carbon footprint.

 

  1. Another easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is right in your own home. If your water bill is giving you heartache, it might be time to look at an on-demand water heating system. These systems do not store hot water, but rather produce it as it is called for throughout the house. The Department of Energy estimates that tankless water heaters may reduce energy consumption by 35%, and you never have to wait for the tank to refill. While the initial cost for a tankless system is usually higher, the longer lifespan and lower operating costs will usually prove to be a money saver in the end.

 

  1. Recycling can be another area to reduce your carbon footprint. Cardboard and newspaper are two common items that get thrown away that could be reused and recycled. Every tree that needs to be processed to make new cardboard, newspaper, or office paper is one less tree to offset the carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere. Trees act as carbon filters by consuming carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Thus, the more trees there are, the cleaner the environment and the atmosphere will be.

 

These are only three easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint without taking a big hit to your wallet or your lifestyle. While often times a dramatic reduction is called for by alarmist groups, the reality is that if everybody made a small adjustment we could see great improvements in our environment and reduce the amount of energy we need. Thinking outside the box is truly the greatest tool we have in combating climate change and environmental damage. By making minor adjustments now that do not require huge capital outlays, it might be possible to avoid larger, more harmful ramifications down the road.

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