A great way to start "going green" is to become aware of your “Carbon Footprint”. Chances are you may have come across the term, but what exactly is it?  Well the concept is fairly simple: A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide you add to the atmosphere each year as a direct result of your actions and lifestyle.

Everyone and everything that uses natural resources creates a carbon footprint; and while it is virtually impossible to have a zero footprint, many businesses and individuals are taking steps to reduce the size of their footprint.

There are quite a few ways available to reduce the size of your carbon footprint, and they all begin with awareness. Most people and companies conduct their day to day activities with little to no concept of how their actions impact the environment. That is not to say that most people don’t care. It is likely they are just simply unaware.

A carbon footprint is measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e), and activities such as heating and cooling your home, driving your car, and running electrical appliances all contribute to the size of your footprint.  The more natural resources you use to carry out these activities, the more carbon based emission you add to the environment, and the bigger your carbon footprint. 

It is the incremental increase in CO2e over time that many believe has contributed to the steady rise in the earth’s surface temperature; a phenomenon commonly known as global warming.