What Size Carbon Footprint Do You Wear?
by Lawson Schaller
There is a lot of talk these days about the carbon foot print. What size do you wear? Carbon footprint definitions vary, but is generally accepted as a measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide (and other carbons) that one's activity produces. This correlates to harmful green house gas emissions, reduction of natural resources, global warming etc. etc. There are carbon footprint calculators online. How do we minimize or reduce our carbon footprint? Consume less for starters.
Yes, that might mean not getting in the car to quickly (haste makes waste) run to the store for that critical tomato in the salad, or ice cream for dessert, or that beverage we must have right now. Doing with less can go a long way (less is more). Using less water helps. It is estimated that approximately 20% of the states power is used to pump water. Buying local produce helps. Do we really need to upgrade to the latest and greatest technology so frequently? Anticipating and planning for our true needs (versus wants) can allow for great efficiencies.
Using public transportation can reduce one's carbon footprint. SLO County cannot offer the same public transportation that many large metro areas do. However, our regional system is adequate; especially for those in the work force or students that can time their day with the express routes. Try it, even if only one day a week. I have and found that it does offer a viable alternative. You can bike and bus. The bus has a rack to mount your bike. My hat is off to those hearty souls that I see biking between and within our towns.
Once you have reduced (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!) your personal consumption, and thus your carbon footprint, there are incentives from our legislators to do even more. AB 811 allows local/regional governments to create assessment districts to help finance renewable energy improvements. This could apply to residential, commercial, or industrial applications. Not enough time or space to go into the details, but, Berkeley and Palm Desert have made progress in this area.
Tax credits are available for energy efficient residential upgrades – qualifying windows, doors, insulations, heating/cooling equipment, water heaters, and wood stoves. Again, time and space prohibit going into details but check it out- some are included in the Federal Stimulus package. You and/or your house can consume less.
Having said that, I feel compelled to consider the whole life cycle costs or carbon footprint that is created when one changes out a moderately efficient window for a super-efficient window. If you do need to change out material, think about re-using it yourself in a green house, or donating it to Habitat for Humanity. There is a lot of embodied energy in those items we are replacing. By re-using them in the appropriate way, we reduce the need to produce another similar item, and save all the associated monetary and natural costs (mining, transportation, manufacturing, etc.) and carbon foot printing.
One wise individual once told me that being happy with what you have is one of the keys to being happy.
Oh, gotta run, or uh, jump on my bike to get to the local farmers market for my weekly supply of Central Coast Grown Goodies.
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