Our blog, Second Hand Social, is not just about sharing awesome yard sale finds and featuring great ideas from those who work in the Second Hand Industry, we also want to educate our readers on how they can be proactive in environmentally conscious living. We’re not sure how many bonus points you get if you regularly shop thrift stores or buy tools and decorations for your home second hand, but we imagine the savings and feeling of shopping second hand feels pretty good to start! Inevitably, in going about daily life — commuting, sheltering our families, eating — each of us contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change. Fortunately, there are many things each of us, as individuals, can do to reduce our carbon emissions. The choices we make in our homes, travel, food we eat, and what we buy and throw away all influence our carbon footprint and can help ensure a stable climate for future generations.
Experts have long suggested the most effective way to decrease a carbon footprint is to either decrease the amount of energy needed for production or decrease the dependence on carbon emitting fuels. Mitigation of carbon footprints through the development of alternative projects, (solar, wind energy or reforestation) represents one way of reducing a carbon footprint and is often known as Carbon offsetting.
Simply put, think about your upcoming purchases. Do you really need to buy that designer dress brand new or can you find it in a local Consignment Shop, possibly even half off? What about some gardening tools, how about shopping a couple Yard Sales or browsing for some used tools online that you can buy second hand? You can probably score big by shopping a Pawn Shop for some fancy electronics for your home! Remember, taking some small and simple steps to reusing, repurposing and recycling can make a huge difference in your carbon footprint and the environment. Do your best to help preserve and save our planet!
Want to measure your carbon footprint? Check this cool calculator from The Nature Conservancy!