The concept of a carbon footprint is old, but it’s becoming more and more critical as we increase our digitization in the modern world. These days we use a lot of technology to go about our daily lives Have you ever thought about how this affects your carbon foot print? Here are a few things we can do to improve it. 

Surprisingly, using technology does not automatically mean you are not being green. There is no need to drop all your devices and revert to the Stone Age to help out the environment. Instead, it is possible to reduce your carbon footprint by using technology. So, read on to find out how you can actually reduce the number of greenhouse gases you release. 

What does carbon footprint mean? 

The carbon footprint refers to the total volume of greenhouse gases released into the planet’s atmosphere. These include carbon dioxide and methane, which then get trapped under the atmosphere around Earth. As the volume of these gases grows, the atmosphere starts warming up, affecting the Earth’s climate and subsequent global warming crisis. The responsibility is with us to do something about it. 

It is important to note that many of these gases occur naturally, just not in the sheer volume that they appear now. For instance, cows produce methane. So we are contributing to the issue by having more cows, causing deforestation, and using fossil fuels. However, 20% does come from households which is where everyone can help by reducing their carbon emissions 

Big companies start reducing carbon emissions 

Before diving right into what you can do, it’s essential to take a quick look at some of the biggest tech companies out there and what they are doing. For instance, Microsoft is already carbon-neutral and aims to be negative in just a decade. They’re achieving this through carbon offsetting practices such as using renewable energy and participating in reforestation projects. 

Similarly, Apple has also reduced its carbon footprint by 35% in just five years by using renewable energies, recycled components, and more. Other companies, such as Samsung, are now recycling eWaste in the millions of pounds. These small things are effective and it is changing the environmental landscape dramatically. In short, reduce, reuse and recycle is the name of the game here. 

Smart devices will help 

One of the first options out there is to use Smart devices. These devices use technology to track your routines and habits and even monitor your homes which can help you to save energy. You don’t have to start big, but things like Smart power strips can make a difference by automatically ensuring unused electronics are in standby mode when not used. 

Use devices like Alexa to control lighting systems to ensure lights are off when no one is in the room, thus saving energy. It’s also possible to use Smart Light Bulbs, and these can be used to swap out your current bulbs. Changing to LEDs can save a whopping 80% of household energy use. That is a lot of saving over time. 

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Go renewable for carbon foot print reduction 

This might seem an obvious one, but renewable energies are getting more and more accessible. It does not have to be as dramatic as having a wind turbine, but you can get grants for solar panels for your house. Additionally, you can find greener energy options from some local companies, thus reducing your footprint. Try and find a green energy supplier. 

Find green companies 

You can use apps to find more local businesses for a more tech-savvy option. These companies don’t have to be tech orientated either. Instead, you can use an app to find sustainable farmers in your area, get home-grown produce or even use local community projects to do things like recycling your kitchen scraps in a communal compost. You’ll save on petrol too. 

Turn it off 

You can save a lot by switching off your phone, TV, or other distracting devices during peak hours. Instead, you can ensure appliances, such as your dishwasher or washing machine, operate during the day when fewer people use these appliances, putting less strain on the grid. This can make an impact and might improve your quality of life as a bonus. 

Turning things off can also apply to your car when driving. Instead of manually changing up and down, you can set your car to cruise control. This helps to maintain a steady speed and avoids incessant, petrol-consuming accelerating and breaking. You can also try and go one better by using public transport like buses or trains or even get a hybrid. 

Final thoughts on carbon foot print reduction 

You can do many things to reduce your carbon footprint with the help of technology. However, you don’t have to implement all of them. Even some of these, such as using Smart devices, can help reduce your emissions. Tracking your energy usage can give you an idea of where to start. Why not start today and see what difference you can make?