HOW TO REDUCE YOUR FAMILY’S CARBON FOOTPRINT
TAKE A STEP IN THE GREEN DIRECTION WITH THESE TIPS FROM KIM CARLSON,
THE EARTHSMART CONSUMER
We hear it all the time: We need to reduce our carbon footprint.
But what is a carbon footprint?
And how the heck can one family’s
actions make a difference?
Global warming, climate change or greenhouse gas is caused by
too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Power plants, cars
and factories release carbon dioxide into the air. Yep, that’s it—just about everything we drive, most products we buy and every modern convenience that we enjoy, including turning our televisions on, adds to more carbon or greenhouse gas emissions. Our personal or household carbon footprint is the amount of carbon emissions that can be attributed to a person or family on a daily or periodic basis.
It is overwhelming and confusing, but don’t throw your hands up yet. There are plenty of simple non-life-altering things that a family can do to reduce its carbon footprint. Remember cutting energy use is the key, because each time you use less energy, fewer greenhouse gases go into the atmosphere.
Cruise Control
Buy a fuel-efficient car even though gas prices have come down. Cars that burn less gas also emit a smaller amount of greenhouse gases. If it isn’t time for a new car, make sure your tires are inflated properly, drive smoothly and get regular maintenance on your vehicle for better fuel efficiency. Better yet, move to a home close to where you work or move your work closer to home—telecommute. Bike, walk, scooter, rollerblade or ride a unicycle to your destination. You not only get where you’re going, but you get a workout, too.
Green Your Lawn
Plant trees because trees capture and hold carbon dioxide and provide shade that decreases the need for air-conditioning. Use 4-cycle mowers that burn cleaner, or cut grass with an electric mulching mower. Mow when the grass is long rather than on a weekly schedule. Replace grass with native grasses or plants that are beautiful and don’t require mowing.
Keep It Down
Turn down your thermostat in the winter and up in the summer. Buy a programmable setback thermostat and learn to program it. Replace the five most-used lights in your home with fluorescents. Look for the Energy Star label for all appliances and electronics. You can find them in just about any brand at any store. Appliances with this EPA-backed rating can save you up to a third on your energy bill.
Blowin’ in the Wind
Purchase renewable energy from your electric company. Most electric providers have this type of optional program for people who want to support renewable technologies. Renewable energy doesn’t produce greenhouse gases and includes wind, solar and biomass (energy made from crops). Contact your electrical provider for details.
Conscious Consumption
Purchase products with less packaging, reuse or recycle grocery bags, and buy local food at the grocery store, co-op or farmers market. Try to use your recycle bin more than your garbage can. Anytime that a product can be reused (sold, donated or used again), there is a positive impact on global warming. Buy products with recycled content. When giving gifts, give an experience rather than a thing.
Do what you can when you can and don’t stress out about doing everything. Incremental changes can have a tremendous impact, especially when everyone in a neighborhood does them. A side benefit to helping the planet is that most of these tips are also beneficial for your family’s pocketbook. Go ahead, I dare you: Reduce your carbon footprint.
Often credited for tirelessly working to preserve our planet long before global warming hit the mainstream radar, Kim Carlson is an eco-savvy entrepreneur, green business author and eco-chic lifestyle expert. She is the founder of five successful companies that use earth-friendliness as their driving force. Carlson’s book
Green Your Work: Boost Your Bottom Line While Reducing Your Eco-Footprint, about the many advantages of being an environmentally responsible business, was recently released. Her latest venture is the development of the EarthSmart Product Standard, a retail product certification program devised in collaboration with the country’s leading scientists, academics and environmentalists that will prove to be the most innovative environmental screening process to date.
For more from Kim, go to
www.earthsmartconsumer.com.
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