It is impossible to turn on a television or radio these days without being bombarded with information about global warming. Because of these reports, the term "carbon footprint" has become common; in fact, it has been a part of our vocabulary since 1999. Despite the continuing debate about what causes global warming, it is a good idea to reduce your carbon footprint through conservation.
Definition
According to Dictionary.com, the definition of carbon footprint is the measure of the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by a location, organization or person at any given time. In layman's terms, a carbon footprint is the waste product of energy. All living creatures give off some sort of waste. Even breathing generates waste. When you inhale, the body processes and uses the oxygen from the air, sends the unusable part, carbon dioxide, back to your lungs, which exhale it out of the body. Your personal carbon footprint measures how much waste you leave behind after directly or indirectly consuming energy.
Global Warming Impact
According to Timeforachange.org, our carbon footprint is the cause of global warming. The March 2009 issue of National Geographic states that scientists have reported recently that the earth is heating up even quicker than what was predicted just a few years ago, and that if we don't reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and all other greenhouse gases that trap heat in our atmosphere, the consequences could be severe.
Energy Use
Whether it's wood, propane, coal, natural gas or oil, everyone burns fuel for heating and cooling. Everyone also uses electricity, which is mostly generated by burning fossil fuels. With households having larger numbers of televisions, computers, cell phones and hand-held devices, the rate of energy waste is increasing rapidly. Nearly everyone drives a vehicle as well. Even those who use public transportation generate waste, although less than those individuals driving cars. Many people have started walking and biking as the answer. Realistically, though, very few people have the ability to walk or bike everywhere they need to be.
Conservation
Conservation is the key to less energy waste. Be mindful of how much energy you consume on a daily basis. You can reduce your energy by adjusting the thermostat in your home, turning off electrical appliances and lights when not in use and drive less by combining errands and trips. No matter how you conserve, less energy used means less waste products. Other ways to conserve is by purchasing locally grown food, or grow your own vegetables if possible and using solar energy as opposed to traditional electricity or batteries. Recycling also helps eliminate product waste and some schools have started recycling programs in their own communities. Power strips help reduce wasted energy. Plug your television, radio, computer, DVD player or any other appliances into the power strip. When you leave your home, you can turn off all appliances with the flip of one switch instead of running around the house unplugging multiple items.
Carbon Footprint Calculators
CarbonFootprint.com has a calculator that allows you to determine how much carbon dioxide you send into the atmosphere just by going about your daily life. It takes into consideration such facts as your food choices, whether or not you travel by airplane, your typical mileage and the size of your household. Enter the appropriate information when asked and the website will tell you what your carbon footprint is as metric tons of carbon dioxide.
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