{"id":5451,"date":"2021-09-06T20:22:58","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T14:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/?p=5451"},"modified":"2023-04-23T20:59:33","modified_gmt":"2023-04-23T15:29:33","slug":"how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprints\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Simple Ways How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprints"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Have you ever thought about how to reduce your carbon footprints? Well, here are some simple ways which you can embrace for making a difference to Mother Earth.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we\u2019re facing (other than the pandemic, of course!) and our actions over the last 200 years have affected our planet in unimaginable ways, leading to global warming and a hole in the ozone layer! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Yeah, it&#8217;s as scary as it sounds and if we don&#8217;t get conscious of our actions now, it might just get too late! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Reducing our carbon footprint is one thing that we need to focus on, and in this article, we shall talk about some simple (yet effective) ways in which you can reduce your carbon footprints.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Before we dig deeper into the steps, let&#8217;s first understand what is actually meant by &#8216;Carbon Footprints&#8217;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.org\/en-us\/get-involved\/how-to-help\/carbon-footprint-calculator\/#:~:text=A%20carbon%20footprint%20is%20the,are%20generated%20by%20our%20actions.&amp;text=To%20have%20the%20best%20chance,under%202%20tons%20by%202050.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nature.org<\/a> &#8211; \u2018A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions. &#8230; To have the best chance of avoiding a 2\u2103 rise in global temperatures, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop under 2 tons by 2050.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Ways_to_reduce_your_carbon_footprint_at_home\">Ways to reduce your carbon footprint at home:<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#1_Make_sensible_food_habits\">1. Make sensible food habits.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#2_Be_sensible_with_the_water_usage\">2. Be sensible with the water usage.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#3_Check_the_usage_of_appliances_electronics_at_home_and_opt_for_low-energy_consumption_products\">3. Check the usage of appliances\/ electronics at home, and opt for low-energy consumption products.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#4_Embrace_the_8216Reduce-Reuse-Recycle8217_theory\">4. Embrace the &#8216;Reduce-Reuse-Recycle&#8217; theory.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Ways_to_reduce_your_carbon_footprint_at_work\">Ways to reduce your carbon footprint at work:<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#5_Drive_less\">5. Drive less.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#6_Reduce_the_usage_of_paper\">6. Reduce the usage of paper.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#7_Switch_off_the_laptopdesktop_when_not_in_use\">7. Switch off the laptop\/desktop when not in use.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Ways_to_reduce_your_carbon_footprint_when_traveling\">Ways to reduce your carbon footprint when traveling<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#8_Eliminate_single-use_plastic\">8. Eliminate single-use plastic.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#9_Switch_to_environment-friendly_products\">9. Switch to environment-friendly products.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#10_Always_take_a_direct_flight_to_your_destination\">10. Always take a direct flight to your destination.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#11_Shop_locally\">11. Shop locally.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#12_Be_a_part_of_a_volunteer_program_and_serve_the_environment\">12. Be a part of a volunteer program and serve the environment.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Ways_to_reduce_your_carbon_footprint_at_home\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Ways to reduce your carbon footprint at home:<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Home is the place where we can begin to focus on our actions, nurture our consciousness and indulge in making better choices.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"1_Make_sensible_food_habits\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">1. Make sensible food habits.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">You&#8217;d be surprised to know that our food habits heavily impact the environment. I know it&#8217;s hard to resist that beef burger, but limiting our meat consumption can make a huge difference. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">We are mostly ignorant of the fact that meat and dairy products require a lot of land, water, and energy to produce. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Not just that, but they also create a lot of methane &#8211; a greenhouse gas that is hazardous for Mother Earth, and has been the major cause of global warming. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">What\u2019s more dangerous is the food that&#8217;s shipped from overseas which uses a lot more resources than local produce.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">One of the first steps to check our carbon footprint is by reducing our animal-based diet and slowly shifting to a plant-based diet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The next step would be to stop buying imported food products and indulge in shopping locally-sourced food, which would eventually help the local economy and support the farmers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"2_Be_sensible_with_the_water_usage\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">2. Be sensible with the water usage.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Do you love to stand under the shower for hours, playing with your thoughts? Well, it&#8217;s time to put a pause to that. