Eco-Conscious Living: 5 Impactful Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
The Earth is about 1 million years old and has over 1 million species that go extinct because of human activities. What we do in our everyday lives affects the environment, whether that’s buying a plastic water bottle or driving to work every morning. Sustainability is important because if you don’t reduce your carbon footprint, we can run out of fossil fuels.
This doesn’t only hurt humans but also other species in the ecosystem. You may have heard of the word “sustainability” being thrown around on social media, stores, and TV, but what can you do about it? No worries, we put together the top 5 best ways to reduce your carbon footprint!
1. Recycle
It’s important to recycle and minimize the use of plastic when possible. Plastic comes in many different shapes and forms, for example, straws, utensils, wrappers, shower curtains, and more. Plastic is unfortunately everywhere but there are some things you can do to prevent its harmful effects.
It’s best to recycle any plastics and reduce buying plastic water bottles by switching to refillable water bottles. You can also use reusable straws and utensils, and buy items without any plastics in them. By reducing and recycling, we can keep trash out of landfills, reduce pollution, and reduce the need for new raw materials.
2. Install Solar Panels
Installing solar panels reduces the use of foreign oil and fossil fuels. Conserving energy has a great impact on the environment and pays off financially in the long run. Solar power converts the sun’s rays into energy so it’s pollution-free and causes no emissions of greenhouse gases.
Clean power is very impactful when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint. Blue Raven Solar is a great solar company in Kentucky that offers premium solar equipment, fast installation, as well as, financing options. Check out their website and learn more at https://blueravensolar.com/kentucky/.
3. Change Up Your Diet
Eco-friendly living also has to do with what you consume. The meat and dairy industry uses a lot of energy, water, and land. They also emit methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that aids global warming.
Eating organic products and locally sourced foods like fruits and vegetables reduces pollution and energy, conserves water, and reduces soil erosion. Organic products are farmed without synthetic pesticides which prevent health issues that can affect nearby neighborhoods and ecosystems. You can also eat locally grown food which benefits small businesses and reduces transportation pollution in the food industry.
4. Drive Less
Something as simple as driving your car to the store may negatively impact the planet. Cars contribute to co2 emissions and emit other harmful gases and solid matter into the environment. These pollutants create long-term effects on the planet that cause global warming, health issues, and acid rain.
A study shows that transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 29% of U.S greenhouse emissions in 2019. Green living includes cycling and walking to places when possible and are impactful ways to lower the effects of car pollution.
5. Conserve Water
The water industry requires a lot of energy and resources. Even though the Earth is made up of 71% water, only 3% of it is fresh and .5% is for drinking, so it’s best to use our water supply wisely.
Some ways you can conserve water include installing low-flow showerheads and toilets, turning off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth, not over-watering gardens and yards, and fixing any leaks in the house.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Today
Reduce your carbon footprint by recycling that plastic bottle sitting on your table or cutting out red meat for a day! Green living doesn’t only help the environment and ecosystem, but improves your quality of life.
So why not start today? If you found these tips helpful, be sure to check out our website for more interesting and informative posts.
