How to Become Carbon Neutral at Home With 1 Simple, Free Tool

Learning how to become carbon neutral at home doesn’t have to mean that you need to give up, move into a cave and eat berries for the rest of your life. There is one simple (and free) tool that can help make this happen quickly.

And when combined with some other carbon-neutral tips, you’ll discover that living a carbon-neutral lifestyle is much easier (and less expensive) than you might think.

First, in order to know how to become carbon neutral at home, you need to calculate your carbon emissions and figure up your household carbon footprint.

It’s easy…just use this home emissions calculator.

Now, that you have your footprint amount, you can learn how to become carbon neutral at home by following the steps outlined in this complete guide.

And, to achieve complete neutrality, you can purchase tree planting offsets, like long showers carbon offset to erase the remaining emissions from your lifestyle.

How To Become Carbon Neutral at Home

Every effort, no matter how little, may help lessen one’s carbon footprint at home.⁵ Reducing your carbon footprint may begin with simple lifestyle changes, such as recycling more and purchasing eco-friendly products that you use everyday, like garbage bags or an organic bamboo toothbrush.

Here are some steps to get you started:

Step 1. Do an Energy Audit

A certified energy analysis is the first step in identifying trouble spots in your house that contribute to unnecessary energy consumption and waste.

Step 2. Plant Native Trees in Your Garden and Neighborhood

You may do your part to lessen your community’s carbon footprint by supporting local tree-planting initiatives through financial contributions or by planting native trees.

If your space is limited, you can also purchase tree-planting carbon offsets. These erase over 180 pounds of carbon emissions for every tree you plant!

Step 3. Consider an Electric Car

While it’s true that not everyone is looking to upgrade their ride, those who do should consider going electric to lessen their environmental impact.

However, it’s very crucial to find out the real emissions cost of an electric car. If the power you use to charge is generated by coal, it can often be just as bad (or worse) than buying an older, used gas-powered vehicle.

For example, a 2022 Prius carbon footprint can be larger than an older, fuel-efficient used car.

Step 4. Switch to Natural Cleaning Products

You may reduce single-use plastics and prevent toxic chemicals from contaminating your house and neighborhood by switching to reusable spray bottles and buying organic cleaning materials.

The emissions costs of chemical generation, not to mention the problems it can create with groundwater contamination. So, brush up on how to use baking soda and other natural cleaning agents to swap out those chemical cleansers.

Step 5. Reduce Your Water Consumption

Supplying water to our houses requires a huge investment of time, energy, and equipment. Once it’s available, it takes a lot of work to keep it warm. Because of this, reducing consumption can help the planet.

Turning the water off while brushing your teeth, taking quick showers instead of long soaks, and boiling what you need are all easy ways to conserve water.

Step 6. Consider Renewable Energy Options

You can lessen your carbon footprint and save money on utility costs by moving to a provider that generates its electricity from renewable sources like the sun, the wind, or the water. If solar panels are easily accessible where you reside, you may even set up an installation.

You can also find out the types of solar panels available, how many solar panels do I need, and use a solar panel for an AC calculator to determine if you can cool your home using the sun.

Step 7. Insulation Upgrades

Keeping climate-controlled air inside can not only lower your energy bills and save you money, but it also reduces your household carbon footprint.

Things like window updates, and replacing the weatherstripping around doors and windows can have a huge impact.

What Does Being Carbon Neutral Mean? (What Does It Mean To Become Carbon Neutral?)

To be carbon neutral, an entity’s total emissions of greenhouse gases and removal of those gases from the atmosphere must be equal. For example, an organization to claim carbon neutrality must cut emissions elsewhere in equal measure to those it produces.

Whether for aircraft, livestock, construction tools, or cosmetics, this process gives a greener alternative. Carbon offsets, which use different methods to quantify and assign a monetary value to activities that reduce or eliminate emissions of greenhouse gases, are regularly used to put this into practice.

Restoring equilibrium between human-caused emissions and the atmospheric capacity to absorb them requires reducing the existing human-caused emissions excess.

How To Reach Carbon Neutrality

Attaining carbon neutrality is defined as zero net emissions. It requires offsetting or removing the same amount of carbon from the atmosphere as was released by a nation, business, product, activity, or person during a specific time.

To do this, tree planting offsets can erase the emissions you can’t avoid.

How To Be Carbon Negative

Planting trees is the most efficient way to be carbon negative. Carbon neutrality⁶ is a win-win for the environment, biodiversity, and local economies.

How To Become Carbon Neutral as a Company

Here are four ways how to become carbon-neutral as a company:

Measure

The first thing you will need to do to get your firm certified as carbon neutral is to determine how much greenhouse gas emissions each division contributes to the whole. You can use a business carbon footprint calculator to figure to emissions in less than two minutes.

Reduce

Step two is to formulate a plan for saving money and reducing waste. Non-profit organizations may be an excellent resource for identifying significant areas in which CO₂ emissions can be mitigated, which can be included in a broader mitigation plan.

But, there are plenty of other options available, including smart controls for buildings, shipping emissions reductions, and investing in green electricity.

Offset

Some emissions may be decreased throughout a company’s decarbonization process,⁴ although at a tremendous price, while some cannot. To reduce their carbon footprint, offset purchasers may demonstrate many reduced emissions that can be quantified and validated.

Communicate

Share with the world and your partners your dedication to environmental protection. This demonstration of climate action is great for public relations and encourages other business owners to adopt carbon-neutral practices.

