Technology that is present in modern life is very helpful for humans in their daily activities. Unfortunately, sometimes technological developments also cause environmental problems. Therefore, humans need to do something to preserve the earth. One of them is by increasing carbon neutral.

What is meant by carbon neutral? And, what steps can be taken to reduce the carbon footprint of gas emissions to increase carbon neutrality? All the questions above, you can find the answers in the explanation of this article!

What is Carbon Neutral?

Carbon neutral is the achievement of a state of CO2 emissions to zero. This concept is useful in reducing and determining carbon dioxide emissions tied to production, transportation, energy, agriculture and more.

There are two approaches that can be used to achieve this situation, namely by using renewable energy that does not produce carbon emissions. Or, by balancing carbon emissions by removing carbon.

Balancing carbon levels by removing carbon is an important approach to carbon neutrality. This concept includes natural processes that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to make room for carbon emissions elsewhere.

Meanwhile, deleting carbon emission with the use of renewable energy is another approach to support carbon neutrality. Generally, renewable forms of energy will produce no carbon dioxide at all. Examples of renewable energy sources include solar energy, wind energy, water energy, geothermal energy, and others.

Not only that, this approach involves reducing industrial and agricultural carbon emissions by making revolutionary changes in various industries.

Steps to Achieving Carbon Neutral

Here are some steps to achieve carbon neutral that can be done, including:

1. Commitment

All parties must be committed to supporting the carbon neutrality program continuously. Not only the government, but all levels of society work together to preserve the environment.

2. Calculation

Comply with recommendations and regulatory standards in calculating carbon emissions in certain areas by considering certain parameters.

3. Analysis

An important step in the cycle of achieving carbon neutrality, where we need to analyze calculated data to achieve carbon neutrality effectively.

4. Action

Act according to the environmental management system used to initiate work towards reducing carbon emissions.

5. Reduction

Restrictions or reductions in energy and emissions in various industrial sectors. This includes the transportation sector, agriculture and others, and start using renewable energy sources.

6. Balancing

Carbon offsets are used to neutralize some of the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

7. Evaluation and Repetition

Evaluate the results to decide what improvements are needed and repeat the process to get better results than before.

How to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Greenhouse Gases to Increase Carbon Neutrality

There are several key areas according to the World Health Organization (WHO) that can reduce the carbon footprint of greenhouse gases to improve carbon neutrality, including:

1. Reducing Carbon Footprint in Transportation

Try walking, cycling, or using public transportation such as trains. Because every liter of fuel burned in a car engine produces more than 2.5 kg of carbon dioxide.

If you drive a car to work, you can take several friends or other people in the same direction in the same car. Thus, it can reduce traffic congestion and fuel efficiency. Try not to speed. Because later more fuel is used and consequently emits more carbon dioxide.

2. Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Food

• Reduce consumption of animal products, such as beef.
• Recycle or compost from organic waste . Otherwise, methane will be released later by biodegradable waste in the landfill.

3. Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Water Use

• Use dishwashers and washing machines according to their capacity.
• Boil the water that needs to be used and cover the pot while cooking. This will save a lot of energy so that the water boils faster.
• Save rainwater if you have access from the roof or provide gutters that can be directly channeled into gardens, plants, or soil, and so on.

4. Reducing Carbon Footprint on Energy Use

• Use a fan instead of an air conditioner.
• Program your electronic device so that it turns on or off automatically.
• Instead of constantly turning on the air conditioner or fan, opening windows or doors to dissipate heat can slightly reduce greenhouse emissions and energy bills by 5-10%.
• Improve the insulation of the house so that less heat goes in when it's hot and more heat comes out when it's cold. So it can reduce the need to use other electronic devices.
• Unplug the HP charger if it is full because otherwise it still consumes electricity.
• Turn off the lights when you don't need them and use energy efficient lights like LEDs.
• Turning electricity suppliers greener by providing more renewable green energy helps in achieving carbon neutrality.

5. Reducing the Carbon Footprint in Waste Management

Recycle inorganic waste such as bottles or glass that can be used as plant pots. Or, make compost from organic waste that can be used as plant fertilizer.

Bring your own shopping bag when you go to the market or shop. And, avoid buying conventional plastic bags to bring groceries back home.

Those are some explanations about carbon neutral, as well as how to reduce the carbon footprint of greenhouse emissions that you can do. It is very important to learn more about carbon neutrality, so that whatever activities we do every day we have to apply sustainable lifestyles and increase carbon neutrality.