Some rednecks still throw their beer cans out the window. Many of us still live our lives without caring how we affect the environment. Generations ago concern about the environment seemed non-existent. Cavemen hunted for food only for survival, but never in excess. They used the trees and other natural resources, but only for shelter and basic needs.
Modern consumer society is more voracious, and many of us consume in excess of what we really need. We have placed nature at a disadvantage with our extravagant lifestyles. This has given rise to concerns about our carbon footprint and how it is affecting the earth and its sustainability.
Consumption of energy
Cars and other energy-guzzling devices can now be found throughout the world. Cars run on gasoline, a non-renewable resource. As we use more energy than necessary we emit excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
Carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide emission released to the atmosphere. Most of us leave a carbon footprint on a daily basis. The moment you use energy to power your homes, or you drive from your home to anywhere else, you are already leaving behind a carbon footprint.
So what’s your carbon footprint?
We can’t avoid using energy and leaving carbon footprints as we live our daily lives. We’ve come a long way from living in caves, and we have become accustomed to living in comfort, thanks to cheap, abundant energy. We can certainly use energy efficiently to lessen our carbon footprint. A good way to start is to measure your carbon footprint by going to one of the internet sites that make use of a calculator to measure your energy use. Your total energy consumption, less the efforts you exert to recycle, reduce waste and save on energy is equivalent to your carbon footprint.
Some factors to consider when calculating your carbon footprint:
- Vehicle you use and your gas mileage
- Your energy bill
- The total number of miles you drive annually
- Frequency of your vehicle maintenance
- The flights you take and the distance you travel
- Home devices that uses energy
While you can’t help using energy and consuming products that add to your carbon footprint, you can find ways to lessen your energy and product consumption. If you a are regular energy user because of the nature of your work or business, then it may be time to switch to a more energy-friendly fuel source for your vehicle and solar or wind energy for your home.
