Steffi NellLast Updated on March 29, 2023 by Steffi Nell
You might be wondering, how to reduce your carbon footprint at your home. After hearing so much about carbon footprints, why we should make an effort to decrease them? After all, what kind of impact can a single person have, especially when compared to the actions of governments and large corporations?
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is an estimate of the entire volume of greenhouse gas emissions, which are substances that are already present in our atmosphere and influence climate change by both retaining and radiating heat. Carbon footprints may be left behind by individuals, goods, and even entire sectors. Our personal carbon footprint is comprised of emissions that originate from a range of sources, such as the transportation we use on a daily basis, the food we consume, the clothing we purchase, everything we dispose of, and more. The broader our footprint, the greater the impact that we have on the surrounding ecosystem. If you want to measure the carbon footprint in your home/area, take a look at this calculator.
So as a homeowner who cares for the environment, each one of us should reduce the carbon footprints we are contributing to the atmosphere. But how can we do that? Here are some ways you can try.
Ways to reduce carbon footprint at home
1. Consider Home Energy Audit
Getting a home energy audit or also called a home energy assessment is one of the quickest and easiest methods to get started on the path to decreasing your household’s overall carbon footprint. This service is offered by a variety of utility providers for a minimal fee, and in certain cases, it is even provided for free.
The first step toward identifying all of the places in your house that are contributing to energy waste is to have a professional energy audit performed. Your audit team will most likely offer much of the advice that we’ve mentioned below after performing the audit.
2. Home Insulation and Sealing
Caulk, insulation, and weather stripping are three things that can help reduce air leaks and drafts. A great number of states provide programs and financial incentives to help make this possible.
3. Minimize the use of hot water
Consider replacing your standard shower head with one that has a lower flow rate and doing your laundry in cold or warm water rather than hot. If you really need to use hot water, you should insulate your water heater by wrapping it in a blanket and lowering the temperature on the thermostat to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Plant Native Plants
Planting native plants may help minimize the amount of water needed to maintain your landscaping, which is beneficial even if you are only working with a few small flower beds for curb appeal. And if you really want to make a difference, you should do rid of the lawn chemicals and replace your expansive grass with native plants and trees.
You can help reduce your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of water you use and the chemical care that is typically necessary to keep non-native plants healthy.
5. Choose Appliances wisely
When shopping for a new furnace, AC unit, dishwasher, or fridge, you should give priority to selecting one that has a high energy efficiency rating. Products that have the ENERGY STAR designation have been verified to have the highest possible energy efficiency.
6. Use Natural cleaning Products Whenever possible
The vast majority of people are unaware of the fact that a straightforward solution consisting of water, rubbing alcohol, and vinegar may be used to effectively clean and disinfect a wide variety of surfaces.
You may also cut down on the amount of single-use plastics you use at home by purchasing materials in bulk and utilizing refillable spray bottles. This will prevent hazardous chemicals from degrading the air quality in both your house and the community as a whole.
7. Turn off the lights
Whenever you leave a room or if you are not using a certain light, make sure to turn it off. Incandescent light bulbs should be switched out with compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs, which consume roughly 85 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.
8. Set your thermostat
Be careful not to set it too high or too low. Put in a programmable thermostat so that the heating and cooling systems are turned off even while you’re not there. Turn the thermostat down by 2 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and up by 2 degrees in the summer. The majority of a home’s energy use goes toward heating and cooling.
9. Invest in Solar
Install solar panels on the top of your house. This option is a little more expensive than the ones discussed above; however, many companies allow financing choices that reduce initial outlays of cash. By using solar energy, you can reduce your electric bills at home.
10. Keep an eye on your trash
At least half of the garbage produced by your home should be recycled. You may make a significant dent in your carbon footprint by purchasing used goods, reselling or recycling stuff you no longer need, and recycling items that are no longer useful to you.
11. Checked your water usage
You can reduce the amount of energy that is required to pump, treat, and heat water by washing your car less frequently, using plants that are suited to your climate in your garden, installing drip irrigation so that plants receive only what they require, and selecting water-efficient options when buying shower features, faucet heads, toilet facilities, dishwashers, and washing machines.
12. Choose a car wisely
When it comes time to replace your vehicle, look for one that gets better gas mileage. Check out the United States Fuel Economy Ratings.
There is no guarantee that a high mileage would result in less CO2 emissions. An estimated number of miles per gallon is shown for each car. If they are charged with carbon-free power, electric vehicles do not contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. If you don’t have the ability to charge it using the solar panels on your home you can choose to buy an electric car.
Reducing carbon footprint at home FAQs
How does renewable energy help to reduce my carbon footprint?
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, emit no carbon dioxide. You may dramatically lower your carbon footprint and help protect the environment by adopting renewable energy.
How can I offset my carbon emissions at home?
You can reduce your carbon footprint by investing in carbon offset programs like reforestation or renewable energy. This compensates for the carbon emissions that cannot be avoided.
Can I make a difference in reducing carbon emissions at home?
Certainly, every individual may help to reduce carbon emissions at home. You may dramatically lower your carbon footprint and help protect the environment by making minor adjustments to your lifestyle.
Final Words
There are many various methods that we may reduce our carbon footprint and benefit the environment at the same time. Whether we’re at home, at work, or at school, or even when traveling, even minor adjustments can have a significant impact. To summarize, in order to lessen the impact that we have on the environment caused by our daily activities, we should try to cut down on the amount of energy we consume, consume fewer products derived from animals, shop locally whenever possible, plan our trips carefully, and recycle as much as possible.
