Reduce Your Home’s Carbon Footprint

With both utility prices and environmental consciousness on the rise, more people are doing what they can to reduce the “carbon footprint” of their home. But what is your “carbon footprint?”

According to TimeforChange.org, a carbon footprint is defined as: “The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). In other words: When you drive a car, the engine burns fuel which creates a certain amount of CO2, depending on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. (CO2 is the chemical symbol for carbon dioxide). When you heat your house with oil, gas or coal, then you also generate CO2. Even if you heat your house with electricity, the generation of the electrical power may also have emitted a certain amount of CO2.”

Have you thought about ways to reduce your home’s carbon footprint? You might have taken steps to use less energy if you’ve noticed that your utility bills have gone up. Some utility companies monitor average energy use in their communities, and some send reports that compare your personal home energy use with those of your neighbors, to give you an idea of where you stand. If you have determined that your household uses more energy than it should, there are some basic things you can do to improve your carbon footprint.

According to EcoSalon.com, the kitchen accounts for 30-40% of home energy use. When it comes to this heavily used room of your home, the most basic question to ask yourself is this: do your appliances guzzle energy? If the answer is yes, consider replacing them with Energy Star-rated models.

Other kitchen tips for greater energy efficiency in the kitchen include:

• Monitor Oven Efficiency: Clean your oven regularly, so that it operates efficiently. Use the oven light to check on food instead of opening the oven door and allowing heat to escape, and preheat it for just five minutes before cooking begins.
• Use a Toaster Oven Whenever Possible: A toaster oven probably uses a third of the energy consumed by a full-size oven.
• Match Pan Size to the Burner: Avoid releasing extra heat by using a small pan on a large burner.
• Keep the Refrigerator Door Closed: Your parents were right; standing for lengthy periods in front of an open refrigerator door wastes energy. Store commonly used refrigerator items where they can be easily reached, and remove everything you need in as few trips to the fridge as possible.
• Use an Energy-Efficient Dishwasher: Energy Star-rated appliances do save energy – especially if you only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
• Learn About “Green” Lighting: Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs or LEDs that use less energy. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will require that stores stock more energy-efficient bulbs starting next year, but you can start saving energy on your lighting today.
• Cook the Old Fashioned Way: Do you pull out your electric mixer whenever you bake a cake? Consider an old fashioned spoon. Not only will you save energy by mixing ingredients yourself, but you’ll burn a few calories and strengthen some muscles in the process!
• Consider Composting: PlanetGreen.com reports that the average American still throws out about 1200 pounds of waste annually which could be composted. If you composted that much waste, you would eliminate 3,000 pounds of your personal carbon footprint—about 7% of the statistically average American’s carbon footprint.

You’ll be making great strides toward reducing the carbon footprint of your home if you conserve energy in your kitchen. And don’t forget the other rooms of the house. Use energy-efficient light bulbs throughout your home (if you use night lights, consider using LED night lights with motion sensors). Install an Energy Star-rated clothes washer, and opt for a clothes line whenever possible. Another tip: reduce the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees, and wrap it in an insulating blanket designed for that purpose. You can also insulate the first 3 to 6 feet of hot and cold water pipes.

Working together, we can each do our part to reduce the carbon footprint of our homes and communities.