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Your Carbon Footprint

Going Green

Everyday, each and every one of us makes a distinct impact on the environment called a Carbon Footprint. This Footprint is made up of two components: the Primary Footprint and the Secondary Footprint. Reducing these Footprints will likewise reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Your Primary Footprint is a measure of your direct emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels, which includes the consumption of energy (TV, lights, hair dryers, dish washers, etc) and transportation (cars, taxis, airplanes, etc). Your Secondary Footprint measures indirect Carbon Dioxide emissions that stem from the entire life cycle of the products you use, starting from manufacture until eventual breakdown.

Going Green

The methods of minimizing your Primary Footprint are rather intuitive. When traveling, try to avoid air travel as much as possible. Use public transportation such as buses, trains and subways to get around town. If you must use a car, set up a carpool or car share program with fellow commuters. At home, sign up for renewable energy sources (solar, wind, grey water, etc) if available. Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy saving CFL or LED bulbs. Always remember to turn off lights, appliances, computers, TVs and other electronics when not in use.

Reducing your Secondary Footprint requires a bit more thought and investigation. When buying something from the store, consider where the product was made and what kinds of materials were used to produce and package them.

Bottled water is a prime example; the emissions created by the manufacture of the plastic bottle along with its disposal are staggering. Going Green But consider if the water claims to come from an exotic tropical island - the carbon emissions for the transportation of the bottle (the delivery trucks and the airplane ride) add to your Secondary Footprint significantly!

If possible, try to purchase products manufactured locally instead of ones that have been imported from far away. Try locally grown fruits and vegetables, or even plant your own personal garden (which actually has a negative Carbon Footprint, as plants act to absorb Carbon Dioxide). Reduce your consumption of meat, as its production requires large amounts of energy and produces methane (another harmful gas) as a byproduct.

Try not to buy clothing, house wares, shoes, accessories and other products that have been imported from thousands of miles away. Lastly, avoid purchasing any goods and services that appear to be over packaged. Excessive adornments and embellishments, wrapping and packaging material greatly contribute to your Secondary Footprint.

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