How often have you wondered what type of footprint you’re leaving on the Earth? If you’re like 30% of people (based on a survey of 100 people aged 17-71), you probably haven’t put much thought into your CO² emissions and how they play a role in the degradation of the world around us.

If you’re unsure, there are plenty of ways to find out! The Environmental Protection Agency has a Carbon Footprint Calculator that anyone can fill out and find out how many pounds of CO² they emit annually from waste, driving, and energy usage. The Nature Conservancy has another Emissions Calculator that also covers the topics of food production and diet.

For many of us, we don’t realize how much our lifestyle contributes to this type of pollution both directly and indirectly. In the same survey, 7% said they did not know what a carbon footprint was, while 93% said they did. 23% of the people who didn’t think about their carbon footprint at least knew what it was. This 23% can be worse than the 7% who had no idea, because that means they could do something about it, but are not presently moving in a more sustainable direction to lower their CO² emissions.

As a refresher or a first time lesson:

CO2 emissions are primary greenhouse gases that are emitted by humans and their animal counterparts. Large sources of CO2 are the use of fossil fuels for transportation and energy, urbanization and land modification, agriculture, deforestation, decomposition, and other energy outlets.

Fossil fuels are utilized by a combustion reaction at high specific temperatures, this reaction gives off heat and CO2 directly into the air we breathe and the atmosphere. According to whatsyourimpact.org, “The 3 types of fossil fuels that are used the most are coal, natural gas and oil. Coal is responsible for 43% of carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion, 36% is produced by oil and 20% from natural gas” ¹.

CO2 emissions are, in turn, absorbed back into our environment and have the capabilities to cause chemical and biological changes to our plant and animal life, as well as our oceans.² During marine CO2 absorption, the compound is then changed into carbonic acid, an acid that lowers the pH of the ocean water and contributes to habitat destruction through acidification of ocean water, malformation of many hard-shell species and fish, and reef bleaching.³ These changes are quickly making the ocean an uninhabitable place for species that were formerly considered key species in their ecosystem.

If you completed the calculations and were alarmed by your results, here are 5 simple ways to modify your lifestyle without compromising your daily life.

1. Walk instead of drive short distancesAs you can see, transportation is easily where many people will have the most emissions. This is usually unavoidable, but there are little ways we can modify our transportation. If there is an event nearby, choose to walk instead of drive. It might take a little longer, but your body and your planet will benefit. This is only something that should be done when you know you will be in a safe environment. Physical ability means nothing to forces that will try to hurt you. Be aware and conscious of your circumstance.
2. Eat less meat, poultry, dairy–instead eat organic fruits and veggiesDid you know that a major use of resources is in the massive commercial farming industry? Some key facts include:-Commercial farming degrades and erodes soil at a rate that is no longer can be sustained as is without heavy consequences for the planet.
   -The 7 billion grain-fed cattle consume grains that could sufficiently feed 800 million human individuals.
   -87% of water usage in the USA annually goes to commercial farming.
   -The USA produces enough animal based proteins that, if accessibility was evenly distributed, each person could receive 75 grams daily–45% more than the suggested daily intake.Reducing this type of intake will reduce the demand, and, in turn reduce production. There are several ways to maintain a daily protein intake that does not completely destroy our ecosystem. Meat and dairy are not bad, nor do they need to be completely avoided. Reduction is a key choice in developing a more sustainable lifestyle as well as reducing your carbon footprint. Some suggestions to reduce your meat and dairy consumption include, but are not limited to:-If you’re a weekly meal planner, choose to eliminate meat for at least 3 meals a week. Reducing your meat
   -Elect to consume nut-based milks and cheeses.
   -Order your food without the cheese!
3. Reuse, recycle, upcycle, and donate
   
   There will be an upcoming post on effective and fun ways to reuse, recycle, upcycle, and donate an array of materials rather than throwing them away. Doing all of the above will reduce your material consumption, which will reduce the demand, and reduce production. This could mean buying a reusable water bottle, converting your favorite old t-shirt into a grocery bag, or sharing your gently used items with the people in your community through donating to places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local thrift stores.
4. Go without luxury items - the planet and your pocket book will thank you
   
   If you are able to live without certain conveniences you know aren’t helping our planet, just do it. A list of things you can live without and their respective replacements can be read below:
   
   -Plastic water bottle packs - you don't need them. Get a reusable water bottle from somewhere, could be brand name could just be random. Just do it. You'll save approximately $500 a year if you're drinking the proper amount of water every day and reach for a new bottle every time.
   -Face washes with microbeads - you don't need this either. There are many natural scrubs and creams that are much less hazardous to our planet and our bodies. Or, you could also use a rough washcloth and some warm water. That can work just as well in scrubbing off the day's mess.
   -Plastic bags - you REALLY don't need these - take recycleable bags. Most stores will charge you a hidden surcharge per plastic bag that you use, but some will often take off money for using a canvas bag or a bag from their store. You should consider asking the policy of your local grocery store or shopping center.
5. Purchasing energy saving appliances and modifying your living arrangements where you can
   
   In many situations, simple things like unplugging appliances that you are currently not using and buying light bulbs that are certified in saving energy. Energy saving appliance companies include and company under the “energystar” conglomerate. Fun fact: you can actually get a tax break for reducing your energy consumption by purchasing and using energy saving appliances from energystar certified companies!

Keep finding ways to reduce your footprint, keep fighting for what is right, and don’t forget that our environment is where we have come from and it is where we will always return. We owe our Earth - the very thing that sustains and gives us life - its protection.

Resources:

¹ What’s Your Impact?, “Main sources of carbon dioxide emissions”

² Bradshaw, Kate. “Discovering the Effects of CO2 Levels on Marine Life and Global Climate”. USGS. 2007

³ PMEL. “What is ocean acidification?” NOAA