Cut Back on Video Calls

Video conferencing and online streaming have become a significant part of our personal and professional lives in recent years. But those video calls are using up incredible amounts of energy each time that you power your camera on. One hour of a video call can use over 1,000 grams of carbon dioxide, equivalent to over 10% of what you use each time you burn a gallon of gasoline. Consider simply turning off the camera during your next Zoom call, as that can lessen the impact on the environment by 96%.

Drink Different Milk

The type of milk you drink in your morning latte or on its own may have a negative environmental impact. It takes far more energy to produce dairy-based milk than it does the more common alternatives, such as soy, almond, and rice milk. So, even if you don’t have any dietary restrictions, consider switching to a more environmentally friendly milk the next time you stop by your local coffee shop.

Swap Clothes With Friends

Sometimes our wardrobes need an update, but manufacturing new clothing can produce tons of harmful carbon emissions. You can always go to a thrift store and purchase some older clothing or organize a fun clothing swap with friends. Clothing swaps are a great way to change up your style without supporting wasteful manufacturing practices. It also helps extend the life of clothing people would otherwise throw out or stuff in the back of their closet.

Only Do Full Laundry Loads

Doing partial or even half laundry loads contributes to wasted electricity and water. This is especially true if you’re using warm or hot water, as 90% of the energy washing machines use goes toward heating. In order to lessen your impact, only do loads of laundry when the hamper is full, as a half load and a full load will use roughly the same amount of water. Also, use cold water if possible. Lastly, consider air drying your clothes rather than using the dryer, which can reduce your emissions by about 67%.

Take Shorter Showers

Your morning shower is literally throwing wasted energy down the drain. The shorter your showers are, the less impact they’ll have on the environment. Limit yourself to just a few minutes, if possible, and use colder temperatures to cut back on the power used to heat the water. It could be worth buying a sustainable shower head as well, as those energy-efficient models can reduce the amount of waste in a major way.

Use Stairs Instead of Elevators

Elevators use copious amounts of energy, making it all the more wasteful if you ride up solo. For those who are physically capable, we recommend taking the stairs instead, as this helps reduce the number of trips that each lift makes. That being said, if you work on a higher floor or don’t have the physical ability to walk up stairs, then elevators are an inevitability. If this is the case, try to ride the elevator with other people instead of by yourself to cut back on the number of trips each elevator makes.

Buy Carbon Credits

You can purchase carbon credits to offset your overall footprint if you’d rather not change your lifestyle. Sites like Terrapass allow you to pay money to fund projects that aim to reduce emissions, such as planting trees and capturing landfill gas. Terrapass offers individuals and businesses the chance to take advantage of these programs depending on your financial means. Check out their carbon footprint calculator to determine how much output you’re producing and if there are any projects you can invest in to help lessen your impact.

Bennett KleinmanStaff Writer

Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Optimism Media. He is also a freelance comedy writer, devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.

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