How You Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

There are many reasons why you should go green. The first major one is the fact that you will help save the environment. The second is that you will save money by doing it. And the third is to teach your children and other people around you about the change. Small steps lead to a very big impact. There are so many small things you can do today to change your carbon footprint. If you would like to calculate your footprint please click here. It will really help you determine how much you need to change.

I'm sure you've heard about the new light bulbs or seen them in the store. A CFL is a great way to help the environment. First of all they last longer. The second great reason is that they will actually save you around $38 dollars over the life of the bulb. That's a lot if you think that you have at least 10 in your home. Third reason to switch, they will actually produce the same amount of light as a regular bulb. There is no reason not to switch. For a pack of 12 GE CFLs you will only have to spend around $20 if they are purchased at Wal-Mart. Check it out here.

Recycling is another great way to help green your life. You can recycle just about anything these days. Glass bottles, newspapers, aluminum cans, grocery bags, and mixed paper are just a few examples of what can be recycled. By recycling you are reducing the waste that is getting stacked up in the landfills. This causes more carbon output. If you recycle you will help everyone's lives. If you want a more generalized overview of what can be recycled, please click here.

Next you know how expensive cleaners can be and not to mention how harmful they are to the environment. Why not switch to non-toxic homemade cleaners. I have done research and written about how to make these cleaners and use them. They do work just as good as the stuff you buy. Check out my article here.

Fixing leaks will not only save on your water bill, it will also help save water. You will be saving as much as eleven thousand gallons of water each year by fixing one leak according to Katrina Furton of the Resource Action Programs.

Another great way to conserve water is to turn off the water when you brush your teeth. A lot of water goes right down the sink that is never even used. Instead keep a cup by the sink that you can use. Just fill it up when you first start brushing and use it to rinse.

Cook or prepare one vegetarian dinner a week. It's not hard to find tasty recipes online. Did you know that "Worldwide livestock farming creates 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions" according to Trystan Bass. A very tasty vegetarian recipe can be found here.

Run all of your errands one day of the week. Do not make multiple trips. You will reduce your automotive emissions, but also save time and money.

You can also carpool to work. You will not only reduce emissions, but you would save time if more people did this. Their wouldn't be so many cars on the road with one person it them. This would be the solution for rush hour traffic and gridlock! You will also save money because everyone can pitch in for gas.

Grow your own food. It is very inexpensive to start a garden, but you will also have fun and enjoy the outdoors while you are doing it. Growing your own food will reduce your carbon footprint because you will be using locally grown foods.

Plant a tree on the south or west side of your house. It will provide shade, but also will absorb carbon dioxide. You will save money on your cooling bill, but also help save the environment.

Each of these en items is very easy to do. You will not only reduce your carbon footprint, but you will actually save money in the process. It is in our hands to make this planet a healthy place to live. We have destroyed it for too long. If everyone starts doing their part it will be a great place for our future great grandchildren to live.

Trystan Bass, "Go Meatless Just One Day a Week". Yahoo! Green

Katrina Furton, "Fix a Leak Week". Green Living