Increased levels of Carbon footprint has become a global issue. It is creating havoc for both man and animals. All the nations have pledged to get a zero carbon footprint by the year 2050.But what is this Carbon footprint which is causing havoc for all living beings.carbon footprint is said to be the amount of greenhouse gases—including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases and others—that one produces as one lives one’s life. The increase in carbon footprint has led to global warming and climate change. It is not only the nation but the duty of every citizen of a country to take the responsibility to help in lessening the carbon footprint.This can be done by bringing about lifestyle changes
A few changes which can help in reducing the carbon footprint to a large extent –
1. Say no to plastic water bottles. Get a reusable water bottle
2. Opting for walking or biking for short distances instead of driving
3Turning off lights and unplugging devices whennot using them.
4 Eat local organic food and lessen the consumption of red meat
5 Using the cold water cycle for washing your clothes
6 Using
alternative transportation (bus, train, carpool, or bike) to go for work
7 Eat less on the food chain. Which means eating a diet consisting of fruits, veggies, grains, and beans. as Livestock—meat and dairy—is responsible for 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
8 ;Reduce the food wastage
9 Buy foodstuffs in bulk
10/Buy less stuff! And buy used or recycled items whenever possible.
11 use reusable bag when shopping
12 Avoid items with excess packaging.
13. One should opt for Laptops compared to desktops as they require less energy to charge and operate than desktops.
14 Drive less
15avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration.
16 Take care of your car. Keeping the tires properly inflated can increase the fuel efficiency by three percent .
17 Addingsolar panels to the roof of one’shome.
18 Use of own food containers, cup, and utensils to avoid unnecessary throw-away plastic
19 Invest in bamboo earbuds and toothbrush
20 avoiddisposable straws and stickers
21 Purchase of solid packaging free detergents, soaps, and shaving creams
22 Invest in eco friendly cosmetics
23 Purchase from grocery stores and local markets that sell their produce loose and free of packaging.
24 Embrace a minimalist lifestyle. Declutter the home and donate unneeded items to charity.
25 Buy, borrow or rent used clothing, electronics, house decorations and furniture, cars and other products whenever possible.
26:Sealing ofheating and cooling ducts
27 regular equipment maintenance
28 Add insulation and weatherstripping – especially for doors, windows.
29 Switch to LED lightbulbs
30 Minimize use of fireplaces or wood stoves
31Installation of l a programmable thermostat which is set neither too high or low
32 Reduce water usage
33Compost food waste
34 Lessen air travel
35 Planting more trees
36 Using eco-friendly sanitary napkins
37 Sending less emails
38 Printing on both sides of paper
39 Reducing usage of paper as paper production leads to emission of gases
40 Use digital calendars
41 Say no to use of toilet paper,
42 Paperwork should be changed to electronic work
43 instead of paper E- readers can be used
44 Avoid printing of tickets and documents
45 Waste segregation
46 Cutting down on cigarettes as they take 100 yrs to decompose
47 Use of microwaves is recommended over conventional ovens
48 Grow your own vegetables
49 Use electric cars
50Wash less clothes
51 Use leftover bathwater or “greywater” to water plants.
52– Turn off lights when not in use.
53 – Turn off water while brushing teeth.
54 Use eco-friendly deodorants
55Use waterless car wash to wash the car or bike.
56Read magazines, newspapers and other publications online.
57 Switch to biodegradable sunglasses.
58 Opt for pet furniture and toys made from natural materials
59. Buy second hand pet supplies instead of new
60. Store food in reusable containers
61Re-brew your tea leaves
62 Banana fabric can be used for Light clothing, tropical clothing, shawls, cardigans, blouses, slacks, pants, skirts, hats, scarves, ropes, mats, etc.It is biodegradable
63 The mantra of recycle and reuse is a must
These tips can go a long way to make the environment clean and green.
Smart cities are those who manage their resources efficiently. Traffic, public services and disaster response should be operated intelligently in order to minimize costs, reduce carbon emissions and increase performance.
Dr Preeti Talwar
