In addition to eco-friendly measures being implemented by governments and various organizations worldwide, reducing the so called ‘carbon footprint’ has become one of the more popular ways that people can contribute to saving the planet. However, the term carbon footprint is often thrown around without a clear definition. Carbon footprint refers to the measure of the total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an individual, organization, event or product. It is generally expressed in terms of the volume of carbon dioxide or its equivalent of other GHGs emitted. Simply put, a carbon footprint is a measure of how much our day to day activities impact the environment.
Considering the fact that many sectors of society are into industrialization and modernization, it appears that reducing carbon footprint is a daunting task indeed. However, you can do something to lessen the impact of this unwanted phenomenon. There are simple steps that you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and the best place to start is within your home.
One of the biggest producers of GHG emissions is electricity. We all use electricity to power our homes and somehow, we can’t simply drop its use because such form of energy is one of the reasons why we are comfortably living today. But you can choose to sign up with a supplier of electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric. This will reduce your carbon footprint contribution from electricity to zero. However, the concept of using renewable energy sources is not only applicable to the use of electricity. Renewable materials must be considered for building and construction purposes. The less industrial waste we give off, the lesser our carbon footprints.
When you shop for appliances, make sure that the energy rating is good. Use energy saving light bulbs that give a brighter light at a lower wattage. Turn off the lights and other electrical appliances when not in use. Turning down the setting of your central heating and water heating by just 2 degrees will contribute to significant reduction in power consumption. Set your air conditioning unit’s thermostat to 78 ˚F, most people feel comfortable at that temperature. Note that every degree you go below that setting translates to about 8% reduction to your bills. Come to think of it, it’s not the number of appliances we have but it's the way we use them that increases our electric bills.
Carpool, use public transport instead of using your car and for short distances, take a hike or ride a bicycle. Remember that if you travel less, you travel more carbon footprint friendly. Go for recycled paper and paper products, doing so will reduce the number of tress that need to be cut down. Trees are vital to the environment as they utilize the carbon dioxide we produce while giving off oxygen. As much as possible, buy organic produce and refrain from buying over packaged products and recycle as much as possible.
Always go for items that are energy efficient. These simple things can help reduce carbon footprint emissions from your homes. After all, reducing carbon footprint is just a matter of attitude.
Environmentalists and a bipartisan collection of Washington politicians are actively pushing for “green,” or “renewable,” power. These renewable energy sources include biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, and wind. Over the years of lengthy debates about adverse effects of fossil fuels - coal, natural gas, and petroleum - and nuclear energy, the U.S. Federal Government has crafted certain laws as a form of their mandate:
Clean Air Act of 1970 (as amended in 1990) - This legislation produced incentives to decrease mobile sources of pollutants.
Alternate Motor Fuels Act of 1988 - This established what is known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy Credits.
Energy Policy Act of 1992 - This required federal, state and alternate fuel provider fleets to come up with an inventory of alternate fuel vehicles.
Energy Policy Act of 2005 - This legislation focused on the utilization of alternative fuels along with the development of supporting infrastructure.
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 - This legislation brought forth provisions to boost the supply of renewable fuel sources and to reach 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - This legislation ratified the provisions of Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008.
American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 – The objective of this legislation is to create green energy jobs, fight global warming, achieve energy independence, and a transition to a clean energy economy.
Apart from the above-mentioned legislative breakthroughs, there are also Renewable Portfolio Standards or RPS which have been affirmed and approved by states to open up Green Energy Markets. To date, 27 states, along with the District of Columbia have already adopted the standards, while another 13 states are taking the idea of a standard into consideration. However, a well structured renewable portfolio standard at the federal legislation level is yet to be accomplished. States can now go beyond the federal legislation if they have the means to do so because delays are likely to continue at the federal level and it would be irresponsible for states to sit and wait when they actually have the resources to go about it.
There are two sides to the RPS: there are free market analysts who claim that this presents a dilemma since such mandates will result into higher energy costs, thereby hurting small business owners. Apparently, it can also take away a competitive advantage to manufacturing in one state and give it to another. On the other hand, proponents endorse it because it would translate into more research and development funds for new technologies, more profit for existing generation facilities which do not participate and it is somehow a local version of the "Kyoto Treaty" sans the severe impact on the economy.
President Obama's administration and the U.S. Congress are mandating utilities to generate 25 % of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2025. The mandates pertaining to the RPS states that renewable energy sources include solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, tidal, landfill gas, qualified hydropower, hydrokinetic or marine technologies.
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Solar power has been utilized through the centuries and scientists continue to look for better ways to take full advantage of the energy from the sun. Governments of several countries have put solar energy as one of their top priorities. The United States government for instance has offered various incentives to encourage households to install solar panels on their roofs and yards. This move presents a number of benefits including huge savings on electric bills and reducing the carbon footprint of people who use conventional forms of energy.
You must first understand how you can use green solar energy in order to appreciate the benefits it has to offer. There are two basic types of solar energy: light and thermal. Light energy is what people normally think of solar energy. With the use of solar panels, the light energy from the sun can be converted into electricity which in turn can be used to power homes. If you happen to be living in an area which receives plenty of direct sunlight and you have enough solar panels, you can actually produce ample supply of electricity to completely power your home. Moreover, you can use batteries as backup to store extra electricity for use in the evening or on days with overcast skies.
Thermal energy is also known as passive solar. This type of solar energy is typically used to keep homes warm by designing and constructing them in such a way that the windows are positioned to capture sunlight. By integrating south facing windows and using construction materials that retain heat longer, you can cut down on your energy needs and have an energy efficient home. Thermal energy can also be used for solar hot water systems, for heating swimming pools and for solar ovens.
The vision of becoming more ‘green’ and minimizing reliance on fossil fuels is now within reach. With the use of green solar energy, we now have a renewable source of energy for use in our homes. It is also a clean energy alternative since it does not contribute to global warming and produces little to no pollution. Remember that the concept of going green does not necessarily mean that we have to do without the things we enjoy, it simply means searching for more practical and environmentally friendly ways to power our lives.
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Considering the fact that many sectors of society are into industrialization and modernization, it appears that reducing carbon footprint is a daunting task indeed. However, you can do something to lessen the impact of this unwanted phenomenon. There are simple steps that you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and the best place to start is within your home.
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