Everyone has a carbon footprint. It is the amount of greenhouse gases (or nonrenewable resources) that one person burns through their actions. An average human in the United States has one of the highest carbon footprints in the world. Majority of this comes from housing, food, and transportation. A normal US household produces 7.5 tons of CO2 annually.
Everyone contributes to CO2 emissions daily, but how you do it, depends on your energy consumption habits. Not all people will have the same. For example, if you travel a lot, your carbon footprint would go towards transportation more than housing or food. Below, you can find a website that helps you calculate your carbon footprint:
- Reduce, reuse, recycle This process is known as the “Three R’s”. First, reduce something that you consume. Some people start by reducing the amount of meat they eat. Next, reuse any item you can. We can take reusable bags to the grocery store instead of using the plastic bags they give us. When something becomes un-reusable, recycle it if you can. Remember, we can recycle things like paper, plastic, cardboard, metals, and glass.
- Reduce the amount to energy that you use, or switch to renewable resources We could be burning fossil fuels at any given moment without even realizing! Turn off lights in any rooms you’re not it, and use public transportation if you can. You could even walk or bike to your destination. About 4% of Americans live in homes powered by solar energy. It is estimated that a home would require 20-25 solar panels to provide electricity for the entire house. But you should first calculate your geographical location and your family’s energy consumption.
- Eat less meat This decreases the number of farmed livestock and greenhouse gases. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization or FAO, stated that livestock causes 18% of global warming emissions. Each meat eater produces over 1.5 tons than a vegan annually. Animal farming generates more CO2 emissions than public/private transportation industries together. Even eating one meat-free meal every week, or putting fruits and vegetables in your diet can make a difference.
Note : Blog originally posted on WIX : Jan 30, 2021
