Saving the World, one step at a time

To a great extent I have tried to reduce my carbon foot-print by putting some thought into daily activities and energy consumption.

- I always use a plate and real silverware for lunch and dinner. People around me, all really smart folks, insist on using to-go boxes for lunch everyday. Thankfully my employer is now only using bio-degradable boxes, so the trash will decompose eventually but will release a lot of methane into the air. Also manufacturing, transporting the boxes and junk will cause more energy consumption. Some hot water and soap to clean the dishes and forks is definitely better.

- I am biking to work sometimes. I don't see more than one or two other people who do that on any given day. Why? I think it's almost a no-brainer that biking is a good alternative. In the Bay Area there are bike-lanes all over. I take 15 mins to drive to work and 30 mins to bike. The numbers might be similar for a lot of people.

- Using CFLs. Okay CFL adoption is probably much higher than other energy-saving measures. Switching off lamps during the day and using sunlight, switching off lamps in empty rooms... I am trying to do this whenever I can.

- Taking shorter baths. I tended to just take a hot shower for 30 mins+ before. Keeping it short, 5-10 mins saves a lot of energy and water.

- I am also working on making computer chips consume less power at work. I also use only one LCD screen, to save some more power.

- Taking a bag along when I go shopping for groceries. When I forget I use paper.

A family in New York actually took this theme all the way and drastically changed their life for a year. No-Impact Man.