How to lower your carbon footprint at home

 Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases generated by your actions, such as driving, consuming food and consumer goods, and using energy in your home. Here are some easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint in your home, according to BobVila.com:

• Calculate your carbon footprint. Check out free online calculators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nature Conservancy and CarbonFootprint.com to help you determine how much your household is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

• Audit energy usage.

“Hire a professional, contact your local utility company or perform a DIY home energy audit to assess and improve your home energy usage. The U.S. Department of Energy has a handy self-assessment that you can use to determine where you can conserve energy in your home.”

• Seal and insulate your home.

Adding insulation in your ceiling and walls, and around your windows and ductwork can improve the performance and efficiency of your home’s HVAC. Ensuring your home is properly insulated will reduce heat exchange and allow less cool air to escape your house during the summer, and less warm air in the winter.

• Program your HVAC. Install a programmable thermostat to avoid heating or cooling your home when you don’t need to. According to Energy Star, these devices save the average homeowner about $180 annually in energy costs.



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