However unfortunate this may sound, Earth does not have unlimited resources available in order to sustain its billions of inhabitants; as members of this planet, humans must attempt to reduce the negative impact we make.

As defined by Timeforchange, a Carbon Footprint is “The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)”. Listed below are five ways we can reduce harmful gases produced by our living.

1. Travel in a More Environmentally Friendly Manner

Large vehicles and trucks release hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. Battery-run cars are a good alternative in comparison to purely gasoline-run vehicles. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, electric cars can save the owner money in the long run as less gas is needed. If possible, waking or biking to your destination can also greatly help with CO2 emissions.

2. Reuse and Recycle

Recycling trash, water bottles, and other items is another great way to help the environment. Composts limit the amount of food waste thrown out onto earth and the decaying food can help feed decomposers, which in turn can create fertilizers for plants. Recycling plastic water bottles and other trash reduces the amount of new material needed in order to create items, saving earth’s resources to a greater extent.

3. Support Clean Energy Sources

Energy can be harnessed from wind, water, the sun, and other elements in nature. These clean and abundant sources have little to no negative impact on earth, in comparison to coal and gas, which release fumes. Although these alternative energy industries are slowly gaining popularity, more support is needed in order to eventually replace toxic energy sources.

4. Eat Locally Produced Food

Eating locally is a healthier option for consumers and can reduce the length of the travel the food has to undergo in order to get from the ground to your plate. By cutting down to the miles of food transportation, less gas is used, money is saved, less CO2 is released into the atmosphere, and food is guaranteed to be fresher. Supporting local farmers may be more expensive, but it has a plethora of benefits not seen in food grown elsewhere.

5. Reduce Water Usage

Cutting down unnecessary water usage is essential in order to help preserve the environment; only three percent of the water on Earth is accessible and clean. By taking shorter showers, turning off the sink while brushing your teeth, and reusing grey-water,  a surprising amount of water can be saved.