"Simple Steps to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home"

You might have heard the slogans raised higher “save planet,” “stop global warming,” or “sustainable is better.” Whenever we read about these environment or climate-related slogans we also come across the phrase Carbon footprint. Butwhat does it mean? Over the last few decades, the human population has been increasing at an exponential rate. The demands of the population are also increasing so more products have to be produced to fulfill the needs of all human beings. 

Carbon footprint is a sum of greenhouse gases (Carbon dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous oxide) that are emitted during the manufacturing of any product to cater needs of the population. These products range from household energy consumption, transport use, food manufacturing, and even the products we buy on a monthly or daily base like utensils to clothes. All these activities have a footprint. So a person's footprint is a combination of all the products they buy and use. 

Various factors are becoming the cause of the emission of greenhouse gases that are eventually increasing Carbon footprint. The main culprit industries are the energy sector, agricultural sector, land-use changes, industrial activities, and waste-producing industries that annually add tonnes of carbon to the environment and cause harm to the environment. 

·       China- 11680.42

·       United States — 4535.30

·       India — 2411.73

·       Russia — 1674.23

·       Japan — 1061.77

The top three countries are telling the story of larger emissions because these three countries are the most populous in the world. The countries with more population have more per capita CO2 emissions.

Pakistan is a developing country but unfortunately among those who are more vulnerable to climate change. Low-income countries suffer more than developed countries with insufficient resources to tackle the consequences. Pakistan contributes around 0.8 percent to its carbon footprint with an average of 83908.43 KT emissions of carbon dioxide annually. 

Carbon footprint estimators based on emissions from the last 12 months' activities of the person. You can calculate the footprints of any part of your lifestyle you are interested in like your energy consumption, your food even your clothing or shopping stuff.

But the point that arose in my mind was why one needs to estimate the Carbon footprint. The answer is that it is having a huge impact on the climate. Do you know a single person emits five metric tonnes of Carbon dioxide per year? It is alarming how humans are damaging the environment and how a person can reduce his impact now the environment.  

Almost 100 companies are producing 70% of greenhouse gas emissions and impacting the environment. That doesn't mean humans are not harming the environment. However, the consequences that humans are causing to the environment can be reversed. Your Carbon footprint calculator helps you to figure out the emissions that we take for granted but cause a huge impact on the environment. The major contributors include:

Family size is the most important factor to be taken into account as each child adds 58 tonnes of Carbon dioxide per year. 

Traveling your footprint will vary if you have a car or bike or how frequently you are using it. Driving a car regularly adds 2.4 tonnes of Carbon dioxide to your footprint and consumption of flight adds 1.6 tonnes of carbon annually. 

Your food has also a huge impact on your carbon footprint if you are consuming beef its footprint will be larger than chicken consumers because chicken needs fewer resources like land, water, and feed. Eating beef adds 0.8 tons more Carbon footprint annually. 

Another important factor is how often you purchase any product like electronics, clothes, or household goods. 

The use of regular cooling and heating conditioning adds 1.5 tons of Carbon to the annual footprint. That's why it is better to explore alternate options like solar energy, and wind energy. 

Doing laundry adds 0.46 tons of Carbon dioxide to a  footprint. 

The most interesting fact about footprint is do you know Internet use, sending mail, and texts also create footprint.

All these are the factors we pay little heed to and ignore but unfortunately, these are creating huge impacts on the environment. 

How to reduce carbon footprint is a point of concern for many people. In the face of recent threats to climate, everyone is rolling back on how they can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is easy. Like your little efforts can make huge differences. They require little effort and financial investment. It is high time to think about it because extreme weather events are becoming evident and all these threats are the outcome of human activities. Taking personal actions can come with great benefits like you will save your money, and energy, reducing pollution, improving the quality of air, and healthier and more active life. 

You may hear this every little action adds up! So let's start doing this at your home. It is very easy to do and implement. Like, imagine you can start living an eco-friendly life with few implementations. A few simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint at home are:

First of all, insulating your home insulation helps to keep your home cool in summer and hot in winter it means you are consuming less energy which eventually reduces your carbon footprint not only this but your household bills too.

Switch to renewable energy resources like solar panels which reduce energy consumption and electricity bills. 

Preferably buy those products that are eco-friendly or energy efficient and turn off or unplug them when they are not in use.

Cycling and walking are two activities that are not only good for the environment but for your health too. 

Reduce the use of plastics at home for wrapping or packaging purpose because it takes years to decompose and also affect marine life. 

Use water wisely at home if you are not using water then turn off the tape properly.

The food you daily has a huge impact on your footprint. A person who is eating beef and dairy products than a person who is eating chicken or plant-based food can make a huge difference. Eat locally-made food and support farmers.

Donating your clothes it's like giving them second life which also helps to reduce the burden on the environment not only in a production manner but in consumption too.

It is hard to convince yourself to do this but could be achieved. When everyone joins in simple actions make huge differences. If you are deciding to take action ion against its means you are thinking about or you care about the place which you call home.