The carbon footprint produced by individuals and, collectively, as a human race, has become a growing concern in recent years. With carbon content in the air at record highs, debates rage about the warming of the planet's climate. You can do many things to reduce your carbon footprint, including biking or taking public transit to work or trading out plastic grocery bags for recyclable ones. This benefits the environment, but it can also benefit you in several ways.
Saving Money
In many ways, conserving energy and products to reduce your carbon footprint can keep money in your wallet. You can achieve substantial savings by commuting to work. Whether you ride the bus, train or bike to work, your annual transportation costs will likely decrease. Even when paying for bus and train fares, these often save on the cost of gas alone, not to mention the wear and tear on your vehicle. If you ride a bike, the benefits are even greater, and if you choose to sell your car, you also save on paying insurance. Similarly, by turning off appliances and lights in your home, you can cut down energy costs, reducing your electricity and gas bills each month.
Health Benefits
Not only is transportation one of the easiest and most significant areas to cut down on your carbon footprint, it can also yield health benefits if you choose to ride a bicycle or walk to work or school. According to the World Health Organization, this increase in physical activity can reduce obesity rates, the risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer. You are also less likely to develop lung disease or asthma and can benefit from lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The WHO also states that reduced persons on the roadways will also lead to less driving accidents, lowering road-related injuries and deaths.
Improve Your Lawn and Garden
Food and organic product waste can take up space in landfills, where they will decompose and enter the soil. This affects the environment not only because of the organic materials disposed of, but also because of the energy exerted in disposing of them, including the plastic bags used to store waste and the gasoline-consuming trucks that haul it away from homes. A composting heap, on the other hand, provides a means of naturally breaking down these materials, which can then be dispersed in gardens or used as fertilizer for grass, trees or other shrubbery. This cuts out some of the wasteful aspects of organic waste disposal and improves the health of the land on which you live.
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