An average household in the U.S. emits 132,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.  These emissions come from things like electricity use, transportation, and the goods and services purchased.  All the households in the U.S. combined are responsible for more emissions than the total emissions from any single country, except for China. These are huge numbers.  Unlike other environmental issues which some people may feel disconnected from, carbon dioxide emissions is something everyone is a producer of and can be a reducer of it.

Before you start making changes, you should find out what your carbon footprint is.  A carbon footprint measures the amount of impact your lifestyle has on the environment in terms of greenhouse gas produced.  It is measured in the units of carbon dioxide and sometimes in the number of Earths it would take to support everyone in the world if they were to live your same lifestyle.  You can calculate your carbon footprint by going to MyFootprint and answering questions about your lifestyle.  This calculator will also give you a breakdown of where your emissions are coming from (e.g. your house, goods and services purchased, etc.).  Once you know where your emissions are coming from, it is easier to make changes to reduce them. 

There are a lot of great sources to help you find ways to reduce your carbon footprint, like this website or read more in depth about solutions with books like The Earth Friendly Home: Save Energy, Reduce Consumption, Shrink Your Carbon Footprint.

Living in the United States, a highly industrialized society, it can be difficult to reduce all aspects of your lifestyle's carbon emissions.  For example, it is not always a possibility to walk or bike somewhere and you have to drive or fly.  To make up for these carbon dioxide emissions produced by your activities there are carbon offsets that you can purchase.  One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide in emissions.  A carbon offset can come in many different forms like renewable energy projects, reforestation, and destruction of industrial pollutants.  When you purchase a carbon offset that money is given to fund these different projects. 

You can purchase a carbon offset through many different providers.  The price of one carbon offset can range from a few dollars to in the $30 range per offset.  The price depends on the current carbon market and where you are purchasing from.  When purchasing a carbon offset you will want to research the provider to make sure they are a credible seller.  The Carbon Fund is a great sellers that allows you to choose what projects you want your money to go toward.

Buying carbon offsets isn't an option for everyone because of their cost.  If you can't afford buying offsets that help fund projects that reduce emissions, you can make your own projects.  Planting trees in your backyard, or volunteering your time to plant trees with a local arborist organization or starting a worm compost for your food waste are all low cost easy alternatives to buying carbon offsets. 

Making small changes to your everyday life or participating in carbon offsetting can have a large impact on carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and help make for a healthier environment.