First off, let us start by defining what a carbon footprint is. A carbon footprint refers to the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere. A carbon footprint occurs as a result of our day-to-day activities that are harmful to the environment. Most of the time, you might engage in these activities without knowing the potential risk that you are posing to our mother nature. This blog is particularly meant to make you aware of some of these habits and help you find ways of reducing your carbon footprint.
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Your Mode of Transport
Do you know that the mode of transportation you use to get to work in the morning affects your carbon footprint? When you drive your car to work in the morning, you release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is almost 13% of greenhouse gases.
There are other options for transport that can work for you and help to conserve the environment too, such as biking to work or catching the train. You could also switch to public transportation to reduce the number of single cars on the road. If your office is just blocks away, you can walk and get in some much-needed exercise while at it.
Your Source of Energy
What kind of energy are you using in your home? If you are using electricity, then you are causing major damage to the earth. The production of electricity leads to about 25% of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, which is the largest share.
Switch to green energy that is generated from wind and solar power. This will put you at the frontline in the fight against global warming. Green energy is also cheaper as compared to electricity, so you get to save a few bucks as you help to preserve mother nature.
The Food You Eat
If you are a meat lover, then I am sorry to let you know that you are an enemy of the environment. Livestock keeping contributes to tons of CO2 annually. Carbon dioxide makes up more than half of all greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. This means that by eating meat and dairy products, you support livestock farming, hence contributing to the greatest percentage of carbon footprint.
Not to mention the number of trees that are cut to make space for grazing land and to feed livestock. You can switch to vegan options for your meals that are healthy and friendly to the environment. Reducing the amount of meat you consume is also a step that can make a difference, or rather, try to look for meat from eco-friendly farms.
Your Fashion Wear
The production of garments causes about 10% of greenhouse emissions and is the second-largest environmental pollutant. You can reduce the level of production by sourcing second-hand clothes instead of buying new ones every time. Also, you can take care of the clothes that you have so you do not have to buy more every now and then.
Fashion also depends on deforestation for the production of raw materials used by garment manufacturers. Basically, the sector that you choose to support determines the amount of your carbon footprint. Ensure that you work with sustainable manufacturers who use eco-friendly methods in their productions; even your eyelash extensions factory, is it eco-certified?
The Amount of Water You Use
Processing and delivering water to our houses require a lot of energy and resources. Furthermore, it takes a lot of energy to heat it once it’s there. As a result, you can help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint by consuming less water. When brushing your teeth, turn off the faucet, take brief showers instead of baths, and just boil what you need.
Is Your Home Insulated?
Heating your home can be a costly and energy-intensive task. You can ensure that your home keeps heat in the winter and stays cool in the summer by insulating areas like your loft and walls. It means you’ll use less energy, lowering your carbon impact and saving money on your utility costs. Turn on the air conditioner only when it is completely necessary.
Do You Recycle? Or Reuse?
Do not be one to throw away everything you don’t need anymore. Learn how you can reduce the amount of waste in the environment by recycling and reusing some of your items. You can do this by using the recycle bins stationed around the city for disposing of recyclable items. The use of biodegradable materials for packaging can also help minimize waste to the environment.
In Conclusion
You probably were not aware of some of these harmful yet straightforward activities that cause harm to our environment, well, now you know and it is time to join the revolution in the fight against global warming. No more saying you did not know. You can single-handedly change the course of nature by doing your part in reducing your carbon impact and educating others on the same. Not everyone is lucky enough to get access to such information, and it is your duty to mother nature to spread awareness on this issue.
