From Guest Blogger Tom Grant: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint in the Snow

Energy use skyrockets during the winter months. Reducing your energy use not only lowers your bills, it also reduces your carbon footprint. Even small adjustments to your lifestyle can have a big impact on the environment.

Pick the Right Electric Company

Not all energy companies are the same. If you live in a state where you can choose from several companies, it is worth doing a comparison. A comparison site such as Energy Providers Alberta can help you find the best company for your needs. Compare prices and pick the option that is best for you and for the environment.

Be Smart About Heating

In most northern states, around 25% of the average monthly budget goes to heating the house in the colder months. This can be significantly reduced with the right techniques.

The type of fuel used will have a big impact on your carbon footprint. Heating with oil produces an average of eight tons of carbon annually. However, if you use natural gas that output is around four tons. It may be costly to make the switch, but it can be worth it.

Another way to save is to lower your thermostat. Even one or two degrees can make a difference both in your bill and your carbon footprint. You can easily turn down the heat and wear a sweater in the house.

You should also ensure there are no leaks in the home. Gaps around windows, doors and anywhere else there are installations in the walls can let heated air out and cold air in. The gaps can be sealed with caulk. Use weather stripping under doors.

Lower Your Energy Usage

Winter brings shorter days and it’s easy to use more electricity. The trick to lowering your carbon footprint is to keep your electricity usage to a minimum. The type of fuel used to generate the electricity you use will also affect the carbon output. Areas where coal is more commonly used will increase carbon by several tons per household.

Laundry can be a major use of energy. During the winter, most people use their dryer, which uses a lot of electricity. To save energy, you can dry your clothes inside if you have space. This also helps increase the humidity within the house. You will not need a humidifier if you choose to dry laundry indoors. When it comes to washing clothes, you usually don’t need hot water. Change your settings to warm and you can save around 500 lbs of carbon every year.

Remember to unplug electronics when not in use and turn off lights when not needed. Switching to energy saving light bulbs will help reduce energy use, as well. These are particularly useful when the days are shorter.

Taking short showers is also a good way to reduce your electricity use. It may be tempting to warm up with a long, hot shower after a day in the cold, but this is often a waste of energy.

Keeping your carbon footprint down can be difficult during the winter. Most homes will require heating and lights will be turned on more often. With a little effort, however, you can limit your energy use and save money, as well as the environment.