When looking to go green, you essentially want to reduce your carbon footprint. Your carbon footprint refers to the number of greenhouse gases you create each year, according to the Nature Conservancy. To make your negative global impact smaller you will need to take steps to reduce the pollutants you create. While this seems simple enough, many people go through each day without realizing how every action can affect the environment.
The Three R's
The three R's--reduce, reuse and recycle--should influence most of your daily decisions as the first step in going green, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Think about ways to reduce your impact. This may involve taking shorter showers, unplugging appliances after each use and turning down the thermostat a degree or two. Reuse items as often as possible. Wash out your butter containers and use them to store leftovers. Save used dish water to water your houseplants or garden. Recycle all the items you possibly can.
Make Home Improvements
Small home improvements are a quick and easy way to go green. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, even minor changes like replacing traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs will help save money on your energy bills while reducing your carbon footprint. The first items on your checklist should be to repair small, inexpensive problems. Tighten a faucet to save water and place draft prevention tape around any hole or crack that air can penetrate. You can boost your efforts by replacing wasteful appliances, like huge water heaters and old washing machines, with energy-efficient alternatives. If you would like to go one step further, consider installing solar heat panels on your roof to conserve your own energy.
Save Gas
The world's supply of fossil fuels will be depleted by 2056, according to the National Center for Policy Analysis. Furthermore, gasoline is a pollutant that emits greenhouse gases and increases your carbon footprint. To limit the amount of gasoline you use in a given day, consider walking and biking as often as possible. If you are unable to do this, try to ride a bus or carpool as often as possible. If you have the money, look into purchasing a hybrid car. If you have only a little extra cash, think about purchasing an electric scooter or motorcycle instead.
Think Locally
The clothes you wear, the foods you eat, the items that decorate your house came, for the most part, from hundreds of miles away. Transporting these items by ship, train, plane and truck sends unnecessary pollutants into the air. The Worldwatch Institute suggests taking a big step to go green and shop locally. Not only will this prevent waste, it will also help your community to thrive economically. Start at the local farmer's markets and craft fairs. If these are not readily available, research local stores and farms selling only locally or regionally made and grown items. With a growing awareness of the green movement, this task is no longer as difficult as it once was.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Tips for Going Green
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Three R's of Going Green
- Worldwatch Institute: 10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green
- The Nature Conservancy: Carbon Footprint Calculator
- National Center for Policy Analysis: Are We Running Out of Oil?
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