Have you seen our one-year impact posts on social media? Since last year, with the help of our Energy Champions, the Empower Me program avoided 7,141 tonnes of GHGs. That’s the same amount of energy used by 855 homes or 1,516 passenger cars for one year.
But what exactly are GHGs? And why does it matter?
GHG stands for Greenhouse Gas — gases that remain in our atmosphere for a long time and trap heat, or ‘sunlight radiation’, also known as the greenhouse effect. GHGs include pollutants such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxide. Too many GHGs will cause the earth to overheat, also commonly referred to as global warming.
National Geographic made an informative video about climate change and GHGs:
We all want to save the environment, and there are ways you can start reducing your emission right away! Here are three useful tips for you to reduce your carbon footprint:
Start with your commute!
You can reduce your personal carbon footprint by biking, walking or taking transit to your destination instead of driving. We are almost at the end of the summer season, so why not go out and enjoy the sunshine while helping to protect the environment? By driving less or opting for car-pooling, you are reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced by car engines. If you live in Calgary, check out City of Calgary cycling route and maps HERE.
Adopt a zero-waste lifestyle
If you are following us on Instagram, we recently did an Instagram takeover with Plastic Free YYC. From zero food waste to zero plastic waste, we all can do our part to reduce GHGs!
- Zero Food Waste:Food waste is one of the leading contributors to methane gas. By shopping only for what you need and storing your food properly, you can help reduce food waste. Composting is a good practice, but please consider as your last resort after exhausting all other options. Don’t forget to remove produce stickers before throwing your food in the compost!
- Zero Energy Waste: Reduce your energy use by hang drying your clothes in the summer and air-sealing your home in the winter.
- Zero Plastic Waste: Reduce your single-use plastic consumption by bringing your reusable cup for a cold beverage, or your own bag to the grocery store!
Eat more veggies!
It takes a lot of resources to yield one pound of beef — 58.4 gallons of water, 54 pounds of feed, and 16 pounds of GHGs, to be exact. That is a lot of resources used for one pound of food. Eating more vegetables is better for the environment. Not ready to completely become a vegetarian yet? Try a #MeatlessMonday and help reduce your GHG emissions one day at a time.
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