Like leaving footprints in the sand, you also leave a carbon footprint. Your carbon footprint adds to climate change and has a negative impact on the planet. Understanding what contributes to your carbon footprint is the first step in reducing it. Reducing your carbon footprint will also save you money.
Definition
Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide or CO2. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that many scientists believe contribute to global warming. Very simply, your carbon footprint is a measurement of the amount of CO2 you generate. Expressed in pounds, the higher your carbon footprint is, the more negative the impact your lifestyle has on the planet.
Energy Waste
You produce carbon dioxide daily. In fact, the act of exhaling creates CO2. Whenever you use energy that comes from burning fossil fuels, you generate CO2 and increase your carbon footprint. Carbon dioxide is the equivalent of energy waste.
Electricity
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, the biggest contributor to your carbon footprint is the electricity you use both at home and at work. Simply using electricity does not produce carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases, but the power plants that generate your electricity do. Coal-fueled power plants generate the greatest amount of CO2.
Home Heating
Heating your home during cold weather months is the second biggest source of CO2 after electricity use, and it increases your carbon footprint. Most furnaces or boilers use fossils fuels or electricity to produce heat. The amount of CO2 emitted from your furnace depends on the type of fuel you use and your thermostat setting. You also increase your carbon footprint when you operate an air conditioner to stay cool during the summer.
Additional Impacts
Driving increases your carbon footprint. Your gasoline-powered car produces CO2 as a by-product. While using public transportation helps reduce your carbon footprint, buses, trains and planes also produce large amounts of CO2.
A lot of people don’t realize that their trash also contributes to CO2 emissions. The EPA estimates that for every pound of trash you generate, almost one pound of greenhouses gases are emitted from the landfill. When trash decomposes, it produces CO2 and methane, another type of greenhouse gas that’s much more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the EPA. The EPA also estimates that over 1,000 pounds of greenhouse gases are produced annually for every person in the country.
Carbon Footprint Calculators
You can use online calculators to determine your carbon footprint. You must answer a series of questions about location, home type, household size, electrical consumption, driving habits and air travel frequency. The result will be the size of your carbon footprint, shown as pounds of carbon dioxide.
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
Reducing electricity consumption is the best way to reduce your carbon footprint. Turn off your computer, television and lights when not in use. Unplug chargers when they’re not in use. Switch to fluorescent light bulbs. Adjust your thermostat to reduce your energy use. Properly inflate auto tires to improve your car’s efficiency. Reduce the amount of trash you generate by recycling whenever possible. All of these actions will also save you money in addition to reducing your carbon footprint.
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