How to Lower Your Carbon Footprint

Studies show that merely being outside can spark weight loss and will increase your vitamin D intake the natural way rather than pumping your internals with additive vitamins (which are unclear of their validity).  If the weather is pleasant and your destination isn’t very far away consider taking a walk.  Sure, it may cost you an extra thirty minutes but an extra thirty minutes outside, in the sun, listening to a podcast or catching up with mom (you should call her, you know) isn’t the worst thing to happen to you this week.  If you don’t need to burn fossil fuels for your personal transport from A to B then go for a stroll.

Still on the subject of driving, in the event that you simply must start up that engine, be as efficient as you can in the process.  Fast acceleration might be fun and make you feel like Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder (did I just date myself?) but if the wild driving doesn’t kill you, the unnecessary emissions will surely harm your children’s children.  Instead, be mindful of your acceleration, deceleration, and aim to cruise (not the Tom kind) as often as possible.  For an example, hop into a Car2Go which rates your carbon impact while you’re driving!

Flight prices are at an all-time low this past decade which is great to put a little extra cash in your pocket to be spent on, say, snacks, an in-flight adult beverage, and to offset your flight’s carbon footprint.  That’s right, for just a few extra dollars you can donate to a worthy cause that will ensure the environmental cost of your cheap trip is offset by good ecological things.  Go to Cool Effect to see how much money you owe our poor planet; if you’re traveling across the country it’s a measly $12, if you’re able to buy a plane ticket you’re able to treat a tree or two to some good nurturing.

It’s not just a fad to show support for local farmers as well as taste the freshest produce around, buying local means less energy is required to get that tomato from the vine to your belly.  It’s estimated that over 13% of the greenhouse emissions from the US are associated with the production and delivery of food.  Next time you go to the local farmer’s market remind yourself that when you buy it isn’t just good for the farmer, or for your taste buds, you’re also taking care of the planet.

What does that mean?  It means that if you live in the Rocky Mountains during the winter don’t turn your home into Cancun.  Likewise, if temperatures in the summer are reaching near triple digits find ways to cool off without using energy; ever tried opening a window?  Back in 1965 only 10% of households had air conditioning and those baby boomers seemed to have done alright.  Prior to that, for, like, 100 thousand years humanity seemed to do just fine without the energy-guzzling devices so you can probably endure a few weeks of hot weather.  If you just can’t handle it, or you live in Florida, that’s fine but consider reducing the use while you are home, and turning off while you’re away.  Sure, getting home to an already cooled-off house is nice but not at the cost of needlessly ruining our environment.  Chill out and bear the heat.