Eco-Living Articles
Carbon Footprint
Many activities leave a carbon footprint, but you can help shrink yours down. The term “carbon footprint” is often used to talk about our impact on the planet, but many people are still a little confused about what it means. This article takes a brief look at the term and gives a few examples of things that can cause your footprint to grow larger. We also give some quick tips on how to reduce the size of your personal carbon footprint.
DEFINITION
A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a human or organization over a given period of time or for a given activity.
It sounds simple enough, and may even have you thinking that your own carbon footprint must be small. After all, other than driving a car, what could you be doing that releases carbon dioxide? The answer is actually quite a lot!
While driving is often listed as the big bad wolf of carbon emissions, there are many other things that cause carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere. Any activity that requires the burning of fossil fuels contributes to our carbon footprint.
Two examples of activities that cause a carbon footprint are buying a cup of coffee while you are out and making a cup of coffee at home. Let us reassure you, we do not expect anyone to stop drinking coffee! But this everyday drink can be used in two simple examples to show how a carbon footprint grows.
Going to the local coffee shop
Going to the local coffee shop involves getting a drink in a disposable cup. Seems harmless enough, but think about the energy that goes into getting that cup of coffee. Carbon dioxide released during the drive to the shop.
Carbon dioxide released to make that disposable cup.
Carbon dioxide released transporting the cup and ingredients to the shop.
Carbon dioxide released making those ingredients into a delicious drink.
Before you wonder what sort of crazy coffee shop uses a fossil-fuel engine to make a cup of coffee, remember that the majority of electricity in the U.S. is produced by burning coal or other fossil fuels.
BOOM, your foot comes down hard onto the ground and there is your carbon footprint for the activity.
The good news is that there are at least two easy things you can do to decrease the size of your footprint for this activity.
- If the shop is close by, think about walking instead of driving. If not, be sure that your car is in good condition and that the wheels are properly inflated. The EPA advises that underinflated tires can reduce your fuel economy by up to 3%. Reduced fuel economy means a larger footprint…and more money that you will need to spend on gas!
- Take a reusable travel mug with you to the shop. By using your own container for the drink, you eliminate all of the carbon emissions that went into the manufacture and transport of the cup to the shop. You also reduce the amount of waste going to the local landfill.
Making a cup of coffee at home
Making coffee at home may be better for the wallet, but it also creates a carbon footprint. Carbon dioxide released getting you to the grocery store to buy the ingredients.
Carbon dioxide released by the store to produce light and a comfortable temperature for you (and the right temperature for the cream or milk).
Carbon dioxide released in the production of your coffee maker.
Carbon dioxide released heating the water.
There it is again, the BOOM of your foot coming down to the ground, but as with our coffee shop experience, there are few easy ways to shrink it down.
- Try to combine multiple errands with a trip to the grocery store. It is better for the environment, and you will spend less on gas. Another car tip is to limit grocery store shopping to once a week. Buying multiple items at once helps increase your fuel economy. Running out every day to pick up just one or two items increases the amount of time you are on the road and makes your carbon footprint deeper.
- If you use the coffee maker until it can produce no more, good job! But if you are the sort who constantly likes to upgrade, or gets rid of a maker because of a little chip, think about donating it. Reusing items and letting others reuse yours are great ways to decrease the carbon impact of product production.
- When possible, buy local. While the coffee may need to come from very far away due to climate, you can help balance that out by buying milk or cream from local dairies. A shorter trip from manufacturer to your local store, means less carbon dioxide released in the transport.
