The world, by the end of the century, is predicted to be a very different place. According to Matthew Tolley’s Ted Talk, major cities such as London and New York could be submerged underwater. Sea levels could rise by around 70m, meaning that vast amounts of land will be underwater. Entire countries and states could be submerged, while there would be a massive extension of deserts, breakdown of agriculture, and mass extension of a large number of species of plants and animals.
It’s two carbon-based gases that cause the Earth to retain heat when they are released into the atmosphere – methane and carbon dioxide. Governments around the world have come together, and a large percentage have agreed to go about reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 in an effort to prevent a global climate catastrophe. Unfortunately, many of those who have agreed to the 80% cut are not on track to achieve it.
Not all Carbon is Created Equally
Scientist and speaker Jackson Carpenter suggests that people need to adopt a new perspective. This shift in mindset comes with an awareness of the green carbon, fossil carbon, and the interchange between the two.
Carbon is a more nuisance than many of us realize. We need carbon dioxide to keep the planet warm enough to sustain life. We also need carbon for the carbon cycle, which literally helps sustain complex life.
“green carbon” is carbon that has been in our atmosphere for hundreds, several thousands of years – it is the carbon of our climate as we know it.
“fossil carbon” is the leading cause of climate change. There were around seven times the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the Jurassic period compared to today. Decomposition was an issue in the Jurassic period due to the limited amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. Pressure drove carbon-containing dead plant and animal material to the bottom of oceans and underground. Burning fossil fuels releases fossil carbon, which cannot be taken into the carbon cycle of today’s atmosphere as it has nowhere to go. Carbon remains in the atmosphere and adds to global warming.
Even if global warming was not a real issue (which the vast majority of scientists think it is!) – if we keep using them at the current rate, the world will run out of fossil fuel by 2060. So whatever the weather, we need alternative sources of energy.
Solar Energy Might Be the Best Source of Renewable Energy
Instead of fossil fuels, we could look to harness the heat in the center of the Earth – which has a long way to go – literally, we could use atomic energy, but any byproducts are deadly and last for thousands of years, there’s energy in the spinning of the planet, and finally, there is solar energy.
Of all the options, solar energy appears to be the way to go. Plants are nature’s solar panels, storing the power in their leaves. We can make any energy we need from fossil fuels out of solar energy.
Electricity – Use a Renewable Energy Provider
Fortunately, we don’t have to wait around for governments to take action for us to reduce our carbon emissions dramatically.
To reduce your carbon footprint concerning electricity, the most significant thing you can do right now is to change to an electricity supplier that uses 100% renewable energy.
If you live in the US or the UK, you can sign up for a renewable electricity provider right now. It is estimated that switching to a renewable energy provider will cut your carbon footprint by around 15%
if you live in the US, you can search for a renewable provider with your zip code on this website. If you live in the UK, renewable energy suppliers include Octopus Energy.
– Switch to a 100% renewable energy supplier
– LED Lightbulbs
– Energy Efficient appliances
The good news is that across the US, Europe, and the UK, many people have already switched over to
Heat & Cooling
Most AC pumps, swamp coolers run on electricity. So in terms of cooling your home in the summer, if you switch to a 100% renewable energy supplier, you’ve already reduced your carbon footprint by another 5-10%
For heating in the winter, if you have an electric heat pump, electric baseboard heating, or electric space heaters, then again, using a renewable source of electricity will significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
While replacing old heating systems is often a great idea in terms of energy efficiency and reducing a household’s carbon footprint, it’s also relatively expensive. Switching to an electric system and then a 100% renewable electricity supplier would make the most dramatic reduction in emissions. However, this is not practical for the average consumer.
If a new system is beyond your budget, then smart meters can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 30%. Many smart meters now come with displays that show homeowners how much energy they are using per hour, the cost, and whether their usage is relatively high, average, or low. These displays often make people more conscious of their use and take measures to reduce it. Smart meters can also be set more efficiently than traditional thermostat systems, meaning less fuel is wasted.
If you have a furnace that runs on heating oil, you can find a local biodiesel distributor. There is a green bioproduct, aptly named – bioheat. As a crop, wood that is harvested sustainably is also considered a green source of heating fuel. Sustainable wood comes from trees that are specifically planted and grown for their wood, allowed to grow, and then harvested. Unsustainable sources of wood are those that have existed for decades or centuries and are cut down and not replaced. With sustainable wood, the total number of trees stays approximately the same year on year. In contrast, if everyone used unsustainable sources of wood, the number of trees would plummet year on year.
Transport & Emissions
Remote working may be part of the foreseeable future for many of us that used to commute to the office every morning. With working-from-home-entrepreneurship on the rise, too, the tried and tested infrastructure for remote work and even remote education will hopefully prevent the number of cars on the road from increasing any time soon. If you are looking to create a new startup company, consider using the “distributed model,” whereby everyone works from home. You can even use a phone answering service and a virtual address to give the impression of having an office – make sure that you encourage your employees to use a renewable energy supplier when they’re heating or cooling their home office!
If you need to use a car, you can switch to green fuel. If your car runs on gasoline, your vehicle will run on alcohol – ethanol. The only downside with this is you do need to add an adaptor to your car; this will make your car a flex-fuel vehicle. An adaptor costs around $300.
If you have a diesel car, it’s even easier; you need to fill up with bio-diesel.
Drop-in fuels are also now available to use. Treehugger.com defines a drop in fuel as “fuel making use of at least some of the costly existing petroleum infrastructure.” Algae, believe it or not, is one of the most popular sources of drop-in fuels, but experts don’t think these fuels will be ready to enter the market for another decade.
Don’t Forget Plants
Plants are great for our mental health, and they can remove toxins and carbon from the air. Some plants are also efficient oxygen produces. Researcher Kamal Meattle used plants to completely turn his health around after being told that the polluted air in Delhi had reduced his lung capacity to 70%. By adding areca palm, Mother-in-law’s tongue, and the money plant to his home and office, he reversed the damage to his lungs.
According to saveonenergy.com, the prayer plant is the most potent plant in terms of its ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere. However, plants can be a double-edged sword when it comes to fighting off your carbon footprint. If plants are shipped from overseas, then the “plant miles” and the carbon footprint will be significant. Look for a local garden center that grows their own plants whenever possible (and produces their own seeds) and uses renewable alternatives for the pot to grow them in!
Conclusion
To reduce your carbon footprint by as much as 60%, you can:
– Sign up to a 100% renewable energy supplier
– Use bioheat for heating oil
– Use sustainable wood for wood-burning stoves
– Consider using electric heating appliances*
– Work from home*
– Use biodiesel or convert your gasoline car and use ethanol as fuel
*these will only reduce your carbon footprint if you use a renewable energy supplier.
