As a Hawaii resident, where we rely on so many things that come from other places, i’ve been on a search to find ways that I can reduce my carbon footprint.
In case you don’t know, 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).
With that said, I guess the number one way is to cut back on the amount of fossil fuels that we burn. Of those, oil is Hawaii’s biggest crutch and if we can make life less reliant on this resource we are off to a great start. Ways to make this happen are by minimizing electric use at home and at work, using efficient means of transportation and buying products that are locally grown or manufactured.
Cutting Back at Home.
My electricity bill, along with everyone else’s, has tripled in the last 2 years because of the increase in oil prices. So naturally, I decided to make a list of ways that my family can reduce our electric use.
Using cold water whenever possible, line-drying, replacing old bulbs with compact fluorescents, turning lights off when not needed, boiling just enough water, unplugging electronics and appliances that are not in use, turning off computers and fans overnight and defrosting your freezer on a regular basis are just a few of many ways to cut back on use. The options are endless and are unique to each household.
Hawaii is fortunate enough to be home to some of the greatest natural energy sources- sun, wind and water. Installing a solar photovoltaic or water heating system is probably one of the smartest decisions to make at this time. State and Federal tax rebates decrease the installation price up to 65%. There are low-interest financing options available and now is the time to get in on this deal because the Federal rebate may be discontinued at the end of 2008. The average home will see a 90% decrease on water heating costs if they install a solar water heater system according to Hawaiian Electric.
For more energy saving tips and information about installing solar, visit HECO.
Transportation Woes.
Prior to having children, using the subway or bus, even walking were my only choices of transportation, but I was living in a city where traffic was a nightmare and parking was not easy to come by. Traffic still is a nightmare and sadly, I now rely on my car more than ever. It has become the easiest and most convenient way for me to transport my kids to school, run errands and get to work, and according to the carbon footprint calculator it accounts for almost 50% of my dent.
Now with school almost back in session many of us commuters are bracing for the increase in traffic. Coming from Hawaii Kai, it takes me almost three times longer to get to work when school is in session and the planned rail system is not going to benefit East Oahu. If I were to take the Bus I would need to leave my house at least an hour earlier and I would probably still be sitting in traffic for an hour and a half. Carpooling might be the better option, but it’s not the answer. So far we have not come up with a solution that results in less vehicles on the road during morning and afternoon rush hours. Some how we need to make it more attractive for students and professionals to seek alternative transportation like the Bus or maybe even consider fluctuating work or school schedules to accommodate those that need to get to and from town.
Just recently, Utah announced that they will be the first state to implement a 4-day work week starting this August for 17,000 of it’s State workers. By shutting down 1,000 State buildings each Friday of the month they hope to save money, decrease traffic and reduce their energy use 20% by the year 2015. If successful, this may be a role-model for other cities around the world seeking the same outcome.
To sum things up, using a hybrid vehicle or one that runs on biodiesel, walking, riding a bike, taking the bus and carpooling are a few ways to transport yourself more efficiently. It may take some research to find a system that is best for your particular needs, but it may be worth it, economically and environmentally speaking, for the long run.
Buying local.
When it comes to shopping, especially at the grocery store, we should be taking advantage of what Hawaii has to offer. Just think how much fuel was used to transport those California, vine-ripened tomatoes as compared to a box of juicy and locally grown Kamuela tomatoes. If we work hard to support local farmers we are reducing our carbon footprint. For a directory of locally grown food visit Slow Food Hawaii or make a trip to your local farmers’ market and meet the farmers in person.
To calculate your carbon footprint and find out how you can go “carbon neutral” by purchasing CO2 offsets that will directly benefit Hawaii, visit Evolution Sage.