Reducing Your Carbon Footprint Quiz

The total greenhouse gas emissions from making, using, and discarding a product or service.

Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide that trap heat in the atmosphere.

A significant part of an individual's carbon footprint, related to travel by car, bus, train, or plane.

Another major component of a person's carbon footprint, tied to energy used for home.

A crucial part of personal carbon footprint, regarding food production and consumption.

A common greenhouse gas emitted by human activities and through use of products.

The gradual increase in Earth's average temperature.

Assess your overall greenhouse gas emissions by analyzing different daily activities.

Most greenhouse gas emissions from food come from producing it, not transporting it.

Eating locally grown products may lessen emissions due to shorter transport distances.

Switching to vegetarian or vegan meals can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Locally grown food saves emissions compared to imported produce, but a single vegetarian meal makes a bigger difference.

While organic systems use less energy than conventional ones, they might require more land and emit similar greenhouse gases.

Americans waste a significant amount of purchased food.

Planning and organizing your fridge and making lists before shopping can prevent food waste.

Buying in bulk can lead to unintended food waste.

Creating a meal strategy to avoid excess food.

Food remaining after a meal.

Preserving extra food or produce for later use.

Portioning leftover restaurant food to avoid waste.

Washing dishes instead of using disposables.

Using or reusing containers instead of disposable ones.

Using less energy to perform the same task.

Turning appliances off at the power outlet reduces energy consumption more effectively than putting them to sleep mode. Unplugging is a more effective way to reduce wasted energy.

Streaming movies through a smart TV uses significantly less electricity than using a game console.

LED lights use less energy, last longer, and are more cost-effective compared to incandescent bulbs.

Refrigerator and freezer temperatures should not be set lower than necessary (35-38°F for fresh food and 0°F for freezers).

Look for the resin identification code (numbers inside a triangle) on plastic containers. Empty and rinse containers.

Recycling paper, steel, and tin cans saves energy and reduces waste.

Products with the Energy Star label meet energy efficiency standards.

Old refrigerators are energy-inefficient and should be recycled when possible.

Reuse, repair, donate, or recycle broken electronics to lessen environmental impact.

Dispose of broken electronic devices through designated programs at stores or local facilities.

Collect and recycle dry cell batteries through local municipality programs.

Contact local car dealers or municipalities to dispose of car batteries properly.

Do not put items like garden hoses, needles, propane tanks, aerosol cans, hazardous waste, broken glass, and light bulbs in recycling bins.

Implement measures to reduce energy consumption in your home.

A professional or personal evaluation of a house's energy efficiency.

Insulate and seal problematic areas of the home, such as attic, windows, and doors, to improve energy efficiency.

Making clothes less harmful to the environment and people, focusing on quality and longevity.

Indicates clothing was produced with sustainable practices and fair wages for workers.

A tool that rates brands based on their transparency in disclosing their environmental and social practices.

Producing clothes quickly and cheaply, often with negative environmental and social consequences.

A bag that you bring to the store to carry groceries or other purchases, reducing single-use bags.

Choosing products with minimal packaging to reduce waste.

Buying products made with durable materials that last longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Investments in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere to compensate for your own emissions.