As news reports of climate change increase in intensity, you might be thinking of how you can help. It seems impossible that one single person or one family in a household can make a difference. But the reality is that any large group that enacts real change is made up of many individuals doing their part. So, yes, you can do something to reduce your carbon footprint in 2024 and for years to come. It starts with a single step.
What’s a Carbon Footprint?
First, what’s a carbon footprint? It helps to understand what you’re doing before you commit to doing it. A carbon footprint refers to the amount of greenhouse gases an individual or group emits into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide and methane. According to The Nature Conservancy, the average American individual contributes 16 tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere each year. The global average per person is four tons.
Americans can do more to reduce their energy consumption. Carbon dioxide and methane are so bad for the environment in excess because they warm up the Earth. When the planet becomes too warm, weather patterns change, ocean levels rise, and natural disasters increase. These shifts can lead to loss of natural resources like food and clean water, and ultimately to loss of life.
Understand Your Relationship to Energy
The first step you can take to reduce your carbon footprint is to understand how you contribute. Again, you might feel like you can’t possibly be adding that much carbon dioxide to the planet. But the truth is that Americans drive more than people in other countries, polluting the air every day. Furthermore, the United States produces more beef than any other country, adding tons of methane into the environment each year.
It helps to take a look at your habits and what you can control. How much do you drive? How much energy do you consume at home? How much beef are you eating? Research to discover the biggest contributors and which speak to you personally. Then, take small steps to cut back in ways that make sense for you. In this way, you can slowly but surely minimize your negative impact on the planet.
Cut Your Energy Consumption at Home
One of the most obvious ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to use fewer fossil fuels at home and reduce your energy consumption. Many households run lights, heating, air conditioning, and appliances all day long. This is not to mention televisions, computers, chargers, and other small items left plugged in all day long. Power down any appliances when they’re not in use and you can save tons of electricity. Unplug any items you don’t need to use, and you’ll save even more.
In fact, why not go all the way and get off the grid? Leasing solar panels will often allow you to disconnect from power companies altogether. Sometimes, you’ll still need to be on the grid in cases of emergencies. But you’ll still be drastically reducing your carbon footprint. As a bonus, you’ll likely save a bunch of money making all these changes!
Use Less and Do More
Beyond energy consumption at home, there are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint starting right now. Remember that note above about driving? Consider ways you can drive less and move your body more. Take your bicycle to work or try out public transportation. Walk to the local market or the post office to run errands rather than jumping in the car. Any time you can avoid getting in the car, you’ll be sparing the air.
There are more small changes you can make to use less energy. You can reduce the amount of beef you eat — you don’t have to go vegan — just consider swapping beef for chicken or fish a few times each week. Use the elevator less and take the stairs more. Hang dry your clothes instead of running your dryer for hours. These small suggestions can have a large impact over time. And just think about how fit you’ll be with all this extra movement in your life!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Finally, you’ve likely heard the imperatives by local governments to reduce, reuse, and recycle. They’re hot-button words to have in your head whenever you consider throwing something away or buying something new. The overarching goal is to reduce the amount of waste on the planet. There are over 3,000 active landfills in the U.S. and 10,000 that have been closed. That means, landfills currently take up thousands of square kilometers on Earth, and that number is growing. Landfills, heaps of rotting and degrading garbage, produce carbon and methane.
Do what you can to stop contributing to landfills. Fix items that can be repaired instead of throwing them away and buying new ones. Before purchasing a new item, consider its carbon footprint. How long will you be able to use it? What kind of impact will it have when it does get thrown away? And if you do have to get rid of something, find a way to recycle it so the materials can be reused or repurposed rather than tossed into a landfill.
In the end, every step you take toward reducing your carbon footprint matters. Little acts add up fast. What’s especially cool is that the more you do, the more other people will notice, and you may influence them to change as well. This ripple effect can spread outward in your neighborhood, your city, your county, and beyond. You may inspire family members, too, who will create still more ripple effects. And all because you took that first step.
