As interest and awareness in carbon offset programs continue to expand, more and more people are seeking budget-friendly ways of reducing their household carbon footprint.

We know that our daily activities generate emissions. Everything from transportation to diet has an ecological cost on the planet. But, many people erroneously believe that to have a positive impact (and undo the damage), you have to make major lifestyle changes or shell out big bucks to switch to sustainable energy or an electric vehicle.

The truth is that reducing your carbon footprint is easier (and a whole lot cheaper) than you might have realized. The following actions can make a big difference for the planet, without depleting your wallet.

#1. Ditch the Dryer

A clothes dryer burns electricity like there’s no tomorrow. Sure, the latest models are much more eco-friendly than the ones built 20-30 years ago, but even the most energy efficient ones still account for approximately 2790 watts per hour of use. And, depending on how your electricity is sourced (either with a green energy solution like solar or hydro power… or a coal burning facility), that amount translates into pounds and pounds of carbon emissions each load.

With a basic clothesline, you can significantly reduce your dryer’s emissions, and in turn, your household carbon footprint. Not only will you save money on your monthly electric bill, but air-drying your clothes (even indoors) will also lengthen their life, which is an added bonus.

#2. Potted Veggies

Many people think that growing vegetables requires a huge amount of space and lots of effort. Like any plant, veggies do require some tending, but you might be surprised to learn that with relatively little square footage, you can grow good-sized vegetables in your home.

Consider planting a dwarf variety of tomato, or a pepper plant. A packet of seeds, the soil mix, and a large size flower pot (think 5-gallon bucket) will cost you less than $10, but the produce you’ll get will taste even better when you know that no emissions were generated to transport it to your table.

#3. Inventive Reusing

Of course, it goes without saying that the more waste we can reduce decreases the greenhouse gases clogging up the atmosphere. As organic mass decomposes, it generates methane, the most potent and dangerous greenhouse gas, along with carbon and a host of others. Plus, the social and environmental damage of landfills is mind boggling.

Be a positive change on the planet by reusing things in inventive ways. Ideas include:

•       Turn old picture frames into serving trays
•       Clean out ketchup bottles and reuse them as pancake batter (or funnel cake) squirters
•       Transform an old suitcase into a medicine chest or first aid kit
•       Use toilet paper tubes as ribbon holders

A quick online search will yield tons of results!

#4 Weekly Family Game Night (a.k.a. Time Travel Evening)

The energy used to power electronics also contributes to your household carbon footprint, so why not choose one night each week to have family game time or ‘time travel’ where your family turns off the TV and other media devices and spends time playing a board game or reading. You know… like before such things were invented.

By gathering in one room (turning the lights off in others) and pulling the plug on your electronics, you’ll reduce your energy consumption and emissions… not to mention the benefits you’ll get from the knowledge you’ll gain by reading or the memories you’ll make!

#5 Calculate Your Household Carbon Footprint

Calculating your carbon footprint takes very little time, but can have a huge impact on reducing your emissions because by measuring your footprint, you can identify and illuminate emissions generators you may have never considered.

Awareness is one of the best weapons we have against climate change. Knowing what areas of your home generate the most greenhouse gases gives you the power to plan other changes (that may not be so inexpensive) that can lead to a truly carbon-neutral life.

One great option, which science is finding has a huge impact on reducing greenhouse gases, is reforestation. When conducted under specific conditions, replanting forests that were cleared has the power to remove massive amounts of carbon emissions.

For example, new research shows that rebuilding biodiverse forests (those that have been around for a while) has the potential to remove carbon in ways scientists are just now fully understanding.

In order to achieve the largest benefits, the entire ecosystem must be considered during a reforestation project. It’s not enough to simply plant one species of tree on a ‘farm,’ or put trees on land that never had them before. Those sorts of projects yield lower carbon removal potential and risk-averse impacts from invasive species.

But, when reforestation occurs holistically… with native species planted to replace a forest that previously existed for centuries (a giant carbon sink)… the results can be exponential. Plus, it creates a ripple effect. By restoring forest habitats, the newly restored forestland is able to help protect and encourage healthy wildlife populations, which fosters new plant growth… and on, and on, and on…

But if you can’t get involved in a reforestation project right now, try out these suggestions to start reducing your household carbon footprint today… and know that while you’re saving money, you’re also helping the planet fight back against the pollution that is causing so many problems.

What are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint?

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“Shared at Homestead Blog Hop #380”