A carbon footprint is one way to measure your impact on the climate. It is an indicator of the amount of greenhouse gases your activities produce. Your energy use has a huge impact on the climate, by the need to burn fossil fuels to produce energy which emit gasses that destroy the environment.
Being aware of the impacts created by the choices you make every day, you can better choose how big your carbon footprint will be. What are some things you can do to shrink your carbon foot print?
Chose one action from the list of 151 below
1. Ditch bottled water.
Bottled water has a huge carbon footprint — it's bottled at one location in small plastic bottles and shipped all over. Try buying a reusable water bottle or canteen for your water. Also, a lot of restaurants have made the move from offering fancy bottled water, usually imported from an exotic source, to using in-house filtration systems that make tap water a good choice. Many plastic water bottles are recycled, but most are not, making the footprint even bigger.
2. BIKE TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
Stuck for a bike route to work? Svbcbikes.org has maps, or you can call or email the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition for route-mapping assistance. They also have a network of cyclists they can refer you to for personal consultations, and safety programs to help you ride safer. Corinne Winter, SVBC executive director, says 44 percent of our car trips are two miles or less and for shorter trips, even with babies on board, a bike is not slower than a car. "It's not about making every trip a bike trip," she says. It's about integrating alternative modes of transportation into your life where it's appropriate. If you have to take the kids or the car, fine. If everyone can switch to bikes or feet for just a few of their weekly trips that will make a huge difference in our collective carbon footprint.
3. MAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WORK FOR YOU.
Experiment with VTA, BART and Caltrain. There's a trip planner at 511.org. Bart and Caltrain's websites have free PDA schedule downloads. If more people use public transportation, the increase in demand will bring even better service.
4. DISCOVER 'TRIP LINKING.'
Plan car trips better to avoid spontaneous single trips and plan errand routes to minimize mileage. Do your weekly shopping in a multistop single trip. Also, try eating at restaurants that serve locally produced or seasonal foods. Instead of driving to each shopping destination, park your car between them and walk.
5. GO SOLAR.
There are new California initiatives to help build a self-sustaining photovoltaic, solar electricity market. The California Solar Initiative provides incentives to convert for existing residential homes and existing and new commercial, industrial and agricultural properties.
6. GREEN YOUR BUSINESS.
Don't have the bandwidth or bread to develop "go greener" programs? Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Sustainable Silicon Valley and PG&E offer free services that help businesses get energy efficient and plug into available subsidies and legislative initiatives. Develop state-of-the-art commuter and telecommuter programs that'll get your employees to work without their cars (again, 511.org is a good place to start).
7. HUG A TREE.
It's OK. It's cool now. Better yet, plant a tree.
8. USE LESS PAPER.
The third largest industrial emitter of global warming pollution is the pulp and paper industry. Use paper made from post-consumer waste, and recycle your newspapers.
9. RID YOURSELF OF JUNK MAIL.
41pounds.org claims that the average adult gets exactly that much junk mail in a year. You can pay them $41 to nuke it from your life or try these more labor-intensive solutions: Call whoever is mailing you stuff and tell them to stop and to not sell, exchange or give your info to other commercial interests. Write this on their envelopes and mail it to them. When you buy online or through a catalog, or buy a magazine subscription, tell these vendors the same. Opt out of credit card solicitations by calling 1.888.5.Opt-Out. Many junk mailers like ADVO and Val-Pak Coupons have online opt-outs.
10. CUT DOWN ON PRINTER USAGE.
Also, don't toss old faxes, reports and letters—put them in your printer face up and print on their blank side.
11. KEEP A CLOSED-DOOR POLICY.
Don't set your thermostat too high when it's cold or too low when it's warm.
12. NO PLASTIC BAGS FOR TRASH BAGS.
Don't use specially bought plastic bags—line your kitchen garbage container with newspaper.
13. LEARN HOW MUCH ENERGY YOU'RE USING IN YOUR HOME
PG&E's website has a home energy calculator and other resources to help you figure out how to conserve. Ditto for your water providers.
14. USE THE SUN TO DRY YOUR CLOTHES.
Energy-guzzling gas and electric clothes dryers replaced Grandma's clotheslines, drying umbrellas and wooden drying racks that can be used inside or out. Sun-dried clothes smell good, the sun bleaches whites whiter and you'll seriously reduce your utility bill.
15. OUTSMART YOUR APPLIANCES.
If you must use then, run your dishwasher and your laundry machines only when you have full load and at late at night.
16. TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS.
Take the stop watch Challage and limit your showers to 5-10 minute shower And use less heated water.
