Minimising your carbon footprint, or the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds generated from the consumption of fossil fuels, has grown to become a major concern in recent years, what with the dangers of climate change looming over our planet.

More people are now conscious of their impact on the environment, both on a personal and societal level. It’s no surprise then why there’s a growing movement to find efficient and eco-friendly lifestyle changes that minimise humanity’s impact on Mother Nature.

And it’s not all that difficult too. When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, even the smallest changes can have an exponential effect, especially when combined with the efforts of others.

Below are a few examples of what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, starting today.

1. Unplug Your Gadgets and Electronic Devices When Not in Use

Many of us leave our gadgets plugged in at home all the time, even if they’re not in use. But even if your electronic devices are switched off, as long as they’re plugged into a power source, they’ll still use a little electricity.

While a single TV may not seem like a big deal, if you have more than 20 devices plugged in and on standby, you can bet the cumulative electricity consumption of these electronic devices will show on your next bill.

By making a conscious effort to unplug devices on standby, you can save at least a hundred dollars each year on your electricity bill. That’s not much, but when you and several thousand people do the same, you can cut carbon emissions by a significant percent.

• Carpool and Take Public Transport

Share a ride, save the world.

Cars and other petrol-powered vehicles are easily one of the biggest generators of carbon emissions. The simple solution? Have fewer cars on the streets. But actual implementation is a different story.

What you can do is start small. Take public transport instead of driving your own car, and try to come up with a carpool arrangement to share a ride with some friends regularly. You can even take things up a notch biking or working to work whenever possible. You’ll even get some exercise to boot.

• Switch to Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

How many people does it take to change a light bulb and save the environment?

If everyone were to change their light bulbs from old incandescent bulbs to newer, more energy efficient bulbs like light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), you can expect to see a dramatic drop in electricity consumption.

For one, the LED equivalent of a 100-watt incandescent light bulb uses a mere fraction of the energy to generate the same brightness of light—sometimes even more. By using less electricity, power stations won’t need to burn more fossil fuels to keep your home illuminated.

You can even kick things up a notch by combining your home LED lighting setup with solar panels to reduce your dependence on ‘grid electricity.’

• Filter Your Own Water

If you’re constantly buying bottled water, you’re not only increasing your carbon footprint, you’re also producing more plastic waste.

Fortunately, tap water is safe to drink in many developed countries. In Australia, water is in major cities has been filtered and made potable. According to Sydney Water, “We filter 100% of your water to ensure it’s safe to drink straight from the tap.”

“We clean our filters every two days,” the company adds on their site.

If you’re uncertain of the quality of your tap water, you can still save money and cut your plastic waste by installing your own water filtration system. This solution might have a high initial investment, but it’s one that ultimately pays for itself in the long run.

An even simpler, not to mention cheaper, solution is to buy multiple water filter pitchers to maintain a steady supply of safe drinking water.

• Use Reusable Bags

When was the last time you thought about plastic bags?

Most people never think about plastic, not knowing that each time they throw away a single-use plastic bag that came with their purchase at the supermarket, they’re contributing to the worsening landfill and ocean pollution crisis. In fact, the huge majority of garbage floating around in the ocean is composed of plastic, specifically, plastic bags and packaging

Furthermore, the production of plastic bags also requires the emission of carbon—after all, plastic is a by-product of crude oil.

The simplest and cheapest solution is to use reusable shopping bags. Made from sustainable materials like cotton, canvas, or jute, reusable bags can last well over a lifetime and can be reused over and over again. Use them when buying food, household supplies, going to the beach, going to the gym, as a carry bag in school—the possibilities are endless.

• Laptops over Desktops

There’s no doubt computers are a necessity in today’s world.

We need them for work, school, for business transactions, and of course, leisure. But unless your computer requires a powerful CPU and GPU, you should consider using a laptop instead of a desktop PC.

According to Energy Star, a notebook/laptop can be up to 80% more energy-efficient compared to a desktop. The reason is simple: most laptop computers have low-power components to ensure long battery life. They’re often equipped with energy-efficient screens, hard drives, and CPUs.

• Open or Close Your Windows and Curtains

If it’s hot, open a window instead of having the air-conditioner on full blast. If it’s too cold, close one. Don’t crank up your heater.

Simple adjustments like these can be enough to moderate your home’s indoor temperature. It also helps to use your HVAC system only when you need to. If you live in an area where it can get really hot or cold, insulating your home is one of the best ways to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. 

Curtains are also a big help in moderating your home’s indoor temperature. During summer, keep them closed at daytime to keep sunlight out. This ensures your airconditioner doesn’t have to work twice as hard to keep your home cool. At night, pull back your curtains to let the breeze in.

During winter, pull your curtains back to let as much natural sunlight at daytime—this way, you won’t have to switch on your lights. At night, pull them together to keep warm air inside.

• Choose Local and In Season Food

The amount of carbon produced to transport food and other edible goods around the world is something most people don’t think about. The ships, trucks, and even planes required to transport food from producers to warehouses around the world can lead to tonnes of carbon emissions each year. And that’s all so people can have watermelons and other out of season fruits and vegetables in the middle of winter.

The more sustainable option? Support local growers instead, even if that means waiting for your favourite produce to be in season. This not only reduces your personal carbon footprint, you’re also putting money in local farmers’ pockets, giving them a reason to invest in fresh, locally grown, and organic food.

• Plant a Tree or Two

Give back to the environment and cut your carbon footprint by planting a tree. Trees don’t just provide shade, they produce oxygen through a process that absorbs and converts carbon dioxide into the air we breathe. And the older a tree becomes, the more carbon dioxide it absorbs to generate oxygen. In fact, a single 10-year old tree can release enough oxygen to support two people.

These are just a few simple ways to help you cut down your carbon footprint. Remember, it’s never too late or too early to start caring about the environment. We only have one planet we call home and if we intend to make it livable for the next generation, we need to act now.