Leave the right lasting impression

Carbon footprint is a measurement of carbon emissions that indicates how many greenhouse gases you produce. These gases accelerate global warming and climate change. Carbon footprints are made up of two parts: a primary and a secondary footprint. Primary footprints are the result of direct emissions, caused by energy consumption and transportation. Secondary footprints are the result of indirect emissions, caused by the lifecycle of products and services we use. Together, these factors contribute to upsetting established climates.

There are several easy ways to offset your carbon emissions and decrease your footprint in the workplace. The first step is to replace your lights with high efficiency fluorescent fixtures and install occupancy sensors in the office. To further your efforts, automate HVAC systems to schedule heating and cooling to turn off during low-usage hours and regularly clean air filters. Finally, encourage recycling and reusing among employees by providing recycling bins in the offices and dishes instead of plastic utensils in the kitchen.

While it is easy to focus on your primary footprint, your secondary footprint is equally important. In fact, 60% of a person’s carbon footprint comes from the goods and services they buy. For example, avoid buying imported products that require large transportation costs. Be smart when purchasing electrical products and make sure you choose energy efficient models when possible. Each decision you make affects your carbon footprint and in turn impacts the world in which we live.

Learn more about carbon footprints
Find out how much CO2 you emit
See what you can do to increase carbon offsets
Implement green strategies in your business