You probably know that transportation is a major source of greenhouse gases, but did you know that in the US about 17% of all carbon dioxide emissions come from people’s homes? According to the EPA, electricity use, heating and waste are the main sources.
Here are some ways to help out (and save money too):
1. Turn off the lights and unplug electric appliances when you don’t need them. The average household carbon dioxide emissions from electricity are approximately 7.4 metric tons per year (about 16,290 lbs).
2. Bundle up or take it off (instead of turning up the heat when it’s cold or the air down when its hot). Most furnaces and boilers burn fossil fuels such as heating oil or natural gas, which emit greenhouse gases.
3. Reuse stuff and recycle. For every person in the U.S., about 1,060 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent comes from the garbage we throw out every year. The average recycling rate for the United States is 30.6%. If the recycling rate increased to 35%, greenhouse gas emissions from waste could be reduced by 67 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per person.
Also, check out the video below from The Alliance for Climate Protection. We think this will let you see what the carbon dioxide coming out of your house ”looks like.”
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