Simple and Immediate Steps For Reducing Your Carbon Dioxide Footprint
Wed, 12/26/2007 - 12:37am — efadmin
RecycleIn 2005, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 245 million tons of garbage, which is approximately 4.5 pounds of waste per person per day. That is up from 2.7 pounds per person per day in just the last 35 years. When you consider the energy used to transport waste to the landfill and the landfill gases that escape into the atmosphere, each pound of waste we create generates roughly 1.5 pounds of greenhouse gases. Recycling half of all household-generated waste can reduce your CO2 footprint by 2400 pounds per year.Learn more... |
Reduce your hot water usageReducing the amount of hot water you use can result in significant reductions in energy usage, saving you money and further reducing your CO2 footprint. "A family of four each showering five minutes a day can use about 700 gallons per week—a three-year drinking water supply for one person! Water-conserving showerheads and faucet aerators can cut hot water use in half. That family of four can save 14,000 gallons of water a year and the energy required to heat it."Learn more... |
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Reduce the water used for dishwashingA common misconception is that washing dishes by hand saves hot water. In reality, washing dishes by hand several times a day can be more expensive than operating an energy-efficient dishwasher, especially if you only operate it with full loads.Learn more... |
Wash and dry your clothes more efficientlyAbout 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. Using less water and using cooler water are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes. Typical electric clothes washers and dryers generate 5 pounds of CO2 per washer/dryer cycle. In most cases, washing clothes in cold water gets them just as clean as washing them in warm or hot water, and the CO2 savings are substantial – about 2 pounds per load. You can further reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes by purchasing a new, front-loading machine.Learn more... |
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Turn down the thermostatThe average household will spend almost $2,100 on home energy costs in 2007. Of a typical residence's total energy consumption, heating accounts for the largest portion, representing almost 50% of a household's annual energy bill.Learn more... |
Drive smarter"U.S. residents drive an average of 10,000 miles per year per capita – for every adult, teenager, and toddler. For a car that gets 20 mpg, each mile driven is equivalent to a pound of CO2, which means the emissions add up fast." Making minor changes in your driving habits can improve your car's mileage per gallon, cutting global warming pollution and saving you anywhere from $200 to $500 each year.Learn more... |
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Buy localAnyone who longs for summer and the unbeatable taste of a home-grown tomato already knows the value of buying locally. Simply put, locally grown produce tastes better. It's also fresher, as most produce in the U.S. is picked 4 to 7 days before making it to the supermarket shelf, and is shipped an average of 1500 miles before being sold. "And this is when taking into account only US grown products! Those distances are substantially longer [7 to 14 days] when we take into consideration produce imported from Mexico, Asia, Canada, South America, and other places."Learn more... |
