Reducing your carbon footprint- Become Carbon Neutral!

Carbon offsetting is only one way you can to reduce your footprint. Ideally, we have all started taking measures to limit the amount of carbon we emit by making small changes to our daily routine. Once we have done all we can do to reduce our energy consumptions, reuse our resources, and recycle our waste, shouldn't we look at offsetting as a means to neutralize carbon emissions? Here are a few simple, easy ways you can reduce your carbon footprint:

At home:

Appliances

Think of the appliances you use in your home has having two price tags; the first price is the purchase price. The second price, we don’t usually take into consideration when buying new appliances it's the price of the electricity to run the appliance. For example, older less-efficient appliances require almost twice as much energy to run and over longer periods of time may end up costing you more. Newer, more energy-efficient products can use up to 40 % less electricity. Although the energy- efficient fridge may have a higher purchase price, it requires less electricity and you will end up saving each month.

Consider switching your old computer monitor for an low-energy LCD monitor. Thinking about buying a new computer? Laptops use half the energy as a desktop. If you are planing on building your dream home or just doing light renovations, do a little research. Grants and incentives are available for homeowners looking to finding environmentally sound solutions to energy consumption at home.

Reduce your water usage

Make small steps to reduce the water consumption at home by replacing your older shower heads and facets with low-flow shower heads. There are many low-flow products on the market varying in price. The average low-flow shower head may save up to 1.2 gallons of water per year.

Change a light bulb

The next time you replace a light bulb, opt for an energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulb(CFL). Replacing a incandescent light bulb to a CFL lasts up to ten times longer and you will see the saving on your monthly bill. On your way out, remember to turn out the lights. You will save on electricity and reduce global warming.

Buy Locally

When you're in the grocery store, check out where your produce comes from. The average American meal travels over a thousand miles to reach your table. Consider three meals a day: that's more than most Americans travel in a year. Imported produce is a huge contributor of carbon emissions. Visit a farmer's market or ask your grocer about their selection of local produce. You can eliminate significant amounts of greenhouse gases simply by making small changes to your grocery list.

At the office:

There are plenty of ways to limit carbon emissions at work. Implementing a recycling program and an environmentally friendly waste management system are two easy ways that only take a phone call or two to set up. If your office uses a lot of paper, consider changing your paper to recycled paper. Double-side your photocopies and only print what is necessary.

Instead of using the styrofoam or paper cups available, bring in your own cup for coffee. Offices need to use a lot of electricity, there are now energy-efficient ways to getting around that. Geothermal cooling and heating pumps are becoming more popular with companies that want to lessen their carbon footprint.

Look into other companies that are making efforts to be more environmentally conscious. Hire a bike courier instead of using your regular courier company, or choose a company that uses a hybrid electric vehicle. Some companies offer incentives for employees who opt to reduce fossil fuels by taking the bus, riding a bike or walking.

Finally, find out if your company has offset its carbon footprint. You can offset your company's carbon foot print by going to the clearfootprints.com and selecting company offset .

On Route:

Travel is one of the biggest contributors to individual carbon emissions. Changing the way we think about how we get around can have a huge impact on the environment. Walking to work or catching the bus once a week is a good start. Consider carpooling with coworkers. A car co-op is great alternative to having the freedom of your own car with out all the expenses. When you stop for your morning coffee, choose a coffee company that has offset its carbon emissions. There are lots of coffee companies that have already taken this step.

Next time you are in the market for a new car, opt for an electric car or a more energy efficient car. There are many innovative and progressive models of cars that are more environmentally sustainable. Being environmental conscious doesn't mean you should never drive again, it means putting a bit more thought into the choices you make.

Who doesn't love a holiday in a hot, tropical country sipping cocktails out of a coconut? Some of us spend eight months a year pining for that week of sun-drenched relaxation. But these sort of vacations come at significant cost to the environment.

Consider taking a trip closer to home; become a tourist in your own country, even if it means missing out on that pina colada. Think about limiting the amount of air travel you do. According to the Consumer's guide to Carbon Offsets, traveling 2,000 miles in an airplane emits one ton of carbon. If you are planning on flying, ask the airline about its offsetting initiatives. Many airlines are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

Offset your carbon emissions:

Offsetting is one part of a multi-step incentive addressing climate change. It is not the definitive answer to the problem of global warming, nor does not give us permission to live irrespectively of our impact on the earth. It is a proactive contribution to the solution of climate change. It something significant you can do now. Go to the clearfootprints.com calculator to offset your carbon emissions .

Calculate your footprint