Reduce your carbon footprint

Based on scientific evidence, the Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a warning that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases are pollutants that threaten public health and need to be closely regulated.

Following such an important decision, chatter about how to reduce large-scale carbon emissions is likely to increase, but there are simple ways that even just one person can help to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

AmeriCorps Energy Conservation Outreach Specialist Kelli Martin and Noelle Studer-Spevak, Portland State Sustainability Office manager, assembled a list of 10 ways to easily reduce your carbon footprint by limiting energy consumption.

Here is a breakdown:
1. As motivation to start conserving energy, a quiz can be taken to determine one’s own eco-footprint. The quiz is available at www.ecofoot.org. Another quiz to help determine the amount of polluting emissions one’s lifestyle causes each year can be taken at www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html.

2. Reduce polluting while commuting: walk, bike, bus or carpool when possible. Transportation is the largest single cause of pollution in the United States, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Web site.

3. Heating water burns carbons, so to conserve energy shorten showers and wash clothes in cold water.

4. It is important to “precycle,” which means to reduce and reuse before even recycling in the “reduce, reuse and recycle” chain.

Precylcing includes not buying bottled water, bringing a reusable mug to the coffee shop, taking reusable bags to the grocery store and buying the long-lasting versions of items that are replaced quickly, such as light bulbs and batteries.

5. Turn off and unplug anything around the house whenever possible. Many power cords with converter boxes still draw energy when plugged in, even if the electronic device is turned off. Easy tips for energy consumption reduction can be found at the following Web site: www.swatt.energy.pdx.edu.

6. Buy Local. Whenever possible, support a local business or farmer. Not only is it good for the local economy, but products bought locally have traveled a much shorter distance and therefore less carbon was burned.

7. Get involved. Educate people, make some enlightening art, volunteer or even teach a child to read. An educational setting is one of the best ways in which people can be reached about the need for energy conservation and the simple ways through which it can be accomplished.

8. E-mail lawmakers regarding sustainability related issues. For a list of local legislators and contact information visit the following site: www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/home.htm.

9. Educate yourself on EcoLabels to avoid what is called “greenwashing,” akin to brain washing. Many products lately claim to be “green” but there are standards by which a product is judged to actually be environmentally friendly. For more information on these standards visit: www.ecolabelling.org.

10. Explore the PSU EcoWiki at EcoWiki.pdx.edu to join forces with others who care about sustainability. The wiki contains information about organizations on campus that work for the cause of sustainability and how one can become involved.