AMLI Residential
Back Arrow
Back to Blog Home
Green Living

What is a Carbon Footprint, Anyway?

by
Oct 24th, 2024

As the conversation around climate change grows louder, you've probably come across the term "carbon footprint." It's one of those buzzwords that seems to pop up everywhere — whether it's about the products we buy, the food we eat or how we get around. But what exactly is a carbon footprint, and why should we care about it?

At its core, a carbon footprint measures the total amount of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) that our activities produce — our impact or “footprint” we leave behind on the planet. These gasses, which include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane and nitrous oxide, trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming and other climate change effects. 

When you hear people talking about "reducing their carbon footprint," they’re referring to minimizing their contribution to this buildup of CO₂. A carbon footprint is a reflection of our impact on the planet and how our lifestyle contributes to the environmental challenges we face today.

What you need to know about carbon footprints

Breaking down the carbon footprint

So, what goes into your carbon footprint? Essentially, it's made up of both direct and indirect emissions.

Direct emissions are the ones we cause directly, like when we drive a car that burns gasoline or when we use natural gas to heat our homes. Indirect emissions, on the other hand, come from activities that might not be immediately obvious. For instance, when you buy a product, the energy required to manufacture, transport and eventually dispose of that product adds to your carbon footprint — even though you’re not physically the one burning fuel to produce it.

Every action we take, from boiling water for tea to flying across the country, requires energy; and in today’s world, much of that energy comes from burning fossil fuels, which release CO₂ into the atmosphere. The more energy-intensive the activity, the larger the carbon footprint it leaves behind. And while some of our carbon emissions are inevitable, understanding how they add up can help us make more informed choices about the energy we use and the products we consume.

Calculating your carbon footprint

The concept of a carbon footprint sounds simple enough, but calculating it can be a bit more complex. It’s not just about tallying up how much gas you put in your car or how often you leave the lights on — although those certainly play a part. To get a full picture, we have to consider everything from the food we eat to the electronics we use and even the clothes we wear.

For example, driving a car contributes directly to your carbon footprint by burning fuel. But the footprint of the food on your plate is a little more indirect. It includes the emissions generated by growing, harvesting, processing, packaging and transporting that food. The same goes for consumer goods. A new smartphone might seem small and lightweight, but the process of mining raw materials, manufacturing the components and shipping the final product adds up to a significant amount of CO₂.

Thankfully, there are carbon footprint calculators available online that can help you estimate your impact based on your lifestyle choices. These tools take into account factors like the size of your home, your energy usage, your travel habits and even your diet to provide a rough estimate of how much CO₂ you’re responsible for each year. While these calculators may not be perfect, they offer valuable insight into where your emissions are coming from — and, more importantly, where you can make changes.

Why does your carbon footprint matter?

You might ask yourself, “Self, why does my individual carbon footprint matter when global industries and governments are responsible for so much of the world’s emissions?” 

It’s a valid question. It’s true that large-scale industries and energy production contribute significantly to global CO₂ levels — however, individuals play a crucial role in driving demand for the goods and services that these industries provide. The choices we make as consumers and citizens, whether it’s the car we drive, the energy we use at home or the food and clothes we buy, collectively shape the environmental impact of entire economies.

A higher carbon footprint means a bigger contribution to GHG buildup. As greenhouse gasses accumulate in the atmosphere, they cause the planet to heat up, leading to a cascade of environmental problems. We’re already seeing the effects of this sort of rapid change: rising global temperatures, more frequent and severe weather events, melting ice caps and rising sea levels. These changes not only affect the natural world but also have real consequences for our daily lives, from damaging infrastructure to threatening food and water security. Impoverished communities that don’t have the resources to protect themselves from these sorts of effects are hit the hardest, despite contributing the least to the problem.

On the flip side, lowering our individual carbon footprints can collectively make a big difference. If more people shift towards sustainable habits, like using renewable energy, reducing waste and choosing more eco-friendly modes of transportation, it can help slow the pace of climate change. And while tackling climate change certainly requires systemic changes from governments and corporations, individual actions are still an important piece of the puzzle.

Reducing your carbon footprint

So, what can you do to shrink your carbon footprint? The good news is that even small changes can make a big impact over time! 

One of the most effective ways to reduce your emissions is to focus on your energy use. For instance, switching to renewable energy sources like solar or wind, or simply being more mindful of turning off lights and electronics when you’re not using them, can significantly cut down your CO₂ emissions. Living in an apartment community that prioritizes sustainably-sourced energy and environmentally-responsible homes is a big step in that direction! 

Another area to consider is transportation. Cars are one of the largest contributors to individual carbon footprints, so using public transportation, carpooling, biking or walking whenever possible can help reduce the amount of fuel you burn. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, opting for an electric or hybrid car can also make a big difference. Find an apartment community with bike storage, that’s close to public transportation stops or offers electric car charging to make these steps easier!

Your diet also plays a surprising role in your carbon footprint. Meat, especially beef and lamb, requires large amounts of energy, land and water to produce, not to mention the methane emissions from livestock that add to the GHGs produced. By cutting back on meat or incorporating more plant-based meals into your diet, you can reduce your food-related carbon emissions. Even reducing food waste by planning meals more carefully, using leftovers or composting scraps helps lower your footprint!

And finally, reducing waste in general is key. Reusing items, recycling and avoiding single-use plastics all help to decrease the amount of energy needed to produce and dispose of goods. Conscious consumption — buying less, choosing sustainably made products and supporting companies with eco-friendly practices — can also help shift the demand away from carbon-intensive industries.

Understanding our carbon footprint is the first step toward making more sustainable choices in our everyday lives. While it may seem daunting at first, taking small steps to reduce our emissions can lead to lasting changes for the planet. Whether it’s switching to renewable energy, driving less, eating more plant-based meals or reducing food waste, each action we take helps move the needle in the right direction. The more aware we become of our environmental impact, the better equipped we are to make choices that benefit both us and the Earth.

So, the next time you hear someone mention their carbon footprint, you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about — and, more importantly, you’ll know how to take action!

Good luck!

Pin it!

Featured photo by Yohan Marion on Unsplash

Author of Article

Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.

Arrow icon.View All Posts by Colleen Ford
share this post