Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon-based fuels you use. Almost all fuels we use are carbon-based, such as petrol, diesel, gas, oil, coal, jet fuel etc. When we use these, Carbon dioxide (CO2) is released. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps the sun’s heat and keeps the earth warm. Plants absorb CO2 and keep the earth from heating up but today problems are arising because with our ever-expanding needs and the increase in human population there is an increase in carbon emitting activities, such as driving, flying, heating or cooling our homes etc., and our green cover is not able to absorb all the CO2 we are producing. This is leading to climate change, also known as global warming.
So, your carbon footprint is the amount of CO2 you’re releasing into the atmosphere because of activities like use of electricity or fuel and it is measured in tonnes of CO2. Here are some fairly simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint. It may seem like a daunting task but you can take it nice and slow; incorporate one measure at a time and see your life turn green and happy.
You could start with simple things at home such as switching to solar energy to cater to your electricity needs. You could also invest in energy efficient appliances. Switch to energy saving light bulbs like CFLs. Appliances left on stand by can use up to 85% of the energy they would use if fully switched on—so turn off the computer when you don’t need it. Take your phone charger out of the socket when you’re not using it, it too uses energy when its plugged in. When you use a washing machine, make sure that there is a full load; don’t use the machine for just a few clothes. Instead of using the tumble dryer that uses a huge amount of energy, dry your clothes outside. Surround your house with plants to provide you shade from the sun in the summer. In the winter, keep your curtains drawn at night to stop the heat from escaping and instead of using a heater or blower, put an extra sweater or jumper.
When it comes to water, try and use it judiciously. Fix any dripping taps or faucets to prevent water being wasted. Turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth. Install a low flow toilet that uses 6 litres of water per flush instead of a full flush one that used 13.2 litres. Use a bucket to water your plants or wash your car instead of using a hosepipe.
A change in your eating habits too can reduce your carbon footprint. Buy locally produced organic food—this helps save resources employed to transport outside food to your area and also the food being organic in nature, is grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, which are harmful to the environment. Eat less meat since producing meat requires a lot more energy than producing vegetables—try and go vegetarian for 3-4 days in a week. Make sure you take proper care of your refrigerator as well so it doesn’t use extra energy and keeps your food fresh. Only set it to as cold as you need it; avoid leaving the door open to prevent the cold air from escaping. Don’t put warm or hot food in the fridge since this will make your fridge work extra. Make sure your fridge is out of direct sunlight and not too close to other heating equipment in the kitchen like the stove or the oven. Make sure that there is a few inches’ space between the fridge and the wall so that the air can circulate and prevent your fridge from heating up and working extra.
Travelling by public transport like train or bus for long distances and bicycle for short distances is always better than driving your own car. If you can manage without a car then do so, to reduce its greenhouse emissions. If you do end up using the car then plan your journey in advance so you can avoid congestion. Drive safe and smoothly; try and avoid heavy breaking or sharp acceleration to save fuel. Speeding increases your fuel consumption; staying within speed limits also helps prevent accidents. Make sure you check your tyre pressure regularly since under-inflated tyres also increase fuel consumption. Keep the use of air-conditioner to a minimum. Keep your car in good shape by getting it serviced regularly.
Even when going on holiday, pick trains or buses as your mode of transport over airplanes. When you cannot help but fly, try combining trips. Also, try and take a direct flight instead of stopping over.
Reduce, reuse, recycle is a good mantra to remember when it comes to use of paper in your office. Print double-sided; look at investing in a printer that does so for you. Try and avoid using hard copies; saving everything on the computer is the best option. Reuse things like envelopes, folders, paper clips etc. Use recycled paper; after use recycle your paper. Avoid using plastic as much as possible—instead of using plastic cups for water and beverages, keep mugs handy. Turn the lights and appliances off when you’re not using them or when you’re leaving the office for the day and try and minimize your electricity usage in general. Encourage your colleagues and employees to carpool.
Come up with your own set of innovative practises to reduce your carbon footprint. Create new items from waste products, not only will you be reusing things but you could make this a fun family activity—share the joys of going green with your loved ones.
