Most of us know in some way or another that reducing our carbon footprint – both as individuals and as a nation – is key to helping save our planet.
But what is a carbon footprint?
Your carbon footprint is a measure of how much carbon dioxide you release into the atmosphere through your activities. ‘You’ could be one person, a company, a country, or even the whole world as a collective.
A little carbon dioxide is only natural – after all, animals exhale carbon dioxide, and plants need it to grow and turn into oxygen.
But too much carbon dioxide acts as a greenhouse gas – it’s a heavy gas that absorbs and reflects heat, which is why it’s one of the main culprits behind global warming. And because of human ventures like coal-burning factories, gas-guzzling cars, and even just the production of many types of clothing, the increase of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere has become a very real and very serious problem.
As a nation, the UK is looking at reducing our collective carbon footprint in several ways. But there are some simple ways that you as an individual can help, too.
Here are six ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Save energy at home
While your gas supply is a more obvious cause of CO2, electricity is also a major source – because a large proportion of it is generated by burning fossil fuels.
Remember to switch lights and appliances off by the mains when not in use, and use energy-efficient appliances like LED light bulbs that are powered by less energy than their old-fashioned counterparts.
Minimising your water usage will also have an impact: energy is used to treat water and supply buildings with it, so the less you use, the more of that energy you save.
- Use renewable energy
Partially powering your home with renewable energy might not be for everyone. But if you can afford the initial outlay, installing solar panels could be a great way to save energy by reducing the amount of it you need from the grid.
- Opt for a more sustainable diet
Reducing the amount of meat in your diet might not seem to have any direct connection to carbon dioxide emissions. But when you consider the amount of energy needed to raise and process livestock – not to mention the waste associated with it – reducing our need for meat could significantly cut agricultural energy use and emissions.
Cutting out meat completely might not be for everyone though. Luckily, there are also sustainably-farmed options to look out for. Supporting your local butcher rather than buying mass-produced meat from big supermarket chains can also help.
- Choose sustainable transportation
It’s no secret that the increase in cars on the road has had an effect on our overall carbon footprint over the years. Choosing to walk, take public transport or rake a bicycle to your destination wherever possible makes a big difference over time.
And while most of us won’t own a private jet, for those who do – consider taking a commercial airline instead, because by some accounts, private jets generate as much as 20 times more carbon pollution per passenger than ‘regular’ airplanes.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle
Follow the ‘3 Rs of waste management’: reduce the amount of waste you produce, reuse things as much as possible, and recycle them when you can no longer use them.
This could look like buying and using fewer single-use products like plastic bags, taking your own travel cups to your favourite cafe, and making sure you pop empty tins and boxes in the recycling bin.
- Support companies with green initiatives
While it’s important for every individual to do their bit for the planet, it’s even more important for companies to do so, too. After all, they have a comparably bigger impact on the environment just by size alone.
Companies like Utility Warehouse (UW) offer their customers free upgrades to smart meters, which help users take control of their energy use. And customers who take all of their services can also plant a tree with UW in the UW Woodland.
Some of these steps might not seem to be able to make a big difference. But if we all did them, we’d make a massive impact for the better. What actions could you take today to start reducing your carbon footprint?
