Each person on Earth leaves behind a carbon footprint — the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases they release into the atmosphere through their everyday activities. While you can’t control the global climate or its effect on the environment, you can reduce your carbon footprint by following these simple tips to make changes in your daily habits and actions. Your efforts might be small, but they add up to make a real difference!
The first step is understanding exactly what a personal carbon footprint is: it’s an estimation of how much carbon dioxide (CO2) you produce in a given year. Once you know how much CO2 you generate, you can begin working on reducing those emissions in order to improve your personal impact on our environment.
As an example, someone who lives in Los Angeles and drives 20 miles per day every day will create about 19 tons of CO2 over a lifetime—that works out to about 37 pounds per day! Multiply that by 365 days per year and it comes out to be 118 pounds per month.
Replace your car with a bicycle
The average American household spends $9,000 a year on gas for two cars. Unless you live in an urban area that is extremely walkable, your carbon footprint can be significantly reduced by replacing one of those cars with a bicycle. A heavy-duty mountain bike will run around $1,200; it’s cheaper than buying a used car and still gets you to work every day without spewing pollutants into the atmosphere.
Bike riding also has significant health benefits: Studies have shown that bicycle commuters tend to be healthier than those who drive or take public transportation. Even just a 10-minute daily ride can improve your aerobic fitness and help you lose weight!
Avoid aeroplane travel
Aeroplane travel can be one of the most environmentally harmful ways to get around. Aeroplanes burn fossil fuels and emit high levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. This can affect both global warming and weather patterns on a local level.
Personal carbon footprint is measured by looking at how much CO2 a person emits per year, which includes everything from driving a car to simply heating or cooling your home. To minimize it, consider choosing transportation methods like carpooling or riding public transit whenever possible, walking or biking when practical, and only flying when necessary.
Cut back on meat
Everyone knows beef is resource-heavy to produce and takes a toll on our planet. The EPA has reported that raising cattle releases more greenhouse gases than driving cars, trucks, and buses combined. Cows are also water hogs—it takes about 10,000 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef!
Cutting back on meat or going vegetarian can drastically reduce your carbon footprint. If you’re looking for ways to eat healthier without trading in your taste buds (hello, tofu!), it might be worth checking out some vegan blogs and cookbooks as well.
Use reusable cloth bags
Buying plastic bags is so easy and convenient, but you don’t have to give them up completely. Buy a set of reusable bags that can be washed and reused each time you go shopping or buy some cloth bags that you can reuse again and again.
Reusable bags are great because they help prevent excessive use of plastic and reduce waste. They also come in handy for carrying your items around town when running errands or for bringing items on vacation!
Eat less but better quality food
By reducing your consumption of meat, you can easily cut your carbon footprint in half. One of the easiest ways to do that is by opting for a vegetarian diet once or twice a week, but if you’re not ready to take that step, focus on eating more plant-based foods when you dine out and at home.
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change found that upping intake of fruits and vegetables could reduce our food’s carbon footprint by 30 per cent. In other words: What you eat makes a difference for both your waistline and Mother Earth!
Insulate your home
If you live in a region with cold winters, insulating your home is key. Also, make sure to properly seal your home from drafts. Investing in high-quality doors and windows will help keep heat from escaping when it’s cold outside. If you’re looking for other ways to reduce your carbon footprint, start by making sure you have a well-insulated home.
Cook at home instead of eating out
Going out to eat is fun, but it’s not always sustainable for our personal budgets or for our carbon footprint. If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, making a few changes in your daily life can make a big difference over time.
One easy way to do so is by cooking at home instead of eating out; cutting down on takeout and restaurants can help reduce your car emissions, not to mention save you money. Use green recipes or just choose fresh ingredients over processed items like frozen dinners—and don’t forget leftovers! A little meal prep in advance can go a long way toward being more eco-friendly.
Unplug electronics when not in use
Modern electronics consume a lot of power when they’re on, even if they’re not being used. This can add up to thousands of dollars over your lifetime—especially if you leave them plugged in all the time. Make it a habit to unplug electronics like your computer and television when you’re not using them, and use appliances with automatic shutoff features when possible.
You might even consider getting a smart power strip for devices that require constant power (like chargers or computers). An estimated 30 per cent of household energy is consumed by devices that aren’t turned off every day, so making changes can save you money as well as help reduce carbon emissions.
Conclusion
Each of us has a responsibility to reduce our own personal carbon footprint and to set an example for others. The task may seem daunting, but it starts with small, everyday changes that add up to real progress. Don’t wait for someone else to take responsibility; if we all do our part now, we’ll have left behind a better world for future generations—and that’s something we can feel good about.
