Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

According to carbonfootprint.com, a carbon footprint is a measure of the impact your activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in your day-to-day life through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc. Your carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases you produce as an individual.

A carbon footprint is made up of two parts, the primary footprint and the secondary footprint.

1. The primary footprint is a measure of your direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). You have direct control of these.

2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products you use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more you buy the more emissions will be caused on your behalf.

How can you reduce your carbon footprint?

* Switch from paper and plastic bags to reusable bags and totes;

* Try your hand at composting (planting scraps from fruits, veggies, and coffee grounds outside), which will help create better soil and less landfill waste,

* Don’t purchase disposable water bottles, but rather use recyclable and refillable beverage containers that you can fill with filtered water;

* Unplug any chargers or appliances that aren’t in use. Just being plugged in uses energy;

* Don't buy over packaged products;

* Select products made of recyclable materials;

* Purchase locally produced food at farmer’s markets and even road-side stands;

* Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, instead of jarred, canned, or frozen;

* Reduce, reuse, recycle;

* Buy Energy Star Label appliances;

* Switch from incandecent to compact fluorescents;

* Use native plants for landscaping.

See "Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint" under "Links of Interest" for more ideas.