10 easy actions to cut your carbon footprint

The science on climate change is settled.
Climate scientists across the globe state that climate change is real, manmade, and we are running out of time to prevent climate breakdown. So it’s time to get to work.
With daily emissions from our homes, cars, air travel and more, the average American has a carbon footprint of 16 metric tons a year. Our activities are contributing carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor to the atmosphere.
The effects of climate change include rising sea levels, extreme weather, drought, extinctions, crop failures and – probably most immediately impactful to global society – the large-scale displacement of people. It’s unlikely that global warming will stop in our lifetimes, but we can do something to slow it down. We just need to take immediate action.

1. Streamline your gas guzzler
A car that is maintained and running efficiently uses less fuel and saves you money to boot. Ensuring your tires are properly inflated can save between 400 and 700 pounds of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere a year. Rapid acceleration and sudden breaking also increase the amount of fuel you use. Instead drive smoothly and within the speed limit, anticipating stops and starts. You could improve fuel efficiency by up to 23%. Even better, leave the car at home for short journeys and walk or bike instead.

2. Choose clean energy
At least 50% of energy customers have the option to purchase clean, renewable electricity directly from their power supplier. To find out how you can opt for clean energy, visit the US Department of Energy website. Could your home generate its own renewable energy? Think about installing solar panels, a solar water heater, or even a wind turbine.

3. Palm alarm
Did you know that palm oil, a vegetable oil derived from the African oil palm tree, is found in approximately 40-50% of household products in the United States? Sadly 85% of it is not obtained using sustainable measures and its manufacture has led to environmentally devastating deforestation and timber burning, not to mention endangering species of animals. Want to know which foods and products contain palm oil? Check out this guide from WWF. I’ve also written a post about how to stop deforestation as a consumer.

4. The stats about thermostats
The most efficient way to heat your home is to use a programmable thermostat. Automatically raising and lowering temperatures throughout the day is an easy way to save energy, lower your carbon footprint, and save money too. Likewise, extra insulation in the attic and around your hot water tank could work wonders to reduce your energy bills and save you dollars.

5. Get political
Members of Congress often say that they don’t hear enough from their constituents that climate change matters to them. But if everyone spoke up as a regular habit then it would create the political will (and therefore real action) to solve global warming. If you care about climate change write to your senators and representative urging them to create the political will to solve the climate crisis. Visit citizensclimatelobby.org for guidance on how to write to Congress.

6. Star buys
When your appliances live out their life consider replacing them with Energy Star products which lower utility bills and help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants.

7. Be water wise
Using water equates to using energy when you consider the process it takes to make that water safe to drink. Likewise, leaving hot water running for five minutes is the equivalent of using a light bulb for 14 hours.

8. Eat less meat
Grilling out may be a national past-time but agriculture-related methane releases make up 20% of the USA’s methane emissions. As a greenhouse gas, methane is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20 year period. A cow releases on average between 70kg and 120kg of methane a year and it is even estimated than consuming a pound of beef could give off more carbon than burning a gallon of gasoline.

9. Guilt-free coffee
Choose Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee grown in harmony with nature on farms where soils are healthy, waterways are protected and trash is reduced or recycled. Hundreds of Rainforest Alliance farms have adopted climate-smart techniques that sequester carbon.

10. Plant a tree and more!
During photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide, which in turn helps to combat climate change and improve air quality. Visit www.carbonfund.org to pledge money to buy trees and discover other ways you can offset your carbon footprint.