What electricity are you using daily that affects our environment? When you use your central air and heat, your dishwasher, your hot water heater, and your refrigerator, you are pulling electricity from your power company. And when your power company needs to increase its output for you, it needs to burn more coal, wood, oil and gas. When they do, these products leave behind a by-product called carbon dioxide, or CO2. It is the use of energy that makes coal firing energy companies generating systems to use more coal. The use of energy is what makes your bill go higher. When you use more energy, the companies that provide you with electric have to produce more power by burning fuels which create carbon in the atmosphere. Solar power does not burn fuels to produce electricity. It is the energy used that makes a carbon footprint.
But what is your carbon footprint? According to Wikipedia, carbon footprint is the amount of green house gas emissions given off by an individual of a business. You can measure that amount, and that amount becomes your individual footprint. Once you know your footprint, then you can set goals to try to reduce it.
You can offset the CO2 by using emission reducing projects such as renewable energy like solar power and wind power projects. You can start using energy efficient products right in your home. By becoming energy efficient, you are reducing your demand for energy, thereby reducing your usage and reducing your carbon footprint. Look at your home to see where you are loosing energy. Turn off your lights when you leave a room. Change to CFL's or compact fluorescent light bulbs. Seal up air leaks, Become energy efficient. What is your carbon footprint? How many tons are you giving off? How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
