Your Carbon Footprint

What is your Carbon Footprint?

Your carbon footprint, also known as your ecological footprint, is a measure of the impact our individual activities have on the planet and climate change.

It relates tot he amount of damaging emissions produced in our day-to-day lives through burning carbon-based fossil fuels for electricity, manufacturing, transportation, heating, etc.

You can get a fair idea of your carbon footprint by using a carbon calculator. Such a tool measures the carbon emissions your lifestyle generates, and shows you where you can change your individual impact.

There are many practical steps we can take to reduce our personal or business carbon footprint. We have made some suggestions below.

Recycle, Reuse, Reduce and Respect

When we consciously apply the 4 Rs, we start to create new habits and move toward a more sustainable lifestyle that has fewer harmful consequences for the Earth.

  • Use fewer plastic bags: take your own bags to the grocery store, ask the falafel seller not to put your sandwich in a plastic bag (hey, it's already wrapped in paper!)
  • Find a second use for empty juice bottles and yogurt containers
  • Take used plastic, glass and paper to a recycling centre
  • Do not throw away food
  • Buy recycled paper products, for instance for brochures and business cards
  • Use less electricity: turn off lights when you leave a room, unplug your water cooler when you're away, use the short cycle on your washing machine, don't use your air conditioner at night... open your windows
  • Leave your car at home: walk to the store, take the bus, car pool
  • Turn off the engine when you're making a delivery or waiting for someone
  • Buy fewer consumer goods
  • Make what you already have last longer: don't throw it away... get it repaired!
  • Adopt an attitude of appreciation and respect in every action: you will think twice before wasting anything
  • Take a stand on ecological and conservation issues
  • Offset your carbon footprint by supporting environmental initiatives

The Green Pages

The RBG is now compiling a directory of green organizations, companies and services in Jordan.

If you have something good to offer, please add your info. And whenever you are looking for eco-friendly alternatives, think of consulting Jordan's Green Pages on this website.

 

Tell us what you doing to reduce your carbon footprint

If you have a great tip to share, drop us a line and we'll include your idea on this page.