What exactly is your ‘carbon footprint’?
Basically, it’s the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere either directly by you or by the products’ and services’ providers you buy from. The more of these gasses are emitted into the atmosphere, the more adversely we affect the environment.
There are certain lifestyle changes you can consider that will have a small but positive impact on the environment. If we each become more conscious of how our actions affect our environment, we will be able to turn things around again. But we need to jump in now before it becomes too late.
1. Reduce your water usage
- Take a quick shower, rather than a bath. We all need to stay clean, and a shower uses roughly one-fifth of the water than a bath. Together with this, you can install a low-flow showerhead to limit the water usage.
- Wash with cold water. Especially if you are washing or rinsing clothes. This could save you few hundred Rupees in the electricity bill, as well.
- Filter your own water. Bottled water is usually flown in from far away, and manufacturing the packaging itself uses a lot of energy.
2. Check your power usage
- Plug out appliances when you are not using them. Appliances still consume electricity even when they’re switched off.
- Buy a laptop rather than a desktop PC. Laptops use roughly up to 80% less energy than a desktop.
- Replace your lightbulbs with energy-saver bulbs. Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs or LED bulbs last about 15 to 20 times longer, plus they use up to 8o% less energy.
3. Go organic
Recycle, reuse and reduce. Keep this in mind with all your daily habits.
- Switch your energy sources to clean, renewable energy sources such as solar panels. These can be linked to your geyser and other appliances in your home, depending on their strength.
- Create a wormery for your organic waste. Otherwise, create a more traditional compost heap in your garden. You can use the fertiliser in your garden and even start your own organic vegetable patch.
- Support local restaurants that use organic products.
- Try to stay away from plastic products. Keep your old shopping bags in the car to reuse next time, or invest in a sturdy shopping bag for regular usage.
Be sure about this- It’s all about us. Sooner of later, climate change is going to affect us all. We, individuals, must take charge and bring a positive change for our environment. After all, if we won’t, who will?