17. BUY ENERGY STAR LABEL APPLIANCES.
It's the mark of approval from the federal government, and for once, that's not a bad thing. See the details at energystar.gov.
18. SEAL OFF WINDOWS AND DOORS.
Using weather-stripping to seal drafts around windows and doors will cut your heating and cooling expenses and reduce the burning of fossil fuels. It also protects against zombies.
19. GO SECONDHAND.
Before purchasing something, ask yourself if you already have it or something similar that can be reused. Can you buy it secondhand at a thrift store or on Craigslist?
20. GET STUFF FREE.
If there's something you need only once or twice, don't buy it. Borrow and return it. Go to www.freecycle .org and join a local group to exchange or borrow stuff. It's amazing what you can get for free by browsing the listings or posting a want ad.
21. REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR COMPUTER USAGE.
Turn off computers and pull chargers out of the wall when you're not using them. Maximize your CPU settings, like the sleep mode, to reduce energy use. Set your printer to fast quality so you use less toner. Find responsible sellers and their takebacks at www.computertakeback.com. Read the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition's buying guide at www.svtc.org.
22. UNPLUG IT.
Unplug your charger from the wall outlet when your Phone, Ipad or Mp3 device is fully charged. It seems that when leaving the charger plugged in (not connected to the phone), it will still consume some energy, consequently energy is being wasted. As we all know, when it comes to the environment every bit helps!
23. RECYCLE RESPONSIBLY.
Be sure your e-waste recycler isn't merely collecting and selling it to brokers who'll ship it to a developing nation or a prison where it will be dismantled for salvageable parts and dumped. Go to www.ban.org and choose recyclers like Green Citizen who've taken the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship.
24. Human beans:
Andy Newbom of Barefoot Coffee Roasters points out that buying fair trade coffee reduces the carbon footprint in developing nations.
25. USE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
There's no need to buy so many books, especially if they're published overseas and sold at a big box store. Any library in Santa Clara County usually either has the book you want or can get it for you from a neighboring library.
26. READ LABELS AND BUY LOCAL.
Organic from Canada or overseas isn't as easy on the environment as locally produced products. Buying anything imported across an ocean means a container ship transported it. "Just one container ship traveling one mile produces NOx emissions equaling 25,000 cars traveling the same distance," says Anthony Fournier of the Santa Barbara County Pollution Control District. Foreign manufacturers often use carbon-intensive industrial and environmental practices that are illegal here. Many imports are made in sweatshops where people labor in dangerous work environments and aren't paid fairly. Reducing the demand for imports not only reduces our carbon footprint but also sends a message to big business that we want better for everyone.
27. REDUCE PACKAGING AND PLASTICS
. Let's stop using billions of pounds of plastic which uses millions of barrels of oil to produce. Wherever plastic is manufactured the environment gets trashed and the workers and nearby residents get sick from harmful chemical emissions. Plastic bags and water bottles release endocrine disrupters like Phallates and bisphenol A, especially when they're reused or heated. So, like, don't buy heavily packaged stuff, dude!
28. BYOCSB.
Bring your own cloth shopping bags. Don't use clear plastic ones for produce. You can buy cloth produce bags online, or throw that head of cauliflower directly into your shopping cart. Why does it need its own plastic bag when you're going to wash and cook it?
29. BYOCC.
Bring your own coffee canister. If you buy beans or ground coffee from a coffee shop, bulk sellers will usually let you bring your own containers. Just have them weighed and tagged before you head for the cinnamon.
30. SAY NO TO INDIVIDUAL WRAPS.
Choose products without individually plastic-wrapped multiple servings.
31. REALLY SAY NO TO STYROFOAM.
If it's sold in Styrofoam, just don't buy it. Ask Jamba Juice and Willow Glen Frozen Yogurt to switch to paper cups and containers. Styrofoam isn't recycled; it never biodegrades; it's just no good.
32. SHOP NAKED.
When you shop, don't take bags—bring your own tote bag. If you're muy macho, get a big messenger bag for errands and shopping. Unless you're buying a lot, most reasonably sized nongrocery items will fit in them. New clothes can be rolled up and carted to the car. Lots of small items can be wrapped up in a bandana, then placed in your bag.
33. EVEN POTLUCKS COUNT
Alex and Maria and their Eastside neighbors stopped using disposables and bring their own cloth napkins, plates and utensils to their block's weekly potluck.
