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Climate change, or global warming, is an issue everyone is familiar with, but one that’s difficult to personally connect to daily. Its effects often appear slowly over time and become noticeable only after change has occurred. Plus, doing something often includes forming new habits and making small sacrifices. Getting through the day presents enough challenges.
Still, climate change is one of those issues everyone should make time for because its effects are already all around us. They manifest through frequent and more severe storms, heat waves and droughts. Heatwaves can strain your HVAC system, natural disasters can interrupt the global supply chain, causing food and product shortages, and storms can damage infrastructure.
Reducing your personal carbon footprint is one of the best ways to help combat climate change.
Before we talk about those simple steps, let’s talk about your personal carbon footprint. Your footprint is a measurement of the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted into the environment attributable to your day-to-day activities. The average carbon footprint for a person in the U.S. is 16 tons.
Carbon emissions you are responsible for include any direct emissions that involve the burning of fossil fuels, such as driving your car, or indirect emissions from activities that consume purchased energy, like using electricity.
Thankfully, there are plenty of simple steps you can make right now that will reduce your personal carbon footprint.
Hearing an energy company tell you to use less energy might give you pause. Totally understandable. We mean it, though. Creating a safe, reliable, and sustainable future is a big part of our mission. If the first step toward that future is reducing energy consumption, we’re cool with that.
Here’s how to reduce your carbon footprint at home
Choosing clean and renewable energy sources – energy that is produced with little or no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – furthers your ability to reduce your carbon footprint. Clean energy sources include solar, wind and nuclear power.
Note that there is a difference between clean energy and renewable energy. Clean energy is divided into two types: renewable and sustainable.
If you want to learn more about clean energy, our Clean Energy Explained article digs into the topic.
There’s a reason trees have become an ipso facto symbol of climate change efforts. Trees and plants act as carbon sponges, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it in their trunks and in the ground, and releasing oxygen in return.
They do more than that, however:
Start small by expanding your flower bed or finding a spot in the yard for a couple new trees. When you’re ready, consider volunteering with or donating to organizations that focus on reforestation.
More than 3% of U.S. energy is used to pump and treat water, so using less water in our daily lives can have a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions. For most of us, tamping down on how much water we use is relatively easy. Start with:
This step might come as a surprise. How does food affect climate change? It’s a good question. The answer is all the work it takes to get food from the farm to our table and beyond.
Technology fuels farming, too. Most machines that help grow and process food, carry from the farm or factory to the store to your home are fueled by gasoline, oil, and other carbon emitting products. Even when food is prepared and disposed of, carbon comes in to play.
Compared to our other recommendations, this step could be the most difficult. Changing the way we eat – from where we buy groceries all the way to what we consume and how we store leftovers and dispose of waste – is a heavy lift. But if we’re serious about reducing our carbon footprint, it’s worth giving it a try. Here’s where to begin:
Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in the U.S, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Passenger cars and light-duty trucks contribute half of all U.S. transportation sector carbon emissions. The average vehicle emits 6 to 9 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
There are many ways to change how we get around and reduce our carbon footprint. Some easy, some easier than you’d think, and, let’s be honest, one or two that require some dedication.
Once you’ve done all you can to reduce your carbon footprint, consider helping others reduce theirs. Support organizations and initiatives that are finding new and innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
Taking simple steps now to reduce your carbon footprint is the best way you can help combat climate change, whether that’s planting trees, taking public transportation, or switching to a clean energy supplier like Energy Harbor.
Ready to add carbon offsets to your net zero strategy?
