Mid-Semester Reflection: Reducing Carbon Footprint - Actionable Steps

This essay presents a comprehensive reflection on reducing carbon footprint, detailing various feasible actions individuals can take to minimize their environmental impact. It includes practical steps such as conserving electricity, reducing waste through the 5 Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, rota, recycle), driving less, and conserving water. The essay further outlines a specific action plan for the next week, including installing solar panels, reducing meat consumption, unplugging electronics, opting for walking or biking, planting trees, eating locally sourced food, adjusting thermostats, and using cold water for laundry. These individual actions are deemed necessary for creating an effective change in the environment. The document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a variety of study tools and solved assignments.

RUNNING HEAD: Sustainability 0
Sustainability

Sustainability 1
All the energy and electricity generation have an impact on the environment, economy along
with other people. The list of actions to reduce carbon footprint feasibly are:
 The electricity can be saved by plugging appliances into the power strip and turning
off appropriately when not in the use comprising a computer (Sustainable
Development Goals, 2018).
 The zero waste is an amazing step towards reducing carbon emissions. The 5 Rs can
be breakdown into refuse, reduce, reuse, rota and recycle. The use of plastic papers
should be refused. The purchasing should be reduced to keep in mind the needful
things. The items should be recycled in the landfills. A composting system can be set
up for the food scrap and wastages. The items which cannot be refused, reduced and
reused come under the category of recycling.
 Driving less can also result in reducing carbon footprint. The individuals are required
to walk, take public transportation and bike share whenever possible to reach the
destination.
 The water should be conversed and protected in a number of ways. Water should not
be running while brushing teeth. Shorter showers should be taken.
 Air travel is also one of the reasons responsible for the carbon footprint. Flying
through the air for the shorter trips should be avoided if possible. It may produce
fewer greenhouse gases.
 Unnecessary braking and acceleration can be avoided while driving. As it can result in
forty percent more fuel consumption (Clean Technica, 2017).
 The incandescent light bulbs should be changed which waste 90% of the energy to the
waste. The bulbs can be changed with the LEDs and these last up to twenty-five times
longer.
List of actions planned to try in the next week:
 It is planned to install solar panels in the next week. It is helpful in saving energy.
 The consumption of meat will be avoided as it can make a vast difference. It is
because greenhouse gas emissions from the agribusiness are a huge problem than
fossil fuels.
 The electronics suck energy when they are plugged in even if the equipment is
powered down. Once the device is charged, it should be unplugged from the socket.
As a cord plugged into a socket contributes to the carbon footprint.

Sustainability 2
 In the next week, it is planned to drive less and will be chosen to walk, bike or take
the bus. It is the smooth decision with immediate outcomes.
 Another action planned is to plant some greens in order to reduce carbon footprints.
The plants are capable of absorbing carbon dioxide.
 It is also planned to eat more of local as sticking to food grown locally can reduce the
carbon footprint generated by the shipping foods.
 The thermostat will be turned down as it contributes to the carbon footprint. So, at
night thermostat will be turned down by a degree or two.
 It is also a way to use electric laundry machine on the cold water setting. It can simply
reduce the washer’s carbon emissions by 70%.
The individual actions are necessary for reducing carbon footprint. It can lead to an effective
change in the environment.

Sustainability 3
References
Sustainable Development Goals, 2018. The Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World.
Retrieved on 18 February, 2018 from
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/takeaction/
Clean Technica, 2017. The Most Effective Individual Steps to Decrease One’s Carbon
Footprint. Retrieved on 18 February, from
https://cleantechnica.com/2017/09/27/effective-individual-steps-decrease-ones-
carbon-footprint/