34. BECOME A LOCAVORE.
When you choose out of season organic food that's from journeyed overseas instead of locally grown anything, the pollution caused by the container ships outweighs any benefit you're going to get. Locavores say eating what's available locally is healthier anyway. Cooking dinner? Make a few meals at the same time and stash them in the fridge.
35. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMER.
Visit www.localharvest .org and find the farmers market nearest you. Even better, find a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) and get your produce from a sustainable local family farm.CSA's have become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer.
36. MAKE YOUR OWN SALAD.
Live Earth Farm's Hector Rodrigiz says make your own organic salad mixes from scratch and use less bagged and precut produce because they use a lot of resources to produce.
37. DON'T BE A SLAVE TO CONVENIENCE.
We'll all be paying later for using convenience foods like packaged mixed salads, because they use a lot of resources to produce. Instead Cook a meal.
38. AVOID THE FAST IN FOOD.
Stop eating at Fast Food Resturants. The Methane-producing factory farming and long-distance shipping are the heart of its business model and they're clear-cutting rain forests to graze their cows. Eat at home
39. EAT LESS MEAT.
Especially beef. The Worldwatch Institute says growing numbers of intensively farmed livestock are responsible for 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and account for 37 percent of emissions of methane, which has more than 20 times the global warming potential of CO2, and 65 percent of emissions of nitrous oxide, another powerful greenhouse gas, coming from manure.
40. AVOID TCHOTCHKES
. Just say no to freebies and imported giveaways that you don't really want, need or plan on having around for awhile. Tell your employer and vendors you don't want cheap plastic imported tchotchkes. If you stop taking them, they'll hopefully stop making them.
41. GO NATIVE
Use native plant species to landscape around your home or business. The plants will probably grow better in a familiar environment, and the plants may also get shipped a shorter distance to get to your local nursery. Also, use organic soil when planting — it's made using more eco-friendly methods, and uses less resources. Alrie Middlebrook designs and builds native plant gardens locally. She says take out your water-guzzling lawn and replace it with native plants. They use less water and nourish birds and bees. And remember, green plants are a good way to offset carbon. So plant something, anything — it helps.
42. DISPOSABLE CUPS?
Really? Do the math: Buying coffee every day in a disposable cup generates at least 20 pounds of paper a year plus several hundred megaindustrially produced plastic covers. Styrofoam cups are worse. Dr. Theo Colborn, in "Our Stolen Future," says researchers have found traces of polystyrene in 100 percent of human tissue tested, because it migrates from the cup into hot food and beverages. Yuk! Bring your own coffee cup!
43. IT'S BETTER TO BREATHE EASY THAN TO LOOK GOOD.
Make fashion your slave. Don't buy something trendy that will sit in your closet. Buy clothes that mix and match with your other clothes. You'll have more choices with fewer clothes instead of having a cool pair of retro biker boots or pink Manolos that only go with one outfit. Wear clothes longer, shop secondhand, trade clothes with your friends. Buy shoes that can be repaired. After you replace heels two or three times, then toss them.
44. KEEP YOUR CAR.
With gas prices seemingly always on the rise, it's tempting to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle. But if your older-model car is in good condition, you're better off keeping it in good running condition. Even hybrids create a big footprint when they're built, so consider driving that old clunker for a little while longer. Also, try more eco-friendly modes of transport when possible, like buses, trains, a bicycle, telecommuting or even walking.
45. AVOID DRY CLEANING THAT ARE NOT ECO.
Although many of the nasty chemicals they use have been banned, the ones they do use aren't good for you, the dry cleaner or the environment. When you need to dry clean,go to a a green ECO sertified Dry Clearner and bring your own hangers and leave theirs and the plastic when you pick your stuff. If you're fussy, bring a garment bag.
46. BE A GREEN PARENT.
San Jose's Angelica and Sergio Martinez went deep green after their son Marciello was born. "We started Los Antepasados to share the healthy and sustainable ways of our grand ancestors." They recommend breastfeeding, using cloth diapers like Fuzzi Bunz and making simple baby food from scratch, like smashed bananas or sweet potatoes. Give and get hand-me-downs to clothe young 'uns.
47. Chuck your microwave.
Admittedly, this is a bit drastic. But this speaks more to those convenient frozen dinners some rely on because of their busy schedules. A freezer full of meals is actually more energy-intensive — it costs more to freeze foods, ship them cold, display them frozen in the grocery store and keep them frozen in our homes. So while the modern convenience of the microwave and the Lean Cuisine is enticing, it's much more resource-intensive. Cook fresh food when you can, and you'll also find yourself eating out less often.
