Lowering your carbon footprint can make you feel a lot better about the way you live your life. Individual efforts can add up to make a significant positive impact on the environment and reduce undesirable issues like global warming.
How to reduce your carbon footprint
Here are some simple ways to cut your carbon footprint by incorporating small changes in your lifestyle:
1. Reduce, reuse, recycle
The ways we get rid of waste and how much is there has a big impact on the environment. Reducing the amount of waste is important, and the first step is to choose longer-lasting products like reusable straws and avoid disposable items like coffee cups and cutlery. Go paperless where you can. Today, many companies know this and they will send your bill, receipt, or statement online.
Before you throw something away, first consider if it can be reused. Consider mending a broken item before you get rid of them. Another option is donating them to charity. Some people even recycle my used car.
Before you buy something, check to see how they can be recycled if you no longer need them – there are many recyclable options from food packaging and shampoo bottle to electrical items such as TVs and kettles.
2. Switch to renewable energy
Renewable energy has become a good option because they result in fewer greenhouse gases compared to fossils fuels. When you power your home using renewable energy, you are reducing your carbon footprint. The environment is going to thank you.
You can consider generating your own renewable electricity in your home to make it sustainable. One way of doing this is by installing solar panels on the roof of your home and storing the excess energy in a battery. You are going to reduce reliance on the grid and have clean energy that doesn’t produce greenhouse gases.
3. Reduce heating
There are many ways of reducing your CO2 emissions from heating your home. Some of them include heating the rooms you are using, draughtproofing and ensuring the home is properly insulated, and installing an air source heat pump.
You need to make sure your boiler is working well all year round so that it can be efficient, which will result in lower energy consumption.
A smart thermostat is a good device because you have more control of your heating and it makes it easier for you to reduce your carbon footprint. The smart thermostat can turn the heating on or off using the smartphone’s geolocation. It can even track the weather forecast and efficiently heat your home.
4. Eat seasonal products
You should eat fresh produce like vegetables and fruits in season – the foods are good for the environment and they are fresher, which means they taste better.
If you have space, then consider growing your own. An herb garden and a few vegetables in your backyard are good for the environment, even if it doesn’t seem much.
You need to reduce food wastage because it also makes a difference in your carbon footprint. Plan out your meals, so you can buy what you need and freeze leftovers. There are many energy-saving recipes online that can help you become even more sustainable.
5. Walk, ride a bike, or take the bus
Cars and plans emit a lot of pollutants, and this is not good for the environment and the air we breathe. You should choose low-carbon travel options such as walking, cycling, and public transport because they limit the use of cars.
The worst mode of transport for the environment is air travel. Instead of jetting off to another country for your holiday, why not explore your country?
If you have to fly, then think about ways of offsetting your carbon emissions.
6. Turn off your devices
Appliances like microwaves, TVs, and even phone chargers are going to use electricity if they are not turned off from the socket. Once you are done with these appliances, make sure you turn them off from the source. When you leave a room, make sure you turn off the lights. Doing this is going to reduce your carbon footprint and save you energy costs.
If you find yourself forgetting to turn off the lights and devices, then you should get smart lighting and sockets and invest in greener alternatives. This makes it possible to control the sockets and lights from wherever you are. This means you can turn on and off the lights or switch off the TV even when you are not home.
If you want even more control over your energy use, then get a smart meter. This meter is going to help in tracking your energy usage and CO2 emissions, which can give you a clear understanding of your energy. You can know the appliance that contributes the most to your carbon footprint and look for alternatives that are environmentally friendly.
7. Avoid items that come with excess packaging
Supermarkets have been known for this, which is why they are taking good steps in helping the environment. They have reduced the amount of non recyclable packaging they are selling and they try to offer packaging-free fresh produce whenever possible. This helps in limiting the use of single-use plastic.
Switching to a zero-waste shop is another idea. These are shops offering products without packaging. You can get everything from cleaning products and a bamboo toothbrush to flour and cereals. Go to these shops because it will help you reduce your carbon footprint.
