Reduce carbon emissions by examining the energy used in the day care. During the day, open curtains and blinds to let natural light in. Turn off unnecessary lights and air conditioning. Turn down heaters during the winter months and ask children to wear sweaters and jackets. Use energy efficient light bulbs and appliances. Buy toys that do not use batteries. Teach children to use only the water they need to wash their hands and to use cloth towels rather than paper towels. Add solar panels or other renewable sources of energy to the building, and ask parents to walk, carpool or take public transportation to the day care rather than driving their individual cars.
By reusing and recycling materials, you can reduce your carbon footprints. Scraps of paper, fabric and other craft materials should be reused or recycled. Ask parents to bring in used household items to form crafts. For example, the day-care kids can make drums with old oatmeal containers rather than buying new materials for the activity. Reusing materials and recycling means less waste. Do not use any wrapping paper or extra packaging for any activities, including gifts. Kids should use old fabric or paper instead of new materials.
One of the best ideas to be carbon positive is to plant a tree. Trees use carbon dioxide as part of photosynthesis and tp release precious oxygen for you to breathe. Day-care kids should plant trees around the building and at other locations, such as a local park or school. Planting a vegetable garden would reduce carbon emissions rather than purchasing food from a grocery store, where the food may have traveled for many miles to arrive at the store.
Many items from the grocery store travel from great distances, which increases their carbon footprints. This means they use more energy and release more carbon. Carbon-neutral snacks and meals for a day care would be grown at the facility. Locally grown food from farmers would have less of a carbon footprint than grocery-store food. Organic food uses less carbon and processed food uses more energy than whole foods. Day care can also use an organic food delivery service that purchases food from local farmers.