48. AVOID CONCRETE.
Ask you commnuity, city, or state for more parks and bike Path.
49. MAKE YOUR HABITAT GOOD FOR HUMANITY.
Use locally produced materials and buy certified sustainably harvested wood and wood composites for decking and garden projects. Plant shade trees. "For me, the lawn is a symbol of the oil culture because it's a symbol of waste, cheap energy and extravagance," says Middlebrook. If you wait for your neighbor to do something, your friends, your church or your government, it's going to be too late. You have to do something now."
50. PUSH FOR CHANGE, BIG AND SMALL.
Just one idea to get you started: San Jose residents and businesses can ask the city to install bike racks on public rights of ways like city sidewalks. Contact your Elected Prepresenative and ask them to make a change.
Phew Half Way There!!! Time To Take a Break, checkout this video.
More actions from the list of 151
1. Replace the light bulbs in your home with long life CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs. These last up to 15 times longer than regular bulbs and use up 80% less electricity than regular bulbs. You could simply replace your regular bulbs as and when they burn out.
2. Use rechargeable batteries to reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1,000 pounds over the life of the batteries.
3. Buy locally produced goods and services. Goods and services that are produced locally eliminate thousands of pounds of carbon by reducing fossil fuel transportation demands.
4.Recycle your old material and join the DYI community
5. When you next buy a vehicle, go for an electric, hybrid or fuel-efficient car instead of a gas guzzler.
6. Make compost.
7. Filter your own water, rather than buying bottled water. Most tap water is safe to drink, and some bottled waters are flown in from the far corners of the earth and the production process of the bottles adds to greenhouse gas release.
8. Clean the lint filter in your dryer. This will reduce your energy used, saving the environment and your electric bill.
9. When you mow the lawn, leave the clippings spread across the grass. It decomposes and fertilizes the ground.
10. Use an electic mower they are more efficient than mowers that run on fuel.
11. Bring your own mug to your favourite coffee shop. This will reduce the usage of the paper cups, the energy used to produce them and save trees. Paper cups are usually not 100% recycled.
 12. Whenver possible hang your washing out on the clothesline rather than using the dryer.
13. Only use your dryer, dishwasher and washing machine when you have a full load, dont do half loads. This reduces the number of loads and the electricity used.
14. Plant a tree this is one of the best things you can do. Trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. They also shade your house in the summer, and will lower your air conditioning.
15. Buy in season produce. Out of season requires more energy to refrigerate, and more fuel to ship in from places where it is in season.
16. Try to use something other than black plastic garbage bags. The black bags can't be recycled because of the black pigment they put in them to make them black. So if possible stick with white or even better dont use any at all.
17. When replacing household appliances choose energy efficient appliances. You can check their Energy Star ratings for a quick reference. This may cost more upfront but will save you in the long run.
18. When you remodel or paint a room, buy the right amount of paint. This saves chemicals from entering the air that are caused to make the paint, energy to make the paint, and you money buying to much.
19. Reduce Excess Baggage and pack lighter when travelling. Planes flying with extra baggage use more fuel.
IMPORTANT!
20. Whenever possible walk, cycle or use public transport to get around rather than driving in your car.

21. Read the newspaper online to save paper, trees, and carbon.
22. Eat one less serving of meat a week. Use a cheese free alternative each week. Cheese is an animal product and has the same carbon cost as meat.
23. Dont leave your household electronic goods and appliances on standby they use a substantial amount of power even in stanby mode. Invest in a power strip that you can plug them all into and switch off when you are not using them.
24. Use both sides of the page to print or copy.
25. Replace the exterior lights around your home and in your garden with solar-powered ones.
26. Use reusable bags for grocery shopping.
27. Rake leaves and shovel snow manually instead of firing up a leaf blower and snowblower.
28. Plant an organic garden and grow your own vegetables even if its just a small patch or a windowsill planter.
29. Use a laptop rather than a desktop. Laptops use up to 80% less energy.
31. Buy secondhand household items and save the carbon cost of the production of new goods.
32. Adjust your central heating thermostat down by 1 degree C or 2 degrees F in winter and up in summer.
33. Adjust your water heater temperature downwards.
36. Eliminate drafts by ensuring that all doors and windows are sealing properly, use weather stripping, caulking on your windows or even just a home made draft eliminator for your external doors.
37. Use passive solar heating to capture heat in your home by opening the curtains during the day and closing them at dusk. In summer you should close your curtains during the heat of the day. Besides carbon, you'll save 25 to 75% on your heating and cooling bill.
