The world’s dependence on fossil fuels is evident in all aspects of life. Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum and natural gas, and they help people get from one place to another, keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter and are essential to the manufacturing of everyday items. Yet, there is overwhelming scientific evidence indicating that this dependence is having a devastating effect on the environment.The evidence has many individuals becoming more aware of their carbon footprint, which is “a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide,” according to CarbonFootprint.com.Below are examples of the ways individuals can lessen their carbon footprints while becoming more aware of how fossil fuels are used in their own lives.Save money – and energy – at homeWhile recycling is a great way to reduce waste, there are more alternatives to save money and mitigate environmental impacts in the home.Installing water-saving toilets and showerheads as well as energy-efficient heating/cooling systems conserves water and energy for heating the water. Water conservation means lower utility bills and decreased depletion of water in local reservoirs and wells.Energy-saving light bulbs also lessen the carbon footprint. According to the Colorado Energy Science Center, compact fluorescent bulbs can save three-quarters of the electricity used by regular light bulbs. “Replace three frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs,” states StopGlobalWarming.com, and “save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide and $60 per year.”Mountain View Electric Association started a program in June where nonprofit organizations can purchase compact fluorescent bulbs for fundraising purposes from the co-op at a discounted rate. Darryl Edwards, manager of MVEA’s member services department, said it’s a win-win situation.”We educate the nonprofits on the benefits of CFLs (compact fluorescent bulbs), and they in turn educate our members,” he said. Participating nonprofits buy the CFLs for less than wholesale and can expect to make $1 per bulb. The program has received a great response so far, Edwards said. Summit Bible Church in Calhan and several 4-H clubs in the area are participating, and the Falcon and Calhan Lions Club sold the CFLs at the El Paso County Fair.Wind energy is available at MVEA as well. MVEA offers the Green Power program to its customers. According to the MVEA Web site, “Wind energy is available in 100-kilowatt-hour blocks. You choose how many blocks you would like to purchase – from as little as one block to as much as your total electrical use. A one-year commitment to each block is required, and each block will add $1.25 a month to your electric bill.” Only the customers who opt for green power pay the cost for wind power.While residents may pay a few dollars extra a month for green power, there are rebates and tax credits available for their energy-efficient homes. The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy lists items eligible for federal tax credits, such as energy-efficient heat pumps, central air systems, furnaces and natural gas heaters.Colorado Springs Utilities also offers rebates to Falcon natural gas customers who purchase energy-efficient furnaces and windows or insulation, said CSU spokeswoman Rachel Beck. Some of the rebates require a specific model or brand name. A recent receipt as proof of purchase is all that’s required, Beck said.Federal, state and local incentives are available for residential solar technologies as well.Buy organicBuying organic products helps local economies and the environment. Lettuce Patch Gardens grows organic vegetables locally.When food is locally grown, the use of fossil fuels is significantly reduced. Less fuel is used to transport the products.”The energy involved in transporting fresh fruit and vegetables long distance is staggering,” said Cheryl Spencer, owner of Lettuce Patch Gardens. “As more people become aware of the environmental costs of transporting food long distances, small, local producers will become more and more important.”With increased energy shortages and costs, we will have no choice but to start growing more of our food right where we live,” Spencer said. In a 2005 article published by the Earth Policy Institute, “Oil and Food: A Rising Security Challenge,” Danielle Murray writes that growing food only accounts for one-fifth of the energy used in the U.S. food industry. “The other four-fifths is [sic] used to move, process, package, sell, and store food after it leaves the farm,” Murray writes.Another way organic farming helps lessen greenhouse gases is by actually trapping carbon dioxide into the soil. “Soil Carbon Sequestration: Farm Management Practices Can Affect Greenhouse Gases,” published by the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University, states that “the only viable way to trap atmospheric carbon dioxide is via photosynthesis, where carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants and turned into carbon compounds for plant growth. … Soil carbon sequestration is an important and immediate sink for removing atmospheric carbon dioxide and slowing global warming.” Sustainable agricultural practices like the use of compost instead of chemical fertilizers and no-till systems help with this sequestration.Home goods and greenhouse gasesSome consumers are leery of buying natural products because of cost. Others question how “natural” products might be. Nevertheless, there are many natural body products and home goods on the market that do reduce environmental impacts – on the earth and the body. Look for products with packaging made from recycled materials and products that have no petrochemicals (chemicals derived from petroleum).Seventh Generation, an environmentally friendly household products company founded in 1988, has gained momentum in the past several years with its variety of products now available at retailers like Target. According to Seventh Generation’s Web site, if every household in the U.S. replaced one box of 48 oz. petroleum-based powder laundry detergent with a vegetable-based detergent, 96,000 barrels of oil could be saved, “enough to heat and cool 5,500 U.S. homes for a year.”Many consumers are unaware of the chemicals in products they use each day. Makeup is one of them. Propylene glycol, a derivative of petroleum, is often used to carry moisture in cosmetics, according to “Petroleum and Cosmetics: What are the potential health risks?” by Lori Stryker. This chemical can also be found in products like anti-freeze, detergent, shampoo and conditioner.Stryker writes that “the long-term effects of many of the chemical additives in our cosmetics are not known.” Yet some, like carcinogens – which are used in some artificial colors – are known to be cancer-causing, she says. Because of consumer demand for organic cosmetics, more brands are providing all-natural, non-toxic products.The choice between paper and plastic at the grocery store can be a common dilemma for many consumers. Which is better for the environment? According to statements from the Sierra Club Web site, they have an equally negative impact.”The energy and other environmental impact embodied in a plastic grocery bag is somewhat less than in a paper grocery bag. But paper is easier to recycle, being accepted in most recycling programs. The recycling rate for plastic bags is very low.”This year, San Francisco became the first city to ban plastic bags. Although paper bags are easier to recycle, reusable cloth bags are the most environmentally friendly choice because of the energy used to manufacture paper bags. Not only do they reduce a family’s carbon footprint, but they also decrease the clutter in the kitchen and the landfills.Transportation and efficiencyBiking to work or school is a healthy alternative to driving each day. Not only does this provide daily exercise, but it also helps decrease carbon emissions. The League of American Bicyclists site states that a four-mile round trip bike ride can prevent the emission of 15 pounds of pollution.Not everyone needs to drive a hybrid to environmentally responsible. There are many fuel-efficient cars on the market that help save money and reduce emissions. Research is the best way to find a car that matches one’s financial needs with his or her carbon footprint.The Environmental Defense reports that a car getting 15 mpg on average will use 800 gallons of gas annually (based on 12,000 miles per year) for an approximate cost of $1,840 (based on $2.30 per gallon). Nine tons of greenhouse pollutants will be created annually. For a car that gets 40 mpg, an average of 300 gallons of gas are used per year, costing $680 in gas and emitting 3.4 tons of greenhouse pollutants.Public transportation and carpooling are obvious alternatives.Whether embarking on a full lifestyle change or making small changes like unplugging electronics that are not in use, it all makes an impact on the environment – and the pocketbook.
