| First of all, the term carbon footprint refers to a | | | | emissions. |
| measurement of greenhouse gases released by | | | | Once you know how your activities affect Mother |
| human activities based on the amount of carbon | | | | Earth, you can start taking steps to minimize your |
| dioxide units that is produced. This helps scientists and | | | | contribution to carbon dioxide emissions. This is very |
| government decision makers gauge how severe a | | | | important, particularly since African and Asian countries |
| particular human activity affects the environment by | | | | are revving up their economies which means a |
| contributing to the so-called Greenhouse Effect. | | | | proportional increase in fuel consumption. |
| You can compute your own primary carbon footprint, | | | | Some things you can do are: |
| by taking into account your fuel consumption in your | | | | •look for a green energy supplier who will |
| household and your travel activities per year. | | | | supply power to your household. (A green energy |
| In the first category which is fuel consumption per | | | | supplier relies on renewable energy sources such as |
| household, you should factor in the following: | | | | hydroelectric and wind power, which wreaks less |
| •electricity consumption per year for your | | | | havoc on the environment); |
| household | | | | •turn off electricity-dependent machines if you |
| •natural gas consumption per year for your | | | | really do not need to use them, or at least minimize |
| household | | | | usage of these items; |
| •LPG (liquified petroleum gas) consumption | | | | •minimize your central heating by up to 2 |
| per year by your household | | | | degrees; |
| •household oil consumption per year by your | | | | •minimize water heating by up to 2 degrees; |
| household | | | | •use a timer for your central heating at home |
| •coal consumption per year by your | | | | so that it turns off when you leave home; |
| household | | | | •only turn on the washing machine and |
| •and the number of people who live in your | | | | clothes dryer if you have a full load of laundry to put in; |
| household. | | | | •try reducing water to heat in the kettle if you |
| For the second category, which involves travel | | | | do not need that much hot water in the first place; |
| activities per year, you should factor in these: | | | | •do not overcharge your cellphone; |
| •total mileage of your vehicle per year (for | | | | •defrost freezers and refrigerators |
| those who own their own private vehicle) | | | | periodically, even before ice builds up; |
| •total mileage of your second vehicle per | | | | •try shopping only once a week, making bulk |
| year (for those who have an additional vehicle) | | | | purchases so you can cut down on car fuel |
| •miles traveled on the train per year | | | | consumption; |
| •miles traveled on both local buses and | | | | •and minimize use of the tumble dry function - |
| underground transportation systems per year | | | | rather try using a clothesline and the sun to dry laundry. |
| •miles traveled on long distance bus and | | | | There are many other things you can do to minimize |
| coach per year | | | | your carbon footprint. Leave less of a carbon footprint |
| •yearly travel by air, in terms of short-haul | | | | and you will leave behind a more stable environment in |
| return flights, medium-haul return flights, and long-haul | | | | the wake of your activities. |
| return flights. | | | | Green Store UK sells eco friendly gifts and energy |
| You can use an online carbon footprint calculator (like | | | | saving gadgets. We have various energy saving |
| that found on and enter in all these factors. The online | | | | gadgets such as the Smart Adapter which is a |
| calculator will do the computing for you so you can | | | | remote control plug set which enables you to quickly |
| see just how extensively your activities affect the | | | | and easily turn off electric items off standby. |
| environment by contributing to carbon dioxide | | | | |