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The shower uses approximately 2.5 liters of water per minute, which means cutting down your shower by 5 to 10 mins can save you around 12 to 25 liters per shower! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">And it&#8217;s not just the usage of water but also about the energy that&#8217;s used to pump and heat the water that you&#8217;re using for the shower.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">It is also important to mindfully use water while washing our clothes, utensils, etc. Try to reuse water as much as possible. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">For example, the water you use to clean clothes can be reused to water the plants, if it doesn\u2019t contain harmful chemicals (detergent soaps). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Water that is used to clean fruits and vegetables, can also be reused. You can reduce your carbon footprint drastically by eliminating unnecessary water consumption.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"3_Check_the_usage_of_appliances_electronics_at_home_and_opt_for_low-energy_consumption_products\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">3. Check the usage of appliances\/ electronics at home, and opt for low-energy consumption products.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Whether buying energy-saving light bulbs or choosing appliances with a high energy star rating, you can make your home more eco-friendly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">While stepping out, make sure to switch off all the lights and fans, as well as those electrical appliances that are not in use. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Not just that, but we also need to unplug our devices because all electronics suck energy when they\u2019re plugged in, even though they are not in use. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Replace the old lights and bulbs with the LED lights, as they consume a lesser amount of energy. Don\u2019t put hot objects immediately into the fridge\/freezer, as that requires more energy to cool the food down. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Wash your dishes by hand rather than using a dishwasher &#8211; it&#8217;ll help in saving energy as well as water.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Changing your sleeping pattern can also make a difference. If you sleep early, you&#8217;ll be using fewer lights, and waking up early will enable you to make better use of sunlight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Making small changes in our daily lives can eventually help us in reducing our carbon footprints to a great extent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"4_Embrace_the_8216Reduce-Reuse-Recycle8217_theory\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">4. Embrace the &#8216;Reduce-Reuse-Recycle&#8217; theory.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The lesser amount of waste we generate, the better it is for our environment. No matter whether it&#8217;s plastic or food waste, globally we dump over 2.12 billion tons of waste per year! Yeah &#8211; that might sound shocking, but it&#8217;s the truth!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Whenever you go shopping, buy mindfully. Remember, the more things we buy, the more waste we add to the already existing (huge) amount! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Before buying, think if it&#8217;s necessary for you and how much you&#8217;re going to use it. If it&#8217;s something you can do away with, don&#8217;t buy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">A research has shown that 6% of greenhouse gas is generated through food waste. You can also reduce your food wastage by composting and nurturing a kitchen garden, as well as buying vegetables\/fruits in bulk to avoid the usage of plastic bags.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">While buying something, check the longevity\/usability of the products. Also, before throwing away old stuff, see if you can reuse them in any way. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">For example, cut out your old jeans to make a bag out of that; use broken cups\/glasses as planters; make some DIY decors with plastic bottles, etc, so and so forth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">If any item that you wish to discard can be recycled, then go ahead and do it. Embracing simple lifestyle changes can be immensely impactful.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Ways_to_reduce_your_carbon_footprint_at_work\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Ways to reduce your carbon footprint at work:<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Although the pandemic has turned our world upside down, forcing us to work from home, it&#8217;s essential that we keep in mind certain things, so that once we get back to work, we can still keep a check on our carbon footprints.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"5_Drive_less\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">5. Drive less.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Once you start heading back to work, make to drive less. Use public transport instead (obviously, by maintaining proper safety and social distancing), or even better if you can cycle down to the office. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">A decrease in the number of vehicles on the road will not only reduce CO2 emissions, but it&#8217;ll also lessen traffic congestion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">In case you drive, try to keep the windows open and put off that AC &#8211; that way, you&#8217;ll get some fresh air, and also save the environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"6_Reduce_the_usage_of_paper\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">6. Reduce the usage of paper.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">In today&#8217;s date, when the world can function online, why do so much paperwork? The more papers we use, the more trees are cut down! It&#8217;s time that we go digital and stick to doing things online.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Also, managing so many papers and files can be a tiresome chore in itself, thus it\u2019s always easier to have things in one place on your laptop\/ desktop and access things online. There are various tools that can make your day-to-day work life easier.