As more science reports are released regarding the environment, it's hard to deny that changing our daily habits is important for our future. From the containers we drink out of to what we throw away to how we source our energy, our carbon footprint can grow to be quite large. However, there is no need to despair because there are a number of ways you, as an individual, can decrease your carbon footprint and thereby your impact on the environment. Below are tips and information on how to do this.

Use Reusable Containers

Most of us go to the grocery store and buy a pack of paper towels wrapped in plastic, bags of pasta and other goods packed in throwaway containers; that is the most widely used and readily available type of shopping. However, if you have the means consider shopping at a store that has bulk bins for items such as grains, flour, sugar and other essentials. Bring a jar with a lid, such as a mason jar, with you and use it to store the items you get from the bulk bins. You can also purchase reusable produce bags that are made out of mesh netting and use that for your produce instead of the plastic bags provided at the supermarket. This is a simple way to reduce the amount of plastic you're consuming, which also decreases the amount of oil you're requiring a factory to use to make the plastic.

Reusable Energy in the Home

Alternative energy sources are hitting the mainstream and becoming commonplace. This means easier and more affordable access to clean energy. If you own a home you can now install solar panels to power your electricity, and the solar panel cost pays off through programs such as net metering, tax credits and a reduced energy bill each month. If you don't want to install solar panels just yet, some energy providers allow you to opt to get your energy from solar or wind energy as opposed to fossil fuels.

The Truth About Reusable Bags

Many people now use reusable bags in order to reduce their plastic consumption. While this is a noble effort, the truth is there are some reusable bags that create a lot of pollution in order to be made. When you purchase a reusable bag, avoid purchasing bags made out of cotton or canvas. Cotton bags, especially organic cotton, and canvas bags take more resources to produce than plastic bags and require you use them around seven thousand times for it to pay off in terms of environmental return on investment. Certainly it is a good idea to use reusable bags, but which ones you purchase and use matter. Aim for reusable bags made out of recycled materials, such as polypropylene bags, which can be found in most supermarkets; they only require 37 uses before you get a return on investment. When possible, opt for bags that do not have any design, ink or printing on them as that requires additional resources as well. After you take your groceries out of them, put them back in your car or hang them by your door so you remember to bring them every time you go to the market. The more uses you get out of them, the lower your carbon footprint and the fewer plastic bags we will have filling our oceans, waterways and landfills.

Making a positive impact on our environment is everyone's responsibility, and there are ways big and small you can make a difference. So the next time you're about to buy a bottle of water, consider bringing a reusable bottle instead.