Be Eco-Logical Seven Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Be Eco-Logical Seven Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
By Bee Smith

After the Bali Climate Summit there was proof that governments can be slow tools for vital social change. Many scientists have proved climate change; the few sceptics have slunk off into the night. What few people can agree on is how we could or should tackle it.

One way is to simply exercise the Power of One. Individuals can make a huge contribution to a healthier environment by simple actions and strategies adopted as a daily routine or habit.

Here are seven actions that you can adapt and incorporate into your own daily life. It is important to do these feeling empowered. It does no one, or the planet, any good if you only do things out of guilt, shame or remorse! Those are not feel-good emotions. Environmental actions need to feel good and be a positive statement against despair. Think of these actions as small deposits in an environmental bank that your grandchildren and future generations will be able to draw upon. This is a great legacy to leave!

1. Do you Really need to make that Journey?
Get strategic about journeys. Carpools are great for routine runs. Where we do not always see an opportunity is with journeys that are a greater distance. Think of all the tasks you might need to do - a visit to the library, running a pet to the vets, shopping requirements, dentist appointments. Try to cluster these activities to one central area. Then be logistic when making appointments so that you need only one car run.

Use reciprocity. Ask friends or relatives if they need anything when you are going to take a journey to accomplish appointments or tasks. Going to the dump? Do they have any items that will fill the car? Think carefully. People will appreciate being asked and your saving them a journey. They, in turn, will think of you and return the compliment.

2. Plant a Tree - or a Forest Even!
Carbon offsetting is a way of paying your carbon debt to the environment. You can visit many sites that will help you figure out what level of offsetting you need to be doing. You need to take into account your daily commute to work if you drive instead of using public transportation, as well as business and personal flights. In Ireland, for instance, I can visit www.carbonneutral.ie and they can tell me how many trees I need to plant each time I fly home from Dublin to visit family in New York.

The simplest way to offset your carbon emissions is to plant trees. Since Ireland is the most deforested country in Ireland, I have a number of choices. I can purchase a tree through www.nativetrees.ie who will plant on my behalf in a forest project. In the past though I have purchased trees as presents for people who have the space and land for trees. It makes an unusual gift that keeps on giving.

3. Packaging - Bin It!
Spurn plastic carrier bags and get reusable ones. Ireland brought in a tax levy on plastic bags that has helped de-litter the countryside. Get a pretty cloth, hemp or raffia bag. If it is eye-catching you won't forget it.

When you are out shopping avoid getting fruit or vegetables in plastic containers. Look and see if the plastic can be recycled. If it doesn't say so on the label then opt for products in glass. Go easy on foil and canned products as these can be the hardest to find recycling receptacles at Recycle Centres.

As a rule of thumb, if you don't have a way of recycling an item them look for an alternative.

4. Eat Organic and Less Meat
I have to confess that my favourite meat is beef. But cattle and sheep do create a lot of methane and that does not help the ozone layer or the polar ice caps. So I try to have it as a treat and opt for sustainable fish and organic poultry instead.

Organic vegetables and meat are not subject to pesticides and herbicides which are tied to the petro-chemical industry. They not only save on depleting natural resources but they enhance the environment. Organic vegetables thrive on healthy soil; healthy soil fosters produce with more minerals and vitamins than conventional produce. UK scientist recently proved this. Organic food really is healthier, not just for the planet, but for the consumer.

5. Read the Food Label - Is it Local?
Food miles, the distances that food has to travel to get to our plates, has lengthened considerably in the past two decades. If you don't have a garden to grow some of your own organic vegetables, patronise local organic market gardens, vegetable box schemes, or farmers' markets.

Read the labels in the supermarkets for the country of origin. Buying produce grown in your own country is not only patriotic and supporting your home agri-economy, it supports the planet.

Last of all, maybe we need to fall out of love with exotic ingredients that come from across the world. Revive national cuisine and use local and seasonal produce. I am not talking seasonal in California when you live in Ireland. I am talking about eating what can be grown in your own country and in season - for your own country or region.

6. Switch to Renewable Sources of Energy
Many of us has switched to low energy light bulbs. Others consider slapping solar panels on their roof. That may not be an option if you rent your home or have not got the cash to invest in that home improvement at the moment. You might be able to do that in the long term but there is something everyone who pays an electricity bill can do.

You can switch to a provider who generates your electricity from a renewable resource. Here where I live, we have a number of wind turbines that generate electricity. We switched to the major provider in Ireland, Airtricity. Every country and region will have a company offering this alternative. Shop around!

7. Strut your stuff while you walk the talk
Cotton is the most heavily, chemically treated crop on earth. The next time you need to replace a pair of socks or knickers, consider buying organic cotton ones. There are also organic bamboo and silk/wool combinations if you prefer. Mail order is a real boon for shopping for organic clothing. Get online and find a provider that is relatively close to home. That means if you live in the USA finding someone in the USA using USA organic cotton if possible. For Europeans, that means sourcing organic cotton from Turkey or Egypt if you want to cut down air mileage.

Bee Smith is writer, organic gardener and workshop facilitator. She is blogging about how her household is reducing it's carbon footprint over 2008 on http://www.thelowimpact2noimpactyear.blogspot.com

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