How to Reduce your Footprint Caused by Housing
Heating, cooling, electric, and garbage disposal are some sources of carbon emissions in your home. Here are some ways to lower yours:
- Make sure your house is properly insulated. Insulation helps to keep heat or cold in and the better insulated it is the less you will need to heat or cool your house.
- If you have the money to do so, get solar panels or solar shingles for your house. Solar energy creates very little emissions and can possibly make you money.
- Switching to more renewable heating and cooling like geothermal or a renewable natural gas lower your carbon emissions because you aren't burning fossil fuels. Wood or wood pellet stoves are also good renewable heating that is good for adding extra heat to your home without fossil fuels.
- When getting new appliances make sure they are energy efficient by buying energy star rated appliances.
- Wash bigger loads of laundry less often and with cold water. It takes more energy to heat water.
- Turn off the lights and your electronics when you leave a room for long periods of time.
- Save water and energy by turning off the water while you are brushing your teeth and using your dishwasher. Make sure you fill your dishwasher completely before running it.
- Get a laptop instead of a desktop because laptops use energy to charge and don't need a constant energy source.
- Instead of throwing away broken things try to fix them yourself or take it somewhere to fix it. If it can not be fixed make sure you recycle it if possible.
- Donate old clothes that you don't wear instead of throwing them away as long as they are still in good condition. If they aren't in good condition you can cut them up and use them as rags for cleaning.