A carbon footprint refers to the total quantity of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions come from the entire production procedure, usage, and end-of-life or full consumption of a product. The most prominent greenhouse gas emitted by humans is carbon dioxide. Some other gases, namely methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, are noteworthy. The function of these gases is mostly to trap heat inside the atmosphere which then causes global temperature increases. The resulting aftermath of this unstable temperature is the constant change of climate around the world. Usually, the bulk of an individual’s carbon footprint comes from transportation, housing and, the production/consumption of food.

In this write-up, to understand how carbon footprint is calculated, you will need to know the factors that increase the individual carbon footprint contribution. The factors are: 

• The approximate amount of miles you travel by bus, train, car, and plane
• The total energy you use at home
• Your shopping expenditure
• The composition of your diet

Globally, the average carbon footprint for a person is close to 4 tons. But it is a matter of relief that Bangladesh produces about 0.44 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person. The World Bank states that this rate is much lower than the United States’ 16.4 tonnes, Australia’s 16.3 tonnes, and Qatar’s whopping 40.5 tonnes. Even after this, we still need to reduce our carbon footprint to contribute to the global impact.

According to the Nature Conservancy report of 2019, to have the best chance of avoiding a 2℃ rise in global temperatures, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop under 2 tons by 2050. Lowering down the individual carbon footprint globally from 4 tons to 2 tons doesn’t happen overnight. But it isn’t impossible either! By making marginal changes to our actions at home, we can start making a big difference. Here are some very important tips to reduce your carbon footprint at home. 

Unplug and Turn-off Your Devices At Home

All electronic devices suck a large amount of energy when they’re plugged in. No matter at what capacity, or even if they are powered down, they drain electricity. Whenever you are plugging your device into a socket, it starts drawing energy. It means, even if your device isn’t charging at all, it is still contributing to the carbon footprint. Also, when your battery is full, if the charger is still on, it is drawing a lot of energy. Henceforth, it is very important to leave your electronic devices unplugged at all times, unless you are actually using them. Also, Air Conditioners use up a huge amount of energy if left turned on without using it. This is one of the highest contributors to the carbon footprint.

Eat less meat and avoid processed foods

It may sound crazy, but eating less meat or no meat is the solution. Limiting the consumption of meat is the single most effective action you can take to combat climate change. An even bigger problem than emissions from the burning of fossil fuel is the emission from the agribusiness. So while we often talk about cutting down on our reliance on fossil fuels, like bringing alternatives to non-renewable natural gas, we never discuss the worst culprit. Red meat is, particularly at fault. 

Red meat consumes 11 times more water and produces 5 times more emissions than it’s poultry counterpart. A single pound of beef takes over 5,000 gallons of water to produce. This is the number one consumer of fresh water in the world.

Processed and packaged foods are highly carcinogenic and very bad for your health. This not only harms the environment but silently kills you. Processing food takes a lot of energy and contributes to enormous emissions in the industry. 

Charge Your Devices Switching Them Off

Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is by changing the method of charging your electronic devices. Whenever you are charging your mobile, laptops, tablets, etc. make sure you turn them off. After they are fully charged, unplug the charger. Such a habit will save a lot of energy. This small practice over time will greatly reduce the large quantity of greenhouse gas emissions that occur during energy production. 

Plant Green in Open Spaces

Whether you live in an apartment or a spacious house, planting green vegetation, shrubs, herbs or plants can reduce your carbon footprint. In a limited space balcony, you can do bonsai, herb garden or shrub plants. Balcony gardens are great for urban dwellers and easy to maintain. If you have a rooftop, start planning for a garden. You can always plant some bee-friendly flowers, a few trees, or a vegetable garden. The metropolitan cities like Dhaka often need to reduce the “urban heat island” effect. Basically, cities are hotter than rural areas. Due to the vast pavement areas, concrete buildings, and increased human activity, the carbon footprint is much higher. Creating more spaces for plants, grasses, and trees can mitigate this effect and lead to better cooling, which will be a necessity with worsening climate change. 

Eat Local and Non-Exported Food

Eating foods that are grown locally, in your city or adjacent areas, helps to reduce carbon footprint. Because shipping foods from distant places creates massive carbon emissions. When a vegetable or a fruit is grown fresh in your own garden or in a local nearby farm, the environmental cost is significantly reduced. Imagine the journey that food exportation from a distant country has to take. First by plane or ship, then by cargo train or truck, and some products may even require cooling. These emit a humongous amount of carbon dioxide in the air. So, it is high time we start eating non-exported local foods to reduce our carbon footprint.   

Dry Your Items of Clothing by Hanging 

The traditional method of line-drying your clothing, hanging on the balcony or rooftop, is much better for the environment. Using the dryer function of a washing machine consumes five times as much electricity than washing. Therefore, by hanging your clothes in the sunlight or overnight, you can save a lot of energy. This will help you to reduce your carbon footprint at home. 

These are some of the best tips for an individual to go green in their own home. Anyone can make these simple changes and they are very easy to implement. It is only that we need to change our habits and lifestyle. If we do so, the process will be immediately effective in reducing your carbon footprint at home. It is henceforth, our actions and choices that ultimately make a difference. We must all share the responsibility and take initiatives to do whatever we can to address climate change. If you agree, leave a comment below.