Reduce your Carbon Footprint

by Becky Showalter

So now that you know your carbon footprint (see previous blog post), what now? Before we think about how to offset our effect on the environment, we should brainstorm on ways to reduce it!
There are so many things that can be done:

1. On an individual level, there are big ideas like adding solar to your home, purchasing an electric or plug-in hybrid car, or switching out older, less energy-efficient appliances.
2. Then there are smaller ideas like imagining how a carpool could work for you, using less plastic overall (there are so many plastic-free alternatives these days for shampoo, conditioner, cleaners, Ziploc bags and more), washing clothes on the cold setting (or at least colder), and using a programmable thermostat in your home.
3. What you eat and what you wear can make a huge difference in reducing your carbon footprint – eating lower on the food chain (vegetables), eating local, reducing food waste, composting, and going thrifting instead of taking part in the fast-fashion industry all make a difference.
4. As part of our larger community (but still on an individual action level), you could sign up for programs that will source your electricity from green sources, such programs include Arcadia or Duke Energy’s Renewable Advantage.
5. You can also contact your local municipalities and simply ask if they have climate change goals – if so, express interest in what they are and if not, push for them.
6. At your place of employment, are there changes that they could make, such as changing from Styrofoam to paper, adding water bottle filling stations, adding EV charging stations, or adding solar.

We can’t do all the things we think of, at least not right away, so pick a couple on this list, or other ideas you might have, and add them slowly so that they become habits. Then pick a couple more, and then a couple more. I saw a quote the other day by author Rob Hopkins that said, “If we wait for the government, it will be too late . . . if we act as individuals, it will be too little . . . if we act as communities, it might just be enough . . .” Individually, we can’t change it all, but as communities we are powerful. Go out and be the change. Let’s do this as the community of God!