| In order to reduce our carbon footprint we must | | | | fossil fuels and becoming more conscious of our |
| begin to rely more on renewable alternative energy | | | | energy uses. When we buy locally grown food or |
| sources. Not all alternative energy sources are | | | | grow our own, use water wisely, and recycle we |
| renewable. The resources that come from the sun, | | | | continue daily in the reduction of our carbon footprint. |
| wind, earth, animal waste, and the landfills (this is | | | | Thus getting closer to achieving our goal. |
| methane gas) are all renewable and in abundance. | | | | One way to reduce our carbon footprint while |
| These are looked upon as "free" energy. None are oil | | | | offsetting the damage is by using solar power for |
| or hydrocarbon based and therefore they have lower | | | | our power needs. Solar power is a renewable |
| carbon emissions. | | | | alternative energy source that works by taking |
| It just makes sense to conserve energy. When we | | | | energy from the sun. This energy is collected by |
| do this we are not only reducing our carbon footprint | | | | solar panels which are usually mounted on the roof |
| but also saving ourselves money. When we turn the | | | | and passed to an inverter which then converts this |
| dishwasher off when it is done cleaning the dishes | | | | energy into electricity. A net meter is used in the |
| and allow it to air dry or hang our clean clothes | | | | place of your electric meter box. This meter will help |
| outside on a line to dry we are contributing to the | | | | keep track of the solar power that you produce and |
| reduction of our personal carbon footprint. This in | | | | also how much electricity you actually use. You only |
| turn allows for the natural health or our planet to | | | | get charged for what you use and depending on the |
| repair itself. | | | | size of your solar power unit you can actually earn |
| Our lack of responsibility and pollution is more | | | | credits and therefore make the meter spin |
| prominent now than ever before. We as a society | | | | backwards! |
| can offset the damage by reducing our reliance on | | | | How cool is that? |