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How many carbon emissions you can actually save by doing these 10 things
How many carbon emissions you can actually save by doing these 10 things
Lara Walsh,Lara WalshApr 26, 2019, 22:41 IST
Aluminum used profiles are seen in a metals recycling company in RomeReuters
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Both emerging economies and developed countries are releasing more carbon dioxide into the Earth's atmosphere than ever, making the climate goals set in the Paris agreement even more difficult to achieve.
These increases are mainly due to increased oil and natural gas use, but there are ways consumers can do their part to cut emissions by changing their daily habits.
Eating vegetarian one day a week, changing your showerhead, and keeping your tires inflated are just a few ways to lower your carbon footprint.
According to the New York Times, the average American emitted 16.2 metric tons of CO2 per year in 2014.
Increased carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere are already having alarming consequences: the heat-trapping gas has led Earth's average temperature to rise about 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels (2018 was the fourth-hottest year ever recorded). Earth's oceans have absorbed about 93% of the extra heat trapped by greenhouse gases, leading sea levels to rise - if emissions continue to increase, seas full foot higher by 2100. Warmer water and rising seas lead to more severe natural disasters, and higher levels of carbon dioxide can significantly reduce the nutritional content of some staple crops.
Although much of the world's carbon-dioxide output stems from large corporations and manufacturing, individuals can still make a difference by reducing their own carbon footprint.
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Here are 10 things you can do to reduce your own carbon emissions. It's worth noting that some of these numbers can vary based on your family size and where you live, so you can calculate your personalized emissions footprint on the EPA website.
Eating more chicken instead of beef could also make a difference.
Eating red meat has a larger environmental impact than other food choices. According to The Washington Post (which used data from the EPA), swapping chicken for beef once a week could reduce your CO2 by by 270 kilograms annually. That's the equivalent of about 30 gallons of gas.
Driving at the speed limit, keeping your speed constant, and avoiding rapid acceleration or stopping could improve your mileage per gallon by 30%.
A study by the US Department of Energy found that more aggressive driving — meaning accelerating quickly and braking suddenly — burns significantly more fuel than driving at consistent speeds and braking slowly.
According to the Carbon Fund, commuters could save more than a ton of CO2 each year by simply making sure to accelerating slowly and smoothly, stick to the speed limit, keep speeds steady, and fully anticipate times they need to stop and start.
Regular maintenance on your car can also keep your carbon footprint down.
Keeping your tires inflated can save between 400-700 pounds of CO2 annually, according to the Carbon Fund. If your tires aren't inflated properly, the car requires more energy to get moving, thus creating more emissions.
Washing two loads of laundry in cold water each week is also an easy way to cut down your energy use.
Washing your clothes uses a lot of energy, and fossil fuels were almost certainly burned to generate that energy.
By running the dishwasher only when full, you can save 100 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
It can be tempting to run a lazily packed dishwasher, but every time you do that, you're wasting water and widening your carbon footprint. Depending on what kind of dishwasher you use, it could be using anywhere from 5 to 10 gallons of water per load, according to CNET.
Turning the temperature on your water heater down from 140 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees could save approximately 550 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 60% less energy than their incandescent counterparts.
Replacing just three incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient compact florescent light bulbs could save approximately 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Plus, florescent bulbs typically last longer than traditional ones, which can save you money in the long run.
Going car-free can have a big impact if that works with your lifestyle.
One of the most impactful ways to reduce your carbon footprint is one of the most difficult: giving up your car. Of course, this is not something everyone can do — access to reliable transportation can facilitate better jobs for many people, and plenty of homes aren't within walking or cycling distance of offices or schools.
But if a car-free life is feasible for you, it's one of the best ways to reduce your greenhouse-gas emissions. According to a 2017 article published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, that change could reduce your annual carbon footprint by 2.4 metric tons.
Reducing your air travel even by one flight can also have a big impact.
Another major way to reduce your carbon footprint, according to the same 2017 paper, is limiting your air travel. By taking one fewer round-trip, transatlantic flight per year, the average consumer can reduce their footprint by around 1.6 metric tons (3,527 pounds) of carbon dioxide.
