Celebrating Reducing CO2 Emissions Day: Ways to reduce your emissions
January 28 is Reducing CO2 Emissions Day, which is dedicated to raising awareness about the urgent need to reduce global carbon dioxide. Today, people worldwide are encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint and advocate for sustainable practices in their communities.
You probably have it engrained in your mind by now that the most common ways you can reduce your emissions include eliminating the use of fossil fuels, stopping eating red meat, and shopping locally and secondhand, among so many others. But today, I want to explore other ways to reduce your emissions that you may not have thought about before.
Regularly service your car and keep the tires properly inflated:
When your car runs efficiently (i.e. clean oil, adjusted timing gears, etc.), your car will use less energy. Moreover, properly inflated tires will require less energy to maintain your speed while driving.
If you must take a plane, make sure you’re flying non-stop
Taking off and landing when your flight has multiple stops will burn more jet fuel. You can reduce your carbon footprint and travel stress by choosing direct flights
Lower your thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer
Adjusting your thermostat to allow your home to be five degrees colder in the winter and five degrees warmer in the summer will help you cut your energy usage. And make sure that your home is properly insulated so that heat and air conditioning don’t escape.
Use a low-flow showerhead and toilet
A low-flow shower head and toilet will help reduce your water usage and the heating of water, which typically requires fossil fuels. Taking shorter showers will help to reduce emissions as well.
Switch to digital
Reducing your emissions could be as easy as moving away from printed documents and sharing them using cloud storage or video conferencing instead of traveling.
Use cold water for washing your clothes and do your laundry in full loads
This will decrease the amount of water and energy you use. Doing two loads of laundry weekly in cold water instead of hot or warm water can save up to 500 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. You can also reduce your emissions by skipping the dryer and drying your clothes on a clothesline or racks.
Take local trips
Instead of taking planes, buses or trains on your next vacation, try exploring nearby. You will reduce your emissions, contribute to your local economy, and uncover new and exciting things right in your backyard.
Strive to go zero waste and commit to as many Rs as you can
We’ve come a long way from reusing, reducing, and recycling. In addition to those actions, you can reduce your emissions by refusing, reclaiming, revitalizing, refurbishing, repairing, rethinking, and redesigning.
Get politically active
Use your voice to vote for politicians and representatives committed to phasing out fossil fuels and working towards making positive environmental change. Even just writing a letter to your MP and getting involved with your community could make a significant difference in reducing your carbon emissions, and it might encourage others to do the same.
These are only a handful of examples of ways you can reduce your emissions, not only by reducing CO₂ emissions every day but every day. And don’t feel like you need to conquer them all right away. Every effort counts and you should take the actions that work best for you. We can all make a difference in mitigating the impacts of climate change and preserving our planet’s natural resources for generations to come.
