With climate change happening all around us, more and more attention is being put on some possible ways in which we can protect our natural environment. One of the most significant ways is the reduction of the carbon footprint which is responsible not only for global warming but can also alter our everyday lives. Even minor changes to our lifestyle can really make a difference and reduce the amount of exhaust fumes and other noxious substances emitted into the atmosphere. Stay with us to find out what we can do to save the planet!
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions caused by an individual, event, service, product or organization. It includes both direct emissions, e.g., connected with driving a car or heating a building, as well as some indirect emissions, e.g., those needed to produce goods or provide services. Some of the most common sources of a carbon footprint include the burning of fossil fuels and the production and the consumption of food, wood, roads, buildings, transportation and many popular goods and services.
Carbon footprint – the most common effects
A carbon footprint can have a negative impact on the natural world that surrounds us. One of the major effects is greenhouse gas emissions which, in turn, raise global temperatures, lessen water supplies and change weather patterns. This is particularly dangerous for animals and people who live close to the sea (as the sea level rises on a continuous basis) and can cause inevitable changes in the food industry (as the growing season is affected and more and more water is becoming polluted).
How to reduce the carbon footprint in a company?
The constant rise in carbon emissions is mostly caused by companies. Several global market leaders, including Apple, have taken action to become more eco-friendly. All company owners should be aware that climate change is progressing are at a very fast pace and the only way to change it is to react. Check how small changes can reduce the carbon footprint.
Go for renewable energy sources
Introducing renewable energy sources in a company is an investment for years. Although the cost of necessary installations is relatively high, the benefits quickly outweigh the drawbacks. The choice of solar panels, heat recovery or heat pump allows you to reduce energy bills forever and forget about traditional carbon-based sources of energy. With proper insulation onsite, winter heating is almost a no-cost method!
Introduce carpooling
People who live close to each other often commute in the same car – this is known as carpooling. But since in bigger companies not everyone knows each other, people who could ride together are not aware of that. This is where Poola – a carpooling app comes into action. It connects people driving by car with people close to their route so that they can carpool.
Reduce the length of rides
Every minute spent in a car leads to the production of car exhaust fumes. The longer we commute, the more dangerous our behaviour is for the planet. What if you could simply reduce the time all your employees needed to go to work. This is now possible with the Parkalot parking app, thanks to which your staff can have assigned parking spaces so that they know where to park even before leaving home.
Incentivise electric vehicles
Right now, electric cars are more affordable than ever. But it’s possible to encourage your employees to buy them! With the Parkalot parking app, you can assign parking priority to people who drive electric vehicles. You can also label parking spaces with electric vehicle charging stations as available exclusively for EV owners.
Replace company cars
If you are planning to buy new company cars, be innovative and opt for electric ones. Here the situation is similar to renewable energy sources – the initial investment is rather large, but the operating costs are much lower. As this type of vehicle is becoming more and more popular, their owners are being offered free parking spots with access to free charging stations in many cities. All this is to promote eco-friendly driving.
Recycle
Companies produce much more waste than households. In many countries, they are also obliged to follow certain procedures while disposing of them. If you produce lots of paper, plastic, etc., remember to recycle them. This way they can be reused and less energy is needed to produce the material from scratch. What’s more, instead of purchasing brand new devices, you can choose refurbished or off-lease phones and laptops.
We hope that now you know how important it is to be eco-friendly for our planet. Introduce some changes in your company, e.g., give your employees a parking booking app or shift to renewable heat systems, to reduce the carbon footprint of your company and allow us to live in a healthier environment.
If you’d like to introduce Parkalot in your company, please contact us at contact-us@parkalot.io or book an onboarding call.Start using Parkalot in an hour. Allow your colleagues to commute by car, and park on the parking spaces assigned to those who are working from home.