Climate change is one of the most talked about concerns that people have in today’s world. The amount of damage carbon pollution has on the planet is devastating. From food insecurity caused by changes in weather pattern to severe storms, there is little question about whether humans are negatively affecting the ecosystem. 

 

With such disastrous effects, how just one person like you could help seems impossible. Afterall, massive hurricanes, rampant forest fires, and melting icebergs are much larger than just one individual. 

However, there are actions you can take in your daily life that can help heal the planet and make it healthier for generations to come. The following are four sure-fire ways to reduce your carbon footprint starting today. 

The only time you probably ever think about your lightbulbs is when they flicker or are too bright. You replace them with the same brand you got before. Your eyes adjust to the brightness, and that’s the last time you think about them before you have to replace them again.  

When you pay more attention to your light bulbs, though, specifically the kind that you’re buying, you’re actively taking steps to making the world a better place. You can switch all of the lights in your house to compact fluorescent bulbs to save the most energy and reduce your carbon foot-print. 

With the creation of car services, like Lyft and Uber, and the slow growth and development of public transit in the majority of cities, there’s no real reason to damage the Earth with emissions from personal cars, especially when you live in a city. 

Using these services isn’t a perfect solution, but if more people started turning to them and strategizing how to incorporate them into their daily commute, it can lessen our impact. Unfortunately, the “smart cities” of tomorrow that use only electric cars are further away than originally thought. 

You can’t make everyone choose to carpool rather than drive their own car, but you can choose to consistently do so, or at least strategize to change to at least a couple days of carpooling a week even. 

Whenever you can, eat local and in-season produce. When vegetables and fruits can be grown in your backyard or at a local farm, the environmental cost is greatly reduced. 

The main reason it reduces negative environmental impact is due to the fact that the produce isn’t shipped from elsewhere. When food is transported by truck, train, ship or plane, the quality of the food is not as great and could even contain fewer nutrients. 

Small, local farms are more likely to maintain their borders with local wildlife and practice soil-care that is beneficial to the environment. Plus, buying from local farms supports your local economy and promotes food security.

Avoid processed foods to reduce your carbon footprint as well. The plants that do the processing produce major pollutants. Choose whole foods which are better for your health and the health of the planet. 

When you switch to solar energy, you’re benefiting the environment as well as your wallet. You’ll have an energy source that creates clean, renewable power from the sun that will pay themselves off in the years that you own your home. They’re also a great alternative to fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, such as natural gases and coal, are expensive to extract, and the process is harmful to the environment. Furthermore, they won’t last forever. On the other hand, solar energy is readily abundant and free. By installing solar panels, like the ones offered at http://solareo.it/, you reduce your carbon footprint. 

Our world is a special place. It’s up to everyone to work together to stop climate change. You can start helping the environment by making a few of these simple changes. They’re fairly easy to implement and will immediately start reducing your carbon footprint. Your choices and actions are ultimately what make a difference. If you make some changes, those around you will follow suit. The responsibility of addressing climate change belongs to everyone; make a change today.