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All about carbon footprint and ways to reduce it

The six greenhouse gases listed in the Kyoto Protocol (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride) as well as other types of climate impacts like the vapour trails from aeroplanes are all included in the calculation of a person's carbon footprint.

Carbon footprint is the total amount of these greenhouse gases produced by all human actions. The human race is a continuation of the earth. Whatever humans do, they always do it in or on the planet's ecology. Humans and the ecology of the planet Earth are constantly interacting. Therefore, every human action has the potential to either increase or decrease carbon footprints.

According to Global Carbon Budget 2022, a scientific analysis of global carbon emissions presented at the 27th Conference of Parties in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, there is a 50% risk that the world would see global warming exceed the 1.5°C limit in just nine years if current carbon emission levels continue.

In terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2), which measures the quantity of carbon dioxide an individual would generate to have the same influence on global warming or the climate, all of these characteristics are together expressed as a single value.

The emissions of each of the six greenhouse gases are multiplied by their 100-year global warming potential to produce CO2 (GWP).

How is Carbon Footprint Calculated

The size of your home, the effectiveness of your electric appliances, how frequently you drive or fly, your eating habits, whether or not you recycle, etc. are all factors that go into calculating your carbon footprint. Basically, the primary determinants are how much power you consume and how much fossil fuel you use.

  • EPA calculator designed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Nature Conservancy calculator
  • Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
  • Carbon Footprint calculator designed by an environmental consulting firm (this carbon footprint calculator is more thorough and accurate than most others)
  • CoolClimate calculator designed by the CoolClimate Network at the University of California at Berkeley

While it may be impossible to totally do away with your carbon footprint, you can reduce it to a great extent just by making small changes in your individual life. Once you do that, you will know you have done your bit to fight climate change and global warming, and reduced harm to the environment in the best way possible.

How to Reduce Carbon Footprint in Your Daily Life

It is essentially impossible to completely eliminate your carbon emissions. You may thus minimise your carbon footprint by undertakingthe following actions:

Invest in energy-saving appliances

To assist save energy and create an eco-friendly environment in your house, you may purchase energy-efficient refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and ceiling fans. Each appliance is given a star rating between one and five, with one denoting low efficiency and five denoting excellent efficiency. You can dramatically lower your carbon impact by selecting gadgets with higher star ratings.

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. So, if you look for the Energy star label, you know you're getting a product or appliance that's proven to save energy. For instance, LEDs that have the Energy Star label use up to 90 percent less energy than an incandescent light bulb, while providing the same amount of light.

List of ENERGY STAR Energy Efficient Products

Switch to renewable energy sources

The majority of energy suppliers now offer green prices. For instance, customers can opt to acquire a portion of their energy supply from sources like solar energy, wind energy, and hydroelectric energy in various areas of India. Choose renewable energy sources to achieve the following three objectives; first, [facilitate economic integration and cooperation and promote sustainable development; second, reduce energy and carbon intensities and third, minimize the impact of the energy sector on the environment from source to use.] Your carbon footprint may be totally reduced along with your carbon emissions. Additionally, using renewable energy sources results in significant financial benefits from decreased energy costs.

Use less water

Although using water is unavoidable, there are a few things you can do to manage its consumption and lessen your carbon footprint. For instance, you may minimize the number of days you do laundry, install shower heads that use less water, and switch off taps and showerheads when brushing your teeth and taking a shower.

Provide carpooling facilities

Instead of spending on parking spots and encouraging the use of personal vehicles, companies can provide carpooling services to their employees. By offering carpooling facilities, companies can reduce GHG emissions significantly.

Use Reusable water bottles

Always carrying a reusable water bottle is a convenient and efficient approach to lessen your carbon impact in public areas. This advice is particularly helpful while using trains and other forms of public transit. You may reduce your consumption of single-use plastic bottles and hence your carbon impact by refilling your bottles at public parks, airports, and railway stations.

Get rid of throwaway, single-use things

We utilize a lot of one time use products in our consumerism-driven world. Single-use disposables are designed to be used once and then discarded. Then, to add to the strain on the environment, that item is dumped in a landfill. Even when something is recycled, it still requires resources and energy to produce it again for another use. If you make the easy practice of utilizing reusable things instead of disposable ones, you can save the world and minimize your carbon footprints.

Even though it might not be feasible to completely eliminate your carbon footprint, you can greatly minimise it with a a few modifications in your daily routine. Once you do that, you will know you have done your part to combat climate change and maximized your role in the development and betterment of the world.