Your everyday actions and the way you live your life directly effect the environment and emit large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) or greenhouse gases, which in turn contributes to global warming. This is known as your carbon footprint. Everything from driving, taking showers, where and how your groceries are transported, how much you use your washing machine, and the products you use leaves a significant carbon footprint. Off-setting and reducing your carbon footprint is important in lowering our daily emissions of CO₂ and slowing the affects of global warming. It seems like a daunting task, but even the smallest changes make a big difference.

Buy local fruits and vegetables from Farmer’s Markets or co-ops

Most of the fruits and vegetables at your grocery store come from other states and countries. Avocados and strawberries can come from California, oranges can come from Florida, apples can come from Washington, and corn can come from Nebraska. Wherever you live, distributors must truck in these fruits and vegetables, lending to tons of CO₂ emissions. When you buy local, you’re supporting local farmers and cutting down on the amount of CO₂ emissions that come from airplanes, trains, and trucks.

Find alternative ways to get to work

If you drive 15,000 miles a year driving a 2008 Honda Odyssey, you’re emitting more than 8.5 tons of CO₂. If you drive a 1999 Land Rover with a 4.6 liter engine 15,000 miles a year, you are emitting more than 19.5 tons of CO₂. Lower your carbon footprint by working from home at least once a week, participating in a carpool, taking the bus, or riding a bike to school.¹ If you’re close enough, walk to work!

Unplug when not in use

If you leave device chargers, appliances like your microwave, or electronics like your television plugged in even when you’re not using it, they still draw in electricity. According to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website, idle appliances waste 43 billion kWH a year in the United States alone. A Vanity Fair article from May 2006 states that electronic equipment that is still plugged in but not in use still uses “about 40 percent of their full running power. Every year, the energy wasted in this way is the equivalent of the annual output of 26 power plants.” The article suggests that you use a power strip for these electronics and turn the power strip off when they are not in use. If you leave your cell phone charger plugged in even when it’s not in use, it can emit just over 90 pounds of carbon dioxide².

Cold water washing

When you wash your laundry in hot water, you end up using an incredible amount of energy to heat up that water. By using cold water or even warm water, you reduce your impact on the environment significantly.

Forget the dryer

If you can, line dry your clothes instead of relying on the dryer. If you line dry for six months, you can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide³.

Wash only when full

The dishwasher uses an incredible amount of hot water to clean those dishes of yours. Your water heater works overtime, and in turn emits a a lot of carbon dioxide. Save yourself at least 100 pounds of CO₂⁴ and only use the dishwasher when it is full.

Be smart about your water

The shower and bathtub are major offenders in carbon dioxide emissions because of the amount of energy needed to heat up the water and the total waste of water. Instead of taking a steaming hot shower for 15 minutes or filling up a bathtub with hot water, time your showers. Cut your 15-minute shower in half, forget the bath, and install a low-flow shower head. When you brush your teeth, turn the faucet off until you’re ready to rinse. By keeping the water running, you can waste 1,800 gallons of water a year ⁵.

For more information on how to reduce your carbon footprint and make this world a better place, visit StopGlobalWarming.org and read Henry Porter’s Vanity Fair article.

Sources:

1. Calculations from Carbon Footprint

2. Porter, Henry. Vanity Fair, “Fifty Ways to Help Save The Planet“, May 2006

3. Cut CO₂

4. Cut CO₂

5. Porter, Henry – Vanity Fair, “Fifty Ways to Help Save The Planet“, May 2006

Photo Sources:

City of Pflugerville

Outdoor Central

Unplug It

Ecofriend

The Linen Doctor