Reducing your carbon footprint

When it comes to being Earth-friendly, recycling isn’t the only thing that you can do.

With Earth Day celebrations happening around the world this week, you might be thinking about how you can reduce your carbon footprint.

From cutting back on electricity to riding a bike instead of driving, there is plenty that you can do to cut back on your carbon consumption.

And if you decide to do it, you’re not alone.

“This winter we put plastic over the windows and doors to keep the heat in and I turn the water off when I brush my teeth,” said Julie Kelley, a Colorado College student from Columbus, Ohio.

Another popular choice is turning off electronics when they’re not in use.

“The main thing in our household is turning off the X-Box,” said Ricky Boebel, a Colorado College student originally from New Zealand.

But sometimes change can be hard.

“I tried composting but the family raccoons kind of liked the compost,” said Boebel.

If you’re looking for something a little easier, Greg Gehlhoff has an idea for you.

“Nothing but low wattage bulbs throughout the home,” he said.

Incandescent bulbs are quickly becoming a thing of the past, replaced first by Compact Flourescent Lights and later LED light bulbs.

The good news is that while the initial cost of the bulbs is higher, they can save money in the end because they last a lot longer.

“They do have a thing on the back that says that you can use them for three hours a day and they’ll last 20 years,” said Tami Salazar, the manager of Bon Ace Hardware in Colorado Springs.

Saving money is great, but for some people it’s all about the next generation.

“The life you live is the life you’re children are going to learn to live,” said Gehlhoff.

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 and is now observed in nearly 200 nations around the world.