Reducing your personal carbon footprint

Small steps that can leave a big impact

The words ‘carbon footprint’ have consistently been used in modern debates regarding climate change and other environmental topics. But you may be asking yourself what does it really mean?

Carbon footprint is a metric used to measure greenhouse gas emissions, one of the primary causes of the ever-increasing temperatures that are linked to global warming and more broadly, climate change. Personal carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by our choices. Here’s our take on how you can reduce your carbon footprint and work towards a greener future.

1. Calculate your carbon footprint:

Too often, we consume and needlessly indulge in products without taking into consideration their overall effects on the resources at hand and the transportation needed to get them from point A to point B. Using multiple calculators online, you can track your carbon footprint and look for areas to become more efficient. We at Citility are focused on helping the transportation sector through AI with route intelligence that can be used for large-scale commutes.

• Become more energy efficient at home:

One of the primary drivers of climate change is the misutilization of non-renewable energy resources. To begin with, you can shift to energy providers that are known to gather some part of their supply from renewable sources such as solar or wind. If you live in colder areas, insulating your home properly to avoid using heaters and other appliances can save a lot of energy.

• Rethink the way you commute:

The pandemic has led us all to revise and rethink the way we commute. Telecommuting, the act of going to the office through electronic means, helps reduce your overall carbon footprint by reducing the emissions from traditional vehicles. When commuting to work, switching off your engine at a stoplight and avoiding traffic are two great ways to avoid producing needless CO2 and other gases. One way to reduce getting stuck in traffic is by using applications such as Citility. This multi-modal urban mobility platform provides eco-friendly and efficient ways to commute.

• Become a flexitarian:

The word flexitarian is another term for the semi-vegetarian diet. Meat consumption continues to rank highly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and a reduction in our overall meat consumption is imperative if we are to reduce our impact on the world’s temperatures. The flexitarian diet has multiple variations but the core premise is simple, avoid eating meat every day. Studies show that even a minor change to an individual’s diet can help reduce one’s overall carbon footprint. 

Integrated technology in the form of applications now allows us to track our carbon footprint and increase our day-to-day environmental efficiency. In terms of travel, explore Citility as it offers seamless experiences with the environment in mind. Avoid unnecessary traffic and find the best route available, informed by live updates on traffic, and more. Travel with Citility, choose sustainable mobility, and start with the easiest way to reduce your personal carbon footprint.

Links used:

1. https://mossy.earth/guides/lifestyle/5-ways-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint
2. https://rebellion.global/blog/2020/08/20/reduce-your-carbon-footprint/
3. https://chariotenergy.com/chariot-university/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint/
4. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/ways-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint#8-ways-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint
5. https://green.harvard.edu/tools-resources/5-steps-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-and-improve-your-mpg
6. https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-tips
7. https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2018/12/27/35-ways-reduce-carbon-footprint/
8. https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
9. https://cotap.org/reduce-carbon-footprint/