From the first disposable coffee cup of the morning to the drive home in rush-hour traffic, many things we do daily have an effect on the planet. But looking at the big picture can be overwhelming — where can we begin? Choosing to make a few impactful shifts at home to shrink your carbon footprint is a great place to start. Read on for doable ways to reduce your carbon impact and save a little cash along the way to boot.

Your carbon footprint is a measurement of all of the greenhouse gas emissions created through the things you buy, use and do. This considers the full life span of the things you use, not only the (relatively) short amount of time they’re in your possession. For instance, when thinking about an item’s overall carbon footprint, you would look at how it was manufactured, the impact of using it and what happens to it when it’s no longer useful.

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While no one can deny the convenience of single-use plastics (especially when on the go), switching to reusable alternatives at home can go a long way toward reducing your household waste. Here are a few simple swaps to make in the kitchen:

• Real dishes and cloth napkins instead of paper and plasticware.
• Water-filtration system instead of plastic water bottles.
• Reusable bowl covers instead of plastic wrap.
• Microfiber cloths instead of paper towels for cleaning up.

Most of the food we throw away ends up in landfills, where it contributes to methane emissions. Since shopping and eating is something we do every week, it makes sense to try to do better in this area. One simple first step is to do some meal planning each week so more of the fresh food you purchase gets eaten. And if you know you won’t get to something — like a loaf of fresh bread — before it goes bad, remember to pop it in the freezer instead of letting it go.

You’ve probably already got the basics of everyday recycling down pat — but what about items that are trickier to recycle? If you have electronics that are still functional, donate them to extend their useful life. When they’re ready to retire, find a recycling collection point that accepts e-waste and batteries. On a larger scale, if you’re remodeling your home, consider looking into ways of donating or recycling home remodeling materials from your project to ease landfill loads and cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

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The enzymes in cold water detergent are designed to clean better in cold water. Doing two loads of laundry weekly in cold water instead of hot or warm water can save up to 500 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. Cold water is actually good for certain clothes. Lower temperatures protect the dyes, and therefore the color of clothes, while also helping to preserve the fit of the clothes by preventing shrinkage, particularly along the seams.

Living in fewer square feet means you need less energy to power your home. Not only is this a good thing for the earth, but you’ll benefit from long-term savings in heating, cooling and cleaning too. And right-sizing your living space doesn’t have to mean going tiny — even reducing your home’s footprint by a couple hundred square feet can make a big impact over time.

Pacific Landing offers a variety of condo sizes ranging from 1100 – 2200 square feet. If you find you’re living in a larger space than you need, it may be time for a lifestyle change. These brand-new condos offer a high efficiency electric heat pump, an in-suite hot water on demand tank and double-pane windows which all contribute to living with a smaller carbon footprint. Register with us today to visit our sales centre to learn more about this vibrant waterfront community and to view the available Phase 2 suites.