Taranta Blog

How to Reduce Carbon Emissions at Home

As a Green restaurant, Taranta’s carbon footprint is incredibly low. When you dine with us, you can dig in knowing that you saved energy, gas, water, and paper materials in the process. But the good doesn’t have to stop with Taranta. Here are four ways we encourage our staff (and now, you!) to reduce your own home’s carbon footprint.

1. Stop Buying “Fast Fashion”

Fast fashion is inexpensive clothing that is rapidly produced by mass-market retailers and targeted to the latest trends, and is also one of the biggest polluters in the world. According to a study done by the University of Queensland, the clothing and textile industry is depleting non-renewable resources, emitting huge quantities of greenhouse gases and using massive quantities of energy, chemicals and water. The synthetic fibres often favored by fast fashion brands, such as polyester, nylon and acrylic, are basically a kind of plastic made from petroleum, which means they could take up to a thousand years to biodegrade. Think again before you stop by H&M, Poshmark, or Zara.

2.  Drive Less

Our personal vehicles are a major contributor to global warming. Cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of all US emissions, emitting around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases for every gallon of gas. Luckily, Boston is one of the easiest cities to navigate without driving! Opt for biking, the T, or carpooling instead of driving yourself everywhere.

3. Unplug Your Devices

Ever heard of “vampire power?” It’s the energy that any electronic devices sucks when it’s plugged in, even if it’s not being used – and it costs the US $19 billion in energy every year. When you’re done using your phone charger, toaster, and even you television, unplug it. This will also bring down your electricity bill!

4. Eat Local and In-Season Produce

When it comes to where your food is coming from, the closer to your home, the better. Trucks and planes transporting produce all over the world are a huge contributing factor to global warming. Plus, all the pesticides and chemicals that are used on the food to make it last in-transit make the food less nutritious, and even potentially dangerous. Small farms are likelier to adopt biodynamic and soil-care practices that uphold not only the quality of their food, but also the environment.

Show us how you are living a low-carbon life! Tag us in your pictures @TarantaBoston

Author: Molly Hubert