25 Actionable Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in 2016

Throughout the last couple of decades, environmental protection advocacy has swept across progressive cities like Hong Kong, and we couldn’t be more proud of that fact. In spite of the headway that’s been made, there’s still so much that governments and individuals can do to reduce carbon emissions. Today, we’re exploring how to hack your way to a more sustainable lifestyle through small changes you can adopt instantly to benefit the planet in the long-term, as every bit counts!

1. Properly maintain your vehicles to obtain optimal mileage and emit fewer pollutants.
2. Walk more! Vehicle traffic is a major contributor to smog.
3. Only run a full load of laundry and use a cooler cycle whenever possible. Each wash uses up to 40 gallons of water.
4. Air dry your laundry, and doing so helps to keep their shape as well.
5. Before you throw anything away, ask yourself – can I recycle, reuse, or donate this? For example: Cut up old clothing to use for cleaning instead of paper towels, use cloth napkins, and old newspapers are great for cleaning windows.
6. Invest in a filter system instead of buying bottled water.
7. Repair toilets to conserve water. You can test if your toilet is leaking by putting food coloring in the tank. If it shows up in the bowl without flushing, then there’s a leak.
8. Repair leaky faucets andinstalling a faucet aeratorcan reduce up to 6% of your water usage.
9. Take shorter showers and use a low flow showerhead.
10. Use rechargeable batteries, as battery acid and other metals harm the ecosystem when they end up in landfills.
11. Usenatural DIY household cleanersbecause traditional household chemicals can cause health issues are toxic to produce.
12. Buy organic produce to increase demand for lower pesticide use.
13. Print double-sided and use recycled paper.
14. Invest in afoldable canvas bagand aglass water bottlefor when you’re on the go.
15. Avoid products with excess packaging, and bring your own tumblerto coffee shops.
16. Use energy-efficient florescent light bulbs, which helps you save on electricity bills and last longer.
17. For your heating and cooling systems, changing the air filters regularly and using a programmable thermostat can also help you save on energy costs and reduce emissions.
18. Always unplug your electronic devices when they’re not in use, and turn off your computer every night instead setting it to sleep mode.
19. Take measures to properly insulate your home, which saves on energy costs all year long.
20. Go vegetarian once a week. Did you know it requires 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef?
21. Cut down on paper bills by opting for electronic correspondence.
22. Choosing reusable diapers can save you from buying and disposing of 5,000 to 8,000 diapers by the time a child is toilet trained.
23. Try using non-electronic exercise machines when you’re at the gym. Rather, try incorporating calisthenics, push-ups, and other bodyweight & cardio exercises into your routine.
24. Be a mindful consumer by asking yourself how your decisions are impacting the environment. Do not buy what you don’t need, and buy for durability. Also – don’t forget the fun process ofupcycling!
25. For Garagers who don’t know already, recycling for DVR Garagecan be found near the pantry on the 9F and near the right staircase on the 8F. Recycling for QRC Garage can be found in the 19F stairway exit.

Sources:

EPA

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Greenpeace

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NRDC

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Ohio EPA

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50 Ways to Help