It seems like every news outlet these days is talking about why each nation or country needs to become less dependent on fossil fuels, such as coal and petrol. But what can individuals do to help in the fight against global warming? The answer: plenty!
It all begins with understanding your carbon footprint. Individuals and companies can measure the amount of C02 emissions they produce both directly, from transport and general utility consumption, and indirectly, from the types of lifestyle products we consume. Once you calculate your carbon footprint, which can be done easily online, the most challenging part comes into play: reducing that number.
Depending on the size of impact your carbon footprint makes on the environment, here are some small, medium, and large changes you can make to your life to ensure you're doing your part to reduce fossil fuel dependence.
Baby Steps
• Buying Local: Purchasing groceries from local farmers markets, or even paying closer attention to where your goods are sourced in the local corner store, will help reduce the amount of food transport associated C02 emissions.
• Recycle or Reuse: Recycling items made from aluminium, paper, glass, or plastic reduces the emissions associated with waste removal processes, while finding different uses for old household or office items can significantly reduce the amount of emissions that would be needed to replace the item.
• Shower, Don't Bathe: A shower usually takes just ¼ of the energy a bath does to heat water. If you buy a low flow shower head it can help even more.
Medium Does It
• Walk or Bike to Work: Eliminating individual transportation associated C02 emissions can have a huge impact on your carbon footprint. In general transportation normally accounts for about 1/3 of an individuals carbon output. As much of an inconvenience as it may seem, imagine how much cleaner our air would be if everyone walked to work!
• Get Rid of Your Microwave: It takes more energy to store frozen meals and then subsequently re-heat them with a microwave than it does to keep fresh ingredients in a pantry or fridge. Additionally it takes even more energy for markets to transport the frozen meals and display them in-store. And think of the health benefits!
Go Big or Go Home
• Solar Panels: Solar power is a sustainable and renewable energy source that transforms the sun's energy into electricity. Installing solar panels can initially be a large investment for an individual, but can actually prove to be more cost-effective and environmentally conscious in the long run than relying on other sources of energy to run your household. Solar power is one of the most effective clean energy sources available to power your home, creating zero pollution and using no fossil fuels throughout the process of converting the sun's heat into electricity. The proven product strength and durability of solar panels are one of the best reasons to invest in the energy. The panels typically last for several decades, averaging about a 30-year life span. Purchasing solar panels would alter your carbon footprint immediately, and would redefine it for generations to come.
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