The carbon footprint refers to the net amount of greenhouse gasses that you and your family generate.
If you want to know how much household carbon footprint you make, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a handy calculator that you can use.
But how do you generate a carbon footprint? It depends on your lifestyle.
Every time you drive your car, use water and electricity or turn your heating and cooling system on, you are leaving a carbon footprint. The same thing goes for the products we buy.
How to Reduce Your Household’s Carbon Footprint
Living a zero-waste life may seem intimidating and costly. However, reducing your household’s carbon footprint does not require a lifestyle overhaul. There are affordable and straightforward ways you can do to go green.
Make your household greener by following the six eco-friendly tips listed below:
Reduce Your Waste
The first step to reducing your household’s carbon footprint is to reduce your waste.
In case you do not have landfills are one of the significant sources of greenhouse gases and pollution. And the more waste you send to the landfill, the bigger your contribution is to this pollutant.
To do that, you can start with recycling and composting. Doing so allows you to reduce your waste by as much as 50%. Mind you; recycling the following will enable you to reduce your family’s carbon footprint by 1,930 lbs. per year:
- Plastic
- Glass
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Aluminum and steel cans
Luckily, there are now waste management services that offer low-cost recycling programs. Otherwise, you can look for a nearby recycling facility where you can drop off your recyclables.
Go Paperless
Sure, papers are recyclable, but only around 50% are recycled.
In 2013 alone, the United States produced 2.7 million tons of paper. This is equivalent to 55 to 11 million trees. However, the country is only able to recycle about 11 million tons (53%).
These days, you can now take notes on your phone and send messages through SMS or instant messaging apps. Hence, there is less reason for you to use paper.
Now is a great time to opt for paperless billing, take notes on your phone, use bidet instead of toilet paper, and more.
Avoid Single-use Plastic
The production of single-use plastics consumes a lot of our finite petroleum resources. Plus, they are a great contributor to greenhouse gases.
Thus, an excellent way to reduce your household’s carbon footprint is to avoid single-use plastics as much as you can.
Here are some quick examples of how you can do that:
- Use eco-bags when grocery shopping
- Buy your fresh produce at the local farmer’s market
- Use refillable water bottles than buying bottled waters
Start Gardening
Do you know the best way to offset your carbon footprint? The answer is gardening.
For one, they consume carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Second, it helps purify the air and can even reduce your household’s heating and cooling costs. That’s because plants can provide shade and insulation.
That said, consider planting shrubs and trees if you have a yard. If you do not have a yard, you can look for a community co-op garden or join a regular tree planting event.
If you live in a small city apartment, consider growing herbs and spices like chives, basil, and thyme. You can also grow salad favorites like lettuce, arugula, and spinach.
Watch Your Thermostat Setting
Being mindful of your thermostat is another excellent way to reduce your family’s carbon footprint.
If you are still weighing the pros and cons of installing a heat pump, consider if it has a programmable thermostat. That way, there is no need for you to worry about setting the thermostat during weather changes and while you are on vacation.
Regardless, the rule of thumb is to lower your thermostat during winter and set them too high during summer. Doing so allows you to conserve energy.
According to the EPA, turning down your thermostat to 8 degrees during winter enables you to save $35 per year. You are also reducing CO2 by 361 pounds.
On the other hand, turning up your thermostat to 4 degrees in the summer allows you to save the same amount annually. However, you get to deduct 1,031 pounds of CO2.
Use Energy-efficient Appliances
Another fantastic way to reduce carbon footprint is to have an energy-efficient household. And one way to do that is to replace your light bulbs with CFL or LED lights.
Mind you, replacing only three incandescent bulbs with 13-watt CFLs can save you $18 per year. Also, you can drop your carbon footprint by 183 pounds.
Another way to be energy efficient is to use “smart” appliances or fixtures. Thus, look for appliances with the Energy Star label. That way, you can compare appliances and buy those with minimal electric consumption but with the most output.
Mind you, replacing your old fridge with an Energy Star labeled model allows you to save $43 annually. In addition, you can cut your carbon emissions by 443 pounds per year.
Conclusion
It may look overwhelming when you think of the household activities that contribute to your carbon footprint. But that should not hinder you from saving the environment.
Keep in mind that going green does not require you to change your lifestyle. Instead, you have to be mindful of the products you buy and consume. The same thing goes with how you use your utilities.
And the tips listed above can help you kickstart your journey in reducing your household’s carbon footprint.
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