5 Ways City Dwellers Can Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

For those of us who live in cities, reducing our carbon footprint seems a process that's largely out of our hands. Especially for people who rent apartments, the big changes – solar panels, insulation, efficient appliances – aren’t things we can tackle easily.

That's why, in 2010, I launched Boston Green Blog. The goal of the blog is to foster excitement for conscious, sustainable city living, with an emphasis on making better choices as a consumer. Here, I’ll share some of the top ways city dwellers can reduce their carbon footprint.

1. Air dry your laundry
Any appliance that uses heat to work is, by nature, a big energy user. Further, it’s generally advantageous for clothes to be air-dried – machine drying can be harsh on fabric. You can avoid these problems and save on your energy bill by skipping the dryer and using a drying rack instead. This is possible in even the smallest apartments (ask your European friends!).

2. Opt for public transportation (or biking/walking)
With the rise of apps like Uber and Lyft, it can be tempting to take a car around the city instead of using public transit. But while the cost may not be significantly different, the carbon emissions are. Ride-share apps reduce the carbon footprints of people who otherwise would drive alone, but that's not the case for city dwellers who use Uber instead of walking or taking public buses, subways or trams. Save ride-shares for the occasions when you’re going somewhere that isn’t easily accessible by public transport.

3. Eat less meat
According to MindBodyGreen, the green-tinted lifestyle brand, animal agriculture is estimated to produce more greenhouse gases than the entire transportation industry put together. Yikes. The good news is that this is an easy issue to tackle. You don’t need to go full vegan to make a big impact (though, if you do, that’s even better). Instead, keep track of how often you eat meat during one week, then try cutting it in half the next week. Your health will likely improve as well!

4. Compost
Reducing food waste is another great way to cut your carbon footprint. While this may seem easier to accomplish for people in suburbs or rural areas, it's actually quite simple for cityfolk as well – especially if you live near one of your town's public compost dumpsters (such as those in Boston's North End or in East Boston). If a public composting opportunity is not convenient, consider a compost pickup service – for example, Bootstrap Compost in Boston – which can put your food waste to better use for as little as six dollars per pickup. Save even more money by sharing the service with others in your apartment building.

5. Offset everything else
Once you’ve implemented the above changes, you’re well on your way to low-carbon living. But you’re definitely not carbon neutral yet. To get there, consider purchasing carbon offsets. Companies like TerraCycle and nonprofits like The Nature Conservancy provide carbon footprint calculators that quickly review your lifestyle and provide the most appropriately-priced carbon offset option. It’s so easy. Plus, if you do a good job reducing your carbon footprint on your own, offsets should be pretty cheap!

For more ways to fight climate change from home, visit BostonGreenBlog.com.

--By Cameron Bruns, founder of Boston Green Blog, Boston's resource for green living, events, and sustainable style