Reducing Carbon Footprints
Stop Global Warming by Personal Reductions in Carbon Emissions
Apr 26, 2008
Everybody, every process leaves a carbon footprint. Because of the environmental impact of carbon dioxide, it is imperative that people become aware of the concept of carbon footprints and learn how to reduce their own personal carbon footprint. Although the increase in carbon emissions is a world wide phenomenon individuals can make a huge impact to reduce global warming by reducing their carbon footprints.
Carbon Footprint
Carbon Footprints can be applied to countries, industrial processes, companies, products and to individuals. An individual’s carbon footprint can be defined as the amount of greenhouse gas, measured in units of Carbon dioxide, produced by the activities of that individual. Personal actions that directly add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere can be classed as the primary carbon footprint, while indirect carbon emissions from the life cycle of products used by an individual are classed as secondary carbon footprint.
Measuring personal carbon footprints
Many environmental websites and most government EPA websites offer online carbon footprint calculators. These calculators help individuals to measure the amount of global warming pollutants, expressed as carbon dioxide, which they emit into the atmosphere. Before logging on to these sites individual should have some required information at hand, such as utility bills, mileage travelled over the last month and the number and type of electronic equipment in your house. Once an individual knows what their carbon footprint is, they can set about making changes in their lifestyle to help reduce that footprint.
Lowering Personal Carbon Footprints
Individuals who wish to be more environmentally aware, and wish to make a contribution to lowering greenhouse gas should consider the following areas as a means to lowering their personal carbon footprint.
Greener Automobile Travel
This is the major area in which individuals add to global warming and also the one where they can make the biggest reductions in greenhouse gas. Consider walking, cycling, car pooling or public transport for local travel. Drivers should ensure that their autos are in peak condition for more efficient running. The use of good driving practises also ensures more efficient running of auto hence less pollution. Drivers should consider using biofuels if the auto accepts them. When changing cars, drivers should consider more carbon efficient cars or hybrids.
Greener Utilities
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) bulbs not only save energy but also save the user money by using less energy. Households should replace the old tungsten bulbs with CFLs. Users should consider switching to a greener energy supplier if there is one in their area. Ensure that such a supplier is certified by the local or Federal EPA, or equivalent.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Both of these activities are very high in carbon emissions. Users should consider raising the thermostat by two degrees for air conditioning while lowering it by 2 degrees for heating. When renewing appliances consumers should check the energy rating of the appliance and choose the more efficient.
Electrical Appliances
Those that are not needed should be turned off. Avoid at all costs the "Standby Mode". Users, especially households should only use washing machines and dishwashers when there is a full load. Wind is a renewable energy and a clothesline could replace the dryer.
Shopping and Consumables
Bottled water, with its processing, packaging and transport, is very energy intensive. Users should consider tap water, or having a water filter attached to their water system to allow drinking. Shopping mall plastic bag use also adds a lot of carbon to the atmosphere and should be reduced or cut out totally. To cut down on transport costs users should become aware of the origin of the goods they are purchasing and buy locally produced good where possible.
Action by users in most of these areas will not only reduce their carbon footprint, thus helping in the battle against global warming, but will also in many cases help to save them money. No matter how environmentally aware a person is, there are times, such as using an aircraft for travel, that their actions will result in a large amount of carbon dioxide being emitted to the atmosphere. In such cases individuals should consider using Carbon Offsets to help reduce their carbon footprint.
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