Managing Your Impact: 5 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Thankfully, there are small, everyday changes you can do that make a big difference on your carbon footprint, as well as your wallet.

Focus on the changes that fit your routine and budget, and if some of these are out of your control or don’t align with your lifestyle, no biggie. Making sure your carbon-friendly routine is sustainable and designed for you is what’s most important when reducing emissions in the long term! With that said, here are five ways you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions:

I promise I am not asking you to freeze or melt at home or work! But giving your heating or cooling system a break when you’re not at home or the office can make a big difference. This can be done by setting your thermostat on a schedule so that it doesn’t have to work as hard while you’re away. It’s a great and simple method to reduce emissions and save on your energy bill. Additionally, insulation is another contributor to your output and monthly costs! Finding ways to keep warm or cold air in is important. Changes can be as big as replacing your windows (grants are often available to support this) or as small as using door snakes or cleaning your air vents.

Another opportunity to reduce both your carbon footprint and save on expenses is carpooling, taking the bus, walking, or biking to work. These can all be great alternatives for your daily commutes, whether it’s the gym, work, or a social gathering. Personal electric vehicles are also quickly growing in popularity. Alternatively, working from home can also minimize your impact, even if it’s just once a week. At the end of the day, being intentional about how you’re getting to and from your daily demands can be a great place to start shrinking your impact.

You don’t have to change what food is on your table; how the food is produced and how it gets to your plate can make a big difference! Navigating product labels, looking to buy local, or doing a background check on a producer to understand how their harvesting, packaging, and distributing systems work can be great when you’ve got the time to research, but when unable to dive into researching, attending farmers markets, community-supported agriculture (CSAs), and purchasing fruits and vegetables that are in season, for example blueberries in August, can also make you more confident that your food didn’t have to travel far, often reducing the amount of inputs needed during its entire creation process.

Managing the food that makes it into your home can be just as important as buying it. Roughly 15% to 20% of all food brought into homes in Canada goes to waste; this ends up equaling around $1,300 to $1,800 a year per household. Keeping a close eye on your fridge, watching expiration dates, creating meal plans, or doing an “everything but the kitchen sink” meal once in a while can reduce your carbon footprint. If you do have organic waste, composting is another great management tool. It creates a way for your scraps and waste to naturally break down, reducing methane production in the process. If you don’t have a backyard or a composting bin, there are often drop-off locations in cities or community subscriptions to sign up for. If you live in an apartment or condominium, a group effort can also be a way to make an impact and connect with your community!

One of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to source things that will last, or that have already lasted. Reducing your consumption by buying second-hand, choosing items that are known to last, or repurposing things you already have can keep the demand for new products low. Fixing and maintaining products you already own also contributes to that movement!

If you've already tackled these and want to take your impact further, consider booking a home energy audit or exploring local green workshops and online carbon calculators to discover your next steps.