California is officially taking action by reducing its carbon footprint

On April 13, California’s clean-air regulators publicized their plan to completely ban gasoline-fueled vehicles by 2035. This proposal, if enacted, promises to ramp up electric car sales so the majority of California residents are driving electric vehicles within the next thirteen years.

This proposal made by the California Air Resources Board will require 35 percent of new passenger vehicles sold in the state of California to be powered by either hydrogen or batteries by 2026. CARB additionally proposes 100 percent of new car sales to produce zero emissions less than half a decade later.

As fossil fuel emissions are primarily responsible for climate change and polluted air in California, CARB’s plan to completely ban gasoline-fueled vehicles by 2035 would eliminate 40 percent of carbon emissions in the state.

Photo: Andrew Roberts, Unsplash

What President Biden's Earth Day tweet might have meant

On Earth Day, we’re committed to building a future where everyone has clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and healthy communities to work and live.

By investing in climate resilience and infrastructure, and a clean energy future, we can tackle the climate crisis head-on.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 22, 2022

On Earth Day, April 22, President Joe Biden posted a tweet dedicated to the annual holiday, giving his word for a greener tomorrow for the United States. Although President Biden’s tweet was criticized by many, it was also his way of simply saying “Happy Earth Day.”

While Earth Day can be happy, it also brings up many issues surrounding the earth’s climate change and how large corporations are contributing to this damage to the planet. President Biden states that he surely supports a sustainable future and in the past has encouraged businesses to move toward zero-emissions futures.

However, this tweet President Biden posted was quite vague. It is unclear what he means exactly by “investing in climate resilience and infrastructure.” How does one invest in resilience?

What I suppose he meant to say was “By investing in products/companies that promote and delegate climate resilience and infrastructure, and a clean energy future, we can tackle the climate crisis head-on.”

All in all, President Biden could have surely constructed a stronger and clearer message for Earth Day, and perhaps mentioned some of his specific promises and plans for the U.S. to reduce its carbon footprint as a whole.

Photo: Ana Lanza, Unsplash

Clean Energy's director of corporate communications discusses its impact

Clean Energy Fuels Corporation is a natural gas distribution company that pioneered renewable natural gas (RNG) as a transportation fuel made from organic waste. Unlike conventional natural gas, RNG actually reduces carbon emissions because it is not a fossil fuel and requires no drilling to source the energy.

As livestock manure and landfills produce 27% of methane emissions in the United States, Clean Energy uses this large-scale issue to its advantage by turning methane into sustainable energy.

Clean Energy captures methane produced by cows and garbage, preventing it from damaging the atmosphere and turning it into RNG, one of the cleanest fuels in the United States.

Thanks to RNG, Clean Energy is able to efficiently power heavy trucks and buses, replacing diesel and gasoline which normally produce about 28% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

Based out of Newport Beach, California, Clean Energy is actively keeping greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere to prevent global warming. Clean Energy’s director of corporate communications, Raleigh Gerber discusses the impact of the corporation and how going green is the way to go.

 

What separates Clean Energy from other sustainable energy corporations?
Well, Clean Energy is very unique in what we do. We are the largest distributor and producer of renewable natural gas in North America. What sets us apart is that we offer renewable natural gas which is a transportation tool made from organic waste and in doing so we can reduce carbon emissions. It is a replacement for diesel fuel which is one of the heaviest polluting fuels out there.

How can transportation companies and other companies get involved with Clean Energy?
They have to look at their fleats and determine how they are currently fueling their vehicles and then speak with us about how we can offer them our alternative–to switch over from diesel to natural gas.

What has your career looked like with Clean Energy?
I have had a very vibrant and amazing career with Clean Energy. Now is a great time to be in a renewable fuel business because there is so much focus on climate change and lowering carbon emissions. So it’s a really exciting industry and a really exciting time to be in this industry.

