4 Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

As environmental consultants in Melbourne, we’re constantly finding new ways in which people can reduce their carbon footprint and be better for the environment. There are a lot of different ways that people can do this – with methods ranging from small to larger, more extravagant things.

Everyone already knows the five “r’s” – refuse, reduce, reuse, rot and recycle. But today’s blog is going to concentrate on four different methods that can help you reduce your carbon footprint. From switching to sustainable energy to tiny homes – let’s jump right in!

1.    Use clean energy

Electricity is something that we mass-consume as a society. In today’s day and age, it can be pretty difficult to live without it. Around 80% of Australia’s energy is generated from non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal and natural gasses – which are burnt at large power stations.

Burning coal releases harmful chemicals into the air such as sulphur, mercury and large amounts of carbon dioxide which drastically affect our environment and actively contribute to the climate change crisis.

By switching to more sustainable and cleaner energy sources such as solar or wind power – you’re actively making a difference. It’s pretty simple and common to have solar panels installed in your roof along with a storage battery.

You might not think that one house making a change will make a difference, but all it takes is one person and then more and more people will start to do it.

2.    Ditch the car

Depending on the distance between your home and work – riding a bike for your daily commute can be a great alternative to driving. There are more and more bike paths being built making it easier and more accessible for people to turn to this solution.

Petrol cars release toxic fumes such as greenhouse gasses and carbon monoxide into the environment. Where possible, try to ride a bike instead. If you absolutely need your car then consider electric or hybrid cars – which are still environmentally better compared to traditional petroleum cars.

3.    Tiny homes

A tiny home is, as the name suggests, a small home. The phenomenon has taken off in the last few years and is used to define a small home that generates its own power and catches its own water. They’re essentially entirely self-sustainable units that cost drastically less than traditional homes and use up less energy across the board.

There are also economic benefits to tiny homes as they’re not as expensive to build or maintain. This means that it’s a lot easier to be a tiny-home owner than it is to be an owner of a traditional home.

On top of this, the fact that it is a smaller home means there’s less room for certain things – which in turn encourages you to consume less when it comes to material objects as well as the type of foods you eat.

Living in a tiny home can be a very minimalistic and eye-opening experience as it can relieve some everyday stresses that come with modern life in addition to drastically reducing your carbon footprint.

4.    Eat locally

If you can, plant your own vegetables and fruit. If you can manage to live off the land, then you’ll be saving an enormous amount of money as well as contributing to a healthier lifestyle for both yourself and the environment. Start eating seasonal fruits and veggies to make it easier on yourself and your crops.

If you’re not in a position to start growing your own food naturally, then try purchasing from locally sourced markets. It may cost a little extra, but the difference in food quality is noticeable and you’ll be supporting local farmers who ethically grow their food.

Animal products require a lot of energy and water to create in comparison to plant-based products so it’s always more sustainable to stick with plant-based options.

In need of environmental consultants in Melbourne?

Alpha Environmental are firm believers in sustainable living – and we hope you can be too after reading our blog. Our environmental consultants in Melbourne can offer a lot more than advice, though. Things like environmental site assessments and soil, groundwater and asbestos testing are all services that our specialists can conduct.

With years of professional, hands-on experience, our environmental consultants are able to assist you with any environmental query you may have concerning a new or already established property.

If you would like to learn more about what our Melbourne environmental consultants do, then please give us a call on 1300 039 181. You can also contact us via the enquiry form on our website.