It’s almost the end of 2012. We know this means lots of partying and generally having a good time with friends and families. Amidst all the bustle and festivity some of us are also preparing to face the new year with resolutions and promises and bright agenda. For this last post for Bee, let’s take a moment to think about what our carbon footprint was like during the entire year.
As you may have already known, a carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon (CO2)—that culprit gas which causes global warming—emitted by a person or organization in the course of a year. It’s not just about the carbon dioxide that we normally and naturally exhale. Carbon dioxide emission also comes from other sources—electricity that heats, lights and powers our homes, gasoline that we need for transportation, and even the commercial products that we buy at the market, mall, or grocery involves a certain amount of carbon emission for them to be manufactured, packaged, and then shipped.
In short, our carbon footprint depends very much on the day-to-day choices that we all make.
It’s Americans who generally have the highest carbon footprint—about five to six times higher than the rest of the world.) Industrialized countries too are guilty of greenhouse gases, especially when manufacturing companies and factories don’t watch out and curb their emissions.
Measuring Your Carbon Footprint
If you happen to be living a simple life—one that’s not tethered to luxury and its excesses–(for example, if you live in a farm, grow your own food with chemical fertilizers, buy local whenever possible, and have sworn off buying new unless absolutely necessary—then you probably don’t need to check and reduce carbon footprint.
But once in a while it’s good to make an honest-to-goodness assessment. This way we can see where we might be unconsciously contributing to greenhouse gases and adjust accordingly.
Use an online carbon calculator. Carbon footprint is measured in tons of CO2. Of course no one expects us to do the grueling math involving ton as a unit of measurement, which is why online carbon calculators were invented.
At Home. Basically, the carbon calculator asks you a series of questions regarding your household: how many family members there are, whether you use energy-efficient lighting and appliances, whether you eat lots of meat, whether you recycle your waste, whether you drive a car, how many miles per year, whether you check the tire pressure, and other crucial, nitty-gritty details—and from the data you input, it’ll tell you your household’s carbon footprint. It’s not an exact figure, just an estimate, but at least you have an idea of the areas that need changing.
At the office. Despite your best efforts to reduce carbon footprint at home, the office you work for can also significantly contribute to greenhouse gases. In our previous posts, we suggested ways to make your workplace more eco-friendly—from choosing more efficient lighting to rethinking your product’s packaging. No doubt, your office’s carbon footprint can still be significantly reduced with a few more adjustments. It’s just a matter of changing everyone’s mindsets and adopting good habits.
Your Kid’s School. If you’ve got a little kid, you can try to involve yourself in the school’s eco-friendly program. At the next PTA meeting, suggest ways to reduce carbon footprint: carpooling, healthy packed lunch for the kids with minimal packaging, low-impact kiddie birthday parties, and class discussions about the environment, just to name a few.
The Neighbors. Spread the word around, to your neighbors in particular. You’d be surprised to know that they too are interested in ways to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s a great way to make new friends, and who knows your community can even start its own recycling or composting program if there’s none yet.
Now more than ever, the threat of climate change is becoming more urgent. That makes this whole reduce carbon footprint thing everyone’s business, not just the big industrialized countries and large factories.
It starts with each one of us. If you haven’t been aware of your actions and how they affect the environment, you can still make right in the year ahead. Happy New Year!
