There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment. Some people think that it’s difficult or expensive to make changes. But there are plenty of small things we can do to make a difference.
A carbon footprint is a broad term for the amount of greenhouse gases a person or entity generates while living their life. This term encompasses a wide range of different environmental factors, from things like transportation through to the production of food.
What Is A Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by an individual, organization, event or product. It’s measured in tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Carbon footprints include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from sources like transportation and energy use. They also account for other gases that are not emitted directly from combustion. But contribute to global warming such as refrigerants and aerosols.
What are the Effects of Climate Change on Your Carbon Footprint?
In order to understand how you can reduce your carbon footprint. It’s important to first understand the causes of climate change. Climate change is a real threat to our planet and has already begun to impact many parts of the world.
The main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions. Which are released when we burn fossil fuels like oil or coal. When fossil fuels are burned for energy, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This leads to more heat being trapped in our atmosphere. With more extreme weather patterns being experienced around the world.
As a leader in the field of climate change, the United Nations has advised a number of countries including Canada, European Union and Australia about what can be done to combat climate change.
In the US alone, greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing because of a lack of environmental regulations and the use of fossil fuels. There is also another issue that needs to be addressed – how much carbon dioxide humans emit as opposed to plants.
How Can We Calculate Our Carbon Footprint?
Calculating your carbon footprint is easy. You need to measure the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere as a result of your lifestyle, and then compare them with average values across your country.
In addition to measuring your own personal emissions levels, it’s also important for you to understand how much CO2 equivalent each activity produces per day. Driving 1 kilometre in an electric car produces only 5 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Versus 140 grams for driving the same distance in an SUV; making toast uses 17 kilograms less CO2 than boiling water on a stovetop; consuming one kilogram more beef than chicken creates roughly 15 kg more CO2 per year; etcetera
Go Meatless A Couple Times A Week
Going meatless can be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, as meat production is one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing your consumption by as little as 10% could have a significant impact on your carbon footprint and help protect our planet.
Reducing or eliminating animal products from your diet doesn’t have to leave you feeling deprived or hungry! Meatless recipes abound online, and many restaurants now offer vegan options on their menus. Eating less often helps keep food costs down. Which may be important if you are looking to save money while reducing your carbon impact.
Eat Less Dairy
In general, milk and dairy products have a large carbon footprint. The production of milk is energy-intensive, due to the need for cattle feed and water, as well as the emissions from transportation.
While you might be aware that cows are ruminants (they digest their food through fermentation). Less discussed is the fact that this mechanism produces methane. A greenhouse gas up to 100 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Methane emissions also come from flatulence; not only do cows emit methane directly, but they also produce it when they eat grain or other high-fiber foods such as grasses or hay.
Methane has a global warming potential 23 times higher than CO2 over 100 years. Nitrous oxide is another emission associated with dairy production. While not as problematic as CO2 in terms of long-term climate change effects. Nitrous oxide has 296 times greater heat trapping capacity per molecule than CO2 over 20 years.
Eat Locally
The phrase “eat local” has become popular in recent years, but it’s an easy concept to grasp: eating food that’s produced within a reasonable distance of where you live is better for the environment, your health.
Plus, the economy than buying food that comes from large-scale operations hundreds or thousands of miles away. It will also help keep you in touch with your community and its surrounding environment.
To eat locally means shopping at farmer’s markets (or farmers’ stands), buying produce from grocery stores with a good selection of fresh produce and meats, dining at restaurants that serve fresh ingredients made by local chefs and bakers.
Purchasing goods from local producers at farmers markets or through delivery services like Greenling or Good Eggs—even just getting lunch from one of those trucks on street corners can help cut down on transportation miles for your meal.
Take Shorter Showers
Showers use less water than baths, and installing a low-flow showerhead can reduce your water usage by as much as 50 percent. If you are interested in making the switch to a low-flow showerhead but want to see if it’s right for you first, consider using an inflatable or handheld showerhead that doesn’t require permanent installation in your home.
In addition to saving money on utilities, turning down the temperature on your hot water heater can help save energy and prevent scalding burns. If you’re concerned about taking cold showers or just don’t like them, there are several ways to make them easier.
Install a shower diverter that allows you to direct hot or cold water out of one side of the nozzle (hot for warming up quickly after stepping out); try setting up two separate bath towels, so one can be used for rinsing off while keeping another dry (this way there will always be something warm); or seek out opportunities for group bathing with friends who may have similar heating preferences.
Wash Your Laundry In Cold Water
Did you know that washing your clothes in cold water is just as effective at removing dirt and stains as hot water? In addition to using less energy, cold-water washes are better for your clothes.
They don’t use chemicals or detergents which can damage the fabric over time, so your clothes will last longer. And perhaps most importantly of all, washing in cold water saves money!
What’s more, not only does it save energy, but it also helps out the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that burn fossil fuels. In fact, if everyone washed their laundry in cold water instead of hot, it would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1 million tons per year! That’s equivalent to taking 350 cars off the road.
Switch To LED Bulbs
LED (light emitting diode) light bulbs are the most environmentally responsible option available in the market today. LED bulbs are more expensive than incandescent or fluorescent lights. But they last longer, use less energy and produce less waste.
LEDs last up to 50 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and can save you hundreds of dollars on your electric bill over their lifespan. They also emit a cooler light temperature. Making them great for lighting up areas like kitchens and bathrooms where you want a warmer ambiance.
Turn Off Electronics When Not In Use
If you’re like most of us, you have a smartphone or laptop that is on all day long. When you plug in an electronic device or computer to charge it. It continues to draw power even after the battery is full. This is known as “phantom load” and it can account for up to 10% of your home’s electricity bill!
To reduce this phantom load, try turning off electronics when they are not in use. For example, if you go out for dinner but don’t want to forget about your phone charging at home. Turn off its power switch before leaving, and unplug it from the outlet when finished charging (or invest in a smart charger).
Replace Single Use Plastic With Reusable Alternatives
When you’re out and about, use reusable bags instead of single-use plastic bags. You can carry your groceries in them. They won’t break and spill their contents all over your car when you get home. And they are better for the environment.
The same goes with straws—just say no to single-use plastic straws! Reusable containers are also great for storing leftovers in your fridge, as well as lunches on the go.
If you have a habit of buying bottled water from vending machines or stores (we know we do), try carrying around a reusable water bottle instead.
This way, you avoid buying disposable bottles that will end up in the landfill or ocean eventually anyway. Plus, there is no need to worry about bringing home an empty bottle every time. Just refill it at whatever drinking fountain is closest.
Final Thoughts
The best thing about these lifestyle changes is that you’re not just doing them for yourself, but for the whole planet. Reducing your carbon emissions by switching to plant-based foods, taking shorter showers and turning off electronics when you’re not using them. It will help our planet stay healthy and beautiful for generations to come.
With the increasing environmental problems. It is crucial for us to take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. The Earth is getting warmer and this will cause more natural disasters with consequences we can’t know yet. In our generation, we have a responsibility to leave a better world for future generations, so consider reducing your carbon footprint today.
Hi! My name is Gemma, and welcome to Miss Makeup Magpie. I share helpful articles to help you with beauty tips, tricks and tutorials.
