Urban Blog

If you are unsure as to how your actions impact your carbon footprint, you are not alone. Your carbon footprint is calculated as what you do that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse gases cause the planet to warm and are produced in a variety of ways. Any event that takes energy can produce them! That means that the manufactured goods you use play a big role in your carbon footprint. The more energy it takes to create a given object, the higher your carbon footprint may become.

Food production and what you do in your home can also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can minimize your personal impact on the planet. Luckily, there are many easy and painless steps you can take to make a difference.

1. Reconsider Meat Consumption

No one is stating that you have to become a vegan or vegetarian; however, it is important to note that eating meat creates far more greenhouse gases than not eating meat.

Vegetarians and vegans, for example, are responsible for producing far less greenhouse gas emissions than meat eaters. Simply skipping meat one or two days a week will help you lower your carbon footprint in an impressive fashion.

2. Buy Local Food and Goods

Locally produced food and goods have a huge edge when it comes to reducing one’s carbon footprint. The fact that locally produced goods does not have to be transported long distances means less energy is consumed in their transport. Produce grown a few miles away has a far lower carbon footprint than produce grown thousands of miles away. Buying local products is one of the simpler ways to lower your carbon footprint.

3. Reuse as Much as Possible

Manufacturing any good causes greenhouse gases to be released and that increases your carbon footprint. Reusing goods when possible, giving things you will not use to other people and recycling are all ways that you can lower your carbon footprint. Keeping a manufactured item in use means that you’ve kept a manufactured good from being purchased and, ultimately, maybe even from being made in the first place. While this is no doubt a simple step, it is also a very effective one in reducing your carbon footprint.

4. Adjusting Your Thermostat Up and Down

Setting your thermostat lower in winter and higher in the summer means that you will use less energy when heating and cooling your home. Reducing the amount of energy you use in your home is a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint. Energy production takes a tremendous amount of energy, and any time you can skip using energy, you are lowering your carbon footprint. Wearing an extra layer of clothing in the winter to stay warm and putting reflective material in your windows during the summer are two ways that you can save energy, money and lower your carbon footprint.

5. Public Transportation and Driving Fewer Miles

Another easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is to simply drive fewer hours a year. Using public transportation or carpooling even one day a week can help you lower your carbon footprint substantially. There are other benefits to using public transportation such as having more time to read.

When it comes to driving fewer miles, there is a clever trick that can make a substantial difference in your overall carbon footprint. If you can live closer to your work, then you instantly lower your carbon footprint. Keep this factor in mind when buying a new home or renting a new apartment. The simple selection of where you live can make a massive difference on your carbon footprint.

6. Only Fly When Necessary

If you can take a train, bus or drive your car instead of flying, strongly consider that option. You can’t beat flying when it comes to speed, but that speed comes a price.

Flying produces a lot of greenhouse gases. There are times when flying is literally the only way to go, but consider other options especially for shorter trips.

7. Power Strips and Your Carbon Footprint

There are many household items that use a great deal of energy even when they are not in use or appear to be off. Cable boxes often use as much energy as a refrigerator. Gaming consoles can also use a lot of energy even when they are off.

Try plugging in your cable box, video game consoles and other electronics into a power strip, and then turn that power strip off when those items are not in use. Not only does this tip help you lower your carbon footprint, but it should also help you save on your annual energy bill as well.

8. Steps Around the Home

Those seeking ways to lower one’s carbon footprint will discover that there are ample opportunities right at home. Installing new insulation and replacing old insulation is a perfect place to start as insulation reduces energy costs year round.

Installing solar can be an exceptional way to lower one’s carbon footprint. Soon solar energy will be both very easy and affordable. Adding weather-strips to doors and windows and caulking up leaky areas is another inexpensive way to lower your energy bill and your carbon footprint. Other simple steps, such as reading by a window instead of using a lamp and growing even a small amount of your food, all add up to a big difference.

Thinking about energy consumption and how to use less energy is the first and greatest step. Your carbon footprint isn’t set in stone. There are steps and they will make a difference.