What does “Carbon Footprint” mean, and how can I reduce it?
Your “carbon footprint” is everything you do that has environmental impact. Just in the natural course of our daily lives, we are taking actions that help lead to global warming, depletion of natural resources, and the increase of waste polluting the land, air, and oceans.
Think about it. Aside from how natural disasters impact the poor, everything we buy, sell, and use comes from, or goes back to, the earth.
When we cut down trees to make paper products, there’s an effect on animal habitats and air quality.
Manufacturing produces toxic waste, which often ends up in our soil and water, which then affects the food we grow.
Some materials, such as plastic and other synthetics, take many, many years to break down in landfills. Other materials never decompose.
REDUCE your carbon footprint in the following ways
1. Use Less Energy and Natural Resources
2. Use Less Disposables
3. Use "Green" Products
Use Less Energy and Natural Resources
We hear so much about “conserving energy.” We may know that it means we should turn off the lights when we leave the house, or take public transportation instead of driving, but why? What difference are we actually making?
Energy, ultimately, comes from raw materials that we pull out of the earth, like coal, oil, and natural gas. There are two major problems with overusing energy:
- We are using up raw materials that cannot be replaced, so eventually they will run out;
- Energy use ALWAYS produces waste of some kind that makes our earth more dirty and speeds up global warming – either pollution, landfills, or both.
Other natural resources, like water, should also be conserved. Here are some easy ways you can help:
Walk or Ride Your Bike Whenever You Can. Riding public transportation is better for the environment, but walking and biking are even better. Walking has absolutely no environmental impact at all. The only waste produced by a bike is the bike… When it gets old or broken and has to be recycled!
Buy Local Produce …Or at least buy from farms that are as close to you as possible. It takes a lot of fuel and energy, and creates a lot of pollution, to have your groceries shipped from halfway around the world!
Eat In Season. This tip is related to the one about buying local goods. If you are eating a fruit or vegetable that is out of season, you’re eating something that had to travel a long way from a country or climate far away from you. For guides to when particular fruits and vegetables are in season in your area, visit a website like http://www.localharvest.org
Inflate your Tires. Your car will get better gas mileage… Using less fuel and saving you money!
Stop junk mail and paper bills. Some estimates say that if all households in the US paid all their bills online, we would save 18 million trees every year. But it’s not just the trees that are cut down… It’s the energy it takes to make the paper product. And because many of us are paying our bills online anyway, the bills we get in the mail are especially useless! Call your credit cards and banks today!!
Adjust Your Thermostat. Some estimates project that for every 1 degree lower you set it in the winter or higher you set it in the summer, you decrease your energy bill by 10%! So, put on extra layers in the winter, and find other ways to cool down in the summer.
Take Showers, Not Baths… And Shower Faster! A bath uses about twice as much water as a shower. Also, for every extra minute in the shower, you’re using another 5 gallons of water. Can you go from 15 minutes to 10 in the shower? That’s 25 gallons that you’re not using… and not paying for, either!
Switch to Compact Florescent Light Bulbs (CFL). Although these are slightly more expensive than regular bulbs, most of them have a life of up to 5 years! Also, because they’re energy efficient, you should see your electric bill go down. The impact on the environment is significant, too… Some estimates state that if everyone in America changed their bulbs to CFL, it would be like taking one million cars off the streets.
Hang Clothes Outside to Dry. At least in the warmer months, put your clothes out on the line. They’ll last longer, you’ll save money on electricity, and they’ll smell so fresh!
Energy Audits
An energy audit measures the energy efficiency of a building. For example, does your heater use more energy than it should? Do your windows let heat or air conditioning escape because they’re not sealed well? Are your utility bills costing you too much?
The results of an energy audit will show you some ways that you can renovate your home to increase its energy efficiency and lower your bills. Although it may be difficult to afford the investment up front, resources may be available to help you get low or no-interest loans that can be paid off with the savings from the lowered utility bills.
Energy audits are useful for homes, churches, and businesses! Connect with your local energy agencies to find out more information in your area.
Use Less Disposables
Our culture is all about creating more and more “conveniences” that we can use once or twice and throw away. Remember, all that trash piles up somewhere! Consider your use of paper products, packaging, and single-use products, and follow some of these simple tips:
For everyone –
Get reusable shopping bags. These are absolutely everywhere. Places like Wal-Mart, grocery stores, and department stores sell bags made out of recycled plastic for only a couple of dollars. Stash them in your car, and use them for all your shopping! Some retailers will even replace them for free if the straps break or the bag tears.
Buy Rechargeable Batteries. It may cost you some extra money up front, but you’ll save money and landfills in the long run!
For churches –
Use recycled, biodegradable paper products for potlucks and coffee hours. Styrofoam is terrible for the environment! Better yet, if you can, use regular plates and cups and get some volunteers to wash them; or, ask your congregants to bring their own plates and cups from home!
Visit our site often for more tips!
Use “Green” Products
“Green” products are ones that are less toxic themselves, have less environmentally destructive processes of manufacturing, or are made out of recycled materials. They might be a little more costly than some of their less-green counterparts, but the benefit to the earth far outweighs the few extra dollars you will spend.
See the many "Green" Products at Walmart.com
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