How Can I Lower My Carbon Footprint?

Actions speak louder than words. These 7 meaningful lifestyle changes are just a few of the ways you can lower your carbon footprint in everyday life. 

  1. Go Electric: As much as possible, switch to electric rather than gas-powered appliances and vehicles. For example, driving an electric vehicle (EV), replacing traditional HVAC units with heat pumps, or induction/electric stoves instead of gas-powered stoves. The Inflation Reduction Act has tax incentives for these purchases.

  2. Go Renewable: Installing solar panels whenever possible (in conjunction with wall-batteries for backup storage) goes a long way in getting “off the grid”. The Inflation Reduction Act has tax incentives for these purchases.

  3. Reduce Food Waste: About 40% of the food in the U.S. ends up being thrown away and in landfills — YouTube video: Food Waste is the World’s Dumbest Problem

  4. Modify Your Diet: Our food system contributes to nearly a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. That’s 10 percent more than all cars, trucks, planes and trains combined. Just by making a few small changes to our diets (for example, eating more plants and less meat), we can have a large effect on fighting climate change.

  5. The Three R’s: Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle (In That Order): Only a fraction of materials that are put in recycling bins get recycled. Most ends up in landfills, especially plastics. A better practice is to reduce your of materials (especially single-use objects) and re-use as many bottles, bags or clothes etc as you can and to repair rather than replace. Finally, recycle all paper, plastics, bottles that you can making sure to follow your local recycling rules.

  6. Skip Overnight Shipping/Buy Local: Overnight shipping has a high carbon footprint because a larger number of smaller trucks have to be used. Unless absolutely urgent, use multi-day shipping instead. Amazon, for instance, now has “Amazon Day” where your orders all go out on one day a week leading to fewer deliveries. Even better, buy local rather than online when possible, which has the added benefit of supporting local businesses!

  7. Keep Consumer Products (Especially Technology) Longer: No one likes to spend more money for things, but buying cheap lower quality products that break often and involve “planned obsolescence” are not only more expensive for you in the long run, they are also much worse for the planet. Similarly, try to resist buying new technology as soon as the warranty or payment plan expires (e.g., phones every 2 years). In short, repair rather than replace whenever possible.
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