How do you personally take steps toward reducing your carbon footprint?
I try to use alternate forms of transportation like bicycling and walking opposed to driving when possible. Also I recycle and am mindful of the sources of products that I purchase and the packaging that I purchase.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
One thing that I can say about Clean Energy is that we are leading the way towards a zero-emissions future. I think it is key that companies that have a transportation fleet start to look at the source of their fuels and look for better ways to help the environment. I think that we’re a good start but it is a much bigger picture and more people need to join in this effort.

Photos: courtesy of Clean Energy Fuels Corporation 

5 easy ways you can reduce your carbon footprint today

Taking small steps to reduce your carbon footprint can be extremely simple yet very impactful for the planet. Here are 5 easy practices you can start today:

Take shorter showers. Of course, make sure that you are actually getting clean, but start timing your showers and see it you can make them shorter and shorter every day.

Carpool. Gasoline is a major greenhouse gas, so the fewer vehicles being used at once, the better for the planet.

Unplug electronics when they are not in use. You do not need your phone charger or toaster to be plugged into an outlet 24/7. It’s a waste of energy, so unplug!

Buy locally grown foods/produce. Not only is this better for your health, but it also calls for less travel time and therefore fewer carbon emissions.

Invest in a reusable water bottle. The majority of the world’s plastic bottles end up either in a landfill or stuck at the bottom of the ocean. Protect our wildlife and go get yourself a Hyrdoflask.

Photo: Alan Carrillo, Unsplash

7 Instagram infographics that will motivate you to reduce your carbon footprint

Most people nowadays undoubtedly get the majority of their news and information about the world through the endless abyss of social media apps. From Instagram to Facebook to Twitter, people of all ages have access to news outlets and resources to create a better tomorrow.

Creating a greener tomorrow has been one of the primary focuses on social media over the past month as Earth Day just passed.

Instagram infographics have also been a very popular tactic to effectively share news and particularly this month, information about the environment and people’s carbon footprint.

Here are seven Instagram infographics promoting our beautiful planet and how to revive it:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Impact (@impact)

@impact's post about ocean deoxygenation. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Less Plastic (@lessplasticuk)

@lessplasticuk's post on nine different ways to restore nature.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by me too. International (@metoomvmt)

@metoomvmt's post about Indigenous women's role in the environment.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Plant Based News (@plantbasednews)

@plantbasednews' post about seven reasons to go vegan for the planet.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Impact (@impact)

@impact's post about Antarctica's melting glaciers.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Veganuary (@weareveganuary)

@weareveganuary's post about vegan cakes.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Environment by Impact (@environment)

@environment's post about fossil fuel lawsuits.  

Why sustainability IS working to reduce carbon footprints

“Why Sustainability Is Not Working” by ocean actionist, Berna Tural is a confused, upside-down, topsy-turvy piece needless to say. While Tural’s disorderly article published in Oct. 2021 highlights the importance of healing the planet from the damage humans have inflicted upon it, her view on the single word “sustainability” is utterly skewed and all over the place.

Tural begins the article by claiming that context is very an important element when using the word “sustainability.” She insists that there are many different definitions behind the word which can create complications when consumers read it.

After reviewing her many (and by “many” I am referring to the two she discusses) different definitions of “sustainability,” the definition she provided from the Oxford Dictionary seems to be the only one people regularly use.

 

When you first read the word “sustainability” in this article, surely the majority of you thought of this definition.

The second definition Tural provides is simply incorrect, not to mention she does not even cite where she found this definition.

“Meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” Tural says.

Where did that come from? Why is this entire article built on the foundation of these two definitions while only one of them is accurate?

When most people think of sustainability, they think of something along the lines of creating a cleaner environment by reducing individuals' and companies’ carbon footprints. Sustainability is moving toward an environmentally friendly future as well as restoring and maintaining balance in the ecosystem.

Tural goes on to comment on the commitment many large businesses have made to become completely sustainable and produce zero emissions by the year 2050. This is where she begins her argument of “Why Sustainability Is Not Working.”

Tural makes a solid point of how these big-name businesses are promising to simply enact their zero-emission policies by 2050, which is sort of a long time from now in terms of saving the environment. And although these businesses plan to be fully sustainable in thirty years, most are not necessarily planning to combat the damage they have already done to the planet.

