How can I decrease my carbon footprint?

Question

I am 15 and i am becoming envionmrentally concious. what steps can i take to reduce my carbon footprint?

PS: i want to do those compact flourecent bulbs but my grandma says she's allergic to those lights. . . she says she can't see in rooms with those lights on.

My sister and brother sleep w the lights on

I try to turn them off but they wake up immedately

My daad thins recycling takes too much time and so he can't do it

Oh, i live in a really rural area and all the places are like 20 minutes away :(

Answer 1

Pay Al Gore.

Answer 2

I commend you for your thoughts. You're 15 and environmentally conscious, I wished every 15 year old out there are like you.

Have your brother and sister night light replaced with CFL's that way even if they want it on over night the energy consumptions lessen. Use CFL's in your room and show your siblings that you can sleep with the lights off. When you brush your teeth turn the water off, only turn it on when you need it. Have your Dad install a sensor light on your porch instead of the one that you leave it on all night. There are lots of things that you can do just use your head and common sense.

Lastly, you can start a movement in your school for environmentally conscious youth groups and build a solid model foundation for the next generations. Be a model for the environment.

Answer 3

Lots of walking. Trips under one mile shouldn't require a car. Luckily, you don't have a license yet anyway, so you won't necessarily miss it :-)

Buy locally-grown foods (farmers markets, local co-ops stores, etc.)

Minimize your usage of appliances.

Encourage family members to invest in energy-efficient appliances if they're buying something new.

Recycle and reuse! If other family members are too lazy, pick up the slack for them and become the designated recycler. (Point out the financial benefits of reusable containers and things to them!)

Put *some* CFL's in your room, but leave one lamp with a regular bulb so your grandmother can still come in comfortably if she wants to. (She doesn't have any allergy, but there are some people who really don't tolerate the particular light output of fluorescent bulbs well.) Also, you can buy LED nightlights for your siblings -- very minimal energy usage, but good nighttime lighting.

Answer 4

There are lots of little things you can do.

Take shorter showers (or better yet, get wet, turn water off, wash, turn water on to rinse), Turn off lights when you leave a room, don't leave the TV/Radio/Computer on when you're not using them, recycle your garbage, start a compost pile with certain food remains, buy recycled items.