Everyone carries a carbon footprint. Wherever you go, your carbon footprint trails behind you. Sounds irritating, right? It’s even more irritating to the Earth. Here are some ways you can reduce your carbon footprint in 2020 and beyond.
1. Use a reusable and refillable water bottle! If you are still drinking from a Poland Springs plastic bottle, it is time to upgrade.
2. For all coffee and tea drinkers, bring your own reusable mug or tumbler to a cafe. (Starbucks will deduct $0.10 from your order if you do!)
3. Drive less, carpool, or use public transportation. By carpooling, it’s like you’re splitting emissions with everyone in the car.
4. Eat less red meat. I am by no means suggesting you go vegan, but it is a good thing to keep in mind that the production of red meat uses a lot of feed, water, and land. Cows also give off methane gas which is a harmful greenhouse gas.
5. Waste less food. According to the U.N Food and Agriculture Organisation, Americans waste about 40% of their food. Take what you can eat, not what you think you can eat.
6. When streaming movies or shows, use your smart TV rather than a game console. A game console, which is not meant to show films, uses 10x more energy than a TV.
7. Shop more sustainably. Try thrifting or buying from a sustainable clothing brand. When buying new clothes, ask yourself: will I wear this in a year or two years? If the answer is no, maybe put it back on the rack.
8. Swap out your regular lights for LED lights. LED lights are cheaper to use, last 25% longer, and conserve 85% more energy than your average bulb.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/guides/year-of-living-better/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint
Amelia Chen
editor-in-chief
Graphic: Amelia Chen
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