If you are like most people then want to do your part to reduce you carbon footprint and help clean up the environment. But I have found that most of you do not make the effort mainly because you are unsure as to exactly how to reduce your carbon footprint.

I often find it easier to first understand where all of this carbon is coming from before getting too caught up how many tons of carbon dioxide you are responsible for producing each year. In fact, there are too many sources of carbon dioxide to cover them all but we can touch on the bigger and most important ones.

By far the largest producer of carbon dioxide is from the burning of fossil fuels. Most people think in terms of oil and gasoline but there are others to consider as well such as coal. In the U.S. the burning of coal generates 70% of all electricity used to power homes.

You might also be amazed at how many products are made using petroleum or oil. The list is huge and includes so many things that you would probably never even think of like anything plastic, balloons, candles, car tires, deodorant, and even the clothes on your back.

So I would like to give you my four best ways to cut down on your carbon generation while still keeping your clothes on your back.

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint with an Energy Efficient Home

Everyone is familiar with all of the gas guzzler cars, SUVs, and trucks out there but you might be surprised to learn that your home is a far bigger energy hog than you vehicle. So if you want to make a bigger difference you might want to invest first into making your home more energy efficient rather than getting a newer energy efficient car.

Even though your home itself may not be emitting carbon the way you can picture that your car does, rest assured that the energy you are using is still responsible for releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide. The only difference is that the carbon dioxide is being released at the power plant instead of at your home.

Another benefit to making your home more energy efficient is that it is one of least expensive ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Unlike buying a new car, you do not need to spend tens of thousands of dollars. There are many low cost ways such as…

1. Add additional insulation to your attic.
2 Switch to Compact Fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs.
3. Seal all air links in your A/C ducts, doors, and windows.
4. Use a programmable thermostat.

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint with Renewable Energy

Keeping with the same train of thought, once you have made your home much more energy efficient, the next logical step is to start using renewable energy sources to reduce your homes power consumption.

Many people argue the high costs associated with wind and solar power systems but today there are many much more affordable alternatives. Many people are building their own systems for pennies on the dollar compared to the professional ones.

What makes renewable energy so attractive is that it produces no carbon at all making it a great way to put a major dent in your carbon emission. Plus you get the added bonus of saving money in the process.

To continue reading Part 2 of how to reduce your carbon footprint… see: How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint (part 2: 3 small ways to make a big impact)

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