Reducing your Carbon Footprint

Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases generated from your actions. We cannot positively impact our climate overnight, but by making small changed to our actions like changing the food we eat or the clothes we buy, we can eventually make a big difference. Climate change effects humans, animals, farms and even oceans. Below are some ways to reduce your impact on the environment:

Lights. When you are leaving a room, turn off the lights! LEDs cost more but last longer and use less energy than traditional bulbs.

Food. Try eating more fruits, veggies, grains, and beans. These are good for your health and the environment. Livestock and feed production and methane are responsible for 14.5% of manmade global greenhouse gas emissions. Shop local to reduce the amount of fossil fuels needed for keeping food from spoiling in transit. Plan meals ahead of time and freeze or reuse leftovers.

Transportation. Think about walking or biking when possible. Consider taking the stairs instead of elevators. Carpool or use public transportation if offered. These acts can reduce emissions and lessen traffic. When driving, avoid driving aggressively, unnecessary braking or acceleration. On longer trips, turn on the cruise control, which can save gas. Use less air conditioning while you drive, even when the weather is hot. If you’re shopping for a new car, consider purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle. But do factor in the greenhouse gas emissions from the production of the car as

Climate Control. Take advantage of your windows! Use them for fresh air or to heat or cool your home. If your AC/Heat is on close your windows. Use fans instead of air conditioning when able. Lower your thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer.

Powering down. Use a power strip to easily unplug all electronics when not in use. Power your computer and other consoles down when away. Also, cut down on the number of appliances you are running to save on energy.

Water Usage. To save water, take shorter showers. The less hot water you use, the less energy is needed to heat the water.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle. You can recycle paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, batteries and more. You can also donate items like cellphones, chargers, computers, clothes and school supplies. Buy a reusable bag to use when shopping or even to take to the water park! Print, copy and write on both sides of paper- print only what you need.

Laundry. Wash with cold water. Over 80 percent of the energy used by a washing machine goes towards heating the water. Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load’s energy use in half, and using cold water will save even more. Avoid washing small loads. Make sure to switch loads when dryer is warm and to clean lint filter after every load to avoid accidents.

Clothing. When possible, avoid buying fast fashion. Trendy, cheap items that go out of style quickly tend to end up in landfills. Most fast fashion comes from countries outside of the US, so shipping requires the use of fossil fuels, try to buy gently used or vintage clothing.

If you’re interested in taking the next step in lessening your carbon footprint, you can choose a renewable energy plan for your home. AEP Energy offers environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional electricity plans like ECO-Advantage^®, which matches 100% of your electricity usage with national Green-e^® Energy certified, wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and Reward Store where you can find energy-efficient and connected-home products which help reduce energy spend, emissions and can save you money! Find a renewable plan that’s right for you!

Sources:

https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions

https://sustainability.georgetown.edu/community-engagement/things-you-can-do/

https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2018/12/27/35-ways-reduce-carbon-footprint/

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