A carbon imprint, or footprint, is a measure of a person's negative impact on the environment. Reducing your carbon footprint is imperative to the Earth's health. The current threat of global warming, overpopulation, over-farming, and other hazardous elements are quickly depleting our resources. Fortunately, you can reduce your personal impact on the environment by simply changing some of your behaviors and adopting healthier ones. Everyone can benefit from reducing carbon imprints. The more people who actively attempt to reduce their carbon imprints, the better we can care for our planet.
Purchase food from your local farmer's market or organic health food store. Seek out farmers who practice healthy farming techniques that do not require pesticides or deplete the nutrients in their soil. Also, local produce will not have relied on the fossil fuels needed to ship food across the country or the globe.
Seal your windows and doors with plastic in winter to reduce the use of fuel for energy. Outline your windows with double-sided tape and stretch plastic sheets over them to seal. Run a blow dryer over the plastic to tighten it and eliminate wrinkles.
Trade in your gas guzzler for a hybrid car or a 4-cylinder vehicle to reduce harmful emissions and save gas.
Turn off and unplug any electronics or lights that you are not currently using to reduce energy consumption.
Turn your thermostat down to 68 in winter and up to 78 in summer to reduce the use of air heat and conditioning.
Bring your own cloth bags with you when you go shopping to reduce your use of plastic bags, which often end up in landfills and can be harmful to the environment.
Eat vegan or vegetarian foods instead of meat. Cows release methane gas into the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. A field of corn or rice can feed more people than a field of cows, and for less money.
Create a compost pile at home by saving kitchen scraps and depositing them in a bin outside. Add earthworms and soil to your compost pile and aerate it weekly with a shovel. Use the compost in your own kitchen garden.
