Carbon Footprint

What is Carbon Footprint ?

Today, the term “carbon footprint” is often used as shorthand for the amount of carbon (usually in tonnes) being emitted by an activity or organization.

When you use fossil fuels, like heating oil to keep your house warm or gasoline for your family’s car, these things create carbon dioxide, also called CO2. Carbon dioxide is called a greenhouse gas. Many scientists believe that greenhouse gases are making the earth too warm. Your carbon footprint is the total amount of CO2 you create. A big carbon footprint is bad for the planet.

A carbon footprint is composed of two parts, a primary and secondary footprint. The primary footprint is the sum of the direct carbon dioxide emissions of burning of fossil fuels, like domestic energy consumption by furnaces and waters heaters, and transportation, like automobiles and airplane travel. The secondary footprint is the sum of indirect emissions associated with the manufacture and breakdown of all products, services and food an individual or business consumes.

Causes of Carbon Footprint

•            The world’s population is continuing to grow.
•   Forests are being cut down.
•            Fossil fuels are being burned.
•      Driving and travelling. 
•         Appliance use. 
•   Water Use

How to reduce your carbon footprint ? 

1. Replace the light bulbs in your home with long life CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs. These last up to 15 times longer than regular bulbs and use up 80% less electricity than regular bulbs. You could simply replace your regular bulbs as and when they burn out. 

2. Recycle your waste. 

3. When you next buy a vehicle, go for an electric, hybrid or fuel-efficient car instead of a gas guzzler. 

4. Make compost. 

5. When you mow the lawn, leave the clippings spread across the grass. It decomposes and fertilizes the ground. 

6. Bring your own mug to your favourite coffee shop. This will reduce the usage of the paper cups, the energy used to produce them and save trees. Paper cups are usually not 100% recycled. 

7. Plant a tree this is one of the best things you can do. Trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. 

8. Try to use something other than black plastic garbage bags. The black bags can't be recycled because of the black pigment they put in them to make them black. So if possible stick with white or even better dont use any at all. 

9. When replacing household appliances choose energy efficient appliances. You can check their Energy Star ratings for a quick reference. 

10. Use both sides of the page to print or copy. 

11. Unplug your phone charger when not in use. 

12. Use a laptop rather than a desktop. Laptops use up to 80% less energy. 

13. Switch off lights in rooms at home when leaving the room. 

14. Don't wash food under a running tap. 

15. Donate or recycle your old clothing rather than throwing it away.