Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

I write about this to share info how to reduce our carbon footprint everyday in simple way. I got this info from Combating Climate Change, The EU leads the way ...

I just retype it, but not all of them. I type the important things for people in equator country.

In your home

1. Move the fridge away from the cooker or hot water heater, so that the heat does not force the fridge work harder. Do not let it frost up; let food cool before putting in the fridge.

2. Think before you use appliances. When you make a cup of tea or coffee, boil only the amount of water you need. If we each avoided boiling one litre of water unnecessarily each day, the energy saved could power one third of Europe's street light.

3.Switch off. Switching off 5 lights in hallways and rooms in your home when you do not need them on can save around 60Euro per year. Turn off the PC in your office as well. And unplug your cellphone charger when you are not using it.

4.Do not leave appliances on standby. Switch off your home electronics, computer, modem,etc. completely and do not leave them in standby mode. This can save you as much as 100 Euro per year.

5.Turn off the tap while your brushing your teeth and take a shower instead of a bath. A standard shower uses up to four times less water than a bath.

6.Switch to green electricity. Take advantage of the market to select utilities offering clean energy and greater quality.

In your Car :

Enviromentally aware driving can lower fuel consumption by 5%. Examples of eco-driving are listed below :

1. Start driving soon after starting engine. Warming the engine uses more fuel, so set off without using the throttle and shift to higher gears as soon as possible. The higher gears are more fuel-efficient. Turn off the engine when stationary for more than one minute.

2. Check the tyre pressure. If it's down by 0,5 bars, your care uses 2,5% more fuel.

3. Use low-viscocity motor oil. The best oils can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by more than 2,5%.

4. Close the windows, especially at higher speeds, and take the roof rack off. Even empty, roof racks can increase fuel consumption and C02 emissions by up to 10%.

5. Slow down and drive smoothly. Driving faster than 120 km per hours consumes 30% more fuel per kilometre than driving at 80km/h. Keep steady speed, thus consuming less fuel.

Elsewhere

1. Travel by Train. One person in a train emits two thirds less CO2 than one person alone in car.
2.Explore alternatives to flying. Flying is the worlds fastest growing source of CO2 emissions. If you fly, then consider offsetting your carbon emissions through an organisations which will invest the small amount it costs you in renewable energy or tree planting
3.Cycle, walk, use a car-pool, take public transport and telework
4. Buy intelligently. Go for appliances which are labelled as energy efficient, light packed, and recyclable products, local and seasonal food, and fuel efficient cars with the lowest level of CO2 emissions per kilometer.