No matter how much we do to protect the environment around us, we all have a carbon footprint. Most closely associated with the increase in greenhouse gases and global warming, a carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide we create every day in our life. This carbon dioxide can be attributed to us both directly and indirectly: directly when you drive your car to work or cook your food, and indirectly when you take a plane on vacation or buy a product from a company. But there are ways to reduce the size of your carbon footprint on a daily basis.
Water Consumption
In America, we take so many things for granted, water supply among them. But there are simple things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint just based on water usage. Taking shorter showers and changing the shower head to a low-flow model will help. Using the dishwasher only when it’s full, turning our water heater down to low (around 120 degrees F) and putting insulation around it are all excellent methods for reducing our carbon footprint just in how we use water.
Automobile Usage
Cars and trucks are some of the major sources of carbon dioxide production in our country and around the world. You can buy a car that gets better gas mileage and lower your direct emissions. You can carpool and reduce your footprint even more. But you don’t have to take things this far to be helpful. Just making sure your tires are properly inflated and changing your air filter in your car on a regular basis will have a positive impact on your CO2 contribution. Not letting your car sit in idle is another way to reduce your footprint.
Energy Efficiency
You can do many simple things around your home to reduce your carbon footprint as well. Little things like turning down your thermostat and wearing warmer clothes will help. Buying products with minimal packaging and creating less garbage is another way to affect your carbon footprint. Then there’s lighting. Using compact fluorescent bulbs as opposed to conventional incandescent light bulbs will reduce carbon dioxide emissions. What’s even better is that doing just half of the things mentioned in this article will save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a year.
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