38. Run ceiling fans instead of air conditioning. Avoid using air conditioning in your home and car whenever possible. If you live in a hot climates doing this could save more than a ton of CO2.
39. Use cold water to wash and rinse clothes.
40. Keep your car's tires inflated to specification this will ensure that your car is more efficient
 41. Switch off lights in rooms at home when leaving the room.
42. Take a shower instead of a bath (a shower uses approximately one fifth of the energy that a bath does
43. Only heat rooms in your house that are in use.
44. Dont boil a full kettle to make one cup of tea or coffee, only boil what you need.
45. Unplug your phone charger when not in use.
46. Use the top shelf of the oven as it is always the hottest so food cooks quicker.
47. Turn off your heating when you're not there, or if you're going to be away for a few days.
48. A slow casserole, pressure cooker, insulated deep fat fryer or microwave oven will cook food in an energy efficient way.
50. Avoid unnecessary trips to the store, do your grocery shopping monthly or at most once a week. This will save you money too.
IMPORTANT! Time To Take a Break, checkout this video.
Carbon Footprint
Carbon Footprint
by Paweł Jakubowski | video info

51. Stop and open the dishwasher before the drying cycle and let the dishes dry naturally.
52. Share car journeys when you can. Organise car pools for regular commutes.
54. Take your holidays in your home country or travel by train instead of flying.
55. Replace your existing showerheads with low-flow showerheads.
57. If you are renting a car whilst away on holiday or business go for a hybrid or diesel or bio-diesel.
59. Re-use zip top bags.
60. Buy bulk food and package it yourself in reusable containers.

61. Fix dripping taps.
62. Use a birck in the cistern to reduce the amount of water used when flushing.
63. Dont wash food under a running tap.
64. Insulate your water pipes.
65. Turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth.
66. Dont use a hose to wash your car and reduce the number of times you wash your car.
67. When cooking dont overfill saucepans and pots.
68. Use collected rainwater and "grey" waste water to water your garden.
69. Use a dishwasher rather than washing by hand as the efficient ones use less water
70. Donate or recycle your old clothing rather than throwing it away.

71. Use reflective insulation sheeting behind your radiators mounted on the walls. This is available from most DIY stores.
72. Block up the chimney with newspaper when you are not using it - and don't forget to remove the stuffing when you do want to use it.
74. Fill in your external walls with spray insulation.
75. Limit your shopping trips to once a week.jf
76. Switch on electric blankets no more than half an hour before you go to bed and switch off just before you get into bed.
77. Keep the curtains closed at night and make sure you don't just heat the space between the curtains and the window. A radiator shelf can also deflect the convection currents past the curtains into the room.
80. Use recycled toilet paper and paper.
IMPORTANT!
81. Use "task" lighting rather than whole room lighting when a small amount of light is required.
82. Defrost your refrigerator as this will ensure that it runs efficiently.
83. Check the seals on your refrigerator and oven regularly and replace them when necessary.
84. Dont put hot or warm foods and drinks into your refrigerator.
85. When cooking put the lids on your pots and pans to reduce heat loss.
86. Fit your garden hose with a trigger sprayer, this will reduce your water consumption.
87. Create a wormery. This uses worms in a sealed, hygienic, and non-smelling unit to compost your waste, which can then be used to fertilise your garden.
88. Avoid using patio heaters, as these produce enormous amounts of CO2. Put a jumper on instead!
90. Avoid products with multiple layers of packaging.
“91. Buy certified wood to ensure sustainable forest management.”

92. Whenever possible only drive during non peak hours.
93. Water your garden in the evening as this will save water.
94. Use recycled wood chips in your flower beds as they retain moisture resulting in less watering.
95. Use hand towels and fabric napkins rather than paper ones.
96. Install a drain water heat recovery pipe in your home to reclaim energy from waste water.
97. Install insulated blinds on windows to decrease energy escape.
98. Take advantage of natural daylight as much as possible. bembo roman
99. Tired of watering your lawn, great, get rid of it. Grow a garden instead. Lawns require lawnmowers, which require fuel. Gardens allow you to grow veggies which require less trips to the produce section.
100. Don't be an aggressive driver. Studies have shown up to 30% of the difference in miles per gallon (MPG) is due to driving habits alone. You could save more than a ton of CO2 per year by:
- Accelerating slowly and smoothly
- Driving the speed limit
- Maintaining a steady speed
- Anticipating your stops and starts
101. Don't carry unnecessary loads in the boot or on the roof - it increases your car's fuel consumption.
