Use Eco-Friendly Technology to Lower Your Carbon Footprint
The average American generates the equivalent of 17 metric tons of carbon a year, as compared to 6.7 metric tons for the average Chinese citizen, 8.9 for the average German and 2.2 for the average Brazilian, according to the World Bank Group. The biggest contributor is electricity production, accounting for 31 percent of greenhouse gases, followed by transportation (27 percent), industrial burning of fossil fuels and other industrial chemical reactions (21 percent), commercial and residential uses such as heating (12 percent) and agricultural sources such as livestock (9 percent), reports the EPA. While much of this is generated by government and business use, you can take a number of proactive measures to reduce your own carbon footprint and its contribution to the total output of greenhouse gases.
- Measure Your Carbon Footprint
A good place to start on making an objective impact on your carbon consumption is by getting some hard numbers on your individual greenhouse gas output.
- Your home use of electricity and fuel
- Your use of private and public transportation
- Your secondary factors such as your food buying and recycling habits all contribute to your total output
Carbon Footprint’s website provides an online calculator you can use to estimate and adjust your output in each of these categories. You also can track your carbon output by using the Carbon Footprint app on your iPhone 6s Plus or the Worldbeing wrist app.
- Reduce Your Home Electrical Use
Since electricity is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas production, cutting your home electrical usage is one of the steps you can take toward reducing your carbon output. A U.S. Energy Information breakdown shows that the largest percentage of home electricity use is consumed by space cooling devices, such as air conditioners, accounting for 13 percent of total consumer usage. These are followed by lighting (11 percent), water heating (9 percent), space heating (9 percent), refrigeration (7 percent) and TV equipment (7 percent). The EPA recommends cutting these numbers down by replacing old appliances with more recent models that use eco-efficient technology certified by Energy Star as well as using energy-efficient light bulbs and putting computers and monitors in sleep mode when not in use.
- Cut Your Heating Consumption
The next way to decrease your carbon output is to increase your heating efficiency. Here the EPA again recommends installing Energy Star-certified technology. It also advises properly using a programmable thermostat, changing air filters regularly, having your heating and cooling equipment maintained by a licensed contractor, and sealing and insulating your home. Smarthome recommends using home automation technology such as Insteon to manage your thermostat, appliances and lights with a central preprogrammed button. This way you can adjust everything when you leave your home or set to activate automatically when you go to bed.
- Use Energy-Efficient Transportation
Outside the home, your choice of transportation has the greatest impact on your carbon footprint. Walking, biking and using public transportation are the most energy-efficient methods of traveling. If you need your own car, choose one with eco-efficient technology to cut your carbon footprint. A hybrid car has a lower overall carbon output than an all-electric or plug-in electric model, according to the Alternative Fuels Data Center. Hybrids produce 51 pounds of CO2 equivalent per 100 miles, compared to 54 for all-electric models, 61 for plug-in hybrids and 99 for regular vehicles. Keeping your vehicle maintained, properly inflating your tires and flying less are other steps you can take to reduce the carbon generated when you’re out and about.
Every step we take to reduce our carbon footprint whether you can buy a hybrid car or just saving as much electricity and heat as you can all have an impact on our future and saving the planet. What steps have you taken in your life to lower your carbon footprint?
Thank you for being so understanding about my comment about the colors and italics. I read dozens of articles online every day. Most of the time, I jump off the ones that are difficult to read, but your site is so near and dear to my heart that I HAVE to stick with it. Best, always.
Hi Kathryn,
I appreciate you honestly and being so faithful – those ads were bothering me, but I know completed getting them from my website. I hope it makes it easier for you to read. Have a healthy happy blessed weekend! Marla
I don’t know why, perhaps it’s my aging eyes, but reading large blocks of italicized print with lots of changing colors makes me feel anxious and a little dizzy! So I struggle sometimes to keep my mind focused on the content. I had to leave and come back to this page a few times before I could take it all in. I’m glad I took the time.
I’m grateful that you’re sharing a link to the carbon footprint calculator. Even though we don’t own a vehicle, eat mostly plants, buy local as much as possible, and conserve water and electricity, our carbon footprint always ends up higher than the Earth can sustain. Sadly, until and unless my small family can move to the country, grow our own food and share a small domicile with several people, we will be unable to reduce our footprint more.
It’s a sign, I suspect, of the depth of systemic change we need in our culture. As more and more of us raise our consciousness and make the personal changes, gradually, we will contribute to a greater systemic change that can make the biggest difference.
Thank you for sharing these important tips.
HI Kathryn,
I understand what you mean about the changing colors and such bothering your eyes. I have currently in the process of getting those ads removed from website because I do not like them my self. I appreciate you mentioning it and coming back to continue reading the article. If we all do as much as we can do reduce our carbon footprint it can & will make a difference. We cam only do the best we can and apply what fits to our lifestyle. Thank you reading my article and commenting. Appreciate your continuing support. Have a healthy happy blessed day. Marla