My boyfriend had a strong visceral reaction to this article and felt inspired to share all the ways that we try to reduce our carbon footprint, negative environmental impact, etc. in our home. But instead of focusing on raising awareness (as it's becoming impossible to ignore on its own), we decided to put together this list of actionable ways to "do your part." While this list isn't exhaustive by any means, we all need to try to do more and this post is meant to share some of our own efforts that we can attest to.
The Issue
Governments and individuals need to wake up to what’s happening. The effects of climate change are accelerating… and will likely hit harder and faster than many realize. Per person, United States citizens remain the largest contributors to CO2 emissions
Actionable Steps
Beyond voting and advocating for additional government action, there are a significant number of actions and personal investments people can take today to reduce their carbon footprint.
Here are a few we have personal experience with:
Eat less meat, particular beef, and include more meat alternatives in your diet
Switch from coffee to loose leaf tea
Switch to an at-home LED lighting system (we like this one)
Increase home heating/cooling efficiency (this is the system we use and like)
Bonus: the Ecobee+ service can help reduce electrical grid overload, which often relies more heavily on fossil fuels to meet increased energy demands
If financially feasible (and if not, perhaps make it a goal to get there), switch to an electric vehicle
Bonus: EV emissions can be further reduced with additional investments in at-home solar power generation to re-charge your vehicle (in addition to the myriad other benefits to solar power)
Buy a food composter to reduce CO2 emissions related to food waste/decay (so far, we're loving this one)
Purchase Carbon Offsets: my boyfriend personally strongly endorses the efficacy of klima and Planet Wild
Important note: the voluntary carbon offset market has its flaws, and consumers should carefully research projects before contributing in this manner
When possible, opt to drive instead of flying for flights less than 2 hours
Additional information on CO2 emissions from different modes of transportation
Order in bulk for recurring/repeat purchases (reduces C02 emissions from shipping)
Other sustainable changes:
Invest in a bidet toilet system (reduces toilet paper usage)
Swap your shower head: install low water usage shower systems (we couldn't find the exact model we have and love, but this one is very similar and from the same brand)
Avoid single use plastic containers, buy those that come in aluminum
Important note: The benefits of aluminum usage relies on effective recycling practices, so do your research on your local waste management company handles things and consider making occasional trips to bring them to proper recycling facilities
Also: if you commit to aluminum, you may also appreciate/benefit from an at-home can crusher (like this one that we really like... probably not the most romantic Valentine's Day gift my boyfriend has ever received, but he loved it!)
Sustainably packaged oral and body care reduce plastic usage
Switching to sustainable men's shaving options reduces plastic usage and waste. Consider the following alternatives:
Consider transitioning to bamboo toilet paper (purchased in bulk)
Important note: the sustainable value of bamboo versus traditional toilet paper usage is not fully settled
Reusable cloth "paper" towels removes the need to buy or use paper towels again (we use these religiously)
Switch to compostable trash bags made from plant starches to reduce plastic usage
Utilize alternatives to standard laundry detergent to reduce plastic waste, like these Laundry Detergent Eco Sheets
We've switched to many "greener" cleaning products try to minimize our plastic waste, including our handsoap and dispensers (our go-to for these products is typically Blue Land)
Start carrying around and/or keeping in your car or at work a utensil/straw travel kit to reduce single use plastic
Note: Bamboo straws are another good option to include in your backpack or car utensil kits to avoid single-use plastic waste
Call to Action
My boyfriend summed everything up so eloquently, he deserved to be quoted verbatim:
"None of the above options are a panacea. We are all human and cut corners from time to time on making personal changes. Perfection is not the standard for climate action… progress is. We all need to confront the reality that you’re either part of the solution or part of the problem when it comes to this global issue. "
For those who are curious about how Dazy Duker’s prioritizes sustainability, check out my post about that here
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