The Penny Wiser | Urban Consumerism

What’s Your Carbon Footprint?

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When we think about environmental scoundrels we envision factory smoke stacks belching clouds of toxic black smoke or highways choked with traffic, and we’d be right. But you’re part of problem too and you can be part of the solution as well by knowing your family’s Carbon Footprint.


		Like any other footprint, a Carbon Footprint is the mark left behind on the environment by behavior and activities. It’s the total of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product. A Carbon Footprint is measured in units of carbon dioxide (CO2), a heavy colorless, odorless atmospheric gas. Once the size of a Carbon Footprint is known, strategies can be devised to reduce it. Our homes and individual lifestyle choices all impact the environment and contribute to global warming. This includes the fossil fuels burned to heat our homes, the distance of our commute, or whether you buy foods locally. These necessary activities contribute to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted daily by you and your household personally.

Today, those interested in leaving as light a footprint on the environment as possible are realizing that knowing their Carbon Footprint is the first step towards reducing their contribution to climate change. It’s very easy to calculate your Carbon Footprint. By making some simple changes, you can help green the planet and save some green too.

The internet has a number of websites devoted to environmental issues. Many feature online calculators that can assess your individual Carbon Footprint in tons. Calculations are based on where you live and take into account the size of your home, family size, make/model of car you drive as well as energy consumption based on average monthly expenses for gas and electricity.

KWIK TIP:
Compact Fluorescent light bulbs last up to 10 times longer and use only a fraction of the energy, saving you $30-$50 over their lifespan.

Some programs even evaluate water usage and trash recycled. Sophisticated calculators give brownie points for green practices like use of fluorescent light bulbs, turning off lights, or unplugging appliances and especially wall chargers for mobile phones and other small electronics. The process takes just a few minutes and you’ll be surprised with the calculation results.

There are significant savings to be realized from going green. Cut energy and water bills by purchasing Energy Star® appliances, fix drafty windows and doors, use low-flow showerheads, programmable thermostats, or install additional attic insulation.

Knowing your Carbon Footprint makes you take more responsibility and you’ll want to do your part to personally save the planet by changing behaviors such as buying power utilities from renewable Green Power sources (sun, wind, geo-thermal).

Every family should know their individual Carbon footprint and take steps to reduce or mitigate their personal impact on our environment. Plant a tree for every ton of your carbon output or support efforts to prevent disforestation as retribution. If you’re interested in knowing your Carbon Footprint and ways to reduce it, visit Earth Lab or Low Impact Living.

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