1. Reducing Carbon Footprint: Purchasing Power
By Michael Nietfeld

2. Buy local Local food can: Reduce the use of inorganic chemicals
Reduce traveling time and provide fresher food
Reduce energy used to transport the food thousands of miles

3. Eat local
Eat at restaurants that serve local food
Many restaurants use pre-prepared food that requires packaging, transportation, and refrigeration.
Order food that does not have to travel far rather than foods such as coffee and native foods of other continents.

4. Buy Minimally Do not buy excess packaging
Excess packaging appeals customers by making foods look clean and fresh but has a large carbon footprint
Buy loose fruits and vegetables rather than packaged or boxed
Use reusable bags at the grocery store
Avoid using plastic bags whenever possible

5. Buy Minimally: Bottled Water
Bottled water not only uses plastics that require energy to make but also requires the transportation due to manufacturing at a facilities.
Order tap water from restaurants when possible
Use reusable bottles

6. Buy and Plant Native
Native plants often grow more efficiently in their natural environments
Native plants are often transported shorter distances because they were grown locally
Use local and organic soil
Plants help to reduce the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

7. Hold Out on a New Gas Car
The production of a new car has a large carbon footprint and is more harmful than keeping an older car with worse gas mileage for now
Even production of a hybrid car has a large carbon footprint on the environment
An eco-friendly produced electric car may be an option when found at a reasonable price in the near future

8. Find more information

9. Works Cited