We all know the global challenge of reducing our environmental impact and understanding ways to reduce our carbon footprint is key to making meaningful changes. South Africa is no exception and as citizens we have a responsibility – and the ability –to make changes in this regard, even in our everyday lives. Here are five simple changes we can make to reduce our carbon footprint and become more environmentally friendly in South Africa.
1. Reduce your Electricity Usage
Being mindful of how you use electricity, and using energy-efficient appliances, is a great first step in reducing your carbon footprint. Unplugging appliances not in use, replacing old appliances with newer energy efficient ones and using LED light bulbs are just a few of the relatively simple actions we can do to reduce electricity use and lower our carbon emissions.
2. South African Roof Type
Your South African choice of roof can also have a huge impact in terms of reducing your carbon footprint. An insulated corrugated iron roof or a cooler paint on your roof keeps the heat out and the cool air in and reduces your overall energy usage by stabilizing the temperature in the home.
3. Walk, Cycle or Carpool
Switch up your mode of transportation for short trips and consider travelling by foot or cycle wherever possible. This will not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also benefit your physical and mental health. If heading on a bit of a longer trip, carpooling with friends and family is a great way to save on petrol and reduce carbon emissions at the same time.
4. Switch to Renewable Energy
Because renewable energy sources are naturally replenished, they are largely considered more sustainable than non- renewable energy sources. Take into account solar power, biogas and wind energy as options. Additionally, reducing your reliance on electricity altogether by using manual appliances such as push lawn mowers, using cold water when washing clothing and using rechargeable batteries are easy ways to make the switch.
5. Eco-Friendly Shopping Habits
Making eco-friendly shopping choices is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Re-using containers and bags as much as possible and limiting your packaging waste is one thing. Buying local is another, as this helps limit food miles and preserves the environment. Additionally, you can purchase items made with environmentally-friendly materials, such a bamboo and hemp, when available.
The above five ways are great starting points to reduce your carbon footprint. Ideally, implementing some of these methods should become part of your everyday routines and you’ll start to see the benefits of living a greener lifestyle.
At QikTruck we make it easy for our customers to do their part for the environment. We provide South Africans with a convenient, sustainable and affordable solution when it comes to transporting goods and we make sure our carbon footprint is kept to a minimum in the process. With our fast and reliable service and increased focus on sustainability, QikTruck is setting the standard for on-demand transport services.