5 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Endangered species, pollution, and deforestation were once the buzzwords on every environmentalist's lips. As the twenty first century kicks into high gear, however, these issues are being pushed aside by the concern that has taken over the green movement almost entirely. Whether it is a result of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth or of a recent spate of severe weather, there is no denying that reducing carbon emissions has become the number one priority to environmentalists and politicians alike.

Reducing the carbon footprint has become a significant goal for governments, businesses and individuals, and with good reason. Fossil fuels seem to be running short, fuel prices are soaring, and there is no denying that the Earth seems to be heating up. But what can an individual do? Though it may seem insignificant, the dictum 'Think globally, act locally' has never been more applicable than in the case of reducing greenhouse gasses. Below are five painless ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

1. Minimize driving and use person power: Walk, jog or ride a bike to work. Save up small errands so they can all be taken care of in a single trip. Carpool with a friend. Whenever possible, use public transportation.

2. Switch light bulbs: Switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs will save energy with no inconvenience whatsoever. While you're at it, old, inefficient Christmas lights can be traded in for new LED ones, and electric patio lights can be replaced with solar powered lights.

3. Opt for green energy: More and more people are making the choice to go off the grid and produce their own energy through winds or solar power. When this isn't an option, many electric companies now offer the choice to select the source of energy billed to a particular account.

4. Buy local: Buying local saves on carbon emissions by reducing or eliminating shipping cost, and has the added benefit of supporting the local economy.

5. Become Energy Conscious: There are dozens of opportunities every day to make more energy conscious choices. Becoming conscious of the energy used in daily life is the first step to eliminating excess energy use, and reducing your carbon footprint.

Rodney has just graduated university and writes articles online and in newspapers for a living. You can view his latest website on how to change a radiator to learn the steps to take on several radiator related issues such as how to change radiator coolant. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rodney_Jamison