6 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home

by Sri Regine Lherisson-Bey

Reducing your carbon footprint requires practicing the established routines known as the 4 Rs: reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle.

What is a carbon footprint? It is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated in connection to survival. The carbon footprint also includes the amount of waste (organic or non-organic) that living beings produce during the day-to-day activities that sustain life. Most of the stated activities are based on the use of energy, whether electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, or otherwise.

The emissions associated with our carbon footprint are known as methane gas, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and more. They all have one thing in common: their excessive production damages the environment and all that lives in it. The average human living in highly industrialized cities produces at least 20 tons of carbon per year. This amount must be reduced by a very minimum of 8 tons in order for the Earth to be sustainable in the next decades.

Some of the main culprits in generating a high carbon footprint are plastics, petroleum-based fuel, and overuse of energy. Even though plastic is one of the most useful items in every area of life, from the kitchen to the surgical room, it also comes with its share of detriments, hazards, and  disadvantages.

It takes approximately 1,000 years for plastic to biodegrade. Low biodegradation is one of the main factors causing environmental toxicity. It is a fact that environmental toxicity leads to the destruction of human and animal life. It also damages life supporting elements such as water, plants, and minerals.

In order to reduce one’s carbon footprint — also known as ‘going green’, it is essential to do the following:

  1. Use biodegradable products for grooming, dishwashing, cleaning, and laundry. The reason for this is because non-biodegradable products contain harmful chemicals and agents that harm the environment. For example, non-biodegradable products harboring excess phosphate have been found to cause the drying of essential bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and streams.

  1. Develop the habit of using fabric towels rather than paper towels. This action helps reduce the cutting down of trees used to manufacture paper. Deforestation is a major factor in reducing vital oxygen. It also involves a detrimental elevation of temperatures, besides multiple other issues.

     3. Find alternatives to plastic items. Most of them include:

  • Cutting boards. Replace plastic cutting boards with wood or bamboo boards. The cutting process involves the release of plastic particles that are a health hazard when ingested regularly.
  • Cooking utensils and food processing items such as dishes, platters, spatulas, serving spoons, etc. Because they are often in contact with high heat, they introduce into the body nano plastics, phthalates, Bisphenol-A that are known to be toxic to humans, animals, and all life forms. The toxicity nano plastics in food is also responsible for excessive weight gain.

Items made of glass, wood, bamboo, ceramic, clay, metal, etc are sensible alternatives to plastic.

  1. Conserve water and electricity:
    • Take shorter showers, if they usually last more than 10 minutes.
    • Train yourself to avoid letting the sink’s faucet unnecessarily run when brushing your teeth or shaving.
    • Minimize usage of the lights, AC, electrical appliances e.g. the dishwasher and clothes dryer.
    • Use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs.
    • Air dry clothes, dishes, hair, etc.

With all the solar energy that is available on most days and at no cost, it is unproductive not to use it in order to reduce one’s carbon footprint. Research and experiment with solar powered devices and appliances that may work to satisfaction.

5. Replace aerosol cans. They generate fluorocarbons that damage the ozone layer, de-regulating the biosphere’s temperature control mechanism, and causing other serious problems. Pump style sprayers are an intelligent alternative to aerosol canisters.

6. Eliminate your usage of plastic bottled water. This type of water is often laden with different types of contaminants: bacteria, gases, nano-plastics and more. Additionally, the plastic itself is harmful to the environment. The best alternatives to bottled water are:

a. Water filtration and purification.

b. Water detoxification and hydration drops.

c. If a water filter is no a possibility, for instance while traveling, sometimes a drop of lemon essential oil in a cup of water can purify water.

It is mind-boggling to see how numerous individuals are still carrying heavy packs of water bottles while they could secure a water filter.

A state-of-the art water filter not only produces higher quality drinking water, but also costs a lot less than bottled water over time. For more info, http://www.multipure.com 1-800-622-9206 – Distributorship #426453

Too many earthlings usually shun or discard words of wisdom, except those endowed with the attribute of higher understanding. It is an undeniable fact that no one can avoid reducing their carbon footprint without dire global consequences.

Addressing the carbon footprint issue is a necessity when it comes to healing the planet and all of its life forms. It is the only way to ensure that future generations may have planet Earth as a habitat.

Environmental protection has more to do with an evolution of consciousness than anything else. It is through education and an elevation of consciousness that most humans can finally find the motivation to reduce their carbon footprint to a measurable level.

Sri Regine Lherisson-Bey is a Mind-Body Therapist, Wellness Coach, and Author voted Wellness Expert by peer consensus in 2005. Therapist Lherisson-Bey is the author of the Kindle bestseller HOW TO DETOXIFY YOUR LIFE NATURALLY as well as the weight management program GET SLIM EFFORTLESSLY that has evolved from CD to an instructional picture book, eBook, and coaching program.  

For more information, check: https://wholenessconnection.org/welcome

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