Though large fossil fuel companies and governments produce the vast majority of carbon emissions, our personal choices also play a large part in creating them. Each time we use an electrical appliance, eat fruit or take a car ride we produce greenhouse gases.
There are plenty of simple strategies you can employ at home to reduce your carbon footprint.
Get a Home Energy Audit
An energy audit is the foundation of making your home greener. Professionals can locate areas in which energy is being wasted by looking for cracks around windows, insulating your attic, basement and crawl spaces as well as upgrading heating and cooling systems – these projects may qualify for local tax credits or rebates too!
An energy audit allows technicians to spot appliances that use excessive energy and suggest solutions for reducing their usage, such as replacing them with more energy-efficient models or unplugging them when not in use to save electricity usage. They could even recommend installing wind turbines as alternative sources of power for your home.
One easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is to shop locally-grown products and food. Not only will this cut back on transport energy costs, but it will also boost your local economy!
Avoid plastic products made of fossil fuels as these have a huge environmental impact when they’re disposed of, instead opting for eco-friendly options such as reusable bags.
Green changes not only reduce your environmental footprint but can also enhance the quality of life within your home. A home with efficient insulation and appliances provides greater year-round comfort while using less energy overall.
Many homeowners waste energy simply by leaving lights or appliances plugged in when not being used, creating unnecessary energy consumption and cost. Turning them off could make an immediate difference to both energy costs and carbon emissions in your household.
One cost-effective and straightforward way to lower your carbon footprint is by reducing the temperature in your home. This can be accomplished through such actions as using cooler water for washing laundry and dishes, lowering central heating to a lower setting, or shutting off radiators in winter – even if some changes take longer to implement than others, every little effort counts!
Install Insulation
Insulating their home is one of the easiest ways for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills. Proper insulation keeps heat inside during winter and out during summer, which reduces energy use for heating or cooling appliances and decreases emissions and energy bills.
An efficiently insulated home helps draught-proof it by blocking holes around windows and doors as well as making sure lofts are properly sealed against drafts. Another way to reduce carbon emissions in your household is switching over to renewable heating sources like geothermal or solar power; they produce far fewer emissions and can even save money!
Insulation can help make appliances more energy-efficient by decreasing their running times, while scheduling appliances to work during off-peak periods can further lower energy use. Furthermore, smart lighting systems will automatically switch lights on and off depending on whether there is activity in a room.
Loose-fill fiberglass or mineral wool insulation is the easiest type to install and comes in rolls or batts that simply need cutting down to size before being tucked between studs and joists. When doing it yourself, be careful not to compress any pipes or electrical wires that compress it, as this reduces its R-value. Furthermore, any existing insulation must remain free from mold growth, water stains or compression – especially important in older homes where such materials could contain asbestos.
State departments in various states often offer energy efficiency rebates and other incentives for creating a greener home, so conducting a quick search in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency may reveal deals available near you.
Upgrade Your Appliances
Other than eating less meat and switching to green cleaners, there are other things you can do around your home that will have an even larger impact. Utilizing energy efficient products and upgrading appliances with energy star ratings are great ways to lower carbon emissions – plus any initial costs may eventually pay for themselves through lower electricity bills!
Step one to reducing your carbon footprint is getting a home energy audit, which many utility companies provide at low or no cost. From there, making small adjustments will go far towards decreasing it:
Replacing disposable utensils and plastic water bottles with stainless steel or glass alternatives has an enormously positive effect, since their production requires considerable energy consumption, leaving behind a huge carbon footprint. Reusable containers can help make an even greater difference, as will switching to cold water washing machines (which consume half as much energy).
One simple way to reduce your carbon footprint is switching from oil and natural gas heating to cleaner alternatives like geothermal heat pumps or solar panels, which generate significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions while saving significant money in the process.
Home heating and cooling emissions typically account for the bulk of emissions generated by homes today, making proper insulation essential in lowering energy usage significantly. Therefore, upgrading furnace, air conditioner or water heater units are improvements which could drastically cut back your energy consumption.
Other simple strategies for lowering your carbon footprint include purchasing secondhand goods when possible, planting trees and contributing to tree-planting organizations. Planting trees and taking care in caring for them is one of the best ways you can contribute to protecting the environment; trees absorb carbon dioxide while emitting oxygen back into the atmosphere. Furthermore, supporting eco-friendly businesses or programs and donating to tree planting organizations is another great way to preserve local natural resources.
Get a Solar Panel
Carbon footprint is often associated with large corporations and cars, but our homes also contribute significantly to greenhouse gases emissions. If we want to combat climate change, all households must reduce their household carbon emissions through air sealing and insulation or switching over to electric appliances; solar panels offer another powerful tool.
Solar panels produce their own energy, helping you cut your electricity costs significantly while offsetting carbon emissions. Their costs depend on your location, energy needs and equipment choice; but keep this in mind: even with higher initial costs, solar panels should pay for themselves within six to ten years.
Solar installers will survey your home, conduct roof inspections and evaluate your electrical consumption to ascertain which panels you require. Furthermore, they’ll consider the amount of sunlight your region receives; those living in regions receiving more sun hours typically need fewer panels.
Your installer will assemble and set up your solar panel system and submit any required paperwork. Depending on your city and utility company requirements, inspection for safety may also be required before switching on your new system. Once all necessary approvals have been granted, your solar provider will provide instructions for turning it on.
Once your solar system is active, any excess power generated by its panels will be applied against any remaining electricity you consume from the grid. Many homeowners also choose to add a solar battery with their system in order to further lower utility bills.
Reducing energy use at home is a good place to start when looking to reduce your carbon footprint, though there are numerous other steps you can take as part of an environmental sustainability initiative – from cutting food waste to supporting local businesses – but the important thing is simply starting somewhere; any small change will have an impactful effect on our planet!
