Here’s how you can lower your carbon footprint at home
Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases generated by your actions, such as driving, consuming food and consumer goods, and using energy in your home. Here are some easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint in your home, according to Bobvila.com:
Calculate your carbon footprint. Check out free online calculators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nature Conservancy and Carbonfootprint.com to help you determine how much your household is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Audit energy usage. “Hire a professional, contact your local utility company or perform a DIY home energy audit to assess and improve your home energy usage. The U.S. Department of Energy has a handy self-assessment that you can use to determine where you can conserve energy in your home.”
Lower your home’s cooling load. Reduce the work your air conditioner has to do by closing window shades and draperies, using fans to increase ventilation and shading your home with trees and shrubs. Installing thermal-efficient windows and doors can also help. Consider a reflective, cooling roofing when it’s time to replace your existing roof.
Upgrade your home’s AC. “Some 20% of Americans have inefficient HVAC systems that cost an extra $882 annually on average to cool their homes. This is nearly four times as much as more efficient systems in similar homes, according to an analysis of energy data conducted by Sense, a leading smart home energy company. The study found that the 20% of homes with the highest cooling use account for 45% of all cooling consumption nationwide. Updating these less-efficient homes could save 8% of U.S. residential electricity usage overall, and eliminate nearly 52 tons of CO2 emissions annually.”
Seal and insulate your home. Adding insulation in your ceiling and walls, and around your windows and ductwork can improve the performance and efficiency of your home’s HVAC. “The EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs – or an average of 11% on total energy costs – by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics and floors over crawl spaces and basements.”
Program your HVAC. Install a programmable thermostat to avoid heating or cooling your home when you don’t need to. According to Energy Star, these devices save the average homeowner about $180 annually in energy costs.