Carbon Footprint
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- Category: Science
- Date Submitted: 04/10/2013 03:34 PM
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Running Head: CARBON FOOTPRINT
Carbon Footprint
March 31, 2013
Whether we realize it or not, we all personally affect the environments that we live in. Things we do that can affect our environment range from the amount of energy we use in our homes, to what we drive and even what we eat. Everyone must be mindful of this “carbon footprint” that we are all leaving on our Earth. Working to reduce our personal footprints can greatly affect the world around us.
A carbon footprint is “the amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the activities of an individual, company or country” (Dictionary.com). Typically a carbon footprint is measured over a specific amount of time such as one year. There are so many things that we all do on a daily basis that have an effect on our environment. For example, the energy we use in our homes. How many lights and electronic devices we have plugged in and running at once, our home thermostat and our laundry habits create our carbon footprints.
Outside our homes, the way we travel is related to our carbon footprints also. The number can vary for you depending on how you use transportation. For example, do you drive a car that consumes a large amount of fuel or do you use public transportation? Shopping is also a factor. What we buy and who we buy it from are also factors used in your carbon footprint. For example, do you drive to a grocery store daily for produce, or do you buy local, or even grow your own?
There are many easy fixes we can incorporate into our lives to help reduce our personal carbon footprints and in turn help the environment. First, let’s look at our homes. Some things we can easily to include turning off lights when we don’t need them, turn off the computer or DVD player when these things are not in use. Watch the thermostat in your home also. Try reducing the temperature by as little as one degree and you can see a big difference in...
Carbon Footprint
March 31, 2013
Whether we realize it or not, we all personally affect the environments that we live in. Things we do that can affect our environment range from the amount of energy we use in our homes, to what we drive and even what we eat. Everyone must be mindful of this “carbon footprint” that we are all leaving on our Earth. Working to reduce our personal footprints can greatly affect the world around us.
A carbon footprint is “the amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the activities of an individual, company or country” (Dictionary.com). Typically a carbon footprint is measured over a specific amount of time such as one year. There are so many things that we all do on a daily basis that have an effect on our environment. For example, the energy we use in our homes. How many lights and electronic devices we have plugged in and running at once, our home thermostat and our laundry habits create our carbon footprints.
Outside our homes, the way we travel is related to our carbon footprints also. The number can vary for you depending on how you use transportation. For example, do you drive a car that consumes a large amount of fuel or do you use public transportation? Shopping is also a factor. What we buy and who we buy it from are also factors used in your carbon footprint. For example, do you drive to a grocery store daily for produce, or do you buy local, or even grow your own?
There are many easy fixes we can incorporate into our lives to help reduce our personal carbon footprints and in turn help the environment. First, let’s look at our homes. Some things we can easily to include turning off lights when we don’t need them, turn off the computer or DVD player when these things are not in use. Watch the thermostat in your home also. Try reducing the temperature by as little as one degree and you can see a big difference in...