How many hours a day do you spend on a computer, tablet, or smartphone? Does the number naturally come to your mind or do you take a second to think about the result? These questions are usually passed around quite frequently from day-to-day conversations or surveys, however, you probably do not answer the question yourself.
As you ponder your answer, keep in mind that every hour you add becomes a footprint. Not in the literal sense, but a carbon footprint. What is a carbon footprint you might ask? According to the YouTube video simpleshow explains the Carbon Footprint by simpleshow, a carbon footprint is every action that you emit within the environment that leaves carbon.
For those that did not study chemistry, carbon is an abundant and highly flexible element that exists within all facets of things on Earth. You can find carbon in plants, living beings, and even metals.
A carbon footprint is not exactly something that you can visually reference. The term is more of an idea to be aware of while living your daily lifestyle. Many people use the term to correlate global warming to the idea, but that is an entirely different subject.
The main thing you should be keenly aware of is how much of your daily lifestyle exhibits carbon emission. Turning on a light, charging a smartphone, cooking a meal, and many more activities deepen that footprint further.
A carbon footprint is not a bad thing though; nor is the idea some kind of responsive injustice tracker making you out to be a villain. Needless to say, you do not need to completely change your life to be more environmentally friendly because of paranoia.
A good way to look at the carbon footprint idea is to match the amount of carbon you emit from your actions to how much water you drink. Everyone needs water; water is a daily and weekly necessity in order to live. Your carbon footprint is just as volatile as needing to do a job.
One simple fact is the carbon footprint you make does not go away. Ever. Your actions cannot be reversed because time continuously moves forward; unless you develop time travel. Worrying and fretting over spilled milk is like water under the bridge.
There are indeed tips and advice you can consider to reduce your carbon footprint, but depending on how you feel emotionally, you may need to consider what is best for you. Being anxious and nerve-wracked does not help your situation or health.
By knowing what a carbon footprint is and does, we can look at the broader picture. The fun part of knowing about a carbon footprint is looking at your own carbon footprint. A good question to ask is: How do you measure your own carbon footprint?
According to the YouTube video Calculating carbon footprints | Inki Brown | TEDxBærekraftigeliv by Tedx Talks, a good place to start is by looking at your direct and indirect control of emissions or carbon. A direct emission is something you own or control, while an indirect emission is something that you use but cannot control or own.
A good example of each is your car or a taxi cab. Brainstorm as many examples of both direct and indirect emissions that you use; you may need to get creative and separate the examples into categories based on electricity or gas. Once you have the examples listed, research how much electricity or gas each example uses.
This does not need to be an exact number, but a generic search will be fine. Eventually, these numbers will combine into totals and result in your own carbon footprint.
Looking at your result number based on your direct and indirect examples is the answer to what a carbon footprint is for one person. Imagine the results of your entire family combined with yours and you may thank Earth for being so benevolent in providing daily needs.
The bigger appreciation is that carbon footprints are inevitable and Earth is there to provide for you. Whether you have a big or small carbon footprint, know that you are not alone and you should not worry about leaving such a mark.
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