Your ecological footprint is the impact that your personal actions have on the environment. Reducing your ecological footprint requires making daily changes in everything from the type of car you drive and the way you drive it, to how often you shower and for how long. Some strategies for reducing your ecological footprint require planning, expense or sacrifice, such as walking or taking the bus instead of using your car for errands and commuting. Other actions, such as using energy efficient light bulbs, are quite simple.
Use Less Energy
Energy fuels cars, heat shomes, and runs appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines. You can reduce your energy use by making purchases such as purchasing a fuel efficient car, an energy saving light bulb or double paned windows with added insulation. You can also reduce your energy use by powering some of your daily activities using your own steam rather than conventional energy sources. Consider riding your bicycle instead of driving, washing dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher or cutting your lawn using a push mower rather than an electrical one. You can also reduce your carbon footprint by taking simple measures to minimize your energy waste, such as inflating your tires to the proper pressure to save gas or turning off the lights when you leave a room.
Use Less Water
Fresh, clean water is a precious resource that is growing increasingly scarce as the planet grows warmer and more arid, and the population increases and puts more pressure on the existing supply. You can save water by taking shorter showers, not flushing the toilet every time you use it and keeping a pitcher of water in your refrigerator instead of running the water until it grows cold. If you have a garden, water it in the early evening instead of the morning so less water will evaporate during the hottest part of the day. Installing aerated nozzles on faucets and low flow shower heads also helps to save water. Eating less meat will also reduce your overall water use. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, it takes 4,000 liters of water to produce a single steak, while an entire day's food for someone eating a primarily plant based diet uses only 1,100 liters of water.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
You can also reduce your ecological footprint by lessening the amount of waste that you create. Reduce the amount of trash you throw in the landfill by buying products with less packaging and only buying what you need. Reuse plastic containers rather than throwing them away. Whenever possible, buy durable goods that you will be able to use on multiple occasions. Recycle plastic, paper, glass and metal, and compost your food and yard waste.
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