How To Reduce Carbon Footprint at Home (How To Become Carbon Neutral at Home)

The more you learn about your carbon footprint,² the less damage you can do to the planet. Making adjustments in the following areas can have a big impact. Here are some of the best ideas that can help you reduce your carbon footprint at home:³

Food

• Buy seasonal and regional goods.
• Dietary meat intake should be kept to a minimum, particularly beef.
• Choose seafood from sources that don’t harm the environment.

Clothing

Choose a capsule wardrobe.

• Experiment with bartering, borrowing, renting and purchasing pre-owned items.
• Buy responsibly-made garments.

Transport

• Commute by bicycle or public transportation.
• Drive safely and responsibly.
• Take your next vacation on a train.

Carbon Neutral Examples and Carbon Neutral Certification

Net-zero carbon indicates no carbon was ever released; hence no carbon has to be caught or offset to achieve carbon neutrality. The energy produced by a solar-powered office building that uses no fossil fuels would qualify as zero carbon.

A carbon-neutral accreditation attests to a company’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and offsetting any leftover impacts through funding for environmental initiatives. Organizations, locations, and events can earn certification from the Carbon Trust if they have taken several steps to reduce their carbon footprint. It includes measuring it precisely, committing to yearly emissions reductions, and offsetting any remaining emissions with verified carbon sinks or credits.

Products certified by the Carbon Trust have offset their yearly emissions by purchasing carbon credits or have used upstream natural carbon sinks (such as plants, soil, seas, and the atmosphere) to achieve carbon neutrality.

A commitment to annual emissions reduction proven by a plan indicating how the reduction pledges will be realized is required for certification of items employing offsetting as a source of compensation. Products may display the mark to demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility.

Causes of Carbon Footprint

Food, consumption, transportation, and residential energy usage account for the bulk of individual carbon footprints. Meat consumption, in particular, is problematic since it increases the carbon footprint associated with other foods. GHG emissions from livestock are among the highest in the world, with beef being a major source.

Carbon Neutral Meaning

Your carbon footprint consists of all your activities that result in carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Suppose you, your company, or your country are carbon neutral. In that case, it implies that your total annual carbon dioxide emissions equal the amount of carbon dioxide you remove from the atmosphere.

You may lessen your impact on the environment by taking measures like installing solar panels or buying an electric automobile. Getting to carbon neutral implies your CO₂ emissions have no net negative or positive impacts on the environment; doing so may help mitigate climate change.

What Is Carbon Neutral Shipping?

Carbon-neutral shipping is the transportation of goods using carbon-neutral practices. Basically, it means that a shipping company is employing carbon credits or carbon offset strategies to eliminate the CO₂ created.

Many carbon-neutral companies employ this type of shipping.

Carbon Neutral Certification for Small Business

The following actions can help your business get carbon-neutral certification in the United States and throughout the world.

• For one year, keep track of your emissions data.
• Plan how you will cut down on pollution.
• Decrease the impact of any remaining emissions.
• Verify activity data and emissions bounds.
• Obtain a license by signing a contract.
• Publicize your status as a carbon-neutral business by displaying a label.

Some governmental and private organizations provide carbon-neutral certificates for small businesses that wish to demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility.

You can measure emissions by using a business carbon footprint calculator.

How To Reduce Carbon Footprint as a Student

You can still do your part to lessen global warming even if you are a student. The first step is to use a carbon footprint calculator for students. This is a great way to find opportunities to begin practices that make you a lifetime advocate for Earth.¹ The very fact that you are considering these alterations suggests that you care enough about your education to want to encourage your peers to do the same. Here’s how to reduce your carbon footprint as a student:

Consume Less Dairy and Meat

Dairy farms and animals have a large ecological footprint. Attempt to decrease your consumption of meat and dairy products gradually. It might help you feel better, and you could buy many cool goods with the money you save.

Avoid Single-Use Items

A good option is to invest in a quality thermos that can be refilled with water, tea, or your favorite soup instead of purchasing a case of disposable water bottles. Using less plastic means less trash and less exposure to the environmental estrogens that may leach into water supplies.

Get a Laptop

Did you know laptops may reduce energy use by as much as 90% compared to traditional desktop computers? Change to a laptop if you have been utilizing a desktop for research and writing needs.

Take the Scenic Route on Foot (Works for How To Become Carbon Neutral At Home as Well)

Walking is good for more than just the environment. It’s a great way to get in shape and meet people in your neighborhood.

Turn Off Lights When Not in Use

The amount of energy used to heat and light your student apartment rooms is staggering. One simple way to save money on your electric bill is to turn off lights and electronics when they are not in use. Similarly, you could suggest installing motion-detecting, automated, and energy-efficient LED bulbs.

Be Conservative With Your Spending

Is a new bulletin board essential? How do you like that cap? You should consider it seriously before making a purchase when you are tempted. Does it improve your life significantly? Otherwise, it will take up more room and cost you more money.

You may lessen your environmental impact even while in school if you implement one of these suggestions. And if you start young, you can become a responsible citizen and environmental steward for your community.

How To Achieve Net Zero Emissions

To achieve net zero, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to near zero, with any excess re-absorbed by natural systems like the seas and forests.

Achieving a net-zero energy future is one of humanity’s biggest problems. It requires nothing less than a revolution in production, consumption, and transportation. About three-quarters of today’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy sector, making it a critical target for mitigation efforts.

Learning how to become carbon neutral at home isn’t rocket science and anyone can do it by reducing emissions and using carbon offsets to erase the ones you can’t eliminate.