Taking Steps to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

By now you’ve probably noticed that the idea of “Going Green” is not just a fad. It seems today that this movement is everywhere – from community groups advocating for it to newspapers and TV outlets reporting on it, everyone is beginning to take action. Maybe you have decided that you too want to “Go Green” and have made the decision to live more sustainably, but now you’re wondering what your next steps are.

Well, there are hundreds of things you can do to save energy, save water, save money and save the environment. You’ve probably heard many of these ideas before: plant more trees, buy a hybrid car, invest in solar panels; the list goes on and on. These are some big initiatives that would surely make an impact, but what can the average Long Islander do on a daily basis to reduce their carbon footprint?

Well here are just a few suggestions:

1.     Eating local = Greening local

• By dining on locally grown food you can distinctly reduce your carbon footprint. Locally grown produce often has much lower food miles – the distance food travels to the store or stand you bought it from – compared to food from big restaurant chains and food franchises. By eating local you’re supporting a process that reduces automobile travel, cutting out added pollution and fuel use, while also helping boost your local economy.

2.     Fondness of your food

• Where and how you buy your food isn’t the only part of the solution; how you handle that food also plays a big role in lessening your carbon footprint. For starters, try to buy your food in bulk – this will help cut down on the trips you make to purchase it. Don’t wash food under running tap water for too long and package all leftovers in reusable containers.  Furthermore, try using the microwave more often than stoves and ovens as it is much more energy efficient. If you must use the oven, use the top shelf or level, as it is always the hottest and cooks food quicker.

3.     We built this city on rock and roll?

• Simply put, we’ve built Long Island for cars. With roadways packed Long Islanders are looking for alternative ways to get to work and school and to complete daily errands. Transit-oriented developments are a big way communities can decrease their carbon footprint and their dependence on automobiles, by building residential apartment units within walking distance of Long Island Rail Road stations. In the meantime, we can do our best to help by taking public transportation as much as possible, walking or riding bikes around town, and carpooling with friends and family to cut down on pollution.

4.     Save our open spaces

• The next time you pass an empty lot or abandoned building on Long Island, consider the businesses and housing that could fill that space. Imagine the revenue and jobs that a new community business would create and the tax dollars that would flow into our schools and towns. Cleaning up brownfields is critical in shrinking our carbon footprint as failure to do so poses a present threat to the quality of our water supply, air and surrounding soil. Remember that for every acre of brownfields we redevelop today, we save three acres of open space tomorrow.

5.     Here come the water works

• We’re not talking about taking shorter showers or fixing the leaky kitchen faucet (although those are big problems on their own). Instead we bring up Long Island's drinking water – almost all of which is from our groundwater. Our drinking water is frequently at great risk for contamination as Long Island home and business owners dump various toxins into storm sewers and down their drains which can find their way into Long Island aquifers – our solitary provider of drinking water. The development of wastewater infrastructure and water recycling systems remains a must not just for drinking water protection, but for economic development, revitalization of downtowns, affordable housing, new employment, open space preservation and to help diminish our carbon footprint.

Editor's Note:  This article was submitted by Sustainable Long Island.