|
|
||||
CoolTools
How to Make Your Footprint Smaller
People release carbon dioxide into the air every time we breathe out, but we also generate carbon dioxide (CO2) when we heat our homes, drive our cars, or travel on planes. Less obviously, we are responsible for CO2 emissions associated with the goods and services we buy, because energy is consumed to provide us with these products.
Our carbon “footprint” reflects the amount of CO2 we generate during these normal activities. Several organizations offer ways for you to estimate your carbon footprint. Most of these methods take only a few moments to complete, but they can require estimates of your heating and electricity bills, car mileage, and other energy-using factors. Here are some of the most popular carbon footprint calculators:
· EnergyRace (* Boxborough’s own Jay Barnes! *)
· Environmental Protection Agency
· World Resources Institute SafeClimate
Here are some more options for calculating your carbon footprint:
· Bonneville Environmental Foundation
· National Wildlife Federation
If you have a competitive spirit, you can take the challenges posed by Carbonrally and score your performance versus other families and teams of people who are seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. Also, see our section on Living Sustainably for more information about reducing your impact on the environment.
How to Make Your Footprint Smaller
The average American family creates at least 40,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year (about 20 tons), when all of our activities are considered. Here are 10 ways to reduce your family’s emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Many of them could also save you money on utility bills or gasoline. For more options and details, see Stop Global Warming.
1. Change a light
Replace a single 100-Watt light bulb with a compact fluorescent providing
comparable light (26 Watts)
Annual CO2 savings: 80
pounds
2. Adjust your thermostat
Set your thermostat 2 degrees
lower in winter and 2 degrees higher in summer
Annual CO2 savings:
2,000 pounds
3. Schedule a home energy audit
Your utility will check your home
and offer suggestions to improve its energy efficiency
Annual CO2 savings:
1,000 pounds (plus lower heating and electric bills)
4. Turn off electronic devices
Shut down your TV, computer, DVD player, stereo, and other electronic equipment
when not in use
Annual CO2 savings:
2,000 pounds or more
5. Check your tires
Proper inflation improves gas mileage 2-3%
CO2 savings: 20 pounds per gallon of gas saved
6. Insulate your water heater
Wrap an insulation blanket around
your water tank and set its thermostat to 120 degrees or less
Annual CO2 savings:
1,850 pounds
7. Use less hot water
Install a low-flow showerhead and
wash your clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot
Annual CO2 savings:
850 pounds
8. Recycle more
Recycle half your household trash
Annual CO2 savings:
2,400 pounds
9. Reduce waste
Avoid products with excessive
packaging, which can reduce your waste by 10%
Annual CO2 savings:
1,200 pounds
10. Drive
less
Plan errands to avoid extra trips or share a ride with a friend
CO2 savings: 1 pound per mile not driven
It’s practically impossible to live in such a way that we create no carbon dioxide emissions at all. But many people want to make up for some or all of the carbon they produce by paying to compensate for it. One way to do this is to sponsor projects that reduce emissions somewhere else, thus balancing yours out.
Many organizations sell products called “carbon offsets.” (They can also be called “green tags” or renewable energy certificates or credits.) These voluntary carbon offsets sell for as little as $5. Each offset typically represents one ton of carbon dioxide to be kept out of the atmosphere. When you purchase these products, you support one or more of the following:
· Development of renewable power (wind, solar, etc.)
· Projects to improve energy efficiency
· Efforts to replace trees in areas where forests have been cut down
· Other renewable or efficiency projects, which can take place anywhere in the world. They are often sited in developing countries.
How much of your carbon emissions you want to pay for is a personal economic decision. If you buy enough carbon offsets, you could erase your footprint completely. This is called becoming “carbon neutral.” Here are several organizations that offer carbon offsets or similar products:
· Green-e
· LiveCooler (*Boxborough’s own Jay Barnes!*)
For more details on carbon offsets, go to ClimateBiz, which lists some guides for checking the credibility of the various offset providers, such as Clean Air Cool Planet’s Consumer’s Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers. You can also use credit cards that devote a small percentage of your purchases to fund green projects or buy carbon offsets. Bank of America has teamed with Brighter Planet to offer a Visa card; General Electric and GreenPay offer MasterCards.
One of the most popular uses for carbon offsets is to counteract the emissions produced from your airplane trips. Some airlines even sell carbon offsets in-flight. In addition to purchasing offsets, you can patronize eco-friendly businesses while you travel. Many companies serving the tourist industry have included environmentally friendly destinations in their travel guides for years. More recently, a few books have focused on the environmental aspects of travel, and websites have sprung up offering guidance on ecologically friendly travel:
·
Green
Places to Stay: From Beach Huts to Eco-Chic Hotels, All Over the World,
Richard Hammond (Ed.)
· Green Travel: The World’s Best Eco-Lodges & Earth-Friendly Hotels, Fodor’s
Another way to help erase your carbon footprint is to purchase “green power” – electricity that comes from renewable sources such as wind or solar. The electric utilities serving Boxborough don’t offer a green power option right now, but customers can pay a premium for renewable energy through New England Wind Fund, which is operated by the Mass Energy Consumers Alliance.
Disclaimer: The Boxborough Energy Committee does not
endorse or sponsor other websites. If a
link fails to open a website, please let us know by email. You can try going to the website’s home page to search for the
information.