What is a Carbon Footprint?
How to Find Your Ecological Weak Spots and Improve the Planet
Dec 5, 2008
In an age where lingo changes almost daily, and the environmental situation gets ever more dire, it’s hard to know what’s what. It’s easy to feel out of the loop when some technical or even a layman’s terms seem deliberately obscure.
What’s a Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint is the name of the measure given the imprint an individual leaves on the earth. In theory, the lower a person’s carbon footprint is, the more ecologically friendly he or she is.
William Rees coined the term in an academic publication about the ecological footprint in 1992. (Environment and Urbanization, Vol. 4, No. 2, pages 121-130). Rees, studying the Swiss sustainability advocate Mathis Wackernagel, was trying to estimate how much of the Earth it would take to support humanity if everybody was living a green lifestyle. Originally, the carbon (or ecological) footprint was referred to as, “appropriated carrying capacity”.
While the terminology has changed, sustainable practices have not. Reusing, reducing and recycling are still three key words that all help lower greenhouse gas emissions, and yes, lower our carbon footprints as well.
Why Would Anyone Want to Know their Carbon Footprint?
The first mistake anyone makes it to assume they are different from anyone else, or that one’s habits are more ecologically friendly than their neighbours’. Environmentally speaking, everyone has a skeleton in his or her closet, but not everyone is aware of it.
From the person who runs the dishwasher when it’s a quarter full, or leaves the water tap on while brushing teeth or scrubbing dishes, it all adds up. It’s often a combination of small habits that add up to one big step on Mother Earth.
How is a Carbon Footprint Measured?
There are various free and easy carbon footprint calculators available on the Internet.
Each one will ask you what your daily routines are, from commuting, buying and eating habits, to water and hydro usage in your home and at work.
How Can I Reduce my Carbon Footprint?
Reducing one’s carbon footprint is not as odious as it sounds. Everyone has his or her own way of life that can either reduce or enlarge a footprint. Here are some tips to consider:
- Don’t buy over-packaged goods. Buying in bulk reduces non-recyclable plastics or shipping containers.
- Reduce your reliance on plastic: Reuse plastic shopping bags, or better still, shop with reusable cloth ones.
- Insulate your home as much as possible to reduce the need for excessive heating or air conditioning.
- Use a dryer rack instead of your dryer.
- Eat local fruits and vegetables as much as possible: Seasonal local veggies taste better having had more time to ripen before picking, not to mention they doesn’t use as much gas to travel to your store.
- Invest in a programmable thermostat.
- Use CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs)
- Use both sides of your paper when printing.
- Compost and recycle whatever you can, whenever you can.
To learn more about your carbon footprint, and find ways to reduce your ecological load so that future generations can enjoy a healthier planet in their lifetime, try the following websites:
Zerofootprint Toronto: While this site is Toronto-based, the habits and suggestions can be applied to any city. It features a customizable calculator, which suggests easy ways to go carbon neutral. If you are interested in playing a game with your child while you both learn about sustainability, try the Zero Footprint Kids site. The calculator is bright, easy to read and features resources for teachers and parents.
The sooner everyone learns about ways to live a green lifestyle, the faster a healthier future will be ahead of us!
 |