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"7_Switch_off_the_laptopdesktop_when_not_in_use\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">7. Switch off the laptop\/desktop when not in use.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">You must have noticed that the devices get hot while we use them &#8211; that\u2019s because of the energy they consume and generate. It\u2019s advisable to shut the devices when not in use, rather than keeping them in sleep mode.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Ways_to_reduce_your_carbon_footprint_when_traveling\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Ways to reduce your carbon footprint when traveling<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">As we set out for exploring the world, it is necessary that we are mindful of our actions and keep a check on our plastic footprints while traveling.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"8_Eliminate_single-use_plastic\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">8. Eliminate single-use plastic.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;It&#8217;s just a straw&#8221;, said a million people! &#8211; The first time I had heard this quote, it hit me hard.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Being a traveler, I understand how convenient it is to grab a bottle of mineral water while on the go or to pick up those munchies wrapped in plastic. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">However, we tend to forget that those conveniences come at a cost that can doom our future generations. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Not only are they fairly dreadful for the environment, polluting the land and the oceans, but they also require energy to produce and recycle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Make sure to carry your own bottle of water while traveling and keep refilling it while on the do. Pack your reusable straw, cutleries, tiffin boxes if necessary, to minimize using disposable goods.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"9_Switch_to_environment-friendly_products\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">9. Switch to environment-friendly products.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Have you ever thought about where all the sanitary pads, diapers, and toilet papers are going? Well, maybe deep down in the oceans &#8211; leading to a life threat for the marine animals! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">How about making some conscious changes while using certain products, that will not just be environment-friendly, but also super easy to use?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Ditch those sanitary pads and start using a menstrual cup instead. Avoid carrying those plastic bottles of shampoo and conditioners, and switch to using shampoo bars. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Rather than using facewash, apply natural products like yogurt and turmeric to clean your face.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"10_Always_take_a_direct_flight_to_your_destination\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">10. Always take a direct flight to your destination.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Flying on an airplane can double your carbon footprints, than any other mode of transport. And when you opt for a connecting flight, it is further increased! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Aim to reduce the number of stops while flying, and pick a direct flight to your destination. It&#8217;ll save your time &amp; energy, as well as do good to the environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"11_Shop_locally\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">11. Shop locally.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">When you\u2019ve picked up souvenirs, avoided branded goods and shop the locally made products. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Not only will you get to supports the local artisans and businesses, but you\u2019d also get to reduce your carbon footprints by avoiding imported products.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"12_Be_a_part_of_a_volunteer_program_and_serve_the_environment\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">12. Be a part of a volunteer program and serve the environment.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">How about picking up your trash while trekking or cleaning the beach during your vacay? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">These might sound odd, but a lot of millennials are indulging in acting towards saving the world from the excess amount of waste that&#8217;s generated each day, by travelers at the popular tourist spots.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">You can opt to volunteer while traveling, and choose to be a part of something meaningful. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Planting trees, educating the locals about climate change, and protecting the wildlife can be a few options to volunteer for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Our Earth is in danger, but we can try our best to protect it, if we act sensibly. Embracing these simple steps in our daily lives would show immediate results, and eventually, they&#8217;ll make bigger impacts on the environment and climate changes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Would you care to reduce your carbon footprints and become a more aware human being?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever thought about how to reduce your carbon footprints? Well, here are some simple ways which you can embrace for making a difference to Mother Earth. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we\u2019re facing (other than the pandemic, of course!) and our actions over the last 200 years have affected our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[783,656,784],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5451"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5451"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5464,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5451\/revisions\/5464"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}