While this is a fair argument in regards to undoing the damage, that is not necessarily what “sustainability” means.

Sustainability typically focuses on the present and the future of one’s environmental impact. And yes, offsetting the negative impact an individual or company has already induced is extremely vital to restoring the earth, it is just as important to take positive steps toward a sustainable future which is essentially what these large companies are promising to do.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Impact (@impact)

Tural pays little to no appreciation toward the efforts of companies producing zero emissions by 2030 or 2050, but instead, she fabricates this complex analogy about how a leak at the top floor of a building relates to greenhouse gases.

Let’s make it a water leak.

The bottom line is that Tural has created a weak foundation for her statement about sustainability. It can be understood that the main takeaway from her article is that, yes, there is more to be done in order to restore and sustain the planet. However, there is always going to be more. The healing never ceases.

Sustainability encompasses the notion that individuals and businesses are creating a cleaner future for the planet, and hopefully once we have reached zero emissions, we can start offsetting the past. Sustainability is in fact working, we must simply take baby steps. 

Photo: Abigail Lynn, Unsplash

12 foods that have the largest carbon footprints in the U.S.

Food production is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and has a massive carbon footprint, specifically within the United States. Here is a list of foods that produce the most CO2 emissions to foods that produce less CO2 emissions per 1 kilogram of the product.

Lamb: 39.2 kg CO2e, high

Beef: 27 kg CO2e, high

Cheese: 13.5 kg CO2e, high

Pork: 12.1 kg CO2e, high

Chicken: 6.9 kg CO2e, high

Eggs: 4.8 kg CO2e, high

Rice: 2.7 kg CO2e, moderate

Peanut Butter: 2.5 kg CO2e, moderate

Nuts: 2.3 kg CO2e, moderate

Broccoli: 2.0 kg CO2e, low

Tofu: 2.0 kg CO2e, low

Milk: 1.9 kg CO2e, low

Capture carbon footprint & CO2 tracker app helps reduce your footprint

Capture, carbon footprint & CO2 tracker available in the App Store shows users their personal carbon footprint, how much carbon they produce daily and what steps they can take to reduce or offset their carbon footprint in order to save the environment.

In the app, Capture provides several different categories to learn about the impact of each individual’s carbon footprint on this earth and environmentally friendly practices that are completely doable and efficient.

Initially, when opening the app for the first time after downloading, users are welcomed with a brief three-part description of the app and the essentials of what Capture offers. Track, reduce, remove.

This app will automatically track regular carbon emissions such as everyday mobility. It will then provide personalized tips and ideas on how to reduce daily carbon emissions. Lastly, it gives users the opportunity to select projects such as “Tree Planting in Panama” to remove or offset the equivalent amount of carbon emissions you have produced.

These description slides will not make much sense until you input your information and daily habits to get started on the app. And of course, just like every other app, Capture asks users to first sign up with an email before taking any more steps.

Accompanied by vibrant animations, Capture then requires users to input your most frequently used methods of transportation, on average how long you spend time traveling each day, how many/how long are your flights every year and how much meat you consume regularly.

The app will then display your monthly carbon footprint in a nutshell. The pie chart will illustrate on average how much total carbon emissions you produce every month and the things you do that contribute to that based on the data you just inputted.

It will then show you your monthly carbon footprint compared to the average of everyone else’s carbon footprint. Warning: this part might make you feel really bad about your decisions.

After setting everything up in the app, it will of course ask you to verify your email, but also provide you with five categories at the bottom of the screen including track, remove, community, learn and activity.

The opening tab, track, is very efficiently designed as it is easy to navigate and read as are the other four tabs.

The idea behind creating this app is genius, however, it is mainly focused on carbon emissions based on transportation. While that is a very large contributing factor to one’s carbon footprint, the types of food we consume and how much we use electricity are also large contributors as well.

Nowhere in the app, other than the initial questionnaire asking how much meat you eat, allows users to track the specifics of their eating habits and how that directly affects the environment as it does with daily transportation.

When you go to record an emission, it only allows you to input transportation even though it automatically measures that for you based on the movement of your phone throughout the day.

Although Capture is extremely coherent and systematic, it does not necessarily take into account the specifics of its users' daily activity in order to provide an accurate estimate of how much they are contributing to carbon emissions.

Photo: Nick Fewings, Unsplash

HelloFresh is successfully reducing its carbon footprint more and more every year

Booming online meal kit service, HelloFresh has proven to environmental professionals that ordering its meal kits produces an average of 31% fewer carbon emissions than purchasing standard groceries and cooking a meal at home in the United States.

On April 26, HelloFresh published its ISO 14040 compliant life cycle assessment (LCA) presenting the company’s astonishingly low carbon emissions and a sustainability report illustrating its progressive strategy to remain environmentally friendly throughout this past year.

One of HelloFresh’s primary goals is to reduce its carbon footprint as much as possible by generating less food waste, curating efficient delivery and warranting a shorter supply chain for all deliveries. Not only does the company actively offset 100% of its carbon emissions, but it additionally uses 100% sustainable electricity in all production sites and offices.

Organic or non-organic, the ingredients used to make meals produce the largest amounts of carbon emissions in the food industry, which is then followed by distribution. Specifically, meats such as beef and pork generate up to 60 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of meat being produced.

This issue is nearly unavoidable for most who eat meat, however, distribution is also a very large contributor to the carbon footprint of foods in the industry. Therefore, sourcing ingredients from reliable, sustainable food businesses like HelloFresh is a much cleaner alternative.

With meal plans friendly to all types of diets, HelloFresh has curated a variety of vendors who all practice sustainability in their food production.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an average of 40% of food in America ends up in the trash/landfill. However, HelloFresh’s business model authorizes weekly forecasting of consumers’ food demands which ultimately results in less food being thrown away due to unsold inventory and food being wasted due to over-portioning.

And while dealing with fewer food scraps is cleaner and more convenient for humans, it is not so convenient for raccoons. According to an article published by Newswire, HelloFresh’s production site in Canada says “Sorry, not sorry” to the raccoon community.

“After all, HelloFresh meals generate 72 per cent fewer food scraps during meal preparation than non-HelloFresh meals, which is great news for humans, our wallets and the planet, but not exactly ideal for the country's notorious ‘trash pandas,’” says Newswire.

There are advantages and disadvantages to everything.

Nevertheless, HelloFresh’s supply chain additionally cuts out all of the unnecessary middlemen foods sold in stores usually navigate through by sourcing its products from farm to a HelloFresh production site then straight to the customer’s home.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HelloFresh US (@hellofresh)

Following up to the LCA study, HelloFresh’s sustainability report shares the company's achievements and goals over the past few years. Based on the company’s 2019 criterion, HelloFresh had fulfilled a 48% reduction of carbon emissions by the end of 2021.

It is apparent that the company is headed right on target with its goal of a 60% reduction by the end of 2022.

HelloFresh is undoubtedly doing its part by taking large, powerful steps toward a green future by actively reducing its carbon footprint and encouraging anyone and everyone to do the same by ordering healthy, sustainable food.

Photo: No Revisions, Unsplash

USAA Real Estate has almost completed its new sustainable development

USAA Real Estate and its development partner, Seefried Industrial Properties have publicly announced they are near completion of their latest large-scale project built entirely out of sustainable materials. This industrial warehouse is USAA’s first completely sustainable development which has reduced its carbon footprint by over 45%.

USAA’s new industrial warehouse located in Dallas Fort Worth has been constructed with Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) a meticulously designed wood panel composition in replacement of concrete. Standard concrete construction protocol produces approximately 8% of global carbon emissions every year.

"Consistent with our ambition to be more imaginative about limiting the environmental impact of our development projects, we are leveraging renewable resources harvested in a sustainable manner" managing director at USAA Real Estate, Lange Allen told PR Newswire.

It is apparent that USAA Real Estate along with several other prevalent real estate and construction companies such as CBRE are moving toward a sustainable future in order to reduce the carbon footprint of their developments.

Photo: Alexander Abero, Unsplash