You are far more powerful than you think! The changes you make at home to improve the health of the environment have the power to make a difference and even inspire others to do the same. Reducing your carbon footprint is a great place to start – but first, what is a “carbon footprint?” A carbon footprint represents the total amount of greenhouse gas produced by an individual, event, organization, service, place, or product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent. It’s a term that helps us understand our impact on the health of the environment.
First, it’s time to get real with ourselves & the impact we have individually on the planet. Calculate your personal carbon footprint to get an idea of where you’re starting from. In an MIT study, the carbon footprint of an average American was nearly 20 metric tons per year – oof! The global individual average carbon footprint is around 4 metric tons, which could be a number to strive for!
Click here to calculate your carbon footprint! There’s no finger counting involved – we promise.
Globally, the meat and dairy industry produces 14.5% of manmade global greenhouse gas emissions. Every day that you forgo meat and dairy, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 8 pounds—that’s 2,920 pounds a year. Going completely meat-free is not a practical option for many, but incorporating meat-free days into your week is!
Trends come and go, but what goes out of style often ends up in a landfill. Thredup is a great option to sell clothing you no longer want, and affordably thrift new items! Show off your secondhand clothes with pride, knowing you saved money and the planet. On average 1 lb. of clothes that are sold as second-hand clothes save 5.9 lb. of CO2.
Many don’t realize that 60% of the electricity generation in the United States comes from burning fossil fuels to create energy. With a green electricity plan, the energy supplied to your home is matched with renewable energy credits from emissions-free sources in the United States. Shipley Energy has got you covered when it comes to green electricity!
A home energy audit is the best way to identify ways to become more energy-efficient, thus reducing your carbon footprint by eliminating wasted energy! Bonus: This one makes your wallet happy too!
The average natural gas household produces about 10,500 pounds of carbon dioxide emission a year. If you heat your home with natural gas, Shipley Energy’s carbon-neutral option is for you! Carbon offsets are a tradeable product that measures the amount of CO2 removed from, or prevented from entering, the atmosphere. One carbon credit is equal to 1 metric ton (2,204 lbs) of CO2 that would have otherwise polluted your air. Pair your home’s natural gas usage with an equal amount of carbon offsets to reduce your carbon footprint.
We hope you found a useful tip to help you reduce your carbon footprint!
Shipley Energy is along for the fight and has transitioned 5 trucks in our delivery fleet from diesel fuel to compressed natural gas. Saving an annual amount of 67,070 lbs (30.4 Metric Tons) of CO2 from entering the atmosphere! Our corporate offices are also certified by the Green Building Initiative for two green globes, ensuring energy & water conservation and responsible use of time & materials throughout the building process!
Creating a healthier environment is the responsibility of us all. Let’s do our part together! 💚
