5 Ways To Lower Your Carbon Footprint

Are you looking for ways to create less waste and lower your carbon footprint? Today we are creating more waste per person than ever before in our world’s history. We create it with everything we do from the food we buy to the clothes we wear, and our planet is paying the price. 

  Going green can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Here are five simple changes you can make to lower your carbon footprint. Our planet will thank you.  

Say No to Plastic

According to National Geographic, out of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic produced since the 1950’s, 6.3 billion metric tons have ended up as plastic waste. Of all of that waste, only 9% has been recycled. The rest has been passed on to landfills, as litter, and into our oceans.  

You can reduce your plastic usage by carrying your own bags into the grocery store, and buy products with little or no packaging. For example, buy apples individually instead of in a bag. You can also say no to disposable plastic straws and other one-time-use plastics such as water bottles. Instead, carry your own reusable straw and water bottle to use when you are out of the house.  

Start a Garden

The food that gets to your home from the grocery store doesn’t start there. It’s grown hundreds, and sometimes even thousands, of miles away. And it takes up a lot of fuel and resources before it finally gets to your plate.  

You can lower that impact by starting a garden at your home. It can be as big, or as small, as your property allows. Even if you live in an apartment it is possible to grow some of your own food. Many fruits and vegetables can be grown in containers that you can set out on your balcony. Plus the extra oxygen they produce helps the environment a little bit too.  

Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies

Take a look under your kitchen cabinet, how many cleaning products do you see? I bet it’s more than a few. And many of these products, whether for your windows, floors, kitchen, or bathroom, often contain chemicals that are bad for you and the environment.  

You can make your own effective cleaning supplies from items you already have in your home, such as vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda. These products can do everything that the ones you buy at the store do. You will spend a fraction of the cost of the store-bought cleaners, and they will be better for you and the environment.  

Consider Renewable Resources

Natural resources such as coal and oil are considered non-renewable, even though they form naturally on the earth. That’s because it takes tens, and even hundreds, of millions of years for them to be produced. So it’s easy to see how we are using these resources a lot faster than they can be put back into our planet.  

You can lower your carbon footprint by using an energy source that is renewable instead. Use an electric car instead of a gas-powered one, for instance. Or you can set up solar panels that will use the unlimited energy of the sun to power your house. You can also generate electricity from the wind, and even water to power areas of your home.  

If setting your entire home up for renewable energy is out of your budget don’t fret. You can use renewable energy for smaller projects too. Such as using solar energy to power an RV when you go camping. This will keep you from having to plug your RV in at a campsite, and do a small part to help the planet. You can find more on solar-powered generators at https://bestgenerator.reviews/solar-powered.  

Walk When You Can

Ask yourself this, do you really need your car? If you live in a metropolitan area, chances are the answer is no. You can public transport to save on fuel usages, or you can take another step and consider walking or biking to get where you need to go.   

Walking using absolutely no resources, which will benefit the planet. Plus, you’ll get the added bonus of a cardio workout, which is good for your waistline and your heart.  

You do not have to do all of these things to lower your carbon footprint. Each little step you take is a step towards a healthier and happier planet. Many of these changes will even save you money in the process. So, the more you do, the more your wallet, and the planet will thank you.