{"id":74943,"date":"2023-05-05T10:40:33","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T17:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=74943"},"modified":"2023-05-19T12:09:29","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T19:09:29","slug":"how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Climate change can be an overwhelming topic that may leave you feeling hopeless. And as new research comes out, it\u2019s becoming an increasingly pressing issue. As such, many people are looking for ways to reduce their individual impact at home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While there may be a variety of factors that are out of your control, you can still make changes at home to help reduce your environmental impact. From simple daily habits to more significant investments in renewable energy, there are numerous ways to help reduce your carbon footprint and live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this Redfin article, we’ll teach you what a carbon footprint is, how to calculate it, and how to reduce your environmental impact. Whether you live in a <\/span>Wilmington, NC, apartment<\/span><\/a> or a <\/span>Brentwood, CA, home<\/span><\/a>, read on for everything you need to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is a carbon footprint?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A carbon footprint is a way to calculate the impact of someone\u2019s actions on the environment. A carbon footprint calculates the total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted into the atmosphere by a given activity, such as driving a car, buying clothes, eating food, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>most common greenhouse gasses<\/span><\/a> are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, but there are many others. These gasses trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise.<\/span>
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The average American\u2019s carbon footprint is <\/span>16 tons<\/span><\/a>, four times higher than the global average and eight times higher than recommended levels. Footprints also <\/span>tend to rise<\/span><\/a> with income levels. The Nature Conservancy recommends that the global average for an individual\u2019s carbon footprint drop below 2 tons per year by 2050 to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to calculate your carbon footprint<\/span><\/h3>\n

To <\/span>calculate your carbon footprint<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll need to measure the following:<\/span><\/p>\n