How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Through Your Home

Cut Your Energy Costs

There are many very practical things that you, as a consumer and home owner, can do to take responsibility and lower your own environmental impact. The lower our reliance as a country on harmful fossil fuels become, the better off we will all be. There are many day-to-day things that you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, and lower the amount of natural resources that you are personally using. You can get started right at home, making small changes that really do make a difference. Your carbon footprint is the impact that your actions have on the environment when all of your actions are put together. Emissions of carbon dioxide are part of how your carbon footprint is measured. Things like how much electricity you consume, the amount of gas you use, and even the brands of products that you pick make a real difference in your carbon footprint. You can easily reduce your household bills and be more environmentally friendly by making just a few key changes.

Discover Simple Yet Effective Ways to Enjoy a More Sustainable Lifestyle

There are many tips and tricks that can be employed in the home that are very simple and effective. The best place to start is with the high energy-use heating and cooling systems, which account on average for 45% of household energy. For each degree you raise the setting on your thermostat you can save 3% in cooling costs. Draw the shades during the hot day and keep windows ajar at night to let in cooler air and conserve that energy. Use a ceiling fan where it is practical in under used areas, and watch dollars fall off your annual electricity bills. Electronic devices, every household possesses in great number, use up electricity even when not in use. Be sure to disconnect all appliances when not in use, especially cell phone chargers, TVs and computers. It is estimated that the average household can save around $250 in lower fuel costs each year from this alone.

Purchase compact fluorescent light bulbs for the home, they last much longer and provide better energy efficiency. For example a 13-watt florescent bulb has the same capacity for lighting your home as a 60-watt old style incandescent model. Other easy steps that can greatly reduce your need for energy include using the warmth of the sun and cool breezes to dry your laundry. Is that heat intensive tumble dryer necessary day in day out? How about foregoing that long soak in the bathtub for a quick and refreshing shower occasionally?

Your Garden can be Environmentally Friendly as Well

To make your yard more environmentally friendly, plant trees. Not only are trees a great source of shade, but they also reduce carbon dioxide while producing oxygen. Neighbors, friends, and family members can be encouraged to plant trees as well, therefore making a larger global impact on the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Trees can also add value to your home, as many buyers appreciate a mature yard with trees. Monitor your sprinkle system to make sure it is efficiently watering targeted areas, and not wasting water on streets or sidewalks. Consider exchanging your gas or electric lawn mower for a manual mower. These manual mowers will help you get more exercise while lessening your dependence on fossil fuels. Sowing a garden full of home grown vegetables and herbs will lower your food costs and make your yard more environmentally friendly as well.

Although some new homes are being built to utilize solar and geothermal generated energy, the average household does not have to purchase equipment like that to begin to lessen their own environmental impact. Small steps can go a long way toward lessening your overall environmental impact and your household's carbon footprint. Since an average American emits 20 metric tons of carbon every year, a reduction is needed so that the United States does not continue to be one of the world's largest polluters and consumers of energy.