When people think about their carbon footprint, they usually think about their vehicles or choosing their source of energy more carefully. But there are plenty of other ways that you may be contributing to your carbon footprint that you may not be aware of. And these things eventually add up at the end of the day.
Virtually everything we do in our societies creates pollution in one way or the other, and you have to look at your daily habits in detail and see where you can make some adjustments. Here are some common everyday things that are increasing our carbon footprint.
Not Choosing the Right Energy Supplier
A lot of people don’t think twice when they pick an energy supplier. Some will go with anyone who gives them a good deal. Others might be more cost-conscious and look at which sources they use.
But a good provider will go above and beyond that and might even include things like energy audits to assess where you might be wasting some energy and could make some corrections. This is especially important if you run a business and are trying to go green. If you want more information about the benefits of switching suppliers and other ways to cut your emissions, you can check out this piece by Utility Bidder on how businesses can reduce their carbon output.
Buying Food
Stocking up at the grocery store is something many of us do on autopilot, but many aren’t aware of how much the agribusiness is responsible for our carbon emissions. A lot of the produce we consume has to be hauled from across the world to be on our tables.
By making sure that you go with grocers that value local produce and producers, you can also help reduce your carbon footprint. You should also consider encouraging farmers’ markets, as they allow you to get fresh produce at sometimes better prices than major chains, without the footprint. Also, practice the habit of eating foods that are in season to reduce reliance on imports.
(Mis)using our Cars
Not everyone can afford to take public transportation. In some cases, business demands it. Or they may not have access to a viable public transit system. But a lot of people don’t know that misusing their car and not maintaining it properly could make things even worse.
This is why you have to make sure that your vehicle is properly maintained in order to not only lower its emissions but consumption as well. Even failing to have your wheels aligned or your tyres properly inflated could increase your fuel consumption and carbon footprint. As a matter of fact, it has been estimated that keeping your tyres inflated at the right pressure could help you save up to 700 pounds of carbon emissions every year.
Conclusion
All these little things are leaving their mark on the environment, and our whole lifestyles will have to be reimagined if we truly want to make a difference. Making sure that we start with ourselves is the first step.
