If you want to take control of your energy consumption, you first need to know how much energy you use. Your utility bill alone won’t tell you how much greenhouse gases and pollution are emitted in delivering that energy. You also can’t measure other impacts like toxic chemicals from manufacturing equipment, cars, or pollution from power plants. You can make some changes to reduce your carbon footprint in your home and around you. Contact an HVAC company near me for additional preventive maintenance and energy efficiency tips.

What Is a Carbon Footprint?

Carbon footprint is a measurement of the amount of greenhouse gases that have been released into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are pollutants that trap heat and cause global warming. Carbon footprints are most commonly measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

The first step in reducing your carbon footprint is understanding what it means and then changing habits accordingly.

Reduce How Much You Drive

The best way to reduce your carbon footprint is to drive less. If you want to make a difference, start walking or biking more often than driving your car. If you live close enough to work, consider telecommuting one day per week or taking public transportation more often.

Purchase a Filter For Your Tap Water

Another easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is to install an under-sink filter on your tap water supply line. This will allow you to use tap water instead of bottled water which uses fossil fuels during transportation and produces additional waste products during production and disposal. Filters can be installed easily with no plumbing skills required!

Pay Bills Online To Reduce Paper

Electronic billing is more efficient than paper bills. It’s also better for the environment because it saves trees from being cut down and reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills. If you have multiple utility accounts, consider consolidating them so that you only receive one monthly bill.

Reusable Items (Bags, Bottles, Containers)

The less plastic we use, the less plastic ends up in landfills or waterways, harming wildlife and polluting our environment. Reusable shopping bags are available at grocery stores, big box retailers, and online. You can also use reusable bottles for water or juice, so you don’t need to buy single-use plastic bottles anymore!

Reduce the Amount of Meat You Consume

One of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint is simply eating less meat. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that livestock accounted for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2006, with beef and lamb contributing 80 percent of that amount. Newer research by the WorldWatch Institute says estimates are as high as 51%! You can contribute significantly to reducing your carbon footprint by reducing your consumption of animal products.

SMART Home

Energy efficiency is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint while saving money and helping the environment. Here are some simple ways you can reduce your energy consumption at home.

LED Bulbs

The first step is to be SMART with energy. Start by changing the bulbs in your house to LED bulbs. These use less energy than incandescent bulbs and last longer. They also produce less heat, which means they can lower your cooling costs as well. You can also choose various colors and styles, so you’re sure to find one that works.

SMART Outlets

Next up are smart outlets and switches. These allow you to control power remotely using an app on your phone or tablet. This is especially useful if you have kids or pets who might forget to turn off lights or appliances when they leave a room. It’s also great for older people who might need to remember where they left something plugged in or how much electricity it uses each month!

SMART Thermostats

Programmable thermostats can help you save money by automatically adjusting the temperature in your home. Set the schedule, and it will automatically turn off when you’re away or asleep. If you have a smartphone, there are even apps that allow you to control the temperature from anywhere in the world.

Use Cold Water In Laundry

When washing clothes, use cold water instead of hot water. You’ll save money on your utility bill while reducing your carbon footprint.

Use Energy Star Rated Appliances

Appliances such as refrigerators, washers, and dryers consume electricity, making them a significant part of your home’s energy usage. Choose Energy Star-rated appliances to help ensure they will use less energy than standard models.

Install Solar Panels

Now is the time if you’ve been thinking about installing solar panels on your roof. With federal tax credits and state incentives, solar installation costs have dropped significantly recently. In addition to saving money on energy costs, you’ll be helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.

Change HVAC Filters

Over time, filters clog with dust and debris from the air inside your home. If your filters are dirty, they won’t be able to do their job properly anymore — which means that more air will bypass them and enter your home through leaks in the ductwork or other openings in your home’s exterior walls or attic floors. This causes heaters and air conditioners to work harder than they should work to keep temperatures comfortable inside.

Insulate and Seal Your Home

Reduce your energy use by insulating and sealing your home. This includes sealing ductwork, which homeowners often overlook. By sealing ductwork and insulating all areas of your home, you’ll be able to keep cool air inside during the summer and warm air inside during the winter.

Sealing ductwork is essential to keep cool air in the summer or warm air in the winter. Rodents or insects can damage ducts over time, so they must be inspected regularly for leaks or damage to be repaired before serious issues develop.

Schedule Routine HVAC Maintenance

The condition of your home’s heating and cooling system can significantly impact its energy efficiency. The best way to ensure that your HVAC equipment is working at its best is by scheduling regular maintenance appointments with a qualified professional. Regular inspections will help identify any problems that may arise while providing an opportunity for necessary repairs or replacements. Depending on the work required, scheduling annual or semi-annual visits may be more cost-effective than performing all necessary maintenance during one visit.

Start With Smart HVAC Solutions

There’s an incredible amount of energy being wasted in the average household in America. While these tips won’t reduce gas consumption to zero, they can help ensure that your home runs as efficiently as possible. If you’re interested in doing more to address climate change and other environmental threats, we highly recommend looking into cutting down on meat and purchasing carbon offsets. But as a starting point, you can use these efficient living tips to reduce your own carbon footprint at home. Smart HVAC Solutions can help with all your HVAC needs.