How to reduce your carbon footprint cheaply

What is a carbon footprint?

In 2008, the U.K. Carbon Trust defined a carbon footprint as "the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product." This definition makes it clear that all of us have some type of carbon footprint.

If we commute to work in our car, use electricity, heat our homes, or do anything that uses fossil fuel or generates any variety of greenhouse gas – usually defined as adding carbon dioxide (CO2) or its many equivalents to the atmosphere – we have a measurable carbon footprint.

Having a carbon footprint is not inherently a "bad" thing. All animals and plants, including us humans, are carbon-based entities. We simply could not exist without leaving a carbon footprint of some level. Reducing our carbon footprint has become critical because of the fragile nature of the environment and the damage that enlarging carbon footprints can inflict.

Consider this simple example of carbon footprint generation: every time an oxygen-breathing animal takes a breath, it exhales carbon dioxide. This is a greenhouse gas. Fortunately, most plants "inhale" carbon dioxide as part of their photosynthesis process needed to live and grow. Their waste product – fortunately for all animals and humans – is oxygen.

Carbon footprints only become a problem when other natural conditions cannot absorb these products and byproducts to neutralize their unsatisfactory effects. The universal use of fossil fuels (oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, coal, natural gas, etc.) produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in volumes that cannot be neutralized by Mother Nature.

In recent years, the scientific community has been able to quantify the levels of greenhouse gases produced and their resulting use and/or dissipation. Their conclusions predict potential future danger for our planet – and for us – if the imbalance of carbon dioxide production versus neutralization is not corrected.

Carbon footprint reduction is just as important on an individual level as it is for companies and governments. While it may be physically impossible to eliminate our carbon footprint, it is both possible and desirable that we reduce our carbon footprint whenever we can.

Cheap ways to reduce your carbon footprint

As much as we all want to reduce our carbon footprint and help our environment, most people don't have access to unlimited funds to accomplish this goal.

Now that you know what carbon footprints are and why it's important to minimize them, here are some simple suggestions to reduce your carbon footprint without breaking your bank:

Identify sources

Identify the source of carbon emissions in your daily activities. You obviously cannot reduce or eliminate what you can't see or identify.

Take an inventory of your daily activities to learn what carbon emissions you generate and which you can eliminate (you can take breathing off this checklist). Only then can you intelligently consider reducing your volume of greenhouse gases.

Conserve energy

Conserve electrical energy at every opportunity. Turn off lights, appliances, and any items that draw electricity. When possible, totally shut down electrical appliances. For example, many electrical items, like PCs, microwave ovens, TVs, etc., still draw a trickle of electricity even when turned off.

For example, the date and time function of your PC keeps pulling minor amounts of electricity. Your microwave oven also needs some juice to keep its clock working. When possible, unplug some appliances or turn off those things that are plugged into a power strip or surge protector.

Pay attention to the thermostat

Turn your thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in summer. This simple effort can save around 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Consider installing a programmable thermostat so you don't have to remember to turn down or up your heat or air conditioning. Your thermostat will do it for you.

Change bulbs

Replace incandescent light bulbs with the fluorescent variety. You could save up to three trillion pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere annually.

Weatherize the home

Properly insulate and weatherize your home. Along with saving you heating and cooling dollars, you may save around 1,000 pounds of carbon emissions annually.

These simple and inexpensive actions, all possible without hurting your lifestyle (they actually improve it), make a measurable reduction in your personal carbon footprint.

Instead of costing you money to be eco-friendly, you'll potentially save hundreds of dollars per year by reducing your carbon emissions.