Ways to Reduce your Carbon Footprint at Greenfest Philly
Are you aware of your personal impact on the environment? Measuring your carbon footprint is a great place to start. A carbon footprint calculator evaluates daily lifestyle choices and quantifies them; giving you a snapshot of your environmental impact. By taking a deeper dive into your day-to-day routine you can make small changes that add up to a big impact.
Step One:
Measure your carbon footprint. There are dozens of online calculators, some requiring detailed information and others that can be completed in a matter of minutes. For a short and simple, but accurate, online calculator we recommend the Islandwood Ecological Footprint Calculator. If you’re ready to do a deep dive, we recommend the industry standard – Berkley’s Cool Climate Calculator. Want to inspire the next generation? There’s even a carbon footprint calculator for kids!
Step Two:
Commit to reducing your footprint. Greenfest Philly on Sunday, September 10 is a one-stop-shop with a festival full of businesses and organizations that have the common goal of helping you live sustainably. Here are some of the organizations that will be on-hand that help reduce your impact:
Energy Co-op – Tired of supporting the fossil fuel industry when you send in your electric bill each month? Become an Energy Co-op member at Greenfest and start getting your energy from renewable and carbon-free sources like solar and wind. Bonus points if you choose their 100% Pennsylvania Wind option!
Toyota Hybrids – If you’re driving to work every day, your daily commute is probably one of the biggest contributors to your carbon footprint. And while your family might not be able to give up the flexibility that comes with owning a car, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to reduce your impact Test drive the Hybrid Rav4 for the whole family, a Prius Prime for city drivers, or step into the future with the hydrogen fuel cell Toyota Mirai. The Mirai, which emits only water vapors, isn’t even available on the east coast until 2018 – but Greenfest attendees can test drive the future by taking the Mirai for a spin around South Philly!
Philly AIDS Thrift – Everyone knows that buying used is better for our planet than buying new, and Philly AIDS Thrift gives you a chance to reduce your carbon footprint with a fresh “new” pair kicks while also supporting the fight for a cure to HIV and AIDS!
CUSP Climate City – CUSP, a network of local organizations that engage the public on climate change issues, will create a special area of Greenfest called Climate City, where visitors can learn about the local impacts of climate change and what they can do about them. The area will feature hands-on activities and resources for visitors young and old.
Go Philly Go – GoPhillyGo is an online mapping tool for the greater Philadelphia area. Developed with state-of-the-art mapping technology, this site makes it easy for users to plan their routes through multimodal methods — combining biking + walking + public transportation within one trip — to travel anywhere within the greater Philadelphia area without the use of a car. It even provides details on pedestrian and bike routes, letting users customize their trips.
For the full list of Greenfest exhibitors, visit cleanair.org/greenfest/exhibitors.
