Reducing your carbon footprint is highly beneficial to the environment, as it slows the effects of climate change, improves public health, and maintains biodiversity. A carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon emissions generated from the actions of a person or an entity, such as buildings or countries, according to Brittanica.
You can measure your carbon footprint with an online calculator such as Nature Conservancy’s “Calculate Your Carbon Footprint,” or the Ecological Footprint Calculator. Notable factors include travel, home, food, and shopping. California has per capita emissions of 9.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide yearly, and the United States has 14.1 tons per person. Students of California must reduce their carbon footprints.
To reduce energy consumption, one solution is to upgrade to energy-efficient appliances such as energy-efficient LED light bulbs, which can produce as much light as an incandescent light bulb while using 75-80% less energy. Unplugging electrical appliances when not in use and taking advantage of natural lighting are other ways to reduce your electricity and energy usage.
Planting trees around your house can reduce air conditioning needs throughout the summer by 30%, and can save up to 50% in heating costs, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. This method can also be used in schools, as well as office buildings. Strategically-placed trees near paved areas of a backyard can create cooler areas around the house to reduce urban heat island effects, improve air quality, and store carbon. Rather than using fridges, you can always cool your drinks or items with some soil in the ground! Simply bury your drink in the ground with a proper container for 20-30 minutes and let it cool.
California is all too familiar with its constant series of droughts. A high amount of energy is needed to move, treat, and use water. Some unique ways to reduce water consumption can include washing fruits and vegetables within a basin, rather than a sink, and using a vegetable brush. People can also reuse leftover water for plants rather than letting it slip past the drain. Rather than rinsing dishes before loading them into a dishwasher, you can scrape off excess grime.
When it comes to transportation, using public transportation can easily reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This form of transportation is cheaper than passenger driving, as it saves the cost of gas, insurance coverage, maintenance, and taxes. Students and youth also receive the benefits of lower prices when going on a bus. Owning or using electric or hybrid cars might have a higher initial cost, but an environmentally friendly option to reduce transportation emissions and saves money on gas. When distances are shorter, it is not only cheaper but also healthier for people to walk or bike to reach their destinations.
Above all, individuals should prioritize the reduction of their waste. It is important to not only recycle when possible but also to repurpose products and refrain from investing in items with short lifespans. Recycling can reduce energy consumption, also reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. People can switch to using reusable bags as well as reusable water bottles. Plastic water bottles can be repurposed as planters or pencil organizers. To reduce paper waste, replace paper napkins with cloth napkins. Donate items when they are no longer needed instead of contributing to landfills. Buying in bulk can reduce packaging waste.
To continuously reduce your carbon footprint, it is important to build sustainable habits into a routine. You can encourage friends, family, as well as staff at MHS to join as well!Be proactive and encourage other students to reduce their carbon footprints as well! By supporting more eco-friendly events, you will be taking more proactive steps to reduce your carbon footprint. Take small steps, and start reducing your carbon footprint now!