Carbon Footprint - Essay Example

The major sources of individual GHS emissions are travel and home usage. Food is also a major source of emission as it emits 10 metric tons of Carbon Dioxide/year. Emissions from home are the leading with about 13 metric tons of Carbon Dioxide /year. Home emissions include electricity, Natural gas, water, and construction. Travels are the second in emission at approximately 13 metric tons/year. It includes car fuel and car MFG. The pledges that I made so as to reduce my emissions by 50% are using a more efficient vehicle, practicing Eco-Driving, carpooling to work, taking public transportation, turning off lights, reducing waste, planting trees, using rechargeable batteries, riding a bike, reduce waste, print double-sided, eat low carbon diet, go organic and buy an electric vehicle.

By using a more efficient vehicle my emissions will reduce, plants will help in releasing oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide, and the bike does not have any emissions unlike using a vehicle (Ham, et al. 2000). Emissions are also reduced by carpooling even though by driving we increase emission but the number of sources will have reduced. Electric vehicles are more efficient and greener. I will also ensure my engine efficiency by managing my driving speed as the faster you drive the less your engine becomes and by doing this I will level off emissions on freeways. By using public transportation, I will eliminate the emissions from my vehicle. By going organic, I will reduce the chemical toxins in the environment (Ramseur, et al 2008).

The day that I chose to reduce my emissions by 50%, the specific changes that I made were, switching from T12 lights to T8 lights, eating a low-carbon diet, taking public transport to work, riding my bike, reducing my waste, turning off lights. By switching to T8 lights from T12 lights I was able to reduce the power consumption in my house (Pal, et al. 2014). My diet for that day was also low carbon diet and this helped to reduce my food emission. By taking public transport I did not have any emissions from my vehicle for that day. After work, I used my bike to go shopping and this was helpful because it does not have any emissions, I tried very hard to recycle what I could so as to reduce my waste of the day. By turning off the lights that I did not require, I greatly reduced my power consumption for the day.

I succeeded in all I had planned. I succeeded because I was determined to achieve that even though it was not easy. It only requires dedication and discipline and I had both. It was I little bit hard for me. Like I am used to driving myself to work but now I was in a situation where I was using public transportation, and it was uncomfortable. I am also used to lights everywhere and switching lights I was feeling like I had compromised my security. I think I cannot manage it for a long time. If I manage it and my pledges, I will greatly reduce my costs and I will also achieve a positive impact on the environment. When I plant trees, I will add to the natural beauty, and reduce pollution at the same time I will reduce the use of AC which will reduce my electricity bill. The action that had the greatest potential in reducing my GHG and was also the hardest was using public transportation because vehicles have a lot of emissions to the environment. I would encourage people to pledge to use public transportation, carpool to work, and to plant trees (Ramseur, et al. 2008).