4 Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

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Since 1751, the world has emitted over 1.5 trillion tonnes of CO2. This number will continue to rise as long as we keep making poor choices in our everyday life. This has detrimental consequences for climate change, oceans, and life in general.

While we can’t eliminate carbon emissions overnight, we can do our best to start reducing our carbon footprint. This is what you need to know about playing your part in saving the environment.

What Is a Carbon Footprint?

Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases that are produced by our actions. The average carbon footprint for a person in the U.S. is 16 tons. To avoid any extreme consequences, the average global carbon footprint needs to drop to 2 tons by 2050.

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Here are 5 main areas of your life that you can start working on.

1.Clothing

The fashion industry is a huge contributor to CO2 emissions. You can help reduce this number by wearing the clothes you have instead of buying new ones. If you are done with your clothes, then pass them down or donate them instead of throwing them away.

Washing, drying, and ironing your clothes outputs a lot of electricity, therefore contributing to CO2 emissions. Try to be smart about how often you wash your clothes. Create a schedule to avoid over-washing.

2.Food

When you are shopping for food, bring your own reusable bags and avoid products with a lot of plastic packaging. Also, purchase only what you need to avoid wasting food. You can always go back for more if you need it.

As far as consuming food goes, consider eating home-grown food from local markets. Also, limiting your meat consumption can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and soil degradation.

3.Transportation

If you live in an area where public transport is common, then take it when you can. Even better alternatives to public transport are walking or bicycling.

Some people don’t have the option to take alternative transportation, so if you must drive, then just be smart about when and how often you are driving. Plan your trips in advance and carpool if you can.

4.Electricity

One of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to choose a renewable energy source. Consider green energy companies such as Ecotricity to help naturally power your home or business.

If you can’t make the switch, then reduce electricity by turning off appliances when you aren’t using them, taking shorter showers, and turning down the heat in your home.

5.Recycling 

Make sure you are recycling everything you can. Most things can be recycled if you take the time to figure out how to properly do it. Doing a little research can go a long way in saving the environment.

Start Reducing Your Carbon Footprint Today

There are many things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint and make the world a better place.

If you enjoyed this article, then take a look at the rest of our blog